Page 46 of I've Got You

Jenna was great. It was obvious with how she steered away from trickier conversations regarding her husband and her move that the next few weeks or maybe months were going to be a challenge, no doubt not just for her but also the boys, but she was assertive and together. It didn’t fully connect with the picture Scott had painted about her marriage. This version had a glimmer of hope in her eyes and excitement in her voice. I liked her, and her boys were fun.

“Righto, boys.” I stretched my legs out before me, readying to stand. “I imagine it’s your bath time.” I’d heard the tub filling in the bathroom.

“It certainly is.”

I angled and looked at Jenna, who stood in the open doorway to the boys’ shared bedroom. I offered her a smile, then turned back to the boys. “Let’s get these cars quickly put away first; then it’s time to get moving.” They groaned in sync but put away their toys without any second request. I was impressed. “Is Libby downstairs?” I glanced at Jenna as I stood.

“Scott has her.” She took a step out of the room, which I read was her invitation for me to follow. In the hallway, she studied me for the briefest of moments. “I hate that I haven’t been around for him through all this.” She hugged her sides, a tremor in her voice.

I tilted my head and said softly, “I think he feels the same way about not being there for you.”

A single tear spilled down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, her gaze flicking to the boys’ room and then back to me. “We make a pair, right?” She laughed humorlessly.

I fought hard not to fidget, uncomfortable with her tears. “I think we all have heavy baggage to drag around with us at times, you know? All we can ever do is learn from whatever has happened, what we’ve lived through, and grow. Make sure the same shit doesn’t hit us.”

Jenna looked a little calmer when she spoke. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For Scott, for seeing how special he is. He could be an arrogant prick growing up.” I snorted and she laughed. “It’s true.”

“Oh, I believe you.”

Her laughter sobered. “I now understand why he was that way though, why he felt he had to protect himself—”

“By being an asshole.”

Her smile was watery when she nodded. “Yeah. But I haven’t seen that in him since being here, and I think you have a lot to do with that, so thank you.”

I shook my head. “I can’t take credit for anything. Well, maybe for making him a bit happier.” He’d definitely brought me that. “But the rest of it, Scott accepting who he is, coming out, making this new choice for him, areallhim. We haven’t known each other all that long, but I’m proud as hell of him.”

“You care about him.” There was no question intended.

“I do, a great deal.”

Her smile was blinding. “So thank you for that.” She stepped over to me, placed a small kiss on my cheek, and squeezed my bicep. When she leaned away, she said, “Scott seems eager to head back to your place. Best not keep him waiting.” She stepped around me to collect her boys.

Satisfaction rushed through me. I was just as eager.

* * *

When I stepped backinto the room after settling Libby down, Scott’s eyes immediately held mine. I didn’t miss the slight shake in his hand when he brought his beer to his lips, nor did I miss when he downed the entire contents. I somehow contained my self-satisfied smirk that he was so wound up, only managing to do so because of the ball of nerves in my own gut.

We both knew that him being here meant we’d be progressing from the hot kisses we’d shared. While it was unspoken, the heated glances and touches were all an agreement to something more. He still wasn’t ready for sex, and I wasn’t sure when he would be, and that was okay. I could wait until he was certain.

Foreplay could be a hell of a thing, and I was eager to reach that point.

With a determined stride, I headed toward him, my focus on his every movement. His chest rose and fell quickly, his hand trembling when he placed the empty bottle on the table.

“Did Libby go down okay?”

Silently, I nodded and stopped before him. My hand found its way to his cheek, and he expelled a shaky breath. A smile formed on his mouth. After moving my hand to his nape, I let my eyes roam his face, landing on his lips—the only warning before I pulled his mouth to mine.

The kiss was bruising and perfect. Heat whipped through me, fueling my need to speed this up and get a taste of the man I’d been dreaming about. I couldn’t wait to get him under me, have him at my mercy so I could show him exactly what he could look forward to.

I tugged at his shirt, managing to pull it off him with the slightest of breaks, my lips returning to his with a ferocity that had me scrambling for more. My shirt quickly followed, and his jeans were next. I hesitated the barest of moments over my fly.

“What?” Concern filled his breathless voice.

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