Page 51 of Falling for Red
He squeezes me tight, resting his head in the crook of my neck. The tenderness takes me over the edge. I feel my throat tighten, and before I can stop it, tears well in my eyes. I quickly wipe them away.
“Baby, look at me.”
I hesitate, but I roll over to face him. His hand is gentle as he caresses my jaw.
“Why are you crying?”
“I like you too much,” I whisper. “And I’m scared.”
Jake brings me in for a hug and doesn’t say anything. He just holds me, and that makes me cry even more.
“I don’t know if I can handle another heartbreak,” I softly say into his chest.
“I won’t break your heart.” He pushes me back a little, and we’re staring into each other’s eyes again. He shakes his head slightly, wiping the tears from my face. “I know you’ve been hurt, but we have to keep living. We learn from our past so we don’t repeat history.”
I roll my eyes even though it’s sweet.
“Claire, I know this is moving fast.”
“Why do you want this?”
“Because you are everything I’ve ever wanted.”
I let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. “You wanted a divorced single mom with a lot of issues?”
His jaw tightens. “Claire. I don’t think you have a lot of issues. I know you don’t believe me yet, but you’re exactly what I’ve been looking for. Everything about you—the way you challenge me, the way you care so fiercely—it’s everything.”
I shake my head, trying to push past the lump in my throat. I know he’s sincere, but I’m scared to go all in. “I think I should go,” I barely say.
“No.” Jake pulls me in tight. “You’re not running away.”
I exhale heavily, but I don’t fight him. I don’t really want to leave. I just don’t know how to stay without completely unraveling in front of him.
We stay like that, silently, cuddled together on his couch, for a long time. My mind won’t stop, but my body starts to relax.
The oven beeps, breaking the moment.
“Will you stay for dinner?” he asks, and it sounds like a beg as he cups my face, looking at me so lovingly.
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Claire releases me from the hug, and my gut is telling me she is going to leave. But then she exhales softly, as if making peace with something, and says, “I’ll stay.”
A smile begins to grow on her lips, but mine spreads even faster. Relief floods me. I don’t want her to run. Not now. Not ever.
As much as I’d like to dive into the deeper conversations we scratched the surface of, she’s fragile right now. I need to tread carefully—keep the mood light while making sure she knows I’m not going anywhere.
“Monotonous dinner conversation?” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.
“I have a few questions I’d like answered,” she counters with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Like?”
“You’re a pleasure Dom?” She giggles as she says it.
I shrug. “I guess so. I didn’t know there was a phrase for it until recently, but yeah.” The smirk that follows is too damn cute. I want to kiss it. “Is there a follow-up question, Sparky?”
She leans over to grab her cocktail from the coffee table, taking a long sip. Her eyes flicker with curiosity. “I don’t thinkmy follow-up questions would be monotonous, but I’m happy you like to educate yourself.”
