Page 71 of When Glitter Meets Gold

It hits me hard. I take a steadying breath as I fight to recall if I’ve ever met anyone who’s been this perceptive around me before. This is new territory. It’s a little scary, but it’s also making me feel like being vulnerable right now won’t come back to bite me on the ass.

“You’re right. I did go through something. And I’m trying not to let that get in the way.” My throat feels tight. “But…I really am trying, Jack.”

He pushes from the counter, takes a stride toward me and without hesitation, pulls me into a hug. No hips pressing into mine, no dick twitching in his pants, just warmth. Wrapped around me in the same safe cocoon as when I lay on him in the storm.

I bury my face in his T-shirt, mumbling into his chest. “Sometimes I’m a little dramatic, and my actions andreactionscan be over the top. I guess it’s how I deal. Noise first, sense and resolve later.” I laugh uncomfortably. “I tried so hard to change that, but I think that’s just who I am. I think that’s my package.”

“I know,” he says into my hair with light amusement.

“You do?”

“I spent the best part of twenty-four hours with you on the trails, I saw.” I feel him shrug. “I mean yeah, you freaked out for sure.” He clears his throat. “Is that…” he says in the most awkward girl voice I’ve ever heard, “a tent?”

My jaw hangs open and I shove him off. “You’re seriously mocking me?” I contemplate stomping on his foot with mystiletto before a grin spreads across my face.

“Ohhh yeah,” he says smiling with the corner of his mouth before he’s twisting, reaching into the overhead cupboard to retrieve a couple of glasses. “Being dramatic is exactly who you are. It’s part of your energy, part of what makes you light up.”

Light up?I feel my cheeks heat, and I don’t know whether to blush or feel embarrassed.

Then Jack twists to fill the glasses with water and when he turns to set them down, he’s got another serious look in his eye, but this time it’s different to the ones I’ve seen before, because this one comes with a hint of anger.

“Someone killed that light before, didn’t they? Someone tried to silence you, forced you to question yourself. It’s why you keep apologizing for being too loud. It’s because that’s what yourexmade you do, right?”

Things get really still. He said he wasn’t going to pry but I know I won’t get away with not admitting this one thing to him. I swipe at a tendril of loose hair and drag it behind my ear as I nod.

Jack straightens. As in he sticks out his huge chest and grows a foot taller. His face is the sexiest combination of determination and passion, and it makes my heart ache wondering what the hell he’s about to say with such a look.

“You want to know what I think?” His voice is low, deeper than I’ve ever heard it. “I think you arelight. Shining, bright light.” He steps toward me, his voice dropping again, everything about the gravelly texture invites me in. “I think you are energy and chaos in the best way. I think there’s no chance of ever being bored with you.” I step back, swallowing thickly but he comes toward me again. “I think you’re afraid to make noise right now, and you shouldn’t be. Because trust me when I say people notice you and they likewhat they see.Ilike what I see.” My back hits the island and Jack closes the gap between us entirely. “I like the noise, and I like that you take up space.” He places a hand either side of me on the marble, leaning in. “And you know what else I think?” His eyes map my features. “I think that scares some people. People who can’t keep up. And Sara,” he says as his lips tick up at the corners, a wicked grin with no humor appearing. “I think your ex was a pussy who couldn’t keep up.”

At that moment, with Jack’s mouth hovering so close to mine, I think I might break my rule. He knows I need actions over words, but here’s the thing – words are important too, and his just mended something inside my chest. When was the last time someone told me they loved the things I hated most about myself?

Jack sighs. “He’s why you won’t let me in.” He removes his hands from the counter before stepping back from me. He picks up his glass, drains it dry. His lips have a coating of wetness from the water, and all I want to do is run my tongue over them and taste him like I did earlier.

“Jack…”

“Yeah?” he says absently, twisting to fill the glass again.

He doesn’t get a chance, because I pluck it from his grip, set it on the counter, then reach for his face. I step on tiptoe and crush my mouth against his. His shock only lasts a second before he’s leaning into the kiss, his lips working against mine. It’s fierce and messy and something neither of us can pull away from. Not like earlier kisses that were uncertain and teasing. This is hungry and violent and passionate, something which starves the mind of oxygen and blurs the lines of reason.

His hands wrap around the back of my thighs, his fingers sinking into my flesh as he picks me up. My legsmould around his waist as he steps forward, thrusting me on top of the center island. I feel my miniskirt fly up as my ass connects with the cool marble.

His mouth devours mine, and his teeth graze my lips before moving to my jaw, causing me to tilt my head back and moan against his touch. “I’ll be patient with you like you have no idea,” Jack says, mouth pressing kisses to my neck. “But you have to give me some honesty. Admit why you came here tonight.”

Because you feel like light to me too.

“Paperwork, contracts.” I gasp as one of his hands slides beneath my blouse and travels up my ribcage until he finds my breasts.Yes yes yes.

“Bullshit.” He finds my nipple and pinches on top of the material. “What are you doing here, Sara? In my house,” he growls against my ear. “I gave you every option that didn’t involve you coming here, yet you still chose to walk through those doors when you knew I’d try to fuck you the moment you stepped inside. Why did you come?”

“I don’t know,” I say, sinking my fingers into the solid muscle above the waistband of his pants.

“I do.” His other hand slides into my hair and he makes a fist, holding onto a section so he can angle my face to look up at him, exposing my throat. With his other hand, he tugs off my necktie and lets it sail to the floor.

“You’re here because you want to be fucked.”

My jaw hangs open, yet right before I’m about to protest, he wedges himself against me, his dick pressing against my pussy. We’re eyelevel, and it’s the most intimate fucking thing. The ache between my legs is back.

“You’re here because you know I can make you feel good.” He tugs my hair again. “You’ve been fucking me with those beautiful eyes all night. You even marked your territory...”He presses my hand to his solid pectoral muscle where I sunk my nails in earlier. I bite my lip and stifle the grin that wants to come out. “And I know that if I reach between your legs now, I’m going to find you wet for me.”

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