Page 145 of Finding Hope

Jack:You do whatever turns you on. Either way, I’m gonna fuck you tonight. My dick literally aches thinking about you.

The throb of excitement and anticipation builds between my legs.

Me:I miss you like a needy chick.

Jack:Not for much longer. I promise.

31

JACK

HOME

Iwave across the living room as Bobby and Kit quietly turn toward the kitchen. Fuck getting a snack. I just want Bambie.

Creeping up the stairs, I’m conscious of the fact it’s three in the morning and the kids are sound asleep. No way in hell am I waking any of them and losing more time with my girl.

Our plane was delayed four fucking hours.

The longest four hours of my life.

My dick throbs with pain and the knowledge that she’s so fucking close. I tiptoe into my dark room, close the door with a silent snick, and when I turn around, my heart breaks.

So close, yet so far away.

Sound asleep on top of the covers, the moonlight filters through the open curtains and shimmers against Britt’s unblemished skin.

I can just picture her lying on my bed, waiting, watching through the window. And I’m four hours too late.

Annie’s head pops up. She sniffs the air and whips the side of my bed with her tail.

“Shhh.” I bend down and scratch her ears. “Go to sleep, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Licking my hand, she drops her head back to the floor, takes a deep breath, lets it out noisily, then falls back to sleep.

I toe my shoes off soundlessly. I need a shower, but I don’t want to beaway from Bambie any longer. I smell like plane air, stale and gross, but I toss my shirt to the floor, push my jeans away, kick off my boxers, and peel away my socks.

Naked as the day I was born, I lift my girl up, pull the covers down, and put us both to bed.

In nothing more than tiny panties and a bra – a matching set – I lament the fact she wore those for me, but instead of showing them off, she fell asleep waiting.

Tomorrow.

I’m taking tomorrow off, no gym, no training, no promo. We’re taking tomorrow for us. We’re going to the lookout, and we’ll dance.

Pulling her soft body against mine, I position her half over my body and pull her leg up until she’s almost straddling me. Sleepily, she lifts her arm over my stomach and snuggles in.

Brushing her hair away from my nose when it starts to tickle, I breathe her in and close my eyes. “I have a secret to tell you, Bambie.”

She smacks her lips in her sleep. She’s deep out. She can’t hear me, but that’s okay. I can tell her my secret while she sleeps, then maybe soon, I’ll be brave enough to tell her when she’s awake.

She continues to tell me she’scoolwith us, she’scasual, she’s not jealous. I’m terrified that she might not feel the same way I do. I’m terrified she’ll run if I admit this out loud, but right here, right now surrounded by the dark, in the quiet of the night, I can tell her without fear of rejection.

“I love you, Bambie. I love you so much my heart aches, but for once, it’s finally a good ache.”

I know I’m dreaming, it’s not so hard to figure out, since I’m standing beside my old Rav.

Then there’s the fact – alive and well, and just as beautiful as always – Steph walks toward me with the sun glowing through her hair. It gives her a halo and proves what I already knew; she’s a beautiful angel.

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