He kisses my hair. “I love you so much,” he murmurs. “This is it now. Just you and me.
I tilt my head back, kissing a place on his neck. “Just you and me,” I echo.
I nestle my head into his neck, breathing him in, feeling suddenly exhausted, as I try to work through the conflicting emotions still raging through me.
When I wake I’m Jake’s arms, the sky coming in through the window looks dusky. We’ve slept the whole day away.
I’m supposed to be going home. Jake too. Our flights out of Paris are tonight.
Suddenly the thought of leaving him crushes my chest.
Then I think of Will, and pure sadness engulfs me. Tears instantly prick my eyes.
I wonder if he got an early flight? I hope he got home okay.
Will. Lovely sweet Will. What have I done to him?
I hope he’s okay. I didn’t want it to end the way it did. Maybe I should call him? Try to explain?
No, what good would that do, and anyway, he hates me.
He’s right to.
I cheated on him. I broke his trust and his heart. I’ve scarred him; he won’t trust another woman for a long time to come because of me. And he’s so gentle and caring; he didn’t deserve any of what I’ve done to him But I love Jake. I know it’s a poor excuse but I couldn’t help myself.
The way I feel about him is indescribable. It’s overwhelming. Sometimes so much so that I feel like I’m gasping for air with the intensity of the feelings I have for him But then, is this the right way for Jake and I to start our life together, off the back of a broken relationship?
I don’t think it is. But I suppose, mine and Jake’s relationship started a long time ago. It spans our lifetime.
I hurt for Will and how I treated him, I always will, but Jake is where I want to be.
He’s my home.
Jake stirs in his sleep, his eyes opening slowly. And when he looks at me, all I see in them is complete love for me.
“Hey.” His voice is all sleepy and sexy.
“Hi,” I say quietly.
I look at the bruising on his lip; the swelling has gone down a little. A reminder of what happened only this morning.
I trace my fingertip over it. Jake takes hold of my hand kissing my fingertips. Then puts his hand on my face, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“I love waking up with you. I want to wake up every morning looking at your face,” he murmurs.
Shivers run over my skin.
“Me too. But we have to go home tonight.” My lips turn down at the corners.
“Do we?”
“I’ve got work to do at the magazine,” I sigh. “And you’ve got PR to do for the US leg of the tour.”
“I don’t care about any of that. It can wait. Stay with me here in Paris for a few more days. I’m not ready to be away from you, not when I’ve only just got you.”
I stare at his face. “I guess I could call, Vicky…”
“So you’ll stay?”
“Yes.”
He smiles, a beautiful smile that reaches all the way to his eyes. Then he moves his face closer to mine and kisses me gently on the lips, tracing his fingers over my skin, moving them into my hair. It feels gentle, tender.
“How’s your lip?” I murmur.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.” He rolls me onto my back, keeping me in his arms, his kiss deepens and I know what he wants.
This is it.
This is the first time Jake and I will be together properly. The first time we’ll make love as an official couple.
The thought makes me feel heady. No more guilt, no more sneaking around. Just him and me I wind my fingers into his hair, letting his tongue roam mine, kissing, nipping, licking.
I lift, allowing Jake to pull my vest off. His mouth goes straight to my nipple.
My hips lift with the feeling and he puts his hand there, touching me through the fabric of my pyjama bottom and panties.
“Oh God, Jake,” I groan.
I put my hand between cotton and skin, taking him in my hand. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to his size. It surprises me even now.
I start to work my hand up and down.
Jake hisses between his teeth, then sucks harder on my nipple.
“God, Tru you drive me crazy. I just want to be inside you all the time.”
“Sounds good to me,” I breathe, pushing myself into his hand.
He yanks my pyjama bottoms and panties down in one, and I kick them off my legs.
“What no panty ripping today?” I tease. “What is it with you and panties anyway? What’s your beef with them?”
He lifts his head, grinning at me. “It’s a love/hate relationship, baby. I love how they look on you. Hate that they’re blocking my access.”
I giggle.
“Do you like it when I do it?” He trails his finger down my stomach.
“I love it,” I murmur, kissing his lips.
“I never ripped anyone’s panties off before, you know,” he says, under my still moving mouth.
I stop kissing him. “You haven’t?” I just figured this was a Jake thing.
He shakes his head.
“So why do you tear mine off?”