Page 105 of Come Fly with Me

“For what you did at work,” she says.

The penny drops and I immediately relax, my hand squeezing hers. “So, does this mean they’re listening to you? That you’re getting the raise?”

Taylor shakes her head, still smiling as she says, “Not just listening, they’re actually doing something, so yeah, I think I am.”

“Seriously?” I ask, shocked that it’s all happening this quickly. I only went to HR yesterday. How the hell is it happening so quickly?

She nods. “Yeah, I mean it’s still early days, but I just got off the phone with the VP of Crescent,” she says, her eyes wide because obviously, it’s a big deal that it’s already gone this far up the food chain. “He recognizes there’s a problem, which is good, but he’s also prepared to do something about it,” she continues. “Which is even better.”

“Fuck,” I murmur, almost to myself, as I shift on the couch, moving a little closer to her. As much as I wanted this to happen, I still wasn’t sure it would, especially this quickly.

“I couldn’t have done this without you, Jake,” she adds.

“What do you mean? I didn’t do anything.”

She laughs, shifting so she’s sitting even closer, letting go of my hand as she slides hers onto my thigh. My body hums at her touch, electricity shooting up my spine as every nerve reacts.

“Yeah, you did,” she says, her voice low. “I know about the support you gave me, the way you got everyone together and writing letters and emails. I… I couldn’t have done this without that, Jake. Without you.”

She drops her head a little, her eyes falling to her hand, which still rests on my thigh. I know she means what she’s said to me, but I also know how hard it is for her to say these words too. That she’s not someone who’s used to accepting help from others, let alone ever expecting it.

“Taylor,” I whisper, slipping my fingers under her chin and tilting her head to mine. I smile when my eyes meet hers. “You don’t have to thank me,” I say. “You deserve this, and I’m just glad I was able to help in some small way.”

She stares up at me, her eyes searching my face, but not because she doesn’t believe what I’m telling her, more because I think she’s surprised that anyone would even think about helping her at all.

“I know you…” I start, but she cuts me off, practically launching herself into my arms as she presses her mouth against mine in a hard kiss.

We fall back onto the couch, her body covering mine as she continues to kiss me. I feel her hands slip under my T-shirt, her fingers brushing against my bare skin as she slides them up my body, and every single nerve starts firing again.

I want to keep talking to her, tell her that I get it and I know, and that I’m sorry for everything that’s happened between us, but right now, right in this moment, I honestly can’t form a single fucking word. It just feels too damn good to have her in my arms again. To feel her hands against my skin and her mouth against mine.

“Jake,” she whispers.

I open my eyes, find hers already open and watching me. She smiles, pulling back a little. “Hey,” I whisper, brushing her hair back, tucking strands behind her ear.

“Hi.”

“I’m so sorry, baby,” I add. “Sorry for everything with Maggie and for not telling you and all the shit at work and…”

“Jake,” she says again, pressing two fingers against my mouth and silencing me. She smiles. “I get why things happened,” she whispers. “I wish you’d told me, told me about everything, but I know…I know it was a different situation. I know you didn’t deliberately mean to hurt me,” she adds, even as I’m shaking my head. Her smile widens a little. “Just promise me you’ll never not tell me anything again,” she says.

“I promise,” I say, kissing the tips of her fingers as she slides them off my lips. “I never meant to hurt you, Taylor. It’s something I never, ever want to do.” She nods at me, even as I continue. “I will always be honest with you, baby. You will always, always come first to me.”

“I know,” she whispers, leaning down to kiss me again. “Can we stop talking now?”

I chuckle, my lips brushing against hers in a soft kiss. “Did you have something else in mind?”

Taylor lifts a brow, her hand sliding back down to the bottom of my T-shirt again, before sliding it up and over my head. “Maybe,” she whispers, a cheeky grin on her face.

“Maybe,” I repeat, laughing a little as Taylor sits up, straddling my hips now as she starts to undo my jeans.

Her fingers make quick work of the button and zipper, shoving them down my hips. I sit up too, slipping my hands beneath her shirt, taking it with me as I slide my hands up her back, before throwing it across the room. I make quick work of her bra, pulling her close as I lower my mouth to her breast, kissing and sucking her skin.

“Jake,” she whispers, husky and low.

“Yeah?” I ask, lifting my head.

She stares at me, an intensity in her eyes that I’ve never seen before. I watch as she lifts her hand, her fingers brushing my cheek as I lean into her touch. “I need you,” she whispers, her words laced with truth, but with fear and vulnerability too.

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