Page 113 of Derailed
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Jess
“There’sno reason to be nervous.” Deb raises one arched brow above the top of her coffeecup.
“I’m not nervous.” My finger traces the rim of my almost empty mug as one foot bounces a staccato beat under the counter. The band is on their way back from the airport and I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting. Sean, Austin, Trent, Lexi, and Opal should walk through the front door any second if the travel time on my smartphone predicts correctly. Not like I’ve been watching the clock that closely. Okay, Ihave.
Deb clears her throat and lets loose a chuckle that says she doesn’t buy mybullcrap.
“Okay, I’m completely nervous.” I push the mug away and stand up to rinse it in thesink.
“He’s gonna walk in that door and you’ll befine.”
With the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth, I meet her stare and shrug before blowing out a rush of breath. “I hope so. It’s silly with as much as we’ve talked, but this is the first time we’ll be together. In person. You know, since everythinghappened.”
“And you have done so much over the past three months.” She slides off the barstool, coming around the island to wrap me in her arms. “I’m so proud of you Jess. I reallyam.”
“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.” I squeeze her back. I’m now the proud owner of a high school equivalency degree. To most that’s probably nothing, but to me it feels like a giant step forward after years of being stuck inhopelessness.
“You would have, but you’re welcome.” Commotion at the front door followed by the chatter of voices pulls us apart. Deb’s smile is wide. “Now, go get yourman.”
My feet want to run, but I force them to take steady, even steps down the hall. Everyone is inside the entryway, but my eyes are only forSean.
His lips pull up at the sight of me and continue until a full smile fills his face. He doesn’t say a thing, but drops his bags and stalks toward me until I’m close enough to wrap in his arms. Of course I lethim.
I press my face to his chest and inhale the scent that’s uniquely his. It smells like his cologne. It’s the reason I wear his shirts to bed. The smell lingers in the fabric even after it’s washed, but there’s nothing comparable to the warmth of his arms. The sure and steady beat of his heart. The safety of hislove.
“God, I missed you,” he whispers into myear.
If there’s anyone still around us I don’t take notice, tipping my chin up to meet his gaze. “I missed you, too.” The words are barely out of my lips before his mouth is on mine. Hungry and decadent, I enjoy the sensation of his kiss. His arms encircle my waist. I want him sobadly.
“Sorry.” He chuckles and loosens me in the space between us. “I’ve been waiting to do that since Ileft.”
Saying things like that only melts my heart even more. If my body wasn’t completely amped up in this moment, I might savor it a littlemore.
“You already have dinner?” he asks, and nods down the hall to the kitchen where laughter and chatter amplify from theroom.
“Not hungry.” It’s almost seven and I ate hours ago. I don’t want to be rude, though. “You must be starving. We can join them if youwant.”
I’m certain by the lift of his brow I do a poor job hiding my reluctance. “I could eat.” His gaze never leaves mine. “Unless you had something else in mind?” He’s leaving it open. Giving me an out. Classic Sean. But I’m not the same woman I was when he left. I’ve changed. I know what Iwant.
Him.
Taking his hand in mine, I turn and lead him up the stairs and straight toward his bedroom. I’ve never been one to take control or set the pace in a relationship, but I’m empowered to do just that withSean.
Inside his room, I shut and lock the door behind us. He hasn’t said a word, his eyes following my every move like a hawk. I walk to the side of his bed and connect my phone to the portable dock. My playlist serenades us through the speaker and he lifts hisbrow.
“Sorry, it’s not 3UG.” I grin and walk over to the candles I arranged on his dresser, taking my time lighting each one. My fingers tremble, but not with nerves as much asanticipation.
“I hear they’re overplayed,” he says, still not moving from where I left him at thedoor.
“They’re not bad.” I turn and slide the straps of my top off each shoulder before going to the buttons. “I have a little thing for the bassplayer.”
“Yeah?” His grin kicksup.
“Yeah.” I drop my top to the floor and shimmy my shorts off my hips, standing before him in only my black bra and thong. “Maybe he would join me? Inbed?”
“He’d love that.” Sean doesn’t waste a second, my invitation all he needs to close the space between us and pull me into his arms. He walks backwards to the bed, his lips never leaving mine until he sits on the mattress. “You’re ready?” he says, and it feels as if he’s asking for more than myconsent.
