Page 93 of Only Ever Yours

I swat his chest, making him laugh, in that deep, sexy laugh he always does. “Stop it!” I mutter as my cheeks heat.

Not due to the thought of telling Haleigh, but because he said the L-word.

Love.

Have I really fallen in love with this man?

Love.

I have no idea what that’s actually supposed to look like. I never had parents who modeled that for me growing up, like Jaydon did. Maybe that’s why I spent so much time hanging out with Haleigh when we were younger. Their house always had that loving feel to it—like home—the kind where, as soon as you walk in, you feel welcome and comfortable being yourself.

Okay… I might have also loved catching glimpses of Jaydon working out daily, but it was more than that. I felt like I belonged, like I was part of their family.

Am I in love?

Is it too early for this feeling?

But as I lie here tangled up in his sheets, staring into his caring eyes, I already know the answer to my question—I’ve been in love with Jaydon for far longer than I'd like to admit.

I was in love with him even when I thought I hated him… and my gut tells me that he just might be in love with me, too.

I’m overwhelmed thinking about what this all means.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.

Realization hits hard, panic bubbling up inside my chest. Suddenly, I push up from the bed, ready to excuse myself and head back to my room.

Before I can slip out of his bed, his arms reach out, gently catching my wrists. “Where do you think you’re going?

“I’ll be back,” I lie, just trying to keep my breathing steady. “I just need to run and grab something out of my room.”

He doesn’t let go.

He tugs me back down against his naked chest, wrapping me up and holding me tight, “Oh no, you don’t. You're not leaving my bed. Tell me what you need… I'll go grab it.”

Shit. I don’t actually need anything except… Air, lots of air.

“Um… pajamas.” I offer weakly, cringing at myself for lying.

He just stares at me with his brows pinched together. “Tell me the truth,”he knows me too well,“because you already have pajamas lying somewhere on my floor, and I can give you something to sleep in as well. So, what’s really wrong?”

I bury my face against his side, trying to hide. I’m not good at this, revealing my true feelings, being vulnerable. I’ve been burned too many times to count.

I swallow down the nerves that claw at my throat. I know I can tell him anything, he's seen me at my worst, he’s had his head between my fucking legs. So, this should be the easy part.

But it's not.

It's harder.

I peek up at him through my lashes and shrug.

“Ellie, look at me,” he demands, his voice low and serious. “Look at me.”

Then he guides me to sit up as he does the same. I pull the sheets to my chest, feeling vulnerable, hoping they hide me from this moment, even though he's already seen everything under them.

His fingers gently thread my messy hair, careful to avoid my healing injury. “Do you regret anything?” His intense stare makes my heart stutter. There’s a flicker of hesitation there, like he’s bracing for something he doesn’t want to hear.

I immediately shake my head, “No, of course not. But if I’m being honest, this is a lot to take in. This feels serious, Jaydon.”

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