Page 110 of The Packaged Deal

“I mean, go ahead and give it a good wack, I’ll test the theory with you. I’m just stunned by how deep your layers go.”

Sven groans and cups my ass, dragging me up against his body.

“Mmm, nice try, but you’ll have to do better,” I whisper.

“On the mat, I’m going to teach you some moves.”

“What kind of moves?” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.

Sven laughs, a huge belly laugh, and I’m stunned into silence. He has a contagious laugh that makes you smile along with him, who knew? It’s the kind that reaches into you and steals your heart.

“Spread your legs.”

“Now, there’s words that fire straight into a girl’s hooha!” I purr. “Yes, Daddy.”

Sven groans. “Legs shoulder width apart. Hands up, loose. We’re going to go through several holds and how to break out of them. Please, Jade, focus on this. No messing around. I need you to be able to protect yourself.”

The following hour ends up being frustrating and painful, but in the end, when Sven grabs me by the hips, lifts me into the air, and swings me around, I know that I’ve fallen irrevocably in love with him. Also, my libido is out of control.

He kisses me for a long time. I get lost in his kiss, cling to him, feeling everything, needing more. I want to ask the questions. I want to take his pain, but I don’t want to see him run. So, instead, I keep my mouth shut, and I don’t ask what’s eating me inside.

When we part, he takes my hand and leads me across the road to get an ice-cream. It’s so cliché, I love it.

People leave us alone, but I notice how many people see Sven and wave at him. He’s well-liked, he’s respected.

“I enjoy teaching kids. I enjoy knowing that no one can hurt them. Then there’s the knowledge that being their friend means that if they need help, they have somewhere to go.”

I watch him and reach out and put a hand on his. “I think what you do is incredible. Those kids are lucky, Sven.”

“I don’t want to hurt you anymore, Jade.”

I don’t say anything because I can see how much it’s tearing him apart, and suddenly, I’m scared and hurting, not for me, but for him.

There are two sides of Sven. The man that everyone likes, and the alpha who is terrified of what might happen if he allows his heart to have what it wants.

He walks me home, and when he tries to slip away; I cling to his hand. He ends up sitting on the couch beside me, laughing every now and then while we watch TV. I stare at him, trying to see through the layers that he wears like armor.

Again, the thought comes to me.

What could be so terrible that this impossibly strong man ran terrified?

thirty

Jade

Kandi slides her fingers into mine. I glance at her and can’t stop the ridiculous grin. My cheeks burn as vivid flashes of memory slam into my mind. Jeez, I have to stop thinking about this stuff in public.

“This is a really nice park,” I say in a low voice.

Kandi laughs. “Festival, Jade. It’s a festival.”

I look around. “Is that what everyone’s doing here? I didn’t notice,” I admit, and it’s true. How can I look at anything else but them?

“You’ll love it. Trust me.” She shoulder bumps me, and our fingers lace together.

We’re standing across the road from the huge park. I’m looking at it with fresh eyes now. The balloons, the stalls, all the people. There are lots of cars on the street.

It’s not an especially different day, it’s because of the three people standing with me. They make the world exciting and exceptional. The last few days have been so blissfully normal that, somehow, they are easily the best days I’ve ever had. Dinners together, soft conversations, sharing secrets and desires. Exploring each other in a way that feels natural and normal and leaves me jittery with this joy I have never felt before.

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