Page 23 of The Last Love Story (Baker Girls #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY

JADE

The golden hue of the July morning wakes me out of a cozy sleep. The kind where I barely rustled all night and all my dreams were happy.

As my eyes flutter open, my heart warms at the happy thing that wasn’t a dream.

Justin.

I’m nestled against him, and his arm is draped over my waist. A big difference from yesterday morning.

My heart races, remembering how he perfectly owned my body last night. I’ve never come so hard or so easily from another person before. It’s like he knew exactly what I needed, and slowly stoked the fire, getting me there without rushing or forcing anything.

Then those sinful moans he made when I was going down on him? I could’ve listened to those noises all night. Though sleeping in his arms is… better. More .

Cooking and watching our favorite shows together helps get to know each other better and develop the roots of our friendship.

Sexual stuff is sexual stuff.

But this is bigger. This is a marriage. Or a relationship. Feelings . And while that’s scary because I don’t know what it means, I’m really enjoying it.

Justin yawns as he stirs, waking slowly. When his eyes land on me, he smiles contentedly.

“Morning darlin’.”

“Morning. Sleep well?”

He stretches and sits up, so I sit up too.

“Great, actually.”

“Me too.”

We stare at each other for a moment, and I bite my lip.

“Breakfast?” he asks.

As much as I want to beg him to stay in bed with me all day, I chicken out.

“Yeah, sounds great.”

He pops a kiss on my cheek and hops out of bed.

The second the bathroom door is closed behind him, I flop against the mattress and run my hands over my face.

Last night was incredible. Waking up in his arms this morning was perfect. I want more.

I look down at the ring on my finger.

Will I have to give it back when this is all done?

Like I’ll have to give him up?

For the briefest of seconds, I allow that thought to wreck me, then I force myself out of this bed and out of this mindset.

As much as I’m enjoying this, I need to remember that I don’t get to keep it.

My heartbeat ticks up as Justin reaches for the controller to switch off the TV.

The AC is working now.

We got our little sassy fight and subsequent orgasms out.

There’s no reason to have him in my bed.

Besides wanting him there.

For now, Jade. For now. For now. For now.

Maybe if I say it enough, it’ll get through my thick skull.

Justin stands and stretches, yawning.

I stand too.

Awkwardly.

What am I doing?

What do I want?

What do I dare to risk?

I clear my throat.

“Need any extra blankets? Now that the AC is working again?” I laugh in the most ridiculous high-pitched way.

An amused smile forms on his lips, and he shakes his head.

“Okay then. Uh… goodnight.”

He lets out a little chuckle. “Night, Jade.”

Forcing out a breath, I spin and hurry out of the room to my bedroom.

I am ridiculous.

I roll violently in my bed for the millionth time tonight.

I’m never going to be able to sleep.

Because I’m an idiot who overthinks things.

And worries about things.

Which is why I’m awake at midnight, mind going over every little thing. I want Justin in here with me. I want to feel him wrapped around me. My surgery is tomorrow, and my stress levels are off the charts.

He makes it better.

That’s it. I’m pathetic. Pathetically hung up on my fake husband, who I have very real chemistry with. And maybe feelings for.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

But all the ughs in the world don’t stop me from getting out of bed and traipsing out to the living room.

Justin is sleeping peacefully on the couch, and I almost second-guess my decision, but knowing how nervous I am about tomorrow and how much Justin has infiltrated my brain, I won’t sleep at all tonight if I don’t do it.

Reaching over the back of the couch, I gently shake his arm. “Justin.”

He jolts awake and squints at me. “Jade? Did the air conditioner break? I swear, I’ll?—”

“No. It’s not that.” I look back at the hallway, then run my hand through my hair as a blush creeps onto my cheeks. “Nevermind. It’s stupid.”

He grabs my hand as I go to spin around. “It’s not stupid. What’s wrong?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Why not?”

Before I can say anything, his face morphs into a wicked smile.

“Did you get used to having me in your bed?”

I stare at the stupid smirk on his face, warring with myself about what to say.

Tell him what you really want.

I clear my throat. “I’m worried about tomorrow. I could… use a distraction.”

Missed it by that much.

For a moment, the playfulness slips off his face. Only a gentle—almost sad—smile appears. But it’s gone as quickly as it came, and a troublemaking gleam dances in his eyes .

He’s off the couch in a second, prowling over to me. “I’m happy to distract you, wifey.” Leaning in, his lips brush my ear. “I’ll distract you all night.”

Then he’s dragging me down the hall to my room and stripping me naked as desire wells inside me.

I can’t deny I love this.

Love having his attention on me. Love what his touch does to me. It’s too much and not enough all at once.

We crawl under the covers together, kissing as our hands roam.

His fingers dance between my legs as I stroke him, the intensity building until we come together, lips locked and hearts pounding to the same rhythm.

But when my body relaxes and my eyes drift closed, it’s not the orgasm but the safety of Justin’s arms wrapped around me that lulls me to sleep.