Page 74 of Heartless
“What’s wrong?”
It took several seconds before his chest slowly rose and lowered in a deep breath.
“My father’s in a coma.He has been for five years.Car crash.”
Nuzzling closer, I inhaled his masculine scent while my heart broke a little.
One of Jake’s big hands curled around my nape, and the pad of his thumb moved up and down at the back of my ear.“What’s your dad’s name?”
“James.James Adrian Rhodes,” he said quietly.
“What do you miss the most about him?”
He stayed silent for a long moment.And just when I thought the question might have been too personal, he said, “When he laughed hard, he sounded like he was choking.People would panic, which made him laugh harder.”
There had been a smile in his voice, so I melted further into his body.
Long minutes passed, and his arms spasmed around me before his guttural voice reverberated in the silence.“He’s deteriorating.”
I pressed closer.“Where’s your family?”
Another heavy pause ensued before his low voice vibrated against my cheek.“My mother died when I was seventeen.No siblings.”
Tears swelled in my throat.“I’m so sorry, Jake.”
His palm slid to the side of my neck while his thumb pressed under my chin.
“Baby.”
His lips grazed my temple, glided down my cheek, and I couldn’t help the deliciously long shiver that coursed through me, but as the corner of his mouth brushed mine, I slanted back.
“Goodnight, Jake.”
“Goodnight, Sienna.”
Chapter Twenty—Bugs and bears
