“Hunter would’ve disagreed with you.”
“He wouldn’t now, though. If he were here, he’d be proud of you and all you’ve accomplished.”
I can’t help scoffing. “I can’t say I’ve accomplished all that much.”
“You escaped,” he says quietly. “You survived your parents’ neglect, you won enough scholarships to make attending conservatory possible, you made a living playing music?—”
“And delivering food. Until my car died, and you rescued me.”
He smiles at that. “I have to say, I think that was the universe bringing us back together. The fact thatyoudelivered my food, and that was the exact moment your car gave up the ghost? It was fate. And I won’t accept any other explanation.”
Laughing lightly, I nod. “Okay. I’ll accept that. In any case, spending time with you brought that tween crush back in full force. Which was part of the reason I was hesitant to accept your offer to move in and marry you as a business deal. While I figured you’d end up finding me annoying and getting sick of me long before I’d be able to make it on my own, I also didn’t know how I’d manage my attraction to you in such close quarters—andwith you hugging and kissing me and holding my hand in public like we were a real couple.”
His smile is small, like he’s trying to hold it back, and he shakes his head. “What a pair we make.”
“What I’m trying to say is,” I continue softly, “I love you too, Jason. Not just because you take care of me, though I do appreciate that even if I might not show it very well, but because of who you are. You’re ambitious and motivated, you work hard at everything you decide to do, whether it’s hockey or your charity work, and you care deeply about the people around you. You have such strong friendships, and it’s clear to me that you put in effort to make that happen. You’re not careless with other people, and in my experience, that’s not a universal trait.”
“And I’m also hot,” he adds with a cheeky grin.
Laughing, I shake my head. “And yes, you’re hot, which is a nice plus, I must say.”
“Oh, it’s just a plus. I see.”
I give him a confused look. “You’d rather that be the main draw? You don’t want me to like you for your non-physical qualities? Because I generally think those are more important, but I guess that’s just me.”
He laughs, tugging on my hand to pull me closer. “No,” he murmurs, leaning in so his mouth is inches from mine. “I’m relieved to know I’m not in this alone, though.” And he kisses me. At first it’s quick and light, but it’s like that gave him a taste, and it’s not enough. He kisses me again, firmer, longer, one of his hands cupping the side of my neck to steady him—or me. Maybe both of us.
When he ends the kiss, he presses his forehead to mine and pulls in a long, slow breath. Then he says, “Can we go inside? I feel like there are more things to say, but I’d rather say them in a more comfortable place.”
“Of course,” I say on a laugh. “Let’s go inside.”
We climb out of the car and walk to the elevator hand-in-hand, and once we’re inside, Jason pulls me against his side. Wekiss briefly, but he breaks away and nuzzles the side of my head, whispering, “We don’t need to give security a show.”
“Right,” I whisper back, my cheeks heating. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that there are security cameras in elevators. I don’t know if someone’s sitting in a room full of monitors watching all the cameras or not, but I agree with Jason that it doesn’t seem worth the risk.
But once we’re back inside his condo, he kicks the door closed, backs me against it, and kisses me like a drowning man getting his first breath of air. When his kisses inevitably trail away from my mouth and down my neck, my fingers threaded through his hair, I can’t help chuckling a little. “I thought you wanted to talk more.”
He pauses, pressing his forehead into my shoulder. “I do. I know. Yes. I just … it’s been too long since I touched you. And I was sure, at some points, that I’d never get to touch you again.”
I use my grip on his hair to bring his mouth back to mine. “I’m here,” I gasp against his mouth. “I’m not leaving. We have all the time we need.”
He kisses me fiercely and then tears himself away, taking several steps back and rubbing his finger over his bottom lip, not like he’s trying to wipe away our kiss, but more like he’s rubbing it in. “You’re right,” he says, low, nearly a growl. “You’re not going anywhere.” Then he sighs, his shoulders dropping a fraction, and that feral light leaves his eyes, replaced with vulnerable emotion. “It’s so good to know that.” He holds out his hand to me, and I step away from the door, placing my hand in his and letting him lead me to the couch.
After he sits down, he settles me across his lap so I’m cradled in his arms. I can’t help laughing at first because I can’t remember the last time I sat on anyone’s lap, but the satisfied look on his face stops me. And the truth is, it feels good to be held like this.
“There,” he says, settling me more comfortably. “Is this okay? Are you good?”
“I’m good.”
He flashes me a grin. “Good.” His chest and stomach rise, pressing into my side as he takes a deep breath and lets it out with a sound of contentment. “I do plan on taking you to the bedroom shortly, but I don’t feel like we finished our conversation.”
I loop my arm around his shoulders. “What else would you like to discuss?”
“You moving into my room, for one.” When my eyes widen a fraction, he nods. “Yes. You can use your room as a studio, still. Practice. Decorate it however you like—which isn’t to say you can’t add to the decor in my room. Our room. I want it to be our room. Just like this is our home.”
He gives me a second to process that, and I nod slowly. “Okay. I think I can handle that. Anything else?”
“I want you to work as much—or as little—as you want. Play music. Audition anywhere. Everywhere. Take on students if you enjoy teaching, but don’t do it because you feel like you need the money. Play gigs that make you happy. Play music that makes you happy. And don’t even think about going back to food delivery.”
