Page 128 of Seal the Deal

But Jake—despite his own crazy schedule, training, media commitments—is here. Never hesitates. My throat tightens as I think about tonight, about how he stood quietly beside me for Noah, giving him the space to choose without pressure. It’s the kind of support that makes my heart ache.

“What you did for Noah tonight... You have no idea what that meant to me.”

Jake stands and pulls me up with him, wrapping his arms around me. I feel the weight of his chin on top of my head, breath warm against my hair as I melt into him. “You don’t need to thank me,” he whispers.

“I need a shower,” I say, exhaustion clinging to me like a second skin. “Need to wash tonight off.”

Jake nods, stepping back. “Want me to leave you to it?”

I consider telling him yes, that I need a few minutes alone. But I feelthe pull—the need to be close to him.

“No,” I say softly. “I want you with me.”

Jake’s eyes flash, a slow smirk forming. “Yeah?”

“Yeah... I missed you.”

Without another word, Jake pulls off his t-shirt, and my pulse quickens. He’s just back from a stretch of away games, and I haven’t had a chance to really feel him yet. To remind myself that he’s home.

We step into the ensuite and turn the shower on, letting the steam rise around us. I strip out of my clothes, each piece falling away like the weight of the day. The heat of Jake’s body is immediate as he steps in behind me, his arms circling around my waist. His lips gently brush my shoulder, sending warmth through me that’s entirely different from the water.

"Missed you, too," he murmurs, hands gliding up to my ribs, fingers tracing lazy patterns that make my breath hitch.

I lean back into him, tilting my head onto his chest. The hot spray hits my skin, and I sigh as the tension starts to melt. His lips move to my neck, pressing soft kisses that ground me in the moment. With Jake, I don’t have to think about anything else. It’s just us.

He kisses up to my ear, his breath hot. “Let me take care of you tonight.”

“I hate that Alex can still get to me like this,” I whisper before I can stop myself.

Jake’s grip tightens, his voice possessive. “Don’t mention his name right now. He doesn’t belong here, not with us.”

A shiver runs down my spine at the tone of his voice. “I’m sorry,” I say, turning in his arms. “I just hate that he’s still part of our lives.”

Thumbs brush over my cheeks as he cups my face. “He might be part of the kids’ lives,”he says, leaning in. “But he’s not part of yours. Not anymore.”

My hands slide around his neck, and his grip tightens around me.

“I don’t want to think about him,” I say. “Wanna forget everything but you.”

“I’ll make you forget,” he whispers.

The water washes over us, but it’s Jake’s warmth that grounds me, his touch that makes everything else fade. My mind whirs, and I try to silence it. I don’t want to hold it all together. But the tension clings to me, stubborn.

“Jake…” I lift my head to meet his eyes. I know he sees it—sees how worn down I am, how badly I need to let go.

His fingers brush my cheek, wiping away droplets of water. “Tell me, Charlie,” he says softly. “What do you need?”

I swallow, hands sliding down to rest against his chest. Strong, solid, hot as hell. Jake. I want to lose myself in him. To stop thinking, to stop holding it all together.

“Take control,” I whisper, barely audible above the hiss of the shower.

A flicker of heat passes through his eyes as he registers. His grip tightens, pulling me closer. There’s no space left between us, just the feel of him growing harder against me.

“You sure?” His voice is low and gravelly.

“Yes." My voice trembles, but not from fear. From need. From the overwhelming desire to let go. "Tell me what to do.”

His lips curl into a wicked smile, and he makes a noise low in his throat as his hands glide up to stroke my nipples.

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