Page 77

Because the reality was, that I didn’t want to leave.

Every time we spent the evening together, I could feel a piece of myself tethered to her flat. Anchoring me. Calling me back. I was becoming more and more comfortable, and so far, Jacqueline seemed to be feeling the same way. Instead of offering to get me a glass of water, she told me to help myself. I had a toothbrush here. I was pretty sure I had a shirt or pair of boxers around here as well.

But I tried not to read into it.

I was talented at staying in the moment.

So when Jacqueline used her leg to tug me closer to her, ensuring the entirety of our fronts were pressed against each other, I leaned into it. Holding her tighter.

Taking every single part of her she was willing to give me.

ChapterFifteen

LEO

I wasn’t goingto ask her to repeat her name, because there was a good chance I might not need to remember it, anyway. The tall, round woman with red hair stepped aside with a smile, revealing the other woman interviewing me today.

Except she didn’t need to introduce her to me.

Because I had just been inside her less than twelve hours ago.

* * *

“Where didyou work before Sun Steer?” I asked Jacqueline one evening. We were on her living room couch because we hadn’t been able to make it to her bedroom this time. I had dropped the food I had grabbed on my way over because she was on me as soon as I walked through the door. Her tongue was demanding entry into my mouth before I could get a word in. Within minutes I had her bent over the back of her couch. Now, we sat side by side, naked, with my socked feet up on her coffee table while she threw her legs on the long side of the couch, leaning against my side under a throw blanket.

It was my favorite way she greeted me.

From the view I had of her profile, it looked like Jacqueline frowned at my question, and not the endearing frown-smile-thing she did, but a true frown.

“Blix,” she replied, before popping a chip into her mouth.

Sorry, afry.

I was so glad she was someone who appreciated good takeaway as much as I did.

“That’s cool,” I grabbed my strip of fried potato and took a bite, but I kept my other arm around her waist to hold her snugly against my side, “Did you like it?”

She snorted before shaking her head once, “Not at all.”

“Why is that?” I pried.

Jacqueline shifted against me, and even though I lifted my arm to allow her to adjust her seat so her back was more against my side, I was grateful she didn’t pull away entirely from my question. She even went as far as to take my arm and wrap it around herself again once she was settled.

I wondered if physical contact was just as grounding for her as it was for me.

“Several reasons,” she sighed, before pulling the blanket up higher, covering her perfect chest, “Though a big one is because my ex is kind of a huge asshole.”

I tried my best not to stiffen at the mention of her ex.

“Do tell,” I managed to reply.

“Do you really want to know?” She turned her head, giving me her profile as she side-eyed me. I could feel how uncomfortable she felt having this conversation, but she wasn’t shying away from it either.

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.” I flexed my arm around her waist before leaning forward to grab my drink, taking a sip through the straw. It was a little more difficult to eat, wrapped up with her like this, but oh so worth it.

I was hoping my casual body language made her feel more comfortable sharing.

“Okay, so.” She was working herself up for this, I realized. She held tight to her chips, flexing her fingers over the cheap cardboard box they came in, “I met him working at Blix. About seven years ago.” She released a deep sigh, and her body relaxed against me as she started the story, “I wasn’t a director or anything. I just worked in the HR department. It was a huge company, even back then. So when this handsome sales rep started stopping by my desk more and more, I was flattered that I was supposedly singled out compared to everyone else there.” She traced the edge of her chip box with her index finger, “Within six months of officially dating, we moved in together.”