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It was late in themorning when I woke up, not sure what time I had finally fallen asleep.The disappointment was heavy in my chest as I looked beside me to find the bed empty.I climbed out of bed, feeling restless because Ineverslept late, and found Jo in the kitchen making breakfast.
“Good morning,” she said when she spotted me.“Perfect timing, everything is just about ready.”
I smiled and walked up behind her as she flipped the last pancake out of the pan.Her body was soft and warm as I pulled it against me, breathing in the fruity fragrance of her shampoo as her head tilted to the side while I kissed her neck.
“You didn’t have to cook breakfast,” I replied, letting her go so she could finish what she needed.She felt tight and tense, so I didn’t want to put any pressure on her if she needed space this morning—like the kind you need when you decide to leave the arms of the person who held you all night.
“I wanted to.I needed something to keep me distract—”
She stopped talking, looking away from me as she lowered her head and let out a soft sigh.
“It’s okay to need a distraction.I had a hard time falling asleep last night because my mind wouldn’t stop, so I get it,” I offered.
“Do you think we should have waited before we...”
Her eyes were filled with uncertainty as she looked at me.
“I can’t answer that,” I replied softly.“I know that being with you was something I’ve wanted for a long time.But I can’t speak for you, and whetheryouwere ready for that to happen.I’m really sorry—”
“Don’t apologize,” Jo said, groaning as she held her hands up to stop me.“Nothing goodevercomes from a man apologizing for having sex with you.”
I licked my lips and tried to hide my grin because she was fucking adorable, even when she wasn’t trying to be.I cleared my throat, trying to focus so I didn’t get too distracted.
“Just so we’re clear, I would never apologize for that.I just meant that I was sorry if I made you feel pressured to do it.I know how it can be to get caught up in the moment.”
“I think my problem with all of it is that it’s you,” she admitted, taking plates of food to the table and setting them down.
I clutched a hand to my chest, feigning hurt as she rolled her eyes at me.
“Wow, Jo.You don’t have to be so mean,” I teased.
Her head shook as she pulled out a chair and sat down.
“You know what I mean.You’re my ex-husband’s best friend.”
“Formerbest friend,” I said, interrupting.
“Fine,formerbest friend,” she amended with an exasperated look.“But you know what I mean, Dom.You are off limits, and yet, I still fucked you.”
“No one gets to decide what’soff limitsexcept for us.Like I said before, he’s no longer in the picture.What he thinks doesn’t matter.All that matters is whatwewant.”
“You make it sound like it’s so easy...”Jo picked up a piece of toast and bit into it, looking away from me to stare out the window as the snow fell.
I kept my mouth shut and focused on eating because I didn’t want to make Jo feel like I was disregarding how she felt.But at the end of the day, she was all that would ever matter to me, and I would die making sure she knew that.
