‘We have to tell Cat.’
‘Agreed.’
‘And if either of us walks away again, that’s it. No more chances.’
I swallow. He knows running away is my safety net. But the thought of losing him again gives me the courage I’ve never had. ‘Okay.’
He considers me and my heart leaps when his features soften. ‘What are your conditions?’
I think about it as I curl up against his side once more. ‘Don’t take a job in Texas after the academy.’
‘I don’t even have to go to the academy.’
‘Yes, you do.’ I put a finger against his lips, ignoring his attempts to argue. ‘You deserve to have a life and the academy will help with that.’
‘Anything else?’
It’s a hard thing to say, but Doctor Blathe said Jake deserved my honesty. ‘If I say I need space, I need you to trust that I’m not trying to run away from you. I’m just saying that I need time to process. I don’t want to watch you walk out of my apartment again.’
He’s quiet for a long while. Finally he presses a kiss to my temple. ‘Fine.’
As we both settle back against the bed, he adds, ‘And, to clarify, when I said I wanted more than sex, that means everything else gets added to the sex.’
‘You do know you’re still in the hospital, right?’
He cracks a grin and it’s a little like being blinded by the sun. ‘There’s a first time for everything.’
‘Then consider this our first fight as a real couple. We are not having sex in the hospital.’
‘You are so boring.’
‘That’s why you love me.’ Those words aren’t terrifying anymore.
His eyes are serious. ‘I do.’
‘I love you too. I think.’
He sighs. ‘Stronger without the second part. But I’ll still take it. I’m man enough to appreciate the tin woman getting her heart.’
I stick out my tongue at him. ‘What’s the plan once you get out of here?’
‘How about our first make-up sex when we get home?’
He nuzzles against my neck, lips tracing their way down the curve of my jaw. I ignore him until the light nip of his teeth sends shivers over my skin. My body’s reaction our accidental night together was a pale imitation of what I’m feeling now.
‘Deal,’ I answer breathlessly.
Hours later, safe in the comfort of my bed, he makes sure I understand exactly what I’m getting myself into. Once again, he gives me a perfect night. The first night of many.
Cat and Dally
Day 1 — Morning
‘Hell, no.’
I place my hands on the island counter and dig in for battle. ‘Come on, Dally,’ I plead as I watch him cut another slice off the apple he snagged from the fridge.
Okay, so technically I’m watching the way his abs are flexing above his gym shorts as he leans back against the counter, but the muscles of his forearms are pretty damn distracting too. And his fingers. And the dark ink cascading over most of his upper body.