Page 100 of Most Likely to Deny Love

We collapsed together, a tangle of sweaty limbs and ragged breathing. Jack rolled to the side, taking me with him so I was sprawled across his chest, his cock still inside me. For several long moments, neither of us spoke, both too spent for words.

He stroked my hair, gentler now, almost apologetic as he smoothed the tangled strands. I nuzzled against his chest, pressing a kiss over his heart, still thundering beneath my lips.

“Mia… “ he asked finally, his voice a low rumble I could feel vibrating through his chest.

I lifted my head to meet his gaze, finding a vulnerability in those hazel depths that made my heart twist. “If you’re about to apologize, forget it.” My voice was raw from crying out. “That was... incredible.”

The tension seemed to drain from him, his body relaxing beneath mine. “I didn’t hurt you?”

“Only in all the right ways.” I smiled, feeling pleasantly sore and utterly sated. “I’d ask if I could have a repeat performance, but I’ll need some recovery time first.”

He laughed then, the sound rumbling through me, making me smile more. His hand trailed down my spine, tracing lazy patterns across my skin.

“I’m sorry about my family,” he said after a moment.

I shook my head, pressing another kiss to his chest. “Don’t apologize for them. Besides, Nan is wonderful.”

“She is,” he agreed, a soft smile touching his lips. “She likes you. I can tell.”

“The feeling is mutual.” I yawned, the events of the day and the hot sex catching up with me. “And for what it’s worth, your brother has nothing on you.”

Jack’s arms tightened around me, something possessive and satisfied in the gesture. “Good to know.”

As I drifted toward sleep, wrapped in Jack’s arms with his heart beating steadily beneath my ear, I realized that despite all the family drama, there was nowhere else I’d rather be. And that thought was both comforting and terrifying at the same time.

MIA

Iwoke slowly, stretching my pleasantly aching limbs across the massive bed. My body hummed with a delicious soreness that brought memories of last night flooding back. Jack’s hands in my hair, the sharp sting of his palm against my ass, the relentless rhythm of his hips against mine. How hard he fucked me. Heat pooled low in my belly at the recollection, and I rolled over, seeking his warmth.

But the sheets beside me were cold and empty.

I sat up, pulling the luxurious duvet around my naked body as I glanced around the room. No sound of running water from the bathroom, no sign of him anywhere. Stretching again, I cataloged the various pleasant aches and couldn’t find it in me to regret a single one.

With a contented sigh, I decided to get up and find him. Maybe see if he wanted to take a walk, get away from all the weird tension in his family before we sat down for lunch. Then drag him back here and go for round two. Wondering how good the weather would be for a walk, I threw back the covers, slid out of bed and walked to the window. Pulling back the heavy curtains aside, I gasped at the view that greeted me.

A frozen lake stretched before me, surrounded by snow-dusted pines and backed by the majestic rise of the mountains. The morning sun glittered off the ice, turning it into a vast mirror that reflected the cloudless blue sky. It was pristine and perfect. Utterly breathtaking.

Movement caught my eye then, drawing my attention to a solitary figure gliding across the ice. Even from this distance, I could tell it was Jack. His powerful body cut through the morning air with fluid grace, each stroke of his skates leaving trails across the glassy surface.

I watched him for several moments, mesmerized. This wasn’t casual recreational skating; this was someone who’d spent years perfecting their technique. Another piece of the Jack Sullivan puzzle I hadn’t known existed until now.

But underneath the admiration, something twisted in my chest. I knew exactly what he was doing out there. He was burning off the anxiety that being in this house, with these people, stirred in him. The same way he used the gym at home, pushing his body to exhaustion to find some measure of peace.

My heart ached for him, for the little boy who’d learned to cope this way, for the man who still needed to.

Honestly, fuck these people. Making a snap decision, I turned from the window and hurried to dress. I pulled on jeans and my pale pink, woollen coat, thankful I’d thought to bring my heavy winter boots. Finding my way through the big house was challenging, but I managed to slip out a back door that led toward the lake.

The cold air bit at my cheeks as I made my way down a neatly shoveled path. As I reached the edge of the lake, I paused, watching Jack’s solitary figure cutting perfect arcs across the ice, moving too fast to notice me standing there.

Until he wasn’t. Mid-turn, he caught sight of me and his rhythm faltered for just a moment before he redirected, glidingtoward me with his hands shoved into his pockets. Honestly, he was hot enough to melt the entire goddamn lake.

He stopped at the edge of the ice, sending a small spray of shaved ice with his skates.

“You’re up early.” His voice was softer than usual, intimate in the crisp morning air.

“Woke up alone,” I replied, smiling up at him. “The bed got cold.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. I should have waited?—”

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