Page 51 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

We needed to get goingsoon, but Jess was still curled up on the couch. One arm draped over her eyes to block out the sun and soft little snores escaped her mouth that she would undoubtedly deny.

Offering to hold her had been a moment of weakness. I pretended it was to help her sleep, but the truth was I did it to make myself feel better. Last night had been reminiscent of the many we’d spent together during a summer that played on repeat in my head, and I needed her in my arms.

Her attempted kidnapping had shaken me to my core. Every time I looked at her last night, something snapped, and the good memories were replaced with every terrifying second when I thought that asshole was going to shove her in the truck, and I’d be too late to save her.

I should’ve eased myself off the couch the moment she fell asleep. Instead, I held her the rest of the night, only getting up an hour ago to check in with Gage and Sam since we needed our new set of wheels, STAT.

After starting the coffee, I made my way over to wake her up. I ran the tips of my fingers down the soft, satiny skin of her forearm. “Hey, baby. It’s time to wake up. It’s almost eleven.”

I cringed, hoping she wasn’t awake enough to catch my slip. The endearment rolled off my tongue, a reminder I was letting myself get too close to her again.

She groaned, but her nose twitched. “Is that coffee? Ugh, turn the lights off. It’s too early.”

I sat on the couch, crowding her body, with my hip pressed against her stomach. Clearly, I was a glutton for punishment because I reveled in how her curves and arms wrapped around my waist. I rubbed her shoulder, prodding her to wake up, but also not wanting to startle her.

“I don’t want to get up. Come on, Alden, just come back to bed.” She wiggled into a little stretch.

My cock tightened at her words, straining at the waistband of my pants. I wanted nothing more than to do that.

“Fuck,” she gasped, and sat up so fast the top of her head connected with my chin. “I didn’t mean that.”

My teeth slammed together. I guess I should be glad she didn’t accidentally knee me in the balls. “Shit, Jess. That fucking hurt.”

Her eyes widened, her cheeks tinged pink. “Well, then don’t startle people awake.” She swung her legs off the couch and hurried to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

I rubbed my jaw and got off the couch just as Sam walked in through the back door.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I shifted my jaw from side to side.

He placed a few shopping bags on the floor and poured himself a cup of coffee while eyeing me. He knew he’d walked in on something but was smart enough not to push it.

“Car’s out back.” He jerked his thumb behind him. “I was able to grab some clothes from Lexi and Gage this morning. Enough to get you by for a few days.”

Jess opened the bathroom door. “You have some of my clothes? Sam, you are my absolute favorite man in the whole world right now.” Running up to him, she grabbed him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Sam’s face reddened under his dark skin. He lifted a bag up and held it out to her.

Jealousy twisted my gut and made me want to slam my fist into Sam’s face at that peck. The rational side of me knew it was nothing, but the side that loved and desired Jess wanted to pull her to me and grunt,Mine.

She snatched the bag from his hand and started going through it. “Not that I don’t love your generous spirit and clothes, but I can’t wear socks all day long.”

Sam’s loud, boisterous laugh echoed around the room.

“Hey there’s some in here for you, too.” Jess tossed me a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, underwear, and socks.

“How did you get this stuff?” I asked, instead of rearranging his face.

“Lexi left it with a friend of mine earlier today. He let me know it was there and a few hours later I went in and snuck it out the back, so no one made the connection.”

“What the fuck, Sam?” My body vibrated with anger. I was not okay with them putting my little sister in danger over fucking clothes.

Sam held up his hand. “I’m going to ask you to breathe and chill out. She wasn’t in any danger. Gage was nearby. We made sure she left with a bunch of bags so if anyone was watching they wouldn't know she left without the ones she originally came in with. It’s why we could only get you a handful of things.”

I nodded. “Smart.” The simmering anger evaporated, but the frustration and desire to pound my fist into a wall didn’t. It was my job to keep both Lexi and Jess safe and I was doing a piss poor job of it.

He eyed me as though weighing his next words carefully. “You’re not failing Jess and Lexi. Right now, you’re protecting them the best you can. Sometimes you just need help to do it.”

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