Page 46 of Cherish

“You’re only saying that because she helped force us together.”

“I’m grateful for that, but it sounds like she’s been there for you. She was there for you until I could be here for you.”

“I can take care of myself, Jason.”

I look up at the sky, and despite the darkness, I can see the clouds have gathered and darkened the night even more.

“Obviously, but you don’t have to do it alone anymore. You can let me in, you know.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve been in many times, good doctor.” I wiggle between his legs and wait for him to laugh, but he doesn’t. “I like that you’re in my life. I like what we have. I’ve never had that before, and my mom never dated, so I have no example of a relationship, healthy or otherwise. But this is perfect for me. I just feel like—” I tense when I see a flash of lightning across the sky. His arms tighten around me, and when I try to get out of his grasp to stand up, he holds me tighter.

“You just feel what? Talk to me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I finally manage to get out of his grasp and stand up. He stands up along with me, and when I give him my back on the pretext of looking at the ocean, he grabs my wrist and swings me around to face him. When I look down, he grabs my chin to meet his eyes and waits for me to speak.

“It’s a little scary. This thing between us scares me a little.” He opens his mouth to speak, but I put my fingers on his lips, silencing him. “I’ve never felt anything this deep or been this exposed. Maybe that’s why I wanted this thing with Doyle.” Even in the darkness, I can see the change in his eyes. His body also stiffens at the mention of the other man. “I knew deep down, he wouldn’t be able to touch some parts of me, that whatever we had would be shallow, but there’s no hiding from you. And it’s not because of anything you did. It’s because of who you are.”

I feel his body relax at the same time a smile spreads across his face.

“But why does that scare you?”

“I’m not scared in the way you might think, Jason. I don’t know if I can explain it.”

“Try, angel.”

As I’m thinking of the best way to put my feelings into words, lightning flashes, followed by a loud clap of thunder. He immediately pulls me into his arms and starts to walk back in the direction of the hotel.

“No!” I yell over the sound of more thunder. “This is a sign. The scary part is that I don’t have to be afraid with you. Right here, right now, the thunder doesn’t scare me, and I think that’s because of you. You make everything better.” When the thunder starts again, I jump into his arms and wrap my legs around him. I opened my arms as he spins us around.

Finally, the skies open and rain pours on us. I put my hands on his face and press my lips against his. The kiss starts off slow and sweet, but soon, I increase the voracity and put all of my feels into the kiss. He kisses me back just as forcefully. I moan into his mouth as I feel his hands in my hair. Another flash of lightning, more thunder, and even heavier rain doesn’t stop our kiss. Then suddenly something dawns on me.

“My hair!” I yell, but it’s too late because we are both soaked. When the rain falls harder, I jump out of his arms. He grabs my hand, and we run back to the hotel, our clothes sticking to our skin.

CHAPTER 30

ALEX

If I thought Jason looked good in all white, that was absolutely nothing compared to how he looks in his gray Armani tuxedo. I finger the skinny pink tie and try to pull him down for a kiss, but he resists.

“If I kiss you now, I’ll never stop, and we’re in front of a church.” I can see the lust in his eyes as he looks over my body. We still haven’t had a chance to be together since our night on the beach, and I think Jake’s keeping us apart on purpose. I overheard him tell his brother that since he can’t be with Sandy, he’s going to make sure the rest of them don’t get any either.

“I’ve missed you.” I pout.

“Me too. I thought we’d have more alone time, but I’ll make it up to you. Next time I have a weekend off, we’ll go away. Maybe come back here.”

“That sounds amazing, but I don’t care where we go. We can stay in my condo.”

“We’re getting out of the city. I like being away with you.”

“And I just like being with you. It doesn’t matter where.”

“Yeah? And why is that?” he asks.

“Because you’re my bae, Jay.”

He winks at me, takes my arm and places it in the crook of his before escorting me to a seat in the church. Mellie and Ananda walk behind us, sliding on the bench next to me. Jason kisses the back of my hand before going back outside.

“Wow,” Ananda whispers next to me a few minutes later. “She’s stunning.”

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