Page 114 of Yes No Maybe

The gray morning arrives. My eyes open against Jack’s bare chest just as I remember falling asleep. He’s propped up with pillows, one arm draped around my shoulder and one hand on Edgar, curled to his other side. We are addictively warm and cozy. I want to watch him sleep, but my shift causes him to stir.

His eyes flutter, and he smiles—the easiest, most affirming smile—and my heart swells with elation like I’ve climbed a summit to see the gorgeous view everyone raves about for myself.Thisis what I’ve always wanted. To feel beautiful at first glance.

He brushes my smile with his fingertip. “Rowan… good morning. Come here and kiss me.”

Edgar stands, stretches, and jumps from the bed as if cued—he doesn’t want to see that.

I lean up, planting kisses on Jack’s chest and neck before reaching his lips. He laughs as my hands wander over him.

“Let’s stay in bed all day,” he says between kissing me.

“Can’t. I have a job to get to, remember?”

“Hmm, is it take-your-boyfriend-to-work day again?”

I smirk over his joke and the wordboyfriend. “Afraid not. But after yesterday, I’m sure you’ll still be our main topic of discussion.”

“Aw, I won’t see you blush whenever you hear my name.”

A laugh rumbles out, and I blush just thinking about it. “No, but you can spend the day thinking of ways to make me blush when I come home.”

He moans in delight, pulling me closer. “I won’t be good for much else today with you occupying my headspace. I’ll never shower again without thinking of you.”

“Me, neither. We should just always shower together—make it our thing.”

“Oh, we’ll havemanythings,” he assures me. “But yes—never showering alone sounds like a good plan. So, how about I help you get ready for work, huh?”

I agree with a deep kiss, and he carries me to the bathroom.

Thirty-Eight

Jack

Damn…thiswoman.I can’t describe what she’s done to me, what shemeansto me—me, the fucking wordsmith.

Rowan drifts to sleep on my shoulder, her breathing soft and rhythmic. It’s late. I’m wired. But more content than I’ve ever been. Her gorgeous leg is draped over mine. My fingers lightly strum her bare lower back. Her arm lays across my stomach, fingers over my heart. We’re warm against each other, though we’re naked and still damp from the shower.

Ah, the shower.

I replay the memory, fiddling with the damp ends of her hair on my chest.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I asked her when our after-sex conversation drifted into silence.

She laughed, her cheeks reddening. “I can’t say.”

“How come?”

“It might seem… I don’t know… like too much.”

My eyes must’ve widened to the size of chestnuts because she giggled at my expression. “Now, you have to tell me.” My arms tightened around her while I tickled her with quick kisses—cheeks, neck, nose. “Tell me now, or I’ll do this forever.”

“This isn’t so bad,” she snickered.

I vampire-bit her neck, turning her laughs into playful screams. Then, I went for her lips, my teasing kisses turning into serious ones. “Tell me.”

“Shower. Let’s get in the shower,” came out in a breath.

“Damn. You. Me. Shower. I love it… and I fucking love you for saying it.” My breath caught on the words as they spilled out, relieved and surprised at myself. “I do, you know. I love you, Rowan.”

---