“See. Not so perfect after all. No one truly recovers from shit like that.”
“My ex was like that too." Her voice stutters. "Drinking, breaking things, always on edge. I couldn’t help him either. But I’m glad you had your mom, though. That you chose her.” She gives me a small, sad smile. “And Dylan? No one’s perfect. But you’re pretty damn close.”
Fuck, my heart.
I don’t think she’d still feel that way if she saw all my ugly parts. That I spent years numbing myself with drugs, booze, sex with strangers, nights I didn’t remember, nights I almost never woke up from. That I wasn’t just experimenting with my brother. I was disappearing.
Silence stretches. Heavy with the weight of her gaze, and the warmth of her so close. I swallow hard. “Jenna…” She stares back like she already knows what I want to say. Then she looks away. And I let her.
Chapter 20: Coming Undone
Jenna: December
My newly renovated office and warm yellow walls glow in the evening light. Everyone else left an hour ago, but I’m not ready to go home. Dylan’s work is etched in every corner. And in a few days, he’ll be gone.
I keep telling myself that’s a good thing. But is it?
The door opens, and it’s him—messy hair, toolbox in hand, and that smirk that makes it impossible to breathe.
“Long day?” His voice is casual, but there’s something unspoken beneath it.
“I could ask you the same.” My voice is light, unaffected.
He steps closer.
“It never feels long when I’m around you.” His words are thick with meaning. “I’m going to miss working here.”
God, I don’t want him to leave. I don’t want to lose the way he calms my nerves and lights me up with his contagious laugh. I drop my gaze, fingers fidgeting with the pen in front of me.
“I’m sure everyone’s going to miss your raunchy jokes… and your smile.” I try to sound indifferent, but I know my face says something else.
His grin deepens, slow and knowing. “Everyone? Or only you?”
I swallow hard, clutching the pen. “Well… I guess I should thank you for making my office dreams come true, as promised.” A weak deflection, and he knows it. But it doesn’t make it any less true.
Dylan inches closer, and my pulse hammers. “I’m not sure my work here is done yet. There’s still one thing left to fix.”
“Oh?” My voice wavers. “And what’s that, Mr. Hayes?”
“This.” His rough, calloused hand slides into mine. His touch igniting a fire that burns all the way down between my thighs, threatening to crush my world as I know it.
“Fixing the tension between us.”
My breath stutters. “Dylan…”
His eyes lock onto mine. “Every time you look at me like that, it makes me fucking crazy. Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
“Don’t say that,” I plead. “Please… stop talking.” My resolve crumbles like fragile glass.
His fingers trail up my arm. “Don’t tell you how much I want you? How you terrify me in ways I never saw coming? How you’re the first woman I’ve ever wanted to give everything to?” He groans. “Fuck, all I think about is making you come apart, hearing you moan my name as I touch you, taste you, ruin you in the best possible way.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, every muscle in my body trembling with restraint. “I can’t. Please... please don’t tempt me.”
When I open them, he’s moving toward the door. I hope he’s leaving. Fuck, no. I hope he stays. The sharp click of the lock slices through the silence. When he turns back, his gaze burns into mine.
“If I can’t have you,” he murmurs. “Let me watch you come undone, trembling for me. Just from my filthy words and your own touch.”
A pulse of heat shoots through me. He takes a seat on my chair, slightly spreading his legs like he’s in complete control.
