Page 21 of Life After

“And I will happily take that blame.” Suzanne rested her chin on Jen’s shoulder and sighed. “Do I have to let you go yet?”

Jen eyed the alarm clock, double-checking that itwasFriday. Thankfully, she wasn’t dreaming. “No. I have nowhere to be today.”

Suzanne wrapped an arm around Jen’s waist and shifted closer. Jen didn’t know how she managed to do that; it felt as though they lay in this bed as one person. “Perfect. That means I can cook us breakfast, and neither of us has to rush around.”

“Don’t you have to work?” Jen did turn around this time. She wanted Suzanne’s mysterious dark eyes to greet her. When their gazes locked, Jen felt a blush work its way up her neck. “Or do I have the pleasure of just taking this day as it comes with you?”

“No work. I hadn’t planned to once I knew we were having dinner together last night.”

“Ah. So, what you’re saying is that you hoped I’d wake up here this morning?” Jen smirked as she brushed her knuckles against Suzanne’s cheek. “Which, by the way, feels really good.”

“Maybe I did.” Suzanne propped her head up in her hand, stroking her fingers along Jen’s collarbone. “Thank you for not disappointing me by leaving last night.”

“Yeah, I’m not that kind of woman. Unless someone asks me to leave, I’m always going to be here the next morning.” Jen would never leave a woman thinking she had been a one-night stand. It just didn’t feel right to her. “So, thank you for not asking me to leave.”

“I don’t think I was capable of much once the night was over.” Suzanne grinned, but Jen completely understood. She ached, but God, it felt good. “How are you feeling this morning? No regrets, I hope…”

Jen stared deep into Suzanne’s eyes. “I could never regret spending the night with you. Right now, I only hope there are many more nights in the future.”

“I’d like that.”

“Yeah? No regrets from you either?” Jenhadwondered very briefly, but last night had ended so perfectly that Jen would have found it hard to believe if Suzanne said she didn’t want to see her again. “You’re not already going through different excuses as to why you can’t see me anymore?”

“There would have to be one hell of a reason to never want to see you again, Jen.”

Jen kept her facial expression neutral, but inside, she was crumbling a little bit. Should she come right out with the whole prison thing right now? Selfishly, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. This morning was just continued happiness from last night, and it was absolutely all that Jen needed right now. Perhaps if she had the happiness of a relationship, things like a new career would come next. Something meaningful and something Jen could be proud of. Something more than the bare minimum she’d had lately.

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?” Suzanne asked, a slight frown present.

“God, no. I was just thinking about how much I want to see you again. And again. And again.” While Jen may have been lying about that in this particular moment, shedidoften think about exactly that. The next time she would see Suzanne. The next time she would kiss her. The next opportunity she would have to admire this woman. Fuck, it wasallshe wanted to do. “Last night was great. All of it.”

“Then we should do it again sometime.” Suzanne rolled away from Jen, her naked body on display as she rose to her feet. Jen could only watch on, her bottom lip between her teeth to keep her from moaning her approval of her view this morning. Suzanne’s curves would never not satisfy Jen. “If you’d like to?”

“Oh, I’d like to.” Jen turned on her side and propped her head in her hand, taking in every last inch of skin. “Is tonight too soon?”

Suzanne turned as she slid her arms into her robe and smiled. “Not for me. But you have to work in the morning, don’t you?”

Jen lifted a shoulder, aware that the sheet around her had fallen away and Suzanne was now the one staring. “I can just be tired tomorrow. That’s no problem for me.”

“And…tonight wouldn’t cancel out our plans for Sunday?” Suzanne asked, brow quirked. “Because I have my heart set on Sunday now.”

Jen almost laughed out loud. Suzanne wanted to see her so often? Jen was one lucky bastard. “If I’m here tonight, it doesn’t changeanythingfor Sunday.”

“Then, yes. I’d like to see you tonight, too.” Suzanne leaned over the bed and kissed Jen softly. “Give me ten minutes to sort breakfast out, and then I’m all yours again.”

Fuck. Me.Jen’s eyes closed when Suzanne drew back. “Okay.”

Chapter 9

Jen smoothedher hands over the leather dashboard of Suzanne’s car, whistling as she nodded her head. She knew the interior would be just as pristine as the exterior, but the white leather with tan stitching was truly something to be admired. Jen had always been a fan of cars, but this was on another level. Throw in the panoramic sunroof, and Jen felt as though she was dripping in wealth, along with the residents on Suzanne’s street. “Impressive.Veryimpressive.”

“It’s just a car,” Suzanne said, smiling as she exited the motorway.

Jen knew it was just a car. Still, it was a very fancy and very expensive car. The kind she wasn’t used to being invited inside.

“A car that looks so much better with you sitting in the passenger seat.”

Jen side-eyed Suzanne, smirking as she studied her profile. “You throw me off when you say things like that to me.”

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