Page 94 of Major Love

“I understand,” I tell him, my voice lighter than I mean for it to be.

And he pulls me even closer for a moment before swallowing roughly and blinking away.

“Sorry,” he murmurs. “I’ll have some time off real soon. We’re at the finish lines with these projects and–”

“You don’t have to explain yourself,” I whisper back, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze with mine.

“Sunday,” he murmurs, like hereallywants to explain himself, but I already know what he’s thinking because I’m thinking it too.

I want this. I want us.

And if I waited almosttwo decadesthe first time around, I think that I can wait one more night for him.

So I take matters into my own hands by pulling away first, trying to tamper down the swirling in my belly when he instinctively steps closer.

“I’ll see you when you’re back from work tomorrow,” I murmur, my voice breathless in the dark glow of the cabin’s sconces. Then I drop my jacket to the floor as I make my way toward the stairs.

I’m leaving a trail right behind me and Jason is totally dying to give in, but the maintenance of his military control is almost as much of a thrill as him biting the bait.

I glance back at him over my shoulder and watch his broad chest rise and fall, his large forearms rippling as he battles with his own want.

I wonder what it would feel like to be the person he loses control with.

“Have a good night,” I call back to him, dropping my scarf as I mount the stairs. And as I start to slip off my thermal sweater I say, “I’ll be in the guest room if you need anything.”

Chapter 22

Jason

I brace both of my palms against the tiles on the shower wall, head hanging between my shoulders as the water cascades down my back. Steam gushes toward the ceiling, turning the air opaque, as I let myself savour ten more seconds.

Ten more seconds of muscle-deep relief before I pick up my phone and become the boss for the next twelve hours.

Seeing as it’s the weekend I know that I won’t have my whole crew on hand, but the overtime pay is one hell of an incentive, so there won’t be too many guys missing.

And judging by the messages they were firing off last night? The past six hours of snowfall may have just got us booked and busy.

My chest swells on a deep steam-filled inhale, my eyelids closing for a long moment as I let the heat relax my muscles. On the back of my neck, the expanse of my upper back…

I reluctantly open my eyes and my gaze slides down to my quads, lingering on the long muscle that’s hanging heavily between my thighs.

I lift one hand off the tiles, pushing it back through my shower-drenched hair.

So maybe I should have taken a cold shower this morning. But knowing that I’m about to have a day working outside inthe ice and snow, I wasn’t too inclined to freeze my dick off any sooner than necessary.

I murmur a quiet curse under my breath before reaching down between my thighs, jaw tensing as I wrap my fist around myself and start stroking out some pent-up tension. Just three slow strokes before I release a growl and slap off the shower spray.

I can’t do this right now, especially not when Sunday is on the other side of this wall, fast asleep.

Even if I know what she was doing last night, when she started peeling off her clothes as she mounted my stairs.

But knowing that I had to be up at five this morning was exactly what we both needed to hear. I don’t want to rush her into getting close to me, and I also probably need some clarity about her situation in Nashville. Because if she’s planning on high-tailing it back to Tennessee after Case comes home, then I’m ninety-nine percent sure that this thing between us is going to have to stay as ‘just friends’.

Although, even if that is the case, maybe we should just sayfuck it– I’ve wanted to be with her since I was eighteen years old, and if hooking up is all that she wants, then who the fuck am I to ask her for more?

Case told me that his sister was a big deal in Nashville, so I won’t be surprised if this visit turns out to be a small vacation.

But when I finish up with the guys today, there’s not a fucking chance that I’m not finding out.

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