Page 54 of Jaime
“But that would mean moving to LA,” he repeated slowly, a flash of hurt crossing his eyes.
The way my heart leaped was probably the wrong reaction, but Ethan’s meaning was clear. He didn’t want me to want him to leave and that did something to me. It gave me something that I couldn’t even express in words.
I turned my hand over, clasping his tightly in my own.
“I don’t want you to go,” I said slowly. “But it’s such a good opportunity.”
He shrugged, not meeting my gaze.
“It is. I just don’t want to mess with this thing we have right now,” he said with a heavy sigh.
I leaned across the table, holding back a smile.
Ethan met me halfway, pressing a kiss to my lips. The soft touch offered a quick reassurance. When I pulled back, Ethan looked more at ease.
“You don’t have to decide right away, do you?” I asked. “Or maybe you can negotiate something and stay here?”
He shrugged.
“Maybe. They asked me to come see their studio on the weekend. Said they’d cover the flights. Maybe you two can come with me?”
I froze. For a moment, I felt debilitated, a million excuses rushing through me.
“Or not.”
“I just registered for the driving courses that start this weekend,” I rushed to explain. “Maybe I can cancel it.”
The thought of the lessons themselves were enough to send me into a tailspin, but dealing with a trip to LA made it even worse. The idea of flying with an infant was awful; I didn’t know how she would be on the plane. Then there was the matter of hotels, food, things to do, and places to see, all with a newborn. Would Ethan want a certain standard that I wouldn’t be happy paying for? Would he try to cover for me? I didn’t want him to feel pressured to pay for me. The idea of planning it all, let alone actually doing it, was nauseating.
“No, I’ll only be gone for a couple days,” Ethan said, squeezing my hand. “You do your class. It’s important too.”
I nodded, relief swamping me and then grimaced.
“Actually, I’ll have to cancel it anyway. I was kind of banking on you babysitting.”
“Ah. Shit, forgot about that part.”
He dug his phone out of his pocket, typing a quick message.
“Hopefully Naomi is free.”
It turned out that she was, and she was friendly and good with Evie, so I shouldn’t have felt as weird about it as I did.
But I couldn’t help the clawing unease I felt in my gut for the rest of the day.
CHAPTER18
ETHAN
For the daysthat followed the offer, Jaime was clingy. He never seemed to want me to wander too far. He constantly wanted his hands on me and mine on him, even when it wasn’t about sex.
I loved it.
Having the younger man’s unabashed adoration gave me the type of confidence and fulfillment I used to dream of having. It made me feel excited about something other than my work, and I didn’t think I had ever had that before. His presence, the domestic life I’d suddenly fallen into made me feel a sort of peaceful happiness. Especially in the small moments, when our eyes met over breakfast or I made him smile. Whenever he watched me play with or care for Evie, a tenderness filled his gaze that was enough to make my entire body tingle. Then there was being in bed with someone who completely trusted me, not just to bring him to release but to show him things about his own body he didn’t know he liked. All of it felt special.
The night before my flight, as soon as Evie was passed out in her crib, he came up behind me in the kitchen, wrapping his arms around my waist, his hard cock pressing into my ass cheek.
I set down the bottle I was washing, grinning when I turned to look at him and snaking an arm around his waist.
