Page 44 (2/2)

Jase waited patiently by his Jeep, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans as he leaned against the door

"Honey, I really don’t want to leave you right now"

I turned to Moo back tothe guy that he’d alelcohed "Yes, with hi?" he asked, and I had no idea how to answer that question, because I wasn’t sure where ere, which did not go unnoticed by htful look crept across his face The kind of look bad things sprouted froain"

"No," I said quickly "You do not need to talk to hiree, but Mom placed her hand on his back "Call us later, okay? Just to check in"

"I will" I figured I’d probably only have a ­couple of hours at the apart a lot of impros and tears, they let o and I joined Jase He pushed off the Jeep and opened the door for me "I think your father looks like he wants to takealed "You know, you’re probably not too far off with that assessed around the front Cli in, he shot me a look "Your dad used to love me"

Thatbetween us"

"Sohtfully, and I tensed He didn’t speak again until he pulled out of the hospital parking lot "There’s definitely so between us"

I didn’t kno to respond to that, because what I wanted between us was soo, but then there was yesterday and what he’d said before he cli my hand, and we didn’t speak on the way back to the apart in the silence, and I took the ti spot close to the entrance in University Heights, li the time in the brisk, cold air since I was sorely underdressed Ca to our level, I could hear Avery’s laughter co from inside her apartment

"Do you think he’ll propose soon?" I whispered

Jase nodded as I unlocked the door "I bet he’ll do it over ­Christ that he’d just spring it on her instead of trying to plan it again Either way, I knew she’d say yes and they would have a happily ever after

My happily ever after? I was still praying that it was possible, that it was about to happen

I stopped just inside Caet used to thinking of it that way Looking away, I soaked in the fa-­screen TV that aone, relocated to Avery’s apartlanced into the narrow kitchen and saw the baking sheets sitting on top of the stove I lihed down by what had happened

Jase closed the door behind us and placed his hand on my shoulder "You okay?"

"Yeah" I nodded for extra emphasis More like I needed to hear myself say it "It’s just I didn’t know if I’d ever see this place again"

He turned me so I faced him as he cupped my uninjured cheek His features were sharp with unspoken eazes locked, and I knew in thatwhat I was A future had almost been lost and ere on the cusp of a second chance, and the realization was shattering

"I need you" His voice was guttural with the depth of what he adht now"

There was no doubt in my mind hat he wanted I needed the same "Yes"

Jase’s hand shook as he pressed a kiss to the corner of my lip and then to the hollow ofme to shiver A hot, wet path trailed down led cry escapedache between hs caused desire to blosso the fire licking overhis hands down ripped my hips "I want you always"

I looped my arms around his neck "I want you"

Jase made a deep sound in the back of his throat "I could al those words"

"Almost? What could you live--­?"

He liftedmy ass as he walked me backward Whatever I was about to say was lost as he pressed round his hps into s around his waist, the position allowing hihs

My eyes drifted shut as I cranedand licking as his hps thrust intoanticipation

Jase lifted his head, kissingthe area that was tender to touch I an off hA spark of acute pleasure darted from the tips ofa sweet spot that had ainst h, if this hurts, you’ve--­"

"It doesn’t," I assured hiers into his shoulders My body was sore, but the needful ache to be with hier "I won’t break"