“Jason,” she said, catching his arm as he reached the landing. “I’m so very sorry that happened. I’d never, ever, put you in a position like that. I’d never intentionally hurt you, either.”
“I know,” he said. “But I don’t think you know how important you are to me, or how important you always have been to me. We can’t fix this, can we, Kat?”
“Don’t say that,” she whispered. “Don’t say we can’t fix things.” She held his hands. “I want to and that’s one of the reasons you saying you were done hurt so much. I’m really trying. I really want this time to work.”
Jason picked her up and Kat laughed. “You’re always picking me up. I don’t remember you doing that in the past.”
He sat down on her couch, with her back against the arm of the sofa, and her legs draped over his.
“I just realized that I am soaking wet and now your floor and your couch are, too.”
“I don’t care,” she said. “You’re here. That’s all that matters.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, before whispering, “On second thought, I think you should take those wet clothes off.”
He cupped the back of her head and kissed her, a quick, passionate kiss. “Do you know why I keep picking you up?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m always afraid you’re going to run away again.”
She shifted, climbing on top of him, straddling him, and then pulled his wet shirt off and tossed it behind him.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She tossed her shirt with his, but when she tried to remove her bra, he tugged her against him.
“Don’t do that. I can’t think when you’re naked and we haven’t solved anything yet.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Jason,” she promised.
“But you think I am.”
“I don’t want to hold you back, Jason. If you feel like you can never take another job that requires you to travel, that isn’t any more healthy than me always feeling like you will. I don’t want that for you or for us.”
He let his head drop back, staring at the ceiling. He felt defeated in a battle he’d given everything he was in order to win it. She kissed his throat.
“What did I say wrong? What is wrong with me wanting the best for you?”
“I’m not taking any more jobs that require I travel unless you can go with me,” he said, bringing her back into view. “Not after I get past these auditions. If I don’t do them, I break my contract, and the studio will either kill the stage show or replace me. I did this for us.”
“I know,” she said. “I know you did and that scares me. Jason, I feel the same fear I always did. What if you get bored with the show and resent me because you’re tied to it?”
He rolled her to her back and came down on top of her. “I have traveled the world. I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in show business. I have more money than I can ever spend. And I’m not happy. You are what makes me happy. You, Kat.”
“Until you have to miss something big because of me.”
“I already missed the only thing that mattered, and that was us. I want you to believe that right here and now, but I know you won’t. I know it’s about time and actions and all I can say is, I’m up for the challenge. And by the way, about me bringing you here tonight. I already told you I was staying here. I’m not leaving unless you kick me out.” His lips quirked. “Besides, I have a personal goal of making love to you in every room and then doing it all over again.” He glanced around. “Starting with the living room.”
She slid her arms around his neck. “We do have all day tomorrow.”
“I like how you think.” He reached underneath her and unhooked her bra before tossing it away and melding her chest to his. “And I love how you feel. I love you, Kat.”
Jason took his time showing her—one lick, one kiss, one pleasurable moment after another. If he had the chance, he’d spend a lifetime showing her. But he wasn’t there yet—to the place when she’d give him a lifetime. He knew that, no matter how much she told him she was. He felt it, sensed it. He knew his KandyKat. He was going to have to do just what he’d vowed: be patient and prove to her just how well he really could love her.
* * *
IT WAS NEARLY dawn and Kat wasn’t sure how long she and Jason had been talking, but she didn’t want to stop. It felt like forever since she’d had her best friend to talk to.
“We should sleep,” Jason said, absently stroking her shoulder. “We have to go find you a car tomorrow and then Sunday we’re back in the whirlwind of preparation for next week’s opening.”