The anticipation was killing me. “I’mready,Jack.”

He slid inside me slowly, as if to savor every moment.

“Fuck,Ruthie.Youfeel so damn good.”

“Jack,”Imoaned in response, feeling the same thing he likely was.

“You’re so damn hot and wet,I’mnot going to last.”

He pulled out, stared down at me, and then slid back in slowly.Hedid this over and over again untilIfelt likeIwas going to combust.

“Let go, beautiful,” he said to me. “Givein and just let that feeling roll through you.”

I did, and it felt amazing.Myorgasm tore through me, andIfelt likeIdied a little, but in a good way.Ihad never felt so much pleasure course through my body.Ifelt likeIlost seconds—maybe even full minutes—of time beforeIcame back toEarth.

Jack groaned out my name, andIfelt his release inside me before he collapsed to my side and rolled me on top of him.

I rested atop him, completely satisfied and in a glowing state of bliss.Hishand stroked up and down my back slowly, almost to the point of tickling.Irelished his soft caress over my skin.

“Stay with me,” he asked quietly.

“Okay,”Iresponded. “Thoughyou do realizeIhaven't gone back to the other bed in weeks, so you're not asking a lot.”

“Let me clarify.Movein with me,”Jackasked me, his fingers softly brushing over my cheek.

“I’m already here and have been for more than two months,Jack,”Itold him.

“I know, but when you get your boot off in a few days, you won’tneedto stay here anymore, butIwantyou to.So,I’masking you to move in with me,”Jackasked. “Closeout your lease at the apartment and move in with me.”

It felt nice that he’d asked me, andIalso genuinely loved his house.Ihad been helping more and more with the renovations, and it felt good that he took my opinions and suggestions to heart and often went with them, butIworried about what to do if things didn’t work out between us.

“Don’t you think we’re moving too fast?”

“No, honey,Idon’t,” he responded immediately. “I’velost my parents, my grandma, and several friends overseas.I’velearned the hard way that life is short.I’vealso learned to recognize what’s important in life and to go after those things.Youare one of those things,Ruthie.”

He caressed my face softly as he slid his thumb gently over my lips.

“So if you need more time,I’llwait for you to catch up.I’mpatient,” he said—he really wasn’t patient, butIchose not to call him out on that. “Especiallyknowing what you’ve been through, which has led you to have trust issues.ButI’mnot going anywhere.”

“I’m sorry you lost so many people,”Itold him.

“I know how you can make me feel better,” he said asIlooked up at him and noticed he was grinning lasciviously. “Youcan give me that mouth.”

I gave him my mouth and then a lot more.Aftersatisfying ourselves again,Ifell asleep snuggled up toJack, feeling content for the first time in a very long time.Maybeever.

24

RUTHIE

Ellie andIwere both off today so we had met up to go shopping.Eventhough the boot was certainly easier than my cast and crutches, walking for long periods of time was still tiresome.Soafter two hours of walking around the shopping center, we decided to break for lunch.

Like many people,EllieandIhad realized thatMexicanfood could solve most of life’s problems.Itwas my personal belief that many world issues could be solved if everyone just sat down and ate chips and queso with some margaritas—but what didIknow?

Jack had spent the morning running errands himself, so he had dropped me off at the first store earlier today and would pick us both up when we were done.Thisallowed for margaritas as well as enough appetizers to put ourselves into a food coma.

“I say we get cheese dip and guacamole.Thatway we don’t have to choose,”ItoldEllie.

She nodded, chuckling. “Andthis is why we are friends.”