Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

“You’re so nice,” she murmured.

He frowned and then pulled her into his embrace. He needed to hold her. He needed his arms around her. He also needed hers around him. He couldn’t breathe right until they were connected, like two puzzle pieces.

After holding her tight for several moments, he kissed her forehead and then lowered his lips to kiss her mouth.

He was relieved when she sighed into him and returned the kiss with as much passion as he felt. She held on to him with both hands fisted in his shirt as if he might get away if she let go. That was a good sign.

When he finally broke away, he only gave her an inch, keeping their gazes locked. “So, you think I’m nice?”

She shrugged. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Oh, I think I’ll remember it and remind you often if you forget.”

She giggled, a sound he loved. “So, what are you doing at my condo at ten o’clock in the morning on a workday?”

“Took the day off so I could spend it convincing you that we belong together and talking you into coming home with me so I can demonstrate how strongly I feel about that.”

She didn’t shove him away. Good sign. “Is that so?” She smiled.

“Do you have a problem with it?”

“I don’t think so. I’m certainly interested in the demonstration.”

He tugged her closer. “It’s a really long demonstration. Do you have time?”

“It just so happens I’m not returning to work for at least a week. Is that enough time?”

This was going better than he’d expected. He shrugged. “It’s a start.” He slid a hand up to the back of her head. “Shayla, if you have cold feet, talk to me.”

She eased out of his arms and turned to fix her coffee. After taking a sip, she drew in a deep breath. “I’m just scared. It’s a big step for me. At first, it seemed so simple. I like you. You like me. I thought we were going to go on some dates, have amazing sex, enjoy ourselves.”

“And then…” He stared at her in confusion.

“And then I fell in love with you,” she stated point-blank, looking right at him. He would have responded if he hadn’t been shocked speechless by her bluntness and if she hadn’t continued speaking. “That changed everything. It happened so fast. Now it’s not so simple. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m on top of the world, even in a full crisis. When I’m not with you, I miss you. I can’t wait to see you again. It was fucking difficult to keep my hands off you that week. I didn’t like it. I was already in love with you.”

His eyes popped out and he swallowed.

She glanced at her coffee. “So, it’s a great risk to my heart to go all-in with you. It’s not casual. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll be devastated. And I hate being so vulnerable that I have to admit that. But that’s how I feel and the reason I’ve been a bit cold. I’m just scared.”

He reached out, took the coffee from her hands, and set it on the counter. Moments later he had her in his arms again. “You are not alone. I’m in love with you too and I’ve been nervous as hell watching you pull away from me. I can’t stand when you’re not in my house. It’s too quiet and lonely. I pace, wondering what I used to do before last Saturday when you came home with me.

“Shayla… I love you, sweetheart. Please, let me prove it. I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life showing you if you’ll let me.”

A tear ran down her face. “I love you too.”

“Good. Now, would you please come home with me and let me make love to you finally?”

She chewed on her bottom lip. “Can we do it in the dark?”

“No. Why the hell would we do that?” He frowned.

“Because I don’t want you looking at me with pity when we have sex. I’m covered in bruises you can’t ignore.”

“Do they hurt?” He frowned in concern. He didn’t want to hurt her.

“Not bad. As long as you don’t poke at them. I just don’t want you thinking about them.”

“I promise I’ll be careful around them, but I won’t let them get in the way of me ravaging your body. Today. Not tomorrow. Not two weeks from now.”

She shivered in his embrace. “Okay. But just so I’m clear, have you declared yourself some sort of victor in our bet?”

He chuckled. “Absolutely, but it never mattered. In the end, the result was always going to be the same no matter what.”

She swatted at him playfully. “That’s not fair. You think you’re going to go all alpha dominant on me?”

“I know I am.”

“Then I should get a turn too.” She jutted her chin out defiantly.

He tugged her closer again and planted another kiss on her. “Not a chance in hell. Nice try.”

She rolled her eyes, but he didn’t think she was disappointed in his proclamation.

“So, we’re going back to my place now?”

“Don’t you want to finish your coffee?”

“Nope. No interest. If you need coffee, I’ll make you some at my house. Or put it in a travel mug. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

“I might need a few more than ten minutes to get my shit together.”

He gave her a last squeeze and then released her. “Clock’s ticking.” As she started to rush up the stairs, he stopped her. “Hey, where were you going when I got here?”

She grinned wickedly. “I was going to look for you. Thought you might like to know I was in love with you and done being a fool.”

He didn’t stop smiling the entire time she was upstairs.

Chapter 27

Shayla packed a significantly larger bag than she had last time she’d gone to Jake’s house. He made it clear he wouldn’t be letting her go back to her condo anytime soon. He had plans for her that didn’t involve leaving