Page 30 of What A Croc
“I really hope I never come face to face with her,” Jackson’s voice was low. “I don’t think I have it in me to be nice to her. Not knowing how she has treated you. I don’t think I could keep my mouth shut. I won’t tolerate anyone hurting you.”
“I’ve never had anyone be my hero before,” I whispered, loving the feeling that washed over me at his fierce protective words.
Jackson turned my head and captured my lips in a soft, sweet kiss. “I’ll protect you. Always. If you’ll let me.”
Would I let him?
I was beginning to think I just might.
Chapter Fourteen
Robert
Sinking down into the hard plastic chairs at one of the small tables in the break room, I tried to mask my wince. My body was sore, but in a good way that I secretly enjoyed every time my muscles twinged when I turned a certain way. Each time I felt the mild ache, it brought back memories of my heat and Jackson.
Just the thought of the alpha had my hole clenching in need. The man was…well, I didn’t really have words for what Jackson was. Attentive, kind, sweet, generous, sexy, funny. Jackson Sobek was the total package.
My phone vibrated with an incoming text, and seeing Jackson’s name on my screen I couldn’t help the huge smile that made my cheeks ache as I read it.
Jackson:Good morning. How are you feeling?
I could feel the huge smile that lit up my face before I could stop it, and I didn’t try to hide it.
Me:Good morning. I’m good.
Jackson:Not too sore?
Me:Just a little.
Jackson:Good. I’m in meetings all day but I wanted to see how you were. And…I missed you.
Staring at those three little words, I didn’t know how to respond. Before I could come up with any kind of suitable reply, the three little bubble dots appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared.
Jackson:Okay, it was obviously too soon for me to admit that. It’s just after spending three days and nights with you…I did. I missed you. I missed holding you and waking up with you.
Emotions swamped me that I didn’t know what to do with. Because I had missed him too. Had woken up in the middle of the night, after he had driven me home, andmissed his strong arms around me. Missed the heat of him at my back. Missed the weight of his thick thigh thrown over mine, as he held me possessively to his chest.
It was crazy. It was too soon. It was…it was everything I had ever wanted and wished for.
And something told me that if I didn’t at least give this–us–a try, I might not get another shot at this. We were fated mates, after all. Besides, every argument I had for why we wouldn’t work, Jackson had debunked rather quickly.
It would mean taking him at his word, putting my trust in him, that he truly meant what he had said about our age difference, about us not having children, about the real possibility of me dying before him and leaving him widowed. For a second time in his life.
But there was a part of me, a part I had locked away so long ago I had almost forgotten it existed, that wanted everything Jackson was offering me.
And dammit, I deserved it.
I deserved to be happy. To have what I saw other people have and envied. Until I had walked out on my marriage, on Jane, and moved to Sweet Alps, I hadn’t realized just how absolutely unhappy I had been most of my adult life.
Even if we ended up not working out–
Fated, remember?My gazelle snorted.Highly unlikely to not work out at this point.
Even if we ended up not working out, at least I would have the memories. I would know what it was like to be…to be…
Cherished, my gazelle supplied when my mind floundered for the word.
Cherished, I agreed.
