Page 59 of His Surrender
That’s when I heard a faintmeowbefore something touched my leg. I looked down and saw the most adorable cat I’d ever seen in my entire life—big eyes and a pushed-in face surrounded by orange fur. I bent down and reached to pet him, going slow because I knew some cats didn’t like to be touched and startled easy.
The cat stared at my hand before head-butting it and purring.
“He likes you,” Jay said, crossing his arms and staring down at us with a smile. “Not surprising.”
I returned his smile and continued petting the cat. “What’s his name?”
“Sputnik. But I call him Sput.”
“Why Sputnik?” I asked, amused. “Wasn’t that the name of a satellite?”
“Correct.” Jay joined me on the floor and scratched the cat’s back. “Before I got him, I browsed adoption sites for a while. Then one day I saw him at an animal shelter two hours away. He was a few years old at the time, and he’d been abused by his previous owners. I knew right then I needed to adopt him.” Jay smiled at Sputnik with so much love in his eyes that it made my chest ache. He was really beautiful when he let his guard down. “He didn’t have a name yet, and when I brought him home, a documentary came on the History channel about the Cold War and they talked about the launch of Sputnik. I don’t know. The name just stuck.”
Sputnik flopped onto his back, showing his fat belly, and purred up a storm.
“The more I learn about you, the more I realize just how wrongly I judged you,” I said, ashamed by the fact.
“What do you mean?” Jay picked up Sputnik and rose to his feet, giving the cat kisses on the head as he carried him to the kitchen.
I followed him and leaned against the island as he refilled the cat’s water bowl. “I thought you were this cold-hearted seducer who didn’t give two shits about anyone but himself. Someone who was self-centered and didn’t care who he hurt just as long as he got what he wanted.”
“Ouch.” Jay turned to me, and my stomach dropped at the sadness in his eyes.
“But that’s not you at all,” I said, stepping closer to him. “I’m so fucking sorry for misjudging you.”
He lifted a hand and caressed my cheek, his emerald eyes holding me prisoner. “You weren’t completely wrong. I have a trail of broken hearts behind me, men I’ve used and hurt over the years. And Idohave selfish tendencies. I’m also very self-absorbed. I’d say you were pretty spot on, darlin’.”
“God, why does that stupid endearment make my stomach flutter?” I asked, putting my hand over his and holding it against my cheek. “I’m sure you say it to all the guys.”
“I do.” That sad look flashed in his eyes again. He placed his other hand at my hip and leaned forward, ghosting his mouth across mine. “But none of them had even a fraction of the hold you have over me, Remi. None of them made me want more.”
It was hard to breathe. Jay overwhelmed my senses. His touch set my body on fire, his scent intoxicated me, and the sound of his voice made my soul sing.
“And you want more with me?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“I swore to myself I’d never feel this way,” Jay said with a slight growl, tightening his hold on my waist. “For so many years, I kept to that too. Then you came along and made me question everything. I thought I could fuck you and move on, but I was wrong. So fucking wrong. You’re all I think about. Goddammit, you’re all I want.”
The heat of his body pressing to mine and the tickle of his breath on my lips had my head spinning. Jay could have anyone… yet, he wantedme.It made no sense and also made the most sense of anything I’d ever known.
“I want you too,” I said. “I told you before that I was falling for you. I still am. I never stopped.”
“Even if I’m wrong for you?”
“You’re not.” I nuzzled his smooth cheek with my nose. “I always thought I was cursed because I fell for the bad boys… but I don’t feel that way with you, Jay. Not anymore. When I’m with you, I feel soright. Like I’ve been lost in the dark and suddenly find myself standing beneath the sun.”
Jay shuddered and pressed his forehead to mine. Was he angry? Upset?
“Potseluj menya,” he whispered, gripping my nape.
“What does that mean?” I asked, trembling. With lust. With nerves.
He pulled back just far enough to look me in the eye.
And then he kissed me.
His lips were soft, yet firm, and they moved on mine slowly, hesitantly, as if asking for permission. I gave it. I crushed my mouth to his and pinned him against the counter, grabbing at his shirt as the kiss grew heavier. More frantic. His hands grabbed at me, too, and moved to my chest to unbutton my shirt.
“I need to feel you against me,” Jay murmured, sliding his hand up my shirt and along my bare side. “Need to feel your skin against mine.”
