Page 145 of Could Have Been Us
I need him.
I need him to know how much I want him, love him, and that I’ll never leave him.
“Jack, please,” I say quickly as he pulls his pants and underwear off. “Jack, now.”
“I . . . fuck, Stella.” He thrusts so quickly I can barely breathe.
His love and warmth fill the cracks left from the last week. Every part of me feels put back together again.
He moves slowly, as though I’m so precious and delicate he worries I’ll break.
“I love you.” I place my hand on his cheek, forcing his eyes to meet mine.
“I love you too.”
“I will never leave you, Jack.”
As Jack knows my fears, I know his. Everyone in his life has abandoned him, but the idea of me ever walking away is impossible.
He is my heart and soul.
Jack’s forehead drops to mine, as if the words were too much for him to hear. I push up on my hip, rolling us so I’m on top.
I ride him slowly and give him what I think he needs. “I will always love you. I will always be your safe place, where you can come when you’re lost,” I promise. “You’re not alone anymore, Jack. You never were. I’m here, and while you may keep me warm, I will wrap you in so much love that you can’t feel anything other than that.”
He grabs my hips, moving me faster. “Fuck, Stella, I can’t hold back.”
“I’m close,” I tell him. Between the words and the sensations, I’m not going to be able to hold on either.
His thumb finds my clit, and we start to move faster together. The moment too great to look away, and I come. I cry his name, forcing my eyes to stay open, knowing he’ll catch me.
And then I realize I’ll catch him too.
He follows me over the cliff, and then we both hold each other as we fall to the ground.
* * *
“You know that sounded an awful lot like marriage vows,” Jack says as he plays with my hair.
We’re still in front of the fire, only now we have a blanket around us and I’m blissed out on his chest.
“Maybe I was practicing,” I muse.
“So, when I hear that again, should I act surprised?”
I lift my head, resting it on my hand. “If you ever actually propose and marry me, maybe you’d know.”
He rolls his eyes and chuckles. “You’re so cute when you’re a headcase.”
I sigh and go back to listening to the sounds of the fire crackle and his heartbeat. His fingers continue to glide through my hair, lulling me into a serene place.
My eyes close, and I start to drift until the sound of my phone pinging with a text has me wide awake and sitting up.
Jack does the same, moving to burrow through his clothing to find my phone. After what feels like forever, he pulls the phone out, handing it to me. When I see Kinsley’s name, I practically drop it because I’m moving too fast to swipe the screen, anxious to see what she said.
Kinsley: I miss you guys. I have a test to study for tonight, but maybe we can talk tomorrow?
Tears fill my eyes, making it hard to type out a response, but I will them back.
