Page 77 of Discretion

She smiled at that. “Thank you.”

“Of course. You’re a good mom, Halle. You probably don’t hear that enough, but you are.”

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to my temple. “You’re a good man, Jasper Mackenzie. You probably don’t hear that enough, but you are.”

Something in me warmed at her compliment. Released. Eased.

Halle saw me, not only as the man I was but as the man I wanted to be. It was nice to have someone believe in me. Appreciate me just as I was.

“I’m scared too,” I admitted. “I’ve never really done this with anyone. Never found anyone who made me want to try. Until you.”

She smiled then, and I couldn’t help it. I found myself saying, “I want to kiss you.” It felt as if the words had been ripped from my chest. From my very soul. “So damn bad.”

“Then kiss me,” she said, as if it were that simple.

I’d wanted to kiss her since the moment she’d walked into the conference room all those weeks ago. I’d thought about little else since. Just one taste. One kiss.

I shook my head, releasing her hand so I could drag mine through my hair. “I can’t…” I swallowed, trying to compose myself. “I want you. I want this. But I can’t. Not unless you’re sure.” Because losing her had hurt too much.

She stared at me, unblinking. Stunned.

Hell, I was still a little surprised myself. But I knew what Iwanted, and I refused to compromise. If I couldn’t have all of her, then I wouldn’t have any of her.

Yes, she’d said that she wanted to be with me. But I knew she still had reservations. It was understandable, and I was trying to show her that I wanted more than a physical relationship with her. And I was proving it to her in the only way I knew how.

She searched my eyes as if seeking the truth. And then she said, “You’re serious.”

I nodded. “I am. Because the way I feel about you isn’t going away. I don’t want it to go away. Tell me you feel it too.”

Her eyes fluttered closed, and she looked almost pained when she admitted, “I feel it too.”

I felt as if my heart was in free fall.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

“I know,” I said. “But if you ignore everything else and focus on us, on me, it feels right.”

She nodded. “It does.”

She was so close to giving in. To saying yes.

“So let’s just focus on us—for now. And forget everything else.” Baby steps.

She nodded again, and something in my chest eased. “Just… I know I’m asking for discretion, but I won’t share you,” she said, and I couldn’t hold back my smile. “I couldn’t handle seeing you at an event with another woman.”

“You’d never have to. I’m yours.”

Her shoulders seemed to relax, some decision crystallizing. “Okay.”

“Okay, what?”

A smile formed on her lips. “Okay.” Her eyes met mine, pure and sincere and good as she finally,finally, uttered the words I’d been longing to hear. “I’m yours.”

“Fuck yes, you are.” I’d known that all along, but it was a relief to have her admit it too.

I unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her into my lap. I needed to touch her. Halle let out a yelp of surprise, and I chuckled, feeling lighter than I had in months. I kissed beside her eye. Her cheek. The edge of her mouth. Everywhere that wasn’t her lips.

My cock was already hard and pushing against my zipper, but I took a deep, steadying breath and tried to think of something other than the feel of her on my lap. In my arms. Because nothing had ever felt more right.