Page 41 of Tell Me No
“Where is it? Can we go look now? I can’t believe you did this,” she rapid fires, swiping the tears from her face as she reads over the contract a second and third time.
“We can go now if you really want to. But it’s like 2 am, babe. Maybe after we get some sleep?” I suggest and she nods, that beautiful smile never leaving her face.
“Thank you so much, Jason. You have no idea how much this means to me. I just… thank you,” she says, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
I will live the rest of my life making every one of her dreams a reality if it means she’ll keep looking at me like that.
“I made some changes to my business as well. I’m going to take a back seat when it comes to the field work. Iris said he was happy to step up in that department, so I should be home a lot more. I want you to know I’m all in here, Aurora. You make me laugh harder than I ever have. I feel more myself with you. For the first time, I trust you with me, the real me. I won’t lie, it’s scary as fuck. I’ve never given anyone the power to destroy me. But losing you… I wouldn’t survive it, Aurora.” I lay it all out for her, hoping she understands just how much I need her.
She takes the papers from my hands, discards them on the dresser, and pulls me into bed. I drag her back against my front, wrapping one arm around her waist as she rests her head on top of my other arm. I could spend forever holding her in this bed and never leave.
“I love you, Mr. Negan. So very much,” she whispered, her fingers threading with mine.
“I love you more… Mrs. Negan,” I fall asleep with the morning light creeping through the windows and a smile on my face.
twenty-five
For the thirdhour in a row, I’m laying in bed, just twirling the end of my hair as I imagine what the studio space looks like. I would have been more than fine going at two in the morning, but the exhaustion was clear in Jason’s face. Looking over at him, his features relaxed and peaceful, I feel so incredibly grateful for the broken and battered path that led me to this moment. At some point during his sleep, his hand worked its way under my shirt and now he’s got a palm full of my tits, but is still fast asleep. Men, I swear.
“I can feel you staring at me, princess,” he grumbles, his lips barely moving but his fingers flexing against my skin.
“I can’t help it. I wanna go now. I'm more than happy to go by myself. I know you’re sleepy.” My suggestion isn’t unreasonable, but he gives my left breast a rough squeeze.
“Okay, okay! I won’t go without you!” I giggle, trying to pull my body from his death grip. That only makes him latch on harder, pulling me tighter into his warm embrace.
“Just give me five more minutes, okay? Then we’ll get ready and go. Sound like a deal?” He asks, his eyes still closed but his eyebrow raised.
“Okay… Jason Dean,” I throw out a new guess for his middle name, laughing out loud at how silly it sounds.
“Jesus Christ,” he grumbles. “I’m up! I’m getting up.”
“Yesss!” I hoot, kicking the blankets off and running into the bathroom.
I’m dressed and ready to walk out the door within ten minutes, not caring that I probably look like a complete hobo.
Meanwhile, Jason takes his sweet ass time, dragging around the kitchen to drink his coffee and slipping on his boots so slowly, I swear a sloth would be jealous.
“You really want to die today, huh?” I tell him, drumming my fingers against the bar. A sexy smirk peeks out from behind his coffee cup and I shoot him the middle finger. “Whatever, I’ll take myself.”
I turn to walk out to my Bronco, but before I make it to the door, his hard body presses against my back. His heavy breath fans against my neck and goosebumps raise across my shoulders and down my arms.
“Don’t worry, princess. I’m gonna take you,” he says, giving my hips a squeeze. I feel the pressure shoot all the way to my core and I have to fight to suppress a moan. “Let’s take the bike.”
He swats my ass hard, walking past me and out the door to the garage. I’m stunned by the effect this man has on my body every single time, without fail. Shoving my need back down, I stomp into the garage, climbing on the back of his Indian. Bracing my hands on his shoulders, I slide my body down his back a lot slower than is really necessary. I hear him let out a low growl and I smirk.
Two can play at this game, baby.
I barely give him time to shut the engine off before I’m climbing down and rushing to peek through the front windows of the studio space. It’s just off the main drag in the center of town, only about a block from Eli and Everett’s shop. It truly is an amazing location. The floor to ceiling glass doors and windows across the front of the building will let in so much beautiful, natural light.
For the first time since I was assaulted, I actually want to dance. My studio, a space all my own to create and fall in love with my art all over again. I will never be able to thank Jason enough for giving this feeling back to me.
“Here, baby. All yours,” he says, tossing me the keys. I catch them, squealing in delight like a kid on Christmas morning. “We’ll have to figure out how you want to remodel. And you’ll have to pick a business name, but we can take care of that pretty easily. It’s a little rough around the edges, and it definitely needs a good cleaning. But I think you should be able to open the doors for classes by mid-July, if that’s what you’re envisioning here.”
I spend the next hour describing to Jason everything that I envision here. Mirrors on all three interior walls, a small private space in the back for individual classes, a ballet barre down one side, and a kick ass sound system that can make the best out of any class I’m teaching. Eventually, I’m sure I’ll need to bring other teachers on to help. But I always loved teaching during my summer breaks when I was younger. I can’t wait to see where I can take this place.
I’m shocked to find that I don’t feel a single bit of fear or anxiety as I imagine dancing in this space. Many of my nightmares are plagued by visions of Erik standing in the shadows of the studio I loved so much back at LSU. But this place has never been tainted by his presence. This space is one-hundred percentmine.
Tears well in my eyes as I stand in the center of the large space. My dreams, everything I spent my entire life working for, it can all come true in this place. Covering my face, I let the tears fall as I sob softly. Even though I’ve missed out over the past few years, I still feel as connected to my body, my soul, and my craft as I ever have.
