Page 53

Willow

The only sound to fill the room were our pants and sighs. My nails dug into the back of Jack’s neck and scalp like he was my lifeline. And he was. He always had been, whether as my employer, friend or… this.

As the post-orgasm haze cleared, contentment formed. With a final kiss to my neck, Jack raised his head until he hovered over mine. His eyes darted over my face, checking for regret.

“You okay?” He brushed my cheek with his thumb, and I broke out into a smile at his kindness.

“Perfect. Are you?”

His smile matched mine. He kissed me softly, then spoke.

“Perfect.” Pulling out, our combined release spilling out of me, he pushed off me and grabbed some underwear from his bag, then headed to the bathroom.

I stretched out like a contented cat, arms above my head and toes pointing.

Bereft of the warm, cosy pressure of his body, I suddenly felt shy of my nudity.

Glancing around for some clothing, I found the green jumper Jack had been wearing at dinner.

I raised myself to my knees before putting it on, revelling in his scent with a satisfied hum.

“You know, I think I’ve figured out what to wear on the great days.” I brushed the soft cotton over my belly.

“Hmm?” he responded from the bathroom. With the flush of the toilet, and sound of footsteps stopped behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and found him all but drooling.

“Yep,” I smiled innocently, “anything of yours.”

“Willow,” he choked. “We need to pace ourselves if we want to walk tomorrow.”

If I thought he was joking, I was wrong, his pained expression suggested otherwise. I giggled, hopping off the bed and past him into the bathroom. I didn’t expect the short, sharp slap to my arse, but then I hadn’t expected tonight to progress as it had .

After the obligatory post-sex-pee and clean-up, I returned to the bedroom where Jack’s eyes followed me instantly.

He was seated on the bed, back against the headboard in his underwear looking appetizing as fuck.

His gaze alone made me feel like the only person in the world.

I shuffled onto the bottom of the bed as Jack held his hand out to usher me closer.

“Not until we’ve talked about us, Mr Lambert. I see you, you’re insatiable and we won’t get far if I’m closer.”

Jack laughed but continued to reach for me.

“I promise I won’t try anything, I just want to hold you, sweetheart.”

And just like that my resolve crumbled in front of my eyes. I crawled up the bed until I was close enough for him to yank me between his legs, my back pressed against his chest. His hands brushed the bare skin below his jumper. He spoke first.

“Where would you like to start?”

“I have to ask, did you employ me because of your feelings for me?”

“Absolutely not. You got the job on your own professional merit. Do you think Mike would have let that happen?”

“Fair enough,” I replied, biting my lip, looking up at him. “Does Mike know?”

Jack pulled my bottom lip from my teeth with his thumb.

“I think everyone has had their suspicions since you moved in. But I’ve never confirmed, and it was never a ruse to move you in and have my wicked way with you.

I genuinely just wanted to offer you a safe space.

” I gently grazed my fingers over his calves.

“It’s okay if this is just a one-time thing for you,” he whispered, his lips against my shoulder.

“It isn’t, not at all.” I turned in his arms, my fingers landing on his upper thighs, the tips brushing beneath his underwear.

It was as intimate as we’d been, more so than the sex somehow and I loved it.

“But I hardly have healthy relationship experience. There’s a lot of feelings here and I don’t want to mess things up or let you down. I want to see where this can go.”

“I understand. We’ll go at your pace, but you could never let me down. Just promise to communicate with me and we can work together.”

“Okay.”

A soft kiss on my head gave me all the reassurance I needed. After another short silence, he spoke again.

“Do you… want to move out while we’re starting this?”

I jolted up, pulling from his embrace as panic fizzled through me as I moved to the centre of the bed.

“No! Do you want me to?!” I squealed, and he dared to chuckle, reclaiming my hand and rubbing his thumb over my scar .

“Not even remotely, sweetheart. But starting a relationship whilst living together is a lot. I’ve not done this either.”

“But surely we can be the same Jack and Willow, just an enhanced version with sex and kisses and romance?”

His smile softened at my panic.

“That sounds perfect. Don’t look so scared, I’m not kicking you out. And whatever comes up, we’ll figure it out together.”

I watched him, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never came. Slowly I nodded.

“I do want to speak to Frannie first, though. She won’t impact whether I’m with you or not, but I owe it to her to give her the heads up, especially since you’re the first woman I’ve been involved with since her mum.”

“The first? Like a relationship?” My eyebrows shot up.

“The first anything.” His expression turned thoughtful.

“Oh, Jack.” I clung to his hand, my fingers tangling with his, unsure of what else to say but hoping this small gesture would say it.

“Don’t be sad, sweetheart. For the first five years I was raising a daughter in the midst of grief, then someone else came along. Nobody else compared.”

“Me?”

He nodded. “I don’t mean to scare you. I know it’s a lot. I’ll go at your pace.”

“There’s nothing scary about you, Jack Lambert.” I kissed him gently, until it wasn’t so gentle and started to become needy. I pulled back. “When will you talk to Frannie?” He tugged me back me, until I was kneeling, inches from him, and started to kiss my fingers one at a time.

“When I next see her. Should probably be an in-person conversation. But we’re doing this? The age gap doesn't bother you?”

He was full of hope, and it made me glow knowing I could give him what he wanted. Leaning in, I planted a soft kiss on his lips.

“Absolutely not. Haven't you heard? Age gaps are hot,” I giggled. "We're doing this."

With a grumble, he gripped my waist and pulled me underneath him. I whimpered as he kissed me long and hard. He broke the kiss and left the bed, and I groaned my disappointment.

“I’ve got a belated birthday present for you, let me find it.”

I sat up, watching his perfect arse move around the room. He caught me and smirked, before handing me a brown paper gift bag, sealed at the top with a peach bow.

“You didn’t need to get me any—”

“Open it before you argue. ”

He remained standing, arms crossed, as I slowly unravelled the bow and opened the bag.

Pulling the bag open, the first thing that caught my eye were two velvety horns, followed by masses of orange tufts.

Silently, I pulled it out with one hand.

Angus grinned back at me. His head now securely attached at a slight tilt to his body, a peach bow around his neck.

Even with a wiggle, his head was like it had never been apart.

Tears streamed unannounced as I checked him over.

“How?” I whispered in awe.

“I have a daughter who was obsessed with butterfly wings growing up. I had to figure out how to sew, or fail as a dad.”

When I looked at Jack, he looked as stricken as I was. I launched into his arms, and he caught me like it was the most natural thing. I sobbed into his neck, letting him soothe me and rub my back. I pulled back until I could see his beautiful face. He wiped the tears that wouldn’t stop.

“I’m sorry I said I didn’t need you. I was so harsh. I want you and need you and crave you and—”

“Hush, baby, I know.”

He kissed me with so much emotion, pressing my body to his and laying all three of us down under the thick duvet cover.

We kissed and held each other for hours, the meaning behind each gesture filled with hope and a promise for whatever came.