Page 344 of A Matter of Time

“I would be upset if you didn’t.” I shivered as his hands slid up my back.

“Feel good?”

“You know it feels good.”

“I missed touching your skin every day,” he confessed.

I concentrated on breathing.

“I missed everything about you.”

“I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Honey, you have no reason to be sorry.”

“I just feel…weird. I think maybe I’m a little out of it right now.”

“Baby, you are so out of it, you have no idea. Everything that’s happened and you’re this calm, talking to me, rambling on about how funny it was that you were carjacked after being kidnapped… Jory, honey, you should be terrified.”

“But it’s just so stupid, Sam. C’mon, that shit is funny as hell.”

“You’re in shock, baby.”

“I am?” I asked, rolling over onto my side.

He instantly spooned around my back, holding me close so I was wrapped up in warmth.

“Sam.” I sighed as I closed my eyes, suddenly so tired.

“You know, after this you’re gonna do exactly as I say, right?”

“Okay.” I felt his hand slide up my neck as he leaned my head back.

“That whole going out the front door thing was not good.”

“I know. I won’t do it again.”

“What? Make bad choices, not listen to me, not⁠—”

“I messed up. I won’t do it again.”

“Promise me,” he pressed. “Because I can’t lose you.”

I heard it, the way his voice cracked, the way his breath caught, and felt how still his hand was on the small of my back. I’d hurt him, scared him, and I didn’t want to do either again. “I really am sorry. If anything had happened to Aja, I don’t know what I⁠—”

“But it didn’t. She’s fine, so are you, and so is Caleb.”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Thank you for putting my name on you, J. It’s, like, the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. We’ll put some balm on it once the bandage comes off, so it heals up nice.”

And I could feel how turned on he was by the way he pressed against me, but all he did was hold me.

“Sam, maybe we can⁠—”

“Concussion,” he said flatly. “My plan is to lie here and watch over you all night. Don’t give me any trouble, just close your eyes.”

“Yes, but⁠—”