Page 77 of Losing Faith

His brows furrow as he squeezes my leg. “Of course, I do. Are you not proud of yourself?”

I shrug as I look down at my nails. “I’ve made this accomplishment before and I’m tired of being at this stage. I want to accomplish more.”

He grabs my chin before tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “Just because you have to go back to the start doesn’t mean you’re never going to see the finish line. Learn from your setbacks and push through whatever is keeping you down.”

I smile up at him as I gently push his hand away. “Is Isabelle in any sports because that was very soccer dad of you.”

He laughs beside me as he leans on his elbow. “Just ballet and gymnastics. She was up so early today, twirling and flipping around me. Demanding I record her back handspring at 7:00 a.m.”

He sounds exhausted and I can’t help but laugh at his fake misery because I know deep down, he loves watching his daughter twirl in a tutu at the crack of dawn.

My eyes land on his biceps as my laugh sobers. He’s always in a suit and tie, but as he sits here in sweats and a white T-shirt that perfectly hugs him, he somehow looks hotter? I didn’t think that was possible, but tired, ruffled hair Jackson is dreamy.

“You mentioned wanting to kiss me earlier?”

His eyes cut up to mine and I don’t miss the smile that tugs at his lips.

“You said no kissing til Tuesday… come here.” I nod him over, but he doesn’t move as he looks past me.

He sits up and leans over to look behind the tree I’m still leaning against. After a beat, he quickly leans forward. He presses his lips against mine and I just barely kiss him back before he pulls away. When he looks behind me, I realize he’s watching out for my brother.

I look over my shoulder and lean over to catch a glance behind the huge tree. When Sire takes off running after Isabelle with his back to us, I turn back to Jackson and kiss him harder, knowing the tree covers us even if they did turn around. Just as my tongue grazes his, he pulls away before leaning on his elbow again.

“No more,” he whispers, his gaze shifting to the side. I bite back a smile, watching him struggle not to look at me.

“Not to ruin the mood with thewhat are weconversation, but what the hell are we doing? I can only take so many kisses, so if you’re scared of my brother, say it now because this feels like a high-risk, low reward situation.”

He opens his mouth before his brows furrow. “I’m alow reward?”

“Are you offering me more than secret kisses behind his back? Sire said he’ll kick your ass for this, but I think this will be worth his anger if you at the very least fuck me.”

His chest rises faster as he gives me a once-over. “Do you have to voice every thought that enters your head?”

“Only the ones that involve us naked and you fueling my praise kink.”

He shakes his head at me, his eyes falling shut. When he opens them again, hisdad faceis on, and I wonder if he knows he does that when he’s being serious.

“I’m not scared of your brother.”

I bite my cheek so hard, I nearly cut myself. Crawling over to him, I rest a hand on the grass next to his head and the other on his chest. As I lean in, he inches away as if I were contagious. I stifle a laugh when he looks over my shoulder.

“A man of true bravery you are.”

His eyes narrow on me. “I’mnotscared of him,” he says strongly. “We’ve known each other for a long time and I respect himandour friendship. I’m going to tell him about this before it goes any further.”

“So youdoplan on having sex with me?”

He ignores me.

“Well, go tell him right now. You said you’ll tell him today.” I lean back on my arms but he doesn’t move and I can’t help but laugh.

“Shut the hell up, Lissy.”

I bite my tongue as I rein it in. “Well.” I lay on the grass beside him. “You have fun growing a pair big enough to tell my brother you like me, but I personally suggest telling him after we sleep together since he can’t kill you twice.”

Jackson lets out a scoff from beside me. “Why are you so confident I want to sleep with you?”

“Because you’re not blind.”

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