Page 56 of Jackson

His lips were soft against my cheek, kissing my tear away as it slipped from my eye.

“Why did you look,” I choked out.

“Because I wanted to understand you and prove to you that what I said was real. I haven’t changed my mind at all about you, baby.”

“But—”

He made a negative sound in his throat, tightening the arm around my waist in order to crush me against his chest. He was gentle as he ran his fingers through my hair again, not at all caring when my tears made the front of his shirt wet.

“My friend said that she’s bringing your case to her partners at the firm she works at. She’s a fucking shark, so I know what she’s going to do everything possible to get your case at least put in front of a new judge.” His voice was soft as he spoke. “I’m getting you out of there, Ayen. I swear I will.”

“What if you can’t?” I had to force the words out of my mouth. “What... if nothing changes?”

He was quiet for a long time but his heartbeat remained steady under my ear.

“Then I’ll wait.”

So simple.

Just like that.

Like it was an easy decision to make.

Maybe it was.

Maybe this was what I was... whatwewere meant to be doing. For some reason, maybe a sign from the damn universe itself, this program had come to me at a time when I needed it most. I’d been brought here to meet this man who was now promising me a future, something that I never thought I’d have again.

He was showing me that there was more to life than letting my past ruin me.

I lifted my head and leaned forward to kiss him. “Stay with me tonight?”

He smiled against my lips. “I’d love to.”

CHAPTER 23

Jackson

I slept wellwith Ayen cradled against me, his warm body acting like my own personal space heater and keeping me toasty all night long while our bodies were entangled with each other.

He fit perfectly, practically molded against my body like a second skin that was always meant to be there. I loved it. I loved everything about the situation and only regretted having to wake us both up once the sun was beginning to lighten the sky outside of the cabin’s window.

I brushed my lips along the column of his neck, sucking just hard enough to wake him but not enough to leave marks behind like I was dying to. When I got him out of this mess, and I could finally take him home back to my place in the city, I’d make sure that every inch of his perfect tan skin was flushed red from my teeth.

I rolled my hips against his, both of us already half hard.

A soft moan escaped him, breathy and still half asleep. He craned his neck back, giving me more access to run my tongue up to the shell of his ear.

I wanted to take my time with him, savor all of this. He was meant to be taken slowly, lovingly, with the time and care and dedication of a seasoned lover who knew how to worship him the way I’d been dying to since I first laid eyes on him.

He moaned again when I moved my hand under his shirt, caressing his stomach and the faint happy trail leading down to the waistband of his pants. He ground his hips up against mine, teasing me with his eagerness.

I rolled him over onto his back and moved on top of him, pining him down against the mattress with my hips against his. His lashes fluttered open, showing me those pretty doe-eyes of his that were still hazy from sleep.

God, he was so fucking gorgeous it was honestly unfair.

Bending down, I caught his lips with mine, loving how easily he parted them for me to slip my tongue between. I dipped my hand under his waistband while I shifted my hips up just enough to wrap my hand around his pretty little cock.

It stiffened instantly with a few long pumps, drawing another groan out of him.

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