Page 43 of Jay

“She needs a powerful female name. A wicked name.” She taps her chin with her dainty finger, and I smile at her. She is cute as a button. Okay, that part is a little creepy. She stops suddenly and brings her gaze to mine. I see the name pop inherhead.

“Oh my God, it is perfect. She is going to be tall for a dog, and strong and wiry. She will be smart and fearless, just like her namesake.” She lifts the pup to her face so they are nosetonose.

“Welcome to the family,Ripley.”

“I love it.” Sigourney Weaver would be proud. “So, when do I get to move in?” I ask, hoping she says tomorrow. Her eyes glass over and I know she is going to cry, but I don’t know why. I thought we had clearedeverythingup.

“Jay.”

“What? You said we could try andmoveon.”

“It will take time, Jay. Do we really have to put a timestamp onthings?”

“Yeah, we do. I love you and you love me. We have our furbabies, so we need to live together.” I keep myvoicecalm.

“I do love you, Jay. But you cannot expect me to turn off the feelings that you made me feel. I truly thought, for weeks, that you were done with me. You say you came to the hospital but the way I see it, you never tried hard enough toseeme.”

“Your dad and Chris threatened me. I stayed away in the beginning because I thought you needed time, and that you would come to me, but you never did. I didn't want to add to your stress. I stayed away because I thought you seeing me would affect your healing, and I needed you better, babe. Your mother was right. I was hurting you more. Plus, I was still dealing with Rachel as well. She kept turning up and causing trouble. It took Penny to sort her out. I’m sorry, baby. Never again. No more pain, Iswear.”

I fall to my knees and lean in to lay a gentle kiss on her soft lips. The lips that I have missed so much over the last three weeks. We both shiver at the contact. I deepen the kiss and probe her lips with my tongue. She doesn’t disappoint when she opens for me. I can taste her tears on her lips, and I hate myself all over again for makinghercry.

A wet tongue licks my chin, and then Cassie’s. We both laugh at Ripley trying to get our attention. Already a cockblock. God help me when we have kids. I stand and move to sit next to Cassie on the couch to watch some Netflix with my girl. I have no idea what is happening on the TV, I am just happy sitting here, at a weird angle I might add. I had to sit in such a way that I wasn’t hurting my kitten, but I wanted to touch her. My arm is sitting on the back of the couch, playing with her blonde hair at the base of her neck. She shivers every time I touch her heated skin, and I smile to myself.Cancelled.

It doesn’t take long before I hear a little snore coming from Cassie. I smile and slowly move away. Ripley perks up and watches me with big puppy-dogeyes.

“Shhhh, baby girl. I need to cover Mummy with ablanket.”

“Jay,” Cassie stirs. Her hand shoots out to touch me, but when she senses I’m not there, she jolts up to look for me. But that only causes her more pain, and she cries out. “Ahhhhh.”

“Bloody hell, Cass. Take it easy. I’m here, baby. I was just getting you a blanket, you fellasleep.

“Oh.”

“I am not going anywhere, babe. Now come on, it’s just past ten o’clock. Let’s go tobed,okay.”

“Okay.” She doesn’t fight me. I mentally high five myself for not being turned away. I take the pup and set her down on the floor. I lift Cassie’s legs up and over the front of the couch, slowly, careful not to hurt her. She holds her hands out for me to pullherup.

“Ready?”Iask.

“Yep.” She takes a big deep breath, because she knows this is going to hurt like amotherfucker.

“On three. One. Two. Three.” She grits her teeth and lets me pull her to a standing position. “Good girl. Now, slowly walk with me.” We take each step slowly. The closer we get to her bedroom door, the harder my dick gets. The last time I was here, I fucked her into the next day. We made love all night long. In the bed. Against the wall. On the kitchen table. No shower sex, though. Oh no, my girl hates shower sex. ‘It’s way too bloody dangerous’ she says, ‘We could slip and break our necks’, she says. Shower sex is fucking amazing, each of you getting all slippery and wet. Fuck, my cock thickens at the thought of making love to heragain.

We walk into her bedroom and I help her climb into bed. I hate seeing her in pain. I could kill the fucker that lost control of his lorry. Everyone knows that corner is a bastard to drive around at high speed. He should have been going slower. I place Ripley in the dog bed that is sitting in the corner of the room. It’s Stark’s bed, but he won’t mind. I strip out of my clothes, just leaving my boxers on and climb into the bedbesideher.

“I love you, CassieDawson.”

“I love you, too, JayCastle.”

“One stitch at a time, baby. One stitch atatime.”

jay

It isthe middle of June, months after Cassie and I got back together. Today is Phoebe’s first birthday, and we are having a big-arse party. Well, once we close up Castle Ink. I smile over at Dex and Addy as they fuss over Phoebe’s dress. They are making today a huge deal for her, and rightfully so. She is our little princess, in her castle, with some pretty big, burly uncles to protect her, as well as some kick-arse aunties. And some bad-arse parents. I close the book and turn thetilloff.

Cassie and me talked over everything that happened, and we worked through it together. We are stronger than ever. We are stitching ourselves back together, and stitching ourselves to each other. One stitch at a time. I tuck her under my arm and lift her wrist to my lips, kissing the tattoo I put there. Cassie had the matching tattoo to me. The arrow one I have on my wrist. I did it a month after we sortedeverythingout.

Luke comes strutting out of his backroom with some random chick. I can see the bandage on her left hip and Luke smirking behind her. Fucking horneybastard.

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