Page 106 of The Promise Of Rain

“Honour,” Eric agreed.

John returned with a pink-cheeked Vera, a smug smile on his face.

She rolled her eyes at Maggie’s wagging eyebrows.

They were fun, and Jenny needed fun in her life.Though she tended to hold herself back, both Maggie and Maxine gently and continuously pulled her into the fray.

She’d even got new clothes when she went shopping with them.

Wearing new jeans that cupped her ass and a soft, blue, off-the-shoulder sweater ending at her hip, she was the most casually sexy I’d seen her since I’d returned.

She even put on mascara and lip gloss.

She was loosening up.

Maybe beginning to see she had people on her side.

I was happy for her, but my heart slogged heavily in my chest.

The camaraderie between the four men pierced memories better left buried.While I’d had a good night, and I would do it as often as Jenny wanted, I was relieved when we headed home.

Fully prepared to leave her inside her door, I reared back when she asked, “Will you stay?”

I studied her face.“Are you ready to have me in your space?”

She flushed deeply.“It’s not that I didn’t want you here—”

I cupped the nape of her neck.“It’s okay to have boundaries, baby.Even with me.”

Her throat bobbed as she nodded, then her soft eyes flicked up to mine.“So, you’ll stay?”

“Of course, I’ll stay.”

After getting ready for bed, I lay down on her bed and watched her putter around, getting herself ready.

Stopping in front of her dresser, she pulled her drawer open and stopped, head down.“I bought something pretty for you, but I don’t have the guts to wear it,” she admitted.

Her fucking mother and her shithead boyfriends made me want to plow my fist through the wall.

I swallowed my anger, pushing it down deep, burying it under the grief I kept tightly packed away.

I cleared my throat.“You don’t need it, baby.When you’re ready, you wear it for you, and I promise I’ll love it.”

“You won’t think anything bad about me?”

I slipped off the bed, and she slammed the drawer shut.

I ignored the drawer and covered her back with my chest.Sweeping her hair off her neck, I bent my head and kissed the sensitive juncture between her neck and her shoulder.

Lifting my head, I wrapped my arms around her and met her wide eyes in the mirror.“I guarantee you the only thing I’ll be thinking about is whether I want to fuck you in it or out of it.”

Her pupils dilated and her lips parted.

Interesting.

My baby liked dirty talk.

Raising my hands to cup her breasts through her t-shirt, I watched her.“You’re my sweet, good girl, and I’m going to worship you.”