Page 69 of Worth the Wait

Our remaining clothes vanish in a frantic rush of hands and whispered urgency. When I finally push inside her, it feels like more than physical connection. I’m marking her, letting her know she’s been mine since the moment I walked back into her life.

We move together with desperate intensity, my teeth grazing her neck just hard enough that I hope to leave a mark. She’ll be pissed, but I don't care.

“I’m—” she pants. “I’m coming. Fuck. Jackson.” Her words come out in sharp cries as she comes on my cock, sending me right after her.

“Oh fuck, baby. Oh, goddamn, you fuck me so good,” I groan so loudly with my release her neighbors definitely heard me. My eyes go dark, flecks of gold exploding as I empty every last bit of myself inside of her.

Afterward, as we lie tangled together in the darkness of her bedroom, I trace idle patterns on her back. The silence between us is comfortable, weighted with the significance of what just transpired.

"I meant what I said," she finally murmurs, her voice soft in the darkness. "I'm yours, Jackson. I have been since we were sixteen, even when I tried not to be.” Her eyes fall away for just a second before darting back, something still on her mind. “I—I’ve never stopped loving you.”

I gather her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I know, baby. Me too.”

She shifts to look up at me, vulnerability evident in her expression. "I've been so afraid of losing myself in us. Of becoming just an extension of you rather than my own person. You have such a charming personality and you were born to be a lawyer.” She playfully smacks me when I flash her a smile. “Seriously, though, the fear of working my ass off just to be overshadowed by you… I’m not sure I could get over that. I think I’d end up resenting you.”

"I know that too." I brush a strand of hair from her face, understanding the root of her fears. “They’re valid but you have to believe that you deserve the recognition, baby. If you get this promotion—and if I had to guess, you will—you will haveearned it. That has nothing to do with me and loving me doesn't diminish you, Tarryn. I’m in your corner. I’m your biggest cheerleader.”

She considers this, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. "I think I'm starting to understand that." A soft smile curves her lips. "It just took me a while to catch up."

"We have time," I assure her, though even as I say it, I know we're on borrowed time with Christine's threat hanging over us.

Tarryn seems to read my thoughts. "We need to talk to Miguel," she says, surprising me. "Tomorrow. Before Christine gets to him with whatever she's planning."

I study her face in the dim light filtering through her curtains. "Are you sure? Once we do that, there's no going back."

"I'm sure. Whatever happens with the promotion, with Christine, with any of it… this—us—is worth protecting."

"Together, then."

She nods, settling back against my chest. "Together."

Chapter 17

Tarryn

The morning light assaults my eyes as I step off the elevator onto the twenty-third floor of Blake Financial. My head pounds with a subtle reminder of last night's confrontation with Christine, the echo of her warnings still ringing in my ears.

I'm barely at my desk for five minutes when my phone chimes with an email notification reminder for my meeting later this morning.

From: [email protected]

Subject: Impromptu Meeting

I reach for my coffee, noticing the slight tremor in my fingers. Before I can even consider finding Jackson, a shadow falls across my desk.

"Good morning, Tarryn."

Christine stands in my doorway, her typical plastic smile already in place. But today, it looks a little different. That doesn’t make me feel good at all.

"I hear Miguel wants to see you and Hayes," she continues, voice dripping with false concern. "Miguel asked me to prepare an ethics overview. Apparently, certain relationship dynamics have come to his attention."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I force myself to maintain eye contact, refusing to show weakness even as panic claws at my throat.

"Is that so?" I manage, proud that my voice doesn't waver.

"Indeed." She adjusts her sleeve, the gesture deliberately casual. "I'd wish you luck, but…" She trails off, the implication hanging between us. "We both know how these situations typically resolve. Not like I didn’t warn you.”

She walks away before I can respond, offering a little wave. I grab my phone, fingers flying across the screen.

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