He set her on the seat and made sure her seat belt was fastened, and all her hair was in before he closed the door.
Her eyes closed as she rested against the door.A veil of fatigue rushed through her.The last thing she heard was when Grant snapped his seat belt.
They made it back to his house without words between them, him because he was lost in thought and her because she’d fallen asleep before he’d driven out of the parking lot.
The sound of the car door woke her.She looked groggily around.Her fatigue made her body move in slow motion, as if she were stuck in quicksand.
Grant helped Jennifer out of the car and into the kitchen and sat her down in a chair at the table on the far side of the kitchen.He made sure she was steady before he walked to the fridge and pulled out eggs.
She watched him scramble some eggs in a bowl before sliding them into a hot pan.While they cooked, he toasted bread.Within minutes, he had a plate of food sitting before her.
“I know you’re tired, but you need to eat before we lie down,” he said, and sat next to her and watched her carefully.
Jennifer picked up the fork he handed her.She ate a half piece of toast and part of the eggs before she set her fork down.She looked at Grant, still unable to grasp that she was here next to him.
“I can’t eat more,” she murmured sleepily.
His fingers combed through her long tresses.
“You did well.Let’s get you up to bed.”He stood and lifted her in his arms and walked up the stairs to the bedroom to lay her on his bed.He slowly pulled her clothes off before he tucked her under the covers.“Sleep, baby.”
Jennifer grabbed onto his arm, eyes wide as panic coursed through her veins.
“Wait.Where are you going?”
Grant sat on the side of the mattress, his arms on either side of her, caging her in.
“I’m not going anywhere.I’m going to make sure the house is secure and the alarm is set.I want to grab a quick shower, then I’ll go to bed.
He smoothed the hair off her face.“I know it’s early, but we both need to catch up on our sleep, and I need to hold you.”
She reluctantly released her grip and watched him walk away.Jennifer snuggled under the covers.She slid into a deep, healing sleep before he came back.
****
Grant
Grant walked around the house like he did every night but pushed himself to go faster tonight.He glanced at her when he passed through the bedroom on his way to the bathroom and froze.What was it about this little woman that consumed him?He couldn’t think of anything he didn’t love about her.She was one of the most sensual women he’d ever seen, and so damn beautiful it was hard for him to look away from her.
Jennifer’s inner beauty matched her outside.He couldn’t say that about any other woman he knew.She gave everything of herself.It didn’t matter if it was the shelter, the animals, her friends, or him.There was an innocence and sweetness to her that drew him.It made him want to wrap her in cotton.At the same time, be the only man to show her how good it would be between them and all the things she’d never had time for.
He tore his gaze from her, quickly dropped his clothes, and stepped into the shower before the water could warm.A hissing gasp flew from his mouth at the first contact with the cold water.He quickly flew through washing himself, and at the same time, cooling his desire to sink into her again and again.He needed to take every part of her body and imprint himself on her.
He walked out of the bathroom, turned off the lights, briskly rubbed his body and hair with a towel, and threw it in a chair by the bed before slipping under the covers.One strong arm circled her waist and pulled her into the curve of his body until he was wrapped around her.He exhaled a shaky breath and released the lead weight of misery that had been stuck in his chest since she’d left him.
His contentment grew, and the beast that drove him to have her calmed when she sighed and snuggled tighter against him, finding her place against him where she would stay for the rest of her life.
“I love you, baby,” he whispered against her ear.“We are never going to be separated again.I can promise you that.”He placed one more kiss on her forehead before closing his eyes and sinking into his revitalizing rest.
Epilogue
Six Years Later
The smell of barbecue, sunshine, and flowers filled the air.The trees in Tessa and Devon’s backyard muddled the sun's rays and heat, making the outside bearable for people to lounge or swim.
“Jesus, Grant, get that tongue in your mouth.”Devon laughed.“Still obsessed with your wife after all this time.”
Grant snorted.“Look who’s talking, asshole.Your eyes haven’t left your wife’s ass since we arrived.”
