I pulled the thin lime green fabric from his hand and sat up.
“The only thing the constant interruptions mean is that one of us needs to change the locks,” I grumbled, jerking my sweater over my head and buttoning my jeans. I smiled as an errant thought crossed my mind. “We have an entire week in Nicaragua.”
“With Cynthia,” Jared pointed out. “I’m there to work, you forget.”
I felt the crease between my eyebrows deepen. “You promised it was going to be a real vacation.”
Jared took my hand and held it between his, sitting higher on his elbow. “It will be. For you and Cynthia.”
I rolled my eyes and reached for my phone, sitting up to through the numbers. I sent Beth a text message, giving her the all clear and to let her know I would be at study group later.
Jared slipped his shirt over his head and then pulled me onto his lap. My phone buzzed and I smiled at Beth’s apology-ridden reply. I tried to send her back my unconditional forgiveness, but my attention was drawn to the nibbling at my neck.
“I thought you said it was a good thing we were interrupted,” I smiled, tilting my head against his tickling breath.
Jared’s head jerked up to face me. “I never said that. I said I was beginning to think there was a reason for it.”
“And by that you mean…?” I prompted.
“I was thinking about what Eli said. Surpassing a certain point of intimacy could hinder my ability to protect you.”
“He also said they weren’t sure because we’re different.”
“I’m not sure we should chance it,” he frowned.
“What are you saying? That we can never…?”
He pressed his forehead to my cheek. “I’m saying that it might not be a good idea to test Eli’s theory while we’re in the middle of a war.”
“War,” I grumbled.
“Nina….”
I stood up and walked to the other side of the room, crossing my arms. “No, I get it. Abstinence it is, then. I don’t want you upset that I’m not taking things seriously, again.”
“Nina,” he said, patient, “I’m not happy about it, either. But I have to put your safety first.”
“You sound like a Planned Parenthood commercial,” I snapped.
Jared burst into laughter. “That’s not the safe I was referring to.”
“I know,” I said, narrowing my eyes at his infuriating amusement.
“I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful when angry…especially when you’re angry about this. It’s very endearing.”
“I’m glad this is so entertaining for you,” I said with thick sarcasm.
Jared shook his head, trying not to smile. He held out his arms. “Come here.”
I stood there a moment, arms crossed, eying him suspiciously. The plan that he would change his mind from my protesting had backfired. He was maddeningly resolved.
I didn’t want to give in, but his arms looked so inviting I couldn’t help myself. Before I knew what I was doing, I curled up in his lap.
“You’re making me crazy, you know. I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn,” I grumbled.
Jared’s shoulders shrugged around me. “I’m being cautious. Beth and Chad walked in on us.”
I looked up at him with a dubious expression. “Since when do you care what other people think?”
“I didn’t hear them. They caught me off guard,” he said in a low voice.
I felt one corner of my mouth turn up. “Obviously.”
“That’s never happened before. I should have been able to hear them exit the elevator. I should have heard her pull out her keys. I heard nothing until they walked through the door. If that had been one of Shax’s men, you would have been dead.”
My grin faded quickly, and I struggled to push away any worry. “What does that mean?”
“That means Eli was right. When I’m with you like that, I can’t focus. I’m not only fighting my feelings, Nina. When we’re alone and things get intense, I struggle with your…desires as well. Can you imagine what you were feeling doubled? It’s impossible to think about anything else.”
“Doubled? I don’t think that’s possible.” As soon as the words stumbled from my mouth, I felt my face flush with crimson. “I just meant that I wouldn’t complain about it.”
“I’m not complaining,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I’m saying we’re going to have to wait until I can afford to be distracted. If anything happened to you …I’ve already put you in danger from my selfishness, Nina. I have to keep my priorities straight.”
I grudgingly nodded. By keeping me safe, he was safe. I couldn’t argue with that.
Jared stood up, taking me with him. “Let’s get out of here. Get some fresh air,” he said.
I smiled. “We’d better.”
Jared chuckled and held the door open for me. He had the quilt his father had bought me when I received my acceptance letter from Brown. It had the school colors in different scraps of fabric that somehow formed the Brown University crest.