He grins, wicked, and places his hands in prayer. “Good, my child, because I want to be your king in the worst ways.”
I cup his prayer hands and kiss his fingers. “I love you.”
The words give me peace to say, like I am finally living in my truth.
Jack plants playful kisses on my face, making me relax and laugh.
But he doesn’t say those magic words back. He spoke them last night. I don’t understand his reluctance. However, I know he’s difficult and guarded.
“One problem at a time,” I whisper to myself and focus on the present.
The day continues in a positive direction. Jack and I catch up, and sometimes, the things he says surprise me.
“Hold on, you haven’t slept with Blake?”
“No,” I answer softly.
He blinks several times. “Are you telling me-”
“Yes. You’re still the only guy I’ve... you know, been with.”
I expect him to smile. Maybe praise me.
He just stares, bewildered.
Twisting my fingers nervously, I ask, “Have you been sleeping with women? Since Ingrid posted that video and you went viral?”
He laughs.
Literally laughs.
“What’s so funny?” I pout.
“Oh, Morgan,” he mutters dismissively, like I am hopeless. “You know the code.”
He tosses me his phone.
I catch it and rush to a curb, making this moment my break time. For the next ten minutes, I scour his DMs. As I suspected, they’re flooded with women messaging him.
All unread.
I flinch when I realize Jack’s standing over me, staring down. I hand him his phone. I don’t know what to say. I feel too blessed for words. We weren’t even together. He thought I was sleeping with Blake. He had every reason to indulge.
He helps me to a stand and I crash into him, squeezing him as tightly as I can. My cheek presses to his hard body. We don’t say anything.
Soon, I learn something else about Jack.
His protectiveness runs deeper than a thing that happens whenever his anger boils over.
It wasn’t obvious at first, but then, little things started to add up.
First, if a guy talks to me for a while, he’ll interrupt and make an excuse to lead me away. If I get a drink from the cooler, he insists on coming with me. Even if I need to go to the bathroom, he’ll wait outside.
The unusual part is, he downplays it. Acts like it’s no big deal.
When I cut my forearm on a branch, I head to the first aid tent.
My tall shadow follows.
