Page 94 of Brick

Her words echoed his own from a week before. God, had it been only a week?

Smiling, he let himself relax into this perfect moment. Never in his life had he made such a deep connection to another person. He hadn’t thought he would ever know how it felt to be in love.

He knew now, without a shadow of a doubt.

He loved Olivia Turner, and there was no way he could ever live without her again.

***

Liv

Even though he played it cool, Liv couldn’t miss how Jonathan freaked out over her tears, but she couldn’t think of any words big enough to capture how she felt. Sex had never been like this before. She felt him in every muscle, every bone in her body; he was everywhere. Everything.

This is what it meant to feel alive. The high she got jumping out of a plane was a pale imitation.

The clock next to her bed said it was five-forty-three, though it felt much later. Her stomach rumbled in agreement. “What do you like on your pizza?” Reluctantly, she disentangled herself from his arms and broke the physical connection between them.

Just for now, she vowed. There would be more loving later.

Jonathan sat up with her, tying off the condom and dropping it in the small trash can near the nightstand. “Load it up. I like it all.” He paused. “Except anchovies.” His nose wrinkled. “Or green peppers.”

Whipping out her phone, she pulled up the app for the pizza place around the corner and placed an order. Jonathan disappeared into the bathroom and came out seconds later with a warm, wet washcloth. A tinge of pink stained his cheeks as he held it out awkwardly to her. She accepted the offering and cleaned up quickly.

As she went to drop it in the hamper, she noticed him slipping on his boxer briefs. Quickly, she snatched his T-shirt and pulled it over her head.

When he raised his eyebrow, she gave an exaggerated pout. “I’m not ready for you to get dressed.” She twirled, the extra fabric of his big shirt billowing around her. “If I’m wearing this, you can’t.”

Jonathan folded his arms and gave her a hard look, but he didn’t fool her for a second. He had laughter in his eyes. Satisfaction.

Her gaze strayed down to his torso. He was The Rock and Thor rolled into one. Stepping closer, she ran her fingers across his sculpted chest. “I love seeing you this way. Your body is—” She licked her lips and dragged her gaze up to meet his.

“My body is yours. My heart. My soul.” He made a noise in the back of his throat. “Dirty and broken as it is. It’s all yours. I love you.”

The tears came back with a vengeance. Like before, they were the happy kind. A mixture of joy and gratitude and…falling from a great height. Carol knew what she was doing when she added this to her list.

Fearful anticipation shadowed his face as he waited for her reply.

Cupping his face, she whispered fiercely. “I love you too. I have never felt this way about anyone. You say you’re mine?” He nodded. “Well, I am yours. I don’t know how this is going to work. I don’t know how we’re going to get you free, but we will. I won’t lose you. Do you understand? Whatever it takes.”

He kissed her, a gentle brushing of the lips. “Whatever it takes.”

The pizzaman disrupted the moment with two raps on the door. She grabbed the box with quick thanks, grateful she’d paid online.

Jonathan slapped her ass. “You always answer the door commando?”

Laughing, she set the box on the table and threw open the top. The rich scent of pizza sauce and freshly baked bread was heaven. “Your shirt is longer than some dresses I own.” She pulled out a slice of cheesy goodness and bit in to a small piece of nirvana.

He frowned. “Maybe I need to check out some of those dresses.”

“What you need to do is eat up. Because when we finish this pizza, the only thing you’re gonna see is my bare ass before I climb on top of you for round two.”

He finished his first slice in three bites.

Within five minutes, there was no more talk. The pizza was history, and Jonathan’s clothes were on the floor, where they belonged.

***

Sucre

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