“When you’re ready, JJ.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “We made it work for a year, so we know we can do it.”
“Yeah.”
“I do think you should talk to Piper, though.”
They’d been talking about her going to see Piper Briggs for a while now. Piper was a psychiatrist, which made her capable of helping JJ deal with the trauma that she’d endured back when Dante used her as a pawn in his kidnapping plot. She’d woken up covered in blood, and Baz knew she still had nightmares about that. He knew better than to think she would make it through this without some repercussions. He would do everything he could to help her, but he didn’t have the skills to help her process the mental trauma.
“I’ll think about it.”
That was all he could ask.
JJ tilted her head, peering up at him. Baz looked down at her.
“I want to take a shower.”
He loosened his hold on her so she could get up. “Sure.”
“With you.”
Like he was going to argue with that. “Okay.”
“Then I want you to take me to bed, Mr. Buchanan. I want you to take it all away for a little while.”
“I can do that.”
Her eyes warmed as she smiled sweetly. “I want multiple orgasms.”
He chuckled. “You drive a hard bargain, but I think I’m up for it.”
“You better be,” she said as she scooted to the edge of the couch, waiting so he could help her up.
Because he knew she was trying to lighten the mood, he decided to play along.
“How many are you thinkin’?” he asked, taking her hand and leading her toward the bathroom.
“Three, maybe four.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Yeah? How about five?”
“Hmm.” He tugged her hand, pulling her into him. “We should get started now.”
“I like where your head’s at,” she whispered.
And as JJ was known to do, she somehow managed to distract him from his worries.
At least for a little while.
***
Becs pulled up to Evan’s house andfelt that familiar sense of dread that had been lingering since they were in New York. Considering all that had happened, it was hard to believe it hadn’t been a week since they got back. Only four days, yet it felt like an eternity because their argument had left a giant rift between them, and Becs wasn’t sure how to get past that. Or if they even could.
She was both embarrassed and angry about what happened. And yes, she could admit she had jumped to conclusions, expecting the worst from Evan when she thought he was calling to end what was transpiring between them before it ever had a chance to get started. It was a knee-jerk reaction, something she’d developed after years of being in an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. Evan had done nothing to warrant that sort of response from her, but no matter which way she twisted that memory, she couldn’t see herself reacting any other way.
History made her who she was, and it was becoming more evident that she was too broken to even indulge in the idea of a future with anyone.
Not that it was easy to think that way. Her interest in Evan hadn’t waned even a little over the past few days. Absence had made her feelings for him grow stronger, erasing some of the hurt she’d felt after their conversation.
