Page 34 of Securing Jane

“Storm?”

“Don’t think about us breaking up before we even get started,” he growled.

“I’m not. I mean, it’s just…you’re you, and I’m me.”

“What the hell does that mean?” he asked.

Jane bit her lip and looked up at him in consternation.

Storm took a deep breath and framed her face with his hands. He leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. “I like you, Jane. A hell of a lot. I don’t know much about the obvious losers you’ve dated in the past, but not one of my coworkers or SEALs will think we’re mismatched. Hell, they’ll probably take me aside and warn me I better not be fucking with you.”

“I like you too,” she whispered. “I’m just terrified you’re going to wake up and wonder what the hell you’re doing with me. I’ve got a grown daughter who I’m not on the best of terms with, even though it’s gotten better in the last year or so. I’m approaching middle age, and while I make enough to keep a roof over my head, I’m not exactly raking in the bucks.”

He drew back and looked her in the eyes. “And you’re genuinely nice, you go out of your way to help anyone however you can, you work hard and aren’t a freeloader. You kiss like an angel and you’re uninhibited in bed…and you make me feel like the luckiest man on earth.”

He smiled as she blushed adorably.

“And you still blush when I compliment you,” he finished. “Please say you’ll come with me. I want to show you off to everyone. Show you how welcoming the SEAL community can be.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Okay,” he echoed. “Jane?”

“Yeah?” she asked.

“I had a really great weekend. I loved hanging out with you, learning how you take your coffee, watching you get ready in the morning…the last forty-eight hours have been some of the best in my life, and I’m not just saying that.”

“Me too,” she agreed. “I can’t believe you got the ratio of cream and sweetener for my coffee right after watching me make my first cup,” she teased. “I don’t think my ex ever got it right, even after a decade of being married.”

“I know this is fast, but I wouldn’t be opposed to you staying over during the week,” Storm told her. When her eyes widened in surprise, he quickly added, “I’m not asking you to move in, it’s way too soon for that, but I’ve slept better this weekend than I have in a very long time, and I would certainly enjoy having dinner with you more often, and waking up with you by my side.”

“It must’ve been a really long time since you’d had sex,” she teased.

Storm didn’t take offense. He’d even surprised himself with the offer for her to stay over, and he could just imagine what she was thinking. “I won’t deny that sex with you is more meaningful than with anyone I’ve ever slept with, but that wasn’t what I was implying. I just…coming home to an empty townhouse doesn’t hold any appeal any longer. Not after spending the last two days with you, hearing your laughter, watching you read on my couch as I get some research work done. I just like having you around and wouldn’t mind spending as much time with you as possible…outside the bedroom. I’m not saying I don’t want to be intimate with you, but I’m not twenty-two anymore…I don’t need or want sex every night.”

Storm held his breath waiting for her response. “I’d like that,” she said softly.

He beamed, and his shoulders relaxed. Storm hadn’t realized how tense he’d become. “Good. We’ll figure it out as the week goes on then.”

“Okay.”

“But plan on staying over Friday night for sure. The SEAL get-together is on Saturday and we’ll need to go shopping to pick up some watermelon before we head over there.”

“Will there be a lot of people?” she asked tentatively.

Storm didn’t want to freak her out, but he wasn’t going to lie to her either. “Yeah, baby, there will. You know there are a lot of SEAL teams on the base, and this beach party is for their families too. I can’t wait to introduce you to Wolf and his team and all their families, as well as Rocco and his team and families too.”

Jane bit her lip again, and Storm couldn’t help leaning down and licking where she’d nervously bitten herself. “It’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.”

“You aren’t just going to leave me when we get there, are you?” she asked after a moment. “I mean, I’m aware that you’ll know everyone and will want to talk to them, but I don’t do great in big groups when I don’t know anyone.”

“I’d never do that,” he told her honestly. “But I guarantee that you’ll know more people than you think. Trust me not to bring you somewhere then desert you.”

She sighed. “I do.”

She didn’t. Not yet, but Storm would do whatever he could to put her at ease and to make her trust him. They were still getting to know each other, and the more time they spent together, the more she’d realize that he wasn’t her ex. That he wasn’t going to treat her like shit and leave her to fend for herself. She’d been doing that for far too long. While she’d more than proven she was independent and wouldn’t fall apart if she had to do shit on her own, he wanted to show her that she was no longer alone. That she could lean on him.

“Drive safe going home,” he told her quietly. “Text or call me when you’re inside safe and sound, okay?”