Page 40 of Love Potion

“I know. I guess I should find it comforting that there are other people like me. Maybe I could date someone like that. Someone who understands, you know?”

I feel my heart sink, but I push it back to ask, “Is that what you want to do? You want to go out there looking for someone?”

If that’s what he wants, then I have to get out of his way.

“No.” He laughs softly. “Not really, but I don’t want to be the reason you don’t.”

“Jerr, I’m a grown man. You’re not keeping me from doing anything I want to do. Have you ever considered that I’ve had more than my share of dating experiences? I’m damn near forty-three years old, my first girlfriend was Ashley Elizabeth in the third grade. My twenties are a blur of faces and people who came and went. My thirties weren’t much better than that. I know what’s out there, and I choose to be here at home with you.”

He nods, his teeth digging into his bottom lip. “That’s fair.”

“You need to get that out of your head. I don’t want you out there dating because of some fear that I’ll abandon you. I would never.” He bites his thumbnail until I gently pull it away. “It’s you and me, Jerr. Always has been, always will be. No matter what.”

He holds my gaze, his eyes full of emotions I can’t quite sort out. Then he totally shocks me, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my lips. I freeze, unsure what’s causing this. The first and only time we kissed was nearly twenty years ago, shortly after we met when we were hanging out at a party. We were drunk and dancing and other people were making out around us. I let the mood get to me and went in for the kiss, only for Jerryn to panic and run off. I didn’t know why then, but I promised him I wouldn’t do that again without his consent, and it was a drunken move.

This time, he most definitely initiated it, but given our charged conversation tonight, I’m not sure what’s behind it.

He moves back as quickly as he leaned in, his eyes wide. He opens his mouth to say something, but instead, he gets to his feet and he’s heading for the door before I can process everything.

Oh hell no. I get up and hurry across the room, grabbing his arm before he can leave.

“Wait.”

“Sorry, sorry.” He shakes his head, his eyes squeezed closed. “Sorry.”

“Stop saying that. Look at me.”

“No. Please, Bane.”

“Jerr.” I caress his cheek. “Open your eyes.”

He exhales in a huff, slowly peeling his eyelids open. “Sorr?—”

I put my fingers over his lips to stop him. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Want to tell me what’s going on though? ’Cause I’m really damn confused.”

He swallows hard, his expression completely wrecked. “I just wondered what it…” He huffs again.

“You wondered what it would be like to kiss me?”

He nods, avoiding my eyes again, but my heart flutters in my chest. He’s curious about kissing me? Fuck yeah.

“We can try again. I wasn’t expecting it, but if you want to know, it’s okay with me.”

He meets my gaze, his expression softening. “Really?”

“Really.” I brush my thumb across his cheek. “I want to know the answer too.”

He looks nervous, but there’s a glimmer of happiness there now. “You want to kiss me?”

I nod, deciding to be brave with my next statement. “Always have.”

Surprise registers on his face, but he smiles. “I’d like to try. I don’t know if I’ll react the right way.”

“Your way is the right way, Jerr.”

He searches my eyes and his expression softens. “I’ll try to remember that.”

“Do you want to sit down again?”

---