Page 65 of The Likelihood Of You

“Never better.” I breathed out, as he lifted his arm, allowing me to curl right up into his chest.

The air had shifted once again; this time, it was peaceful and light. Like we were safe with each other, and nothing could disturb our moment. Being held by him, I felt free. Free from the world that had passed me all those terrible things. Like he was guarding me from anything else that had its eyes set on me. With him around, they’d never reach me; it would be a losing battle from the start if they tried.

I felt him move his hand around my waist and lay it flat on my stomach, tugging me ever so slightly closer to him, his heart beating against my back. His breath warmed up my skin and caused all the tiredness I wanted to fight away to wash over me like a tidal wave. The words I wanted to say to him fell right back down my throat, too.

Chapter twenty-three

Jacob

My eyes crack open and are met with the brightest orange hew casting over the bedsheets and illuminating the walls. I assess the room slowly, being careful not to strain my sleepy eyes, while trying to make sure I’m still so I don’t wake Florence.

I’ve always admired the way the sun shines through in the morning. Most of the time, I’d be up well before the sun could peek above the skyscrapers, so seeing it like this for once was nice.

Although, there was already an added charm this morning, triggered by the incredible woman that's snuggled against my chest.

I let my eyes drop to the curves that were moulding the sheets, the peaks and valleys dusted with shimmers of sunlight, then to where her head lay. Shades of chestnut draped over the pillow and flowed downher back. The scent of soft amber and wood that dominated her last night still hovered around us, holding me captive beside her.

She was the picture of elegance, in every way.

I stayed next to her as I ran through the night’s events. I knew she’d love Josephines, and that JoJo would love her just the same. Even after I took her to Sals, I didn’t think anything could top such a picture-perfect night.

Until she told me she loved me. Three little words that had the power to render me silent.

There was no hesitation on my end to tell her that I felt the same. I knew I had for a while; I was purely just waiting until I knew she did, too, to tell her.

The night air was sweet and wholesome up until that point, but I felt the mood around us change the moment we got into the car. The way her leg shifted closer toward me, causing the baby yellow fabric that guarded her leg to slip off until it was fully exposed. Placing my hand there felt natural, like we’d silently asked each other if those movements were okay. What happened when we got back to my apartment felt equally as natural.

I wanted to treat her how she deserved to be treated. Like a woman who had rightly earned all the pleasure and happiness the earth had to offer.

I felt that it was only right to show her my favourite places in the city, and then take her home to admire my favourite parts of her.

The urge to unplug my clocks, turn off my phone and shut the world out for just a while longer was overwhelming. But, like she could feel my gaze burning through her, she shuffled under the covers, her ass backing up into me innocently, like she forgot where she was. Sheshifted until her body was facing me, those gemstone eyes latching onto me, and I could see the little moments from last night start to play in her mind, reminding her of how she got here.

Her eyes were the greenest I’d seen them, an ocean of emeralds. There was something so womanly and graceful about her in the morning. Her skin bared no barrier; it was clean and shiny. Those freckles that rested on the bridge of her nose were bolder, her lashes were still long from the light coating of brown mascara that lay over them, and her lips were luscious and plump and slightly parted.

“Good morning.” Her voice was quiet, like she was still finding it.

My hand moved up from her cheek to run through her hair, soft as anything, and the more I moved it, the more its honey-like scent wafted between us.

“Morning, how are you feeling? Did you sleep okay?” I ask, bringing my hand down to her shoulder.

Her lips formed into a soft curve, her nose slightly crinkling as she did. “I think I want to steal this mattress from you. Does that answer your question?”

“That good, huh?”

She nodded softly and smiled wider, this time flashing me her teeth, before dropping her head and bringing her hands to her face. “I-uh. I’m sorry I slept over, I did want to, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to.”

This girl had no clue how glad I was that she was here with me at this moment; waking up with her was a dream. She also had no idea how much I’d rather endure eighty more reshoots ofDefenders 2than ask her to leave straight after fucking her. If she wanted to go home, I would have taken her to her apartment and made sure she was okay,and safe. But knowing that she wanted to only made my heart pound steadily and tug her that little bit closer.

“I wanted you too, baby.”

“Good.” Her hand cupped my cheek, like I’d just done with her, and the heat under her palm was more than soothing. “Although, you do know you snore like you belong in the Exorcist…right?” She bit her lip, trying to cover up the large grin I could see crowning. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you bag the role of the demon in the re-make.” She said with a yawn, so casual I almost missed the dig.

I loved this smartass side of her, the carefree, risk-taker side. It gave me a further glimpse at who she really was, without the burden of the past weighing her down and restricting her from growing. I wanted more of her like this. But I also wasn’t going to let her get away with casually insulting me.

“Little smartass.”

She had no time to take cover in the protection of the pillows and sheets; I was after her. I quickly clasped my hand around her waist, while my legs were fighting with hers that were kicking like a toddler in a swimming class. Her squeals and giggles were infectious, making me smile and laugh right there with her. It wasn’t hard to get control over her legs; mine were longer, so it was easy for me to gather them and somehow end up straddling her. My hands caught her flailing wrists and placed them beside her head.

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