Page 42 of Forever Mine

“I need a shower and a nap,” Dakota groaned. I wrapped my arms around him from behind and nuzzled his neck. He tilted his head to the side to give me more access and relaxed in my arms. “Can we take that shower together?” I whispered as seductively as I could manage. We both could afford to blow off some steam, and what better way to do that than blowing Kota in the shower?

He grinned, totally following my train of thought. “Hell fucking yes, we can shower together. Baby, I don’t think you understand, I’d be happy if I never had to do anything without you ever again.”

“Don’t be givin’ me ideas, Kota. My ass will think you’re bein’ serious.”

Kota stepped away from me and headed toward the bedroom. He glanced seductively over his shoulder. “Who said I’m not?”

He kept walking, and you best believe I fuckin’ sprinted after him.

CHAPTER 17

DAKOTA

“Areyou sure it’s safe for us to go?” It was the third time Jay had asked this, and under normal circumstances, I’d think he just didn’t want to go to a birthday party for a six- year-old, but this time, I understood.

We were sitting in my car in front of the trampoline park where my niece was having her sixth birthday party. I had been as reluctant as Jay when my sister first strongly insisted that we both go. It was bad enough that this stalker probably at least knew what my parents and Declan looked like, it was best to stay away from anyone else in my family.

But after a month of avoiding family dinners, and any other physical contact with my family, after we left Declan’s place a few days after the incident, they all put their foot down. Bridget even played the guilt card, telling me that Gemmy had been asking every night if I was coming and would probably cry if I didn’t show up. Nothing put a dagger in my heart like the idea of my baby niece crying because of me.

Jay and I talked to Wes, who agreed it should be okay to go. It was public and in the middle of the day. Also, the guy hadn’t done anything since the day he put chocolates in my locker and destroyed Jay’s car.

We’d spent weeks on high alert and paranoid, but there hadn’t been a peep. The cameras in the hospital were a dead end, the only people who came in and out were people who belonged there. Nothing looked suspicious. As far asthe factory, of course Jay’s truck was parked in a blind spot in the surveillance. They found a video of a man in a dark hoodie with the hood up and looking away from the camera walking in the direction of the truck, but there was no footage of the destruction.

They had no suspects, and as hard as I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of anyone who would do this. Wes even checked on the man from the grocery store but he had an alibi for that night. So we were at square one. I wasn’t sure if he got scared off by our proactive response, or ifhe was just biding his time, but either way, there had been nothing, and I was tired of putting my life on hold.

Which was how we ended up in the parking lot of a trampoline park, holding a big box wrapped in rainbow wrapping paper with a giant unicorn bow.

“I’m tired of sitting scared, baby, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but this is your nieces and nephew in there.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “Listen, I agreed with you. But we were overruled. They want us here, and I’m done letting that bastard win.”

Jay sighed heavily but eventually got out of the car and grabbed the package. As soon as I met him on the other side he took my hand, which made me smile.

That was one good thing that came from all this. Jay and I seemed even closer. I knew he still battled with his insecurities and sometimes he still doubted us or how I wanted him, but those fears were disappearing bit by bit. He also never pushed me away anymore. In fact, we’d been sleeping together every night, mostly at his apartment because it somehow still felt safer to us than my place, and he was always touching me.Always. Sometimes it was small, little touches, like a brush of my shoulder when he reached across the table for something, or knocking my arm with his when we were in the kitchen together. Sometimes I woke up with his mouth on my dick or his fingers in my hole. No matter what it was, I couldn’t get enough, and I cherished every single fucking touch.

We walked into the place and into instant chaos. Jay winced. “Are these places always this loud?”

“Probably.”

I scanned the tables to the side that were reserved for birthday parties and found the one with Gemmy’s name on it. My sister was bossing Ezra around as they tried to set the table with the unicorn plates and cups that Gemmy picked out. My mom was sitting in a chair with a helium pump between her legs, blowing up pink and purple balloons. I waved at Ezra, who was on the other side of the table, and went to greet my mom and sister.

Bridget dropped everything when she saw us and zeroed in on Jay. I already warned him about her, so it didn’t surprise me when he tensed slightly as she came up to us, her eyes sparkling.

“You must be Jay. It’s so good tofinallymeet you. I’ve been hearing so much about you from everyone. It’s good to put a face to the name.Finally.”

I rolled my eyes and my mom shook her head. “You’re laying it on a little thick, honey. Besides, only Dad, Declan, and I have met him. Not everyone.”

“Close enough.”

Jay didn’t know what to do, but thankfully, Bridget never got a chance to interrogate him because Gemmy and Molly came bounding up to us. “Uncle Dakota!”

I grinned as I had an arm full of a brand new six-year-old in a full-on unicorn regalia. “I heard it was someone’s birthday,” I said conspiratorially to her, “Do you know who it is?”

Gemmy fixed me with her best offended face, her hazel eyes huge. “Uncle Dakota!”

“What?” I asked her innocently.

---