Page 22 of Bravely Yours

“I’ll say it over and over again if I have to.” I brushed a finger along her cheek and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Iwantto. I want to be here and take care of you and Nora. You are important to me, and I need to know you’re both safe.”

I threaded my fingers through her hair and then rested my hand at the back of her neck. More than anything, I wanted to claim her mouth, but I held back, giving her ample time to pull away. But when her eyes drifted closed and she tilted forward, I met her halfway, molding my lips to hers. This kiss was different from the last few. It was desperate and frenzied. And I wanted so much more.

A loud-pitched giggling pulled me from the moment. We broke apart, and in unison, we turned to look at Nora, who stood holding on to the edge of the coffee table and reaching out for us.

I let go of Sarah, ready to scoop her up.

“Wait,” Sarah breathed, her hand landing on my forearm.

Nora giggled again, wobbling in place. Then she was moving. Three quick steps forward before she wobbled once more and plopped down on her butt.

“Oh my god, she did it.”

The awe in Sarah’s voice made me chuckle. We had talked about this for the last three nights. She was certain that Nora would take her first steps any day, and she was right. I got the excitement. I was feeling the awe too. It was one thing toknow it would happen, but another thing entirely to witness it.

“You said she would soon.” I scooped Nora off the floor.

She sighed. “I’m so glad I got to see it. I was afraid she’d do it while I was working.”

I brought Nora closer to her mama, and Sarah tickled her belly, praising her.

A conversation with my dad a few years ago came to mind as I soaked in the moment. He had told me that when I found the woman that I wanted to spend forever with, I’d just know it. At the time, I had rolled my eyes. He’d been lecturing me because I wasn’t ready to bring the girl I was dating home to meet my parents.

But right here, right now, his words made total sense.

Chapter Sixteen

SARAH

Tonight felt weird.Different. And not just because I was freaked out that someone may have been in my apartment. That was probably just me being paranoid. What had changed was the way Jay kept looking at me as I cooked dinner and we ate.

As I stepped into the living room area, I froze. I’d just put Nora down for the night in her crib, and out here, Jay was pulling a throw blanket out of the basket I kept in the corner fullof them.

“Are you cold?”

“What?” He turned, his brows furrowed, then looked down at the blanket in his hand and chuckled. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m staying here.” He waved at the sofa. “Saw the basket of blankets and figured I’d get one out for me tonight.”

I shook my head. “You don’t need?—”

“What do I keep telling you?”

I rolled my eyes, even as my heart tripped over itself. “I was going to say you don’t need to sleep on the couch. We can share my bed.”

His eyes widened instantly. “No we cannot.”

Stomach dropping and hopes disintegrating, I crossed my arms across my chest. “Why not?”

Did I smell or?—

He took three large steps toward me, closing the space between us, and gripped my hips. As he pulled me tight against his very muscular body, I gasped.

“There’s no way I could sleep in bed with you and not touch you.” He shifted me so I could feel his hardness through his sweatpants. “See what just talking about being in a bed with you is doing to me?”

I took a brave breath in and hoped to God he wanted the same thing I did. Because I was done pretending that I didn’t want him.

“Who says you couldn’t touch me?” I slowly trailed both hands up under the hem of his shirt. “Jay, I want you. I want to feel your hands on me.”

“Sarah.” He searched my face, his eyes so earnest.

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