Page 20 of Forbidden

He glanced at me for a moment as he stopped at the stop sign for our road, which intercepted the main highway. “Doll, your love is payment enough.” He raised my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “Just love me. That’s all I need.”

I could barely forcefood into my mouth, but I was trying because I knew Jenson didn’t like me skipping meals. Everything just tasted bland, and my stomach was threatening to revolt. Swallowing was difficult and took way more effort than it should.

Jenson had his arm draped over the back of my chair, his fingers gently tracing up and down my upper arm, doing his best to soothe me. My parents were quiet, eating like nothing was amiss. Jenson seemed to be the only one that could pick up on how much of a nervous wreck I was.

“I’m sorry,” I finally blurted, my fork clattering loudly to my plate. Some of the patrons at other tables near ours looked over before Jenson quickly shot them dark looks that made them turn back to their meals. Tears burned in my eyes, and I quickly dabbed at them, not wanting to ruin my makeup and look like a raccoon on top of the hot mess I already knew I was. “I’m sorry for hurting you, but I’mnotsorry for falling in love with Jenson, nor for how happy he makes me.”

“Good girl,” Jenson murmured, leaning over to press a kiss to my jaw. My anxiety melted just a tiny bit at his praise. No matter what happened, I still had him standing in my corner. That helped. Thatmeantsomething.

My dad sighed heavily, setting his fork down as well, though he did it much quieter than I had. “Do you know the things your mother has had to hear while she’s out at her book club and her yoga class?” Dad asked me.

“If you intend on trying to guilt trip her for her feelings for me, I suggest you nip that shit right in the bud,” Jenson warned him. He shifted in his seat, sitting taller, reminding my dad who was in charge. I swallowed thickly, chancing a glance at my mother, but she was studiously focused on her food.

Dad clenched his jaw for a moment before forcing it to relax. Looking away from Jenson, he focused his gaze back on me. “Holly, why did you hide it?”

“Because I knew this would happen,” I whispered, staring at my lap. I couldn’t meet his eyes. I had known, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was how it was going to turn out. Iwishedhe had proven me wrong. That Jenson and I could have fought instead about how wrong I’d been because I at least knew Jenson wouldn’t turn his back on me. But instead, all Dad had done was prove me right.

Silence rang out before Mom asked, “Then why do it, Holly? Why risk it?”

I tilted my chin up this time, refusing to let anyone make me feel bad about my choice to be with Jenson. He had proven time and time again that he would stand ten toes down for me, unlike my parents, who were supposed to always be there. Instead, they’d tossed me aside as if loving me was anoption.

“Because he’s worth it,” I told her honestly. Jenson gently squeezed my upper arm in support. “Even if you two decide to never speak to me again, he isstillworth it all. Because unlike you two, when the times got super tough,hewas the one making sure I had what I needed. That I was taken care of. We weren’t even officially back together yet. Hadn’t even worked out our own shit, really.” Dad scowled at my cursing, but I ignored him. He didn’t get to have a say in what words slipped past my lips anymore. “But he didn’t even bat an eye. He did what he had to take care of me.”

Dad scrubbed his hand down his face. “It’s going to take me time to get used to the fact that you’re dating a man almost twice your age,” he told me honestly. “But we can work on repairing our relationship, Holly.” I blinked in surprise, my muscles tensing. I hadn’t been expecting him to cave and agree so easily. What had Jenson said to him before dinner? “And if you want, you’re more than welcome to come back home. We’ll also get everything sorted with your school. Jenson is right; I acted irrationally and did everything I could to make you hurt like we were, and as your parent—as a decent human being—that was wrong of me.”

Jenson cleared his throat. “She’s not leaving my house, though if you’ll allow her, she can get her things. But she won’t be needing her car or any electronics. All of that is already covered.” I swung my wide eyes to his.A car?Laptop?Tablet?All of that stuff I needed for school, he was just going to take care of? Jenson studiously ignored my wide-eyed gaze. “Holly and I will be going car shopping tomorrow, and I have a laptop and tablet being delivered two days from now. And her school payments are already covered. I wrote her a check and had her take care of that yesterday.”

Dad was speechless. Mom was gaping at Jenson, much as I was. Clearly, they’d thought this was some kind of fling, that maybe it might end. Jenson’s actions proved he was all in. And they’d truly fucked up.

I wasn’t dating an older man because it was fun. It was, but that wasn’t why I was with Jenson. I was with him because he truly made mehappy.

“A car?” I choked out, drawing Jenson’s eyes to me.

Jenson shrugged. “Or a truck. Jeep. SUV. Doesn’t matter—whatever you want.”

“But I have a perfectly good car?—”

He pressed a finger to my lips to silence me, lowering his head just a bit so our eyes were level. “And you are mine to take care of, doll. Let me do that. I don’t want them to hold anything over your head ever again, understand me?”

Tears welled in my eyes, and not giving a single fuck that my parents were sitting right across from us, I cupped his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He nuzzled my cheek, sending tingles racing down my spine. “You became the reason I breathe the moment I laid eyes on you,” he rasped in my ear.

Every nerve ending in my body sang at his sweet, tender words.

14

Jenson

Today kind of sucked.

Holly and I had spent the past two months together—living together, sleeping together. We were nearly inseparable. She went to work with me most days, just chilling in my office. She even took over some of the paperwork tasks after a couple of weeks, which ended up spoiling me rotten, not going to lie. I was going to have to hire a personal assistant to take over those tasks so I wouldn’t have to go back to doing them.

“I wish I didn’t have to leave,” Holly said softly, wrapping her arms around her chest. She rubbed her palms up and down her sweater-covered arms as she looked around her fully-furnished apartment. I was now spending fifteen-hundred dollars a month on this apartment so she could have her own space and I could come see her every weekend without having to abide by campus housing rules. She had one of my credit cards for any necessities, as well as anything she may want. I was spoiling her—couldn’t help myself. I wanted her to haveeverything.

School was due to start back in a few days, and she had to be near campus for orientation and to pick up all her books. I also didn’t want her trying to adjust right when classes started. I wanted her to be settled in so she could put her focus on her courses.

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