“You shouldnot have a planmore often.”
Easing out of her, I reach down and grab her panties, sliding them up her legs and being as gentle as I can before doing the same with the scrap of spandex. I try to fix her bra but she just waves me off, sighing dreamily as she stands and does it herself, leaving me to dispose of the condom and tuck myself back into my jeans.
I’ve just turned the music off when Nessa takes three steps toward me and jumps into my arms, knocking me back on my heels. Hands cupping my face, she slants her lips over mine and devours my mouth with every nip of her teeth and swipe of her tongue against mine.
And I let her.
Because if I’ve learned anything about Nessa Hart, it’s thatthisis how she says thank you. This is her version of a love language when she’s strung so tight she’s about to snap but needs to be pushed until she’s falling.
But unlike every time before, there’s someone ready and waiting to catch her.
And there’s nothing I want more than to be the man she trusts to do that.
So tonight, I’ll let her kiss me and thank me the only way she knows how.
40
NESSA
We barely made it back to the house before Remi started fussing in her crib. I’d planned my workout perfectly, placing a monitor next to the speaker so I could check on her while I wailed on the bag.
It’d been a hell of a workout and far more than I’d anticipated when I first went out there. My body still hummed so much with what we did back in the shed that I hadn’t objected when Jensen had slipped his hand in mine or right now when he’d placed a kiss on my temple and told me to go take a shower while he got the baby settled.
It was…surreal…in the best possible way.
The most terrifying way.
Because this feeling couldn’t last, could it?
I’d made running a habit, but the things that normally pushed guys away had Jensen doubling down. The normally buttoned-up Sheriff wasn’t just pressed uniforms and helping little old ladies cross the street.
He was unhinged and commanding and still somehowsweet.Every stroke and caress had owned me from the inside out. He’d known what I needed and given it to me and then some.
But he’d also given me the control in every word—every movement he made—forcing me into the moment and letting me decide when it was all too much.
Or not enough.
My thoughts are an endless loop as I pad gingerly to the bathroom, my body aching and sore and absolutely exhausted in the best possible way.
Taking my aggression out on Jensen had been far superior to going rounds with the bag. It had always been my go-to but now it would never be enough.
The man was ruining me.
And I didn’t hate it.
Turning the water on, I let my eyelids fall shut and let the sound of the spray drown the noise in my head. It would be so easy to see myself here, in this house,with Jensen and Remi.
It was a dream I never hoped could be mine and realistically it still couldn’t—not now—at least not with Jensen.
But would I want anyone else?
The resounding no has a sad smile playing on my lips, as I strip out of my clothes before climbing into the spray.
I’m not sure what the answer is, and there are too many emotions tonight to think any of these musings could be something real and lasting andmine.
Still, I take my time, washing my hair and body before climbing out and wrapping myself in a fluffy gray towel.
I’m so tired, I barely remember lying down on the bed, promising myself it would just be a minute and then I’d get up and put on pajamas. Vaguely, I remember the mattress dipping behind me, Jensen’s corded forearm pulling me back against his chest and tucking us in.
