Page 14 of Puppy Love

Shit. No avoiding it now. I slowly climb out of bed and get dressed in my work clothes. I’m not looking forward to going to work. It’s Sunday and one of the busiest days of the week. The tips will be good though and I need the money, so I pull my hair up and force a smile.

I open the door and my heart is racing as I walk toward the kitchen. Jayden has his back to me as he faces the stove.

“How’d you sleep?” he asks.

“Oh, fine. You?”

He turns his head and has a grin on his face. “I slept real fucking good,” he says, giving me a wink.

I want the floor to swallow me whole. I’m so humiliated.

He slides a plate of eggs and bacon toward me, biting a piece of bacon. “Sleep is always better after you come.”

My face turns bright red, but I can’t pull my eyes off his.

“Isn’t it?” he whispers.

I search his dark eyes and nod, unable to speak.

“You shouldn’t be embarrassed, Cambri.” He rests his arms on the island, leaning closer to me. “If I knew you wouldn’t have run, I would’ve watched you the entire time.”

I look down, breaking eye contact. I’m equal parts humiliated and turned on.

But he’s not done. He continues saying, “You got off on it, didn’t you? You might have run out of my room, but that wasn’t the end of it, was it? You had to finish yourself off.”

My eyes snap to his. They are dark and full of want. His normal grin is gone, replaced by a seriousness I’ve never seen. He slowly stands up and moves to stand in front of me, resting his hands on my hips. It’s as if his touch sets my skin on fire, even through my clothes.

“I’m done fighting this, Cambri. Tell me you’re done too,” he whispers, searching my eyes.

It’s impossible to deny it. He knows I want him. I’m terrified because for me it’s not just sex, but I need to learn how to trust. I know he wants me. I just need to trust that he wants more.

“I’m scared,” I admit.

He slides his hands up my sides and moves them to cup my face, keeping me from looking away. “Scared I’m gonna leave?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

His thumbs brush against my cheeks and I want to close my eyes against the tender touch. “I’m not going anywhere, Cambri. I’m not looking to get you into bed for one night. I’m looking to keep you in my bed.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to reply. He crashes his mouth and to mine. His fingers move into my hair and my arms wrap around his neck. When he nips my bottom lip, I open my mouth. The second our tongues collide, it’s explosive. He pulls me flush against him, deepening the kiss. We’re both moaning as we explore the other’s mouth.

He slowly pulls away, placing soft kisses on my lips. He rests his forehead against mine and smiles. “Give me a chance.”

“Okay.”

He wraps his strong arms around me and holds me tighter than anyone ever has. It’s soothing and has me sinking into him.

“Tonight we’re going out to dinner,” he says, pulling back.

I smile, loving how in control he is. Ace barks and I laugh. “What about Ace?”

He presses a soft kiss to my cheek and winks. “He knows how to be alone. He’ll be fine for a few hours.”

“Right, he used to stay home alone before you lived here,” I say, shaking my head.

He’s loosened his hold on me, but just enough so he can look down at me. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to stop touching you now.”

Oh, please never stop.

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