Page 88 of Bad Boy Next Door
Twenty-Five
Nick
After the shower I could barely stand, but Jade’s legs were wobbly, so I picked her up and carried her toward the bedroom.
“I got groceries,” she said, and then licked my neck. “You hungry?”
“You feel like eating right now?” I asked.
“Not really.”
I looked at the bed. Fuck.
Even if I stripped off the sheets, the massacre of condiments was gross, and going next door seemed too far. Plus that would involve either public nudity or clothes, and clothes were way too much work.
“Sofa?” she suggested.
I nodded, carried her there, and laid her down gently. She rolled to the side and lifted to make room for me. Once I was lying down, she wiggled her way on top of my body, and I stroked hers lightly as we lay together, breathing hard. Although the sofa was small for two people—hell, it was small for just me—I felt like I was melting. Melting and boneless and happy.
“I love you, too,” she said against my chest.
I sucked in a breath, not sure whether she’d spoken or it had been my imagination.
“Did you hear me?” Her finger circled my nipple.
“Youloveme?” I slid my hand down to cup her soft ass. “You love me,too?” I looked down at her.
She nodded against my chest. “I wasn’t asleep.” She licked my nipple. “I heard what you said.”
“Is this for real, Jade?” My heart pounded even though we were reclining. “Not some kind of joke?”
She pushed up onto her elbows and looked me in the eyes. “Why would I joke about something like that? Or… did you not mean what you said?”
“No.” I cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a short deep kiss. “I meant it, every word. I love you, Jade Cuoco. Fuck, I love you so much.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” She grinned.
I pulled her down, wanting to kiss her again, wanting to kiss her forever, but she pushed back against me.
“But…”
“But what?” Fear iced the edges of my joy.
“You have to promise,” she said.
“Promise what?”
“That you were serious when you said you were done with your brothers.”
“Jade, they’re my brothers. You can’t make me choose between them and you.”
“Done with theirbusiness.” She air-quoted with one hand. “Done with any kind of criminal activity. I can’t, I won’t be with someone involved in crime. Seeing my dad in and out of jail, the toll that life took on him. I won’t do it.”
“I get it.” I made little circles on her lower back, in that delicious little spot where her spine curved into her ass, a spot I wanted to bury my face in for a few hours of licking and kissing.
“Doyou get it?” she asked. “Really get it?”
“Yeah, I do. I want out. I told you. It might have only been juvie, but I will not go inside. Never again. I see what it’s doing to Da, what it did to Shane…”
