Our Happily Ever After (Bold As Love 5)

“You love it,” he grins.

“Only sometimes. I'm not panicking either.”

“Sweetness,” he begins, but I interrupt him.

“Not panicking, Jake,” I say sternly. Softer, I continue, “Just a little stressed and tired.” I snuggle in his arms. “I love you,” I whisper.

“I know.”

I giggle and quickly kiss him. “You know? You won't be here next week. You can't just say that you know, Jake,” I tell him playfully.

Jake smiles, gently pushes me on my back and leans over me. He begins to frantically kiss my face from my forehead to my cheeks to my neck. He's pecking everywhere, causing me to laugh. Then he stops and looks at me with a dreamy smile.

“I love you. Did me saying it make you feel better?”

I nod. “A little. Tell me again.”

Jake's smile widens. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

“Much better. Not one hundred percent though. I think you need to kiss me now.”

He leans down and gives me my kiss. “Are you trying to distract me, Sweetness?” he asks, letting his lips brush against mine as he speaks.

“What?” I lean back to look at him. “Why would I want to distract you?”

He rolls onto his back, but turns his head to look at me. “We were talking about you panicking.”

I groan. “I wasn't trying to distract you, Jake. I was fixing what you think is me panicking which is really just me preparing to go a week without you. Love, I love that you love what you do, but sometimes I don't like your job. What if you come back as the Jake I don't know?” I don't even want to talk anymore, so I roll away from him and close my eyes. But they pop back open when I remember that he thinks I fake sleep in these situations.

“Sweetness, that won't happen.”

“It wasn't supposed to happen in the first place.”

His voice is stern as he says, “I know that and I'm not going to let it happen again.”

I reach behind me, find his hand, and wrap his arm around my waist. He easily comes, and I relish the feel of his body against me. “Sorry. That wasn't very nice. We don't have to talk about this. I rather not anyway. Tell me about any progress with the house. No details, just news on your progress.”

Jake nuzzles his face into the back of my neck, his smile pressed against my skin. “Still in the early stages. I have appointments concerning it tomorrow.”

“No hints?” I test.

“None.” He kisses my neck, the smile still present.

“Tell me again.”

“I love you, Sweetness.”

“Good. I love you too.” I squeeze his hand. “Don't let go.”

Tonight, I want him to hold me tightly and not let go. As if knowing just that, he pulls me tighter against him, kisses my neck again, and tells me to go to sleep.