Page 45 of Saved By Two

“I just don’t know who I am anymore,” she admits, looking so damn defeated.

Before I can stop myself, I pull her into my arms and across my lap. There's a slight hitch to her breathing when I do. That one small sound pumps pure adrenaline through my veins.

“You’re still you,. You’ve lost yourself, and that's to be expected. But you’re still in there. I see you.”

Her palm presses to my chest, covering my heart, and I wonder if she can feel how it’s an erratic staccato beat.

With a tilt of her lips, almost forming a smile, she asks, “What do you see?” Her eyes trail over my face in a soft caress against my senses.

Covering her hand with mine, I hold her gaze. “You are strong. Resilient and powerful in your own right. Because you’re not a victim, Jessica, you’re a fighter, a survivor. Your compassion still shines through. You’ve not lost your ability to be still kind.”

Moving my hand from hers, I cup the back of her neck, my thumb stroking across her cheekbone. It’s now free from bruising, but I’ll never be able to forget how beat up she was, and I know that kind of hurt doesn’t always heal as quickly on the inside. She’s beautiful, but it’s more than what's on the surface; there are so many layers to this woman, and I want to learn every one of them as I unwrap her like a special gift.

I move my thumb lower, tracing her soft, plump bottom lip. There’s that smooth intake of breath, causing my dick to stir. It’s impossible not to when she’s perfectly cocooned in my lap.

Pulling her closer, my head moves of its own accord, my lips kissing the corner of her mouth and she turns her face just enough that if I move my lips just a fraction, they’ll meet hers fully.

And then the buzzer on the oven goes off, causing her to startle, followed by a nervous laugh.

Moving to my feet, I sit her on the stool and turn off the buzzer. “Do you want me to turn off the oven?” I ask, peering over my shoulder.

With a shake of her head, she says, “No, I need to put the garlic bread in.” She’s already sliding off the stool when I hold up my hand.

“Nope, hold tight, little one. Let me get this glass cleaned up first.”

She glances at the shattered pieces, grimacing. “I can do that.”

Moving back in front of her, I stand between her thighs, cupping the back of her neck.

“I was the one who startled you, so I’m going to clean it up.” I leave no room for argument as I lean in and kiss her forehead before quickly cleaning up the mess.

The front door opening and closing let me know Noah’s home, followed by the echo of his footsteps.

“It smells delicious, by the way. What are you making?” I glance at the covered pan.

Moving beside me, her cheeks flush with a slight blush. “Chilli con carne and homemade garlic bread,” she replies as she takes the baguette and slides it onto the tray in the oven. “And sticky toffee pudding for dessert.”

“That’s it. We’re keeping you forever.”

I adore how her skin flushes and the thought of seeing her entire body blush like that makes me smile.

Noah walks over and smiles at me in greeting as Jessica glances over her shoulder.

Picking up on the tail end of the conversation, Noah says, “Damn straight we are.” Placing his palm on her lower back as he kisses her temple

ChapterTwenty-Four

JESSICA

My insides melt at their words, my emotions so conflicted. The way they talk to me has my stomach doing summersaults. I’d love to stay safe in this sanctuary they’ve created. But there is only so much of their kind hospitality I can keep indulging in before it’s time for me to get back on my feet.

Cooking today reminds me how much I love it; ultimately, my goal is to return to doing the things I love. Which means at some point, I need to start living again.

Noah lights some candles as Caleb sets the table. I watch how they move around one another so in tune. It’s beautiful. I don’t even think they know they do it—like magnets, there’s an invisible pull, a once-in-a-lifetime special connection.

I turn back to plating up our dinner and try to ignore the deep-rooted longing, the pang in my chest, the wish to one day only have an ounce of the love they share. Being here, it's easy to pretend I am part of it, but then I’m consumed with guilt. They’re a couple, yet I can’t deny how drawn I am to them. They’re both so different and yet complement one another. And not just on the surface, they are each handsome in their own right, but it’s more than that.

The way Caleb told me what he sees when he looks at me triggered feelings I thought were dormant before those words. I felt a strange numbness, a disconnect, with that part of myself and yet slowly, these two amazing men have breathed life back into me.

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