Page 53 of My Song for You
“Sure, why not?” He smirked. “You’re not scared, are you?”
“Of course not,” I scoffed. Which was a total lie. Horror movies had always scared me, and he knew it.
“This isn’t so bad, is it?” Jared chuckled as I watched the movie from between splayed fingers.
“No, not at all. In fact, I might let Logan watch it before bedtime tomorrow.”
Jared laughed again. Seriously, was he not watching the same movie as me? There was nothing funny about a deranged doll hacking up people. I thanked all things holy that Logan was a boy and didn’t have any dolls. Otherwise I might’ve had to do some serious spring cleaning the next morning and chuck them.
“Here, I’ll keep you safe.” Jared wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him.
Too bad for me I actually believed him. I lowered my hands from my face in time for the psycho doll to sink its teeth into the legs of its next victim.
I cringed and turned to stare at Jared’s chest. His very nice chest under the fitted gray T-shirt he was wearing. Maybe I could watch it for the rest of the movie. You know, just to ensure some creepy doll didn’t wander into the apartment and plunge a knife into it.
“Thanks, but as strong as you are”—I placed my hand on his abs, which flexed under my touch, then relaxed—“I don’t think you’re much protection againstthat.” I waved in the general direction of the TV, my attention still on his hard chest and abs.
Jared laughed once more, and his stomach muscles rippled under my hand—the hand that had returned to his abs right after gesturing toward the TV.
I looked up. Instead of theyou’re weirdexpression I was expecting, his eyes were dark. My gaze dropped to his mouth, and my lips parted involuntarily as I fantasized about kissing his mouth again. Except this time I wouldn’t fall off the couch. This time, if he gave me a chance, I’d kiss him back. Really kiss him back.
And then…his lips were on mine.
I had no idea who started it, and I didn’t care. All I knew was if this was a dream, I didn’t want to be awakened.
His mouth briefly touched mine for a heartbeat, then moved slightly away. Fear stroked a finger across my back and I held my breath. Any second he would realize he was making a mistake, realize that the last person he should kiss was me.
His mouth remained in place, hovering close to mine, his warm breath mixing with mine. Then the moment of deliberation was over. His lips crashed against mine again, and this time it wasn’t the sweet yet brief kisses we’d experienced before. This time his tongue slipped between the seam of my lips, and I let him in.
I’d always expected that Jared would be a great kisser. How could he not be? But my expectations were nothing like reality. He tasted me, consumed me…made me feel like the earth was shaking under my feet. I’d found heaven—and I was ready to move in, permanently.
I let out a soft moan. Then it was as if my body had taken over my brain’s job. My lips still attached to his, I shifted to his lap and straddled him. His hands settled on my hips, keeping me in place, and the pads of his fingers crept under the hem of my T-shirt, stroking my skin. A slight tremble danced over my body.
My fingers knotted in his hair, relishing the silky feel of the strands, and I ground my aching center against his hardening length. “Oh, God,” I groaned. Forget the kiss—my body wanted so much more. And it seemed like Jared was on the same wavelength.
Or at least I hoped he was on the same wavelength.
“Are you gonna marry Mommy and be my daddy?” Logan’s soft voice said.
Startled, I jerked away from Jared, my breath coming hard. It was only because of his hands on my hips that I miraculously didn’t end up on the floor.
I scrambled off him and tried to formulate some sort of answer, but the words refused to form any coherent sentences in my head. All I was capable of was opening and closing my mouth like a zombie.
“Sometimes when two people…um…like each other, they kiss,” Jared said, stumbling over his words. “But that doesn’t mean they’ll get married.”
Logan blinked, not having heard Jared’s answer. I signed it. Well, attempted to. They hadn’t exactly covered this scenario in the sign language classes I was taking. And I could guarantee it wasn’t part of Logan’s preschool curriculum.
From the way his shoulders sagged, you’d have thought Jared had just told him Santa didn’t exist. I gathered him in my arms and hugged him. Then I pulled away and signed, “Why are you awake?”
He signed back, “Thirsty.”
“I’ll get you some water. Okay?”
He nodded.
I took his hand and led him to the kitchen. A few minutes later, he was back in bed, eyes closed.
I left his room and walked smack into Jared in the hallway. He had been deep in thought when Logan and I had left the kitchen.
