Page 69 of I'll Carry You

“Always.” His mouth found hers again, then he pulled back with a groan. “I’m driving myself crazy like this. I’m going to put you down.”

“I want you, Jason.” She nestled her head in the crook of his neck. She clasped her legs tighter. “Please.”

He groaned and held her gaze as he positioned himself against her again. Taking her in one hard thrust, she cried out, her fingers digging into his shoulders. “Oh, God,” he groaned. “Jen, you feel so fucking amazing.” He pumped into her, grinding her back against the tree, her hips rocking against him to receive every thrust, her need for him slick and undeniable.

Something about being out here in the woods in broad daylight was animalistic, as though this view was made for two lovers drinking in the wild. She moaned, and he pushed deeper, relishing in the feeling of the bare, hard ridges of his length inside her, lost in the pleasure as it passed through her body.

She rocked against him harder, lifting her hips off his just slightly, exposing the sensitive nerves against him. As they found a rhythm, a deep, throbbing lightheaded feeling spread through her and built. She was on the verge, and he thrust harder, faster. “More,” she managed, moaning louder as the sensation simmered to a hot breaking point.

She sensed him thickening, his own release approaching, and she dropped her head back, her hair catching the bark as a simmering hot climax tingled through her nerves.

Jason slammed himself one last time, and she nearly doubled over as she reached the peak, pleasure washing over her body as he pulsed inside her and released with a groan. She cried out his name, and her lips found the curve of his neck as she clung to him tightly.

When he stilled, she drew her mouth away, still connected to him, the remnants of pleasure sizzling through them like lightning unleashed.

As he lowered her to the ground, her legs wobbled, and she braced herself against him. He kissed her temple, and he reached down for her discarded jeans. As he handed them to her, he caught her in another kiss, this one sweeter, more tender than before. “Thank you,” he said, when he pulled away, then kissed the backs of her knuckles.

“For sex? No problem.” She gave him a sheepish grin.

He chuckled, but his eyes were more serious. “For being you. And forgiving me. I swear I’m going to make it up to you, Jen.”

Jen pulled her jeans on, more conscious now that they were on a hiking trail that could attract company. “You already did,” she teased. But as she caught the unreadable expression in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a spark of worry that she could no longer afford to ignore.

Do either of us know what we’re doing?

ChapterTwenty-Three

“You look happy, Jason.”Mildred lifted the cup of iced tea to her mouth and sipped it through a straw.

Jason leaned back into his seat at the restaurant he’d taken her. He’d driven one town over, not because he didn’t like Bunny’s or Brandywood, but because he wanted the privacy.

Happy? He was happy. He’d spent the past three days finding every creative method of spending time with Jen. They’d fucked all over Brandywood in his car several times and at the guest lodge once Colby was asleep. The damned chairs behind the front desk weren’t comfortable, but they were better than nothing.

Of course, they barely had time. Jen didn’t want to sacrifice time with Colby, so their meetups were between her jobs and in the little spare time she had.

He felt like a teenager. But he didn’t want to stop, either.

And it wasn’t just the sex, something he knew he could get on the regular when he wanted. Facts. But it was Jen herself. She’d been through so many tough times in her life, yet she had a vitality about her—raw exuberance—that wasn’t something he’d ever experienced in a woman. She was warm, real, nurturing, and kindhearted. And he found it hard to imagine ever letting that go. Lettinghergo.Kevin had been much braver than I could ever be.

TJ was irritated and exhausted with him. Trying to keep Ned away from Jen was proving to be a challenge. And Ned wasn’t keeping a low profile, either. He seemed to slink around everywhere.

“She makes me happy.” Jason sipped his Coke and then bit into one of the french fries on his plate. “I’ve never felt so much for anyone so quickly.”

Mildred laughed. “Oh ho, really?” She rolled her eyes. “One week and you’re in love. Sonny, I think you’re confusing nooky with love.”

“I didn’t say love.” His lips parted at her words. “Mildred—”

“Don’t you think it’s about time you call me something else? Grandma is just fine, thank you.”

I’ll give that some thought.He couldn’t really fathom the idea of calling her Grandma after all these years.

“I know it’s not love. That would be ridiculous. But I care about her in a way I haven’t really cared about anyone. Maybe ever.”

“Care about her so much you’ve told her the whole truth about why you came to Brandywood?” Mildred lifted her crab cake sandwich.

He’dmeantto tell her. The thought had kept him up almost every night. But then he remembered the sweetness of her words and the way she’d forgiven him in the woods. He didn’t want to say anything until he was sure he’d found a way to assure her forgiveness again.

When Jason didn’t respond, she gave a self-satisfied smirk. “Didn’t think so.”

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