Page 74 of Love Potion

“Last night was the first time it’s happened like that and with a person.”

Thank fuck I didn’t know that. Talk about performance anxiety. “How was it?”

Jerryn laughs. “How was it? It was mind-blowing. I finally understand what all the fuss is about.” His brow crinkles a bit. “What I want to know is how you’ve been going without for so long when you know how it feels.”

“Jacking off.”

“Right.”

“It’s better with a person, of course, but I get by.” I put my hand on his thigh. “The best it’s ever been was with you last night.”

He rolls his eyes. “You don’t have to say stuff like that. I’m inexperienced, but I’ll get better.”

“Don’t short sell yourself, Jerr. Last night was incredible for me. It was the culmination of twenty years of wanting you. Kissing you, touching you…” I blow out a breath as my body reacts to the memories. “Nothing about it was less than perfect. I’m really honored to have given you your first experience like that.”

He’s quiet for a few seconds, staring into his mug, and when he looks up, I’m struck by his beauty. It’s like seeing him for the first time again.

“It could only be you, Bane. I’ve spent most of my life wondering why I wasn’t like everybody else and feeling pissed off at how unfair it was.”

I nod, squeezing his knee.

“I thought I’d have to make do, you know? Accept that it would never happen for me, but try my best to be a good partner in other ways. Eventually I gave up.”

“I know.”

“I’m so glad we came back to Willow Bay. Between seeing our friends fall in love, reducing the stress in our lives, and the weirdest call from the past, I think it’s how we got here to this moment.”

“I think so too.”

“For a minute last night, I was kind of sad that we wasted so much time, but then I realized we didn’t. Not really. You’ve been my partner through everything, and sure, we’ve both tried finding love elsewhere, but it was always here, right in front of us. We didn’t waste a thing.”

“We didn’t.” I lift his hand and kiss the back of it. “But I’m glad we leveled up.”

“Me too.” He sips his coffee. “Do you think things will change now?”

“A little.”

Jerryn nods, biting his bottom lip.

“What’s on your mind, babe?”

“How is it gonna change?”

“Well…” I set my mug on the nightstand before I take his and do the same. “I think we’ll spend our time a little differently. More date nights. More showers and baths together. More romance.”

“You’re okay if sometimes I don’t… or I can’t… I don’t know how consistent…” He trails off with a huff.

“Jerr. I’m in this with you for you. I accept every part of you, and I don’t expect sex all the time. I told you before, it’s about the intimacy, and we’ve got that in spades. I want to hold you and kiss you and tell you how much I love you. I don’t want to hold it back anymore. If sometimes our cuddling leads to more, great, and if it doesn’t, that’s fine. It’s always gonna be fine as long as we’re together. That’s all that matters.”

He swallows hard, blinking fast. “I believe you.” He wipes at his eyes, laughing softly. “I really do.”

“Good. You know I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Promise me that if it changes, if you need more, you’ll talk to me.”

“Of course I will.”

“Promise.”

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