Page 52 of Midnight Ink

“No. I wouldn’t.” I say. “You talk sense into me. I get stuck in my head. I think of every horrible thing that could happen.” I breathe out. “Everything’s a mess right now and I don’t see a way out.”

“We’ll find a way, Ian. You and me.” His fingers drop from my cheek only for his arm to pull me against his warm chest. Lying here with him is the only bright thing today has brought, and I’m too tired, sad, and comfortable to push him away.

Damn, he smells incredible. Warm like vanilla, his skin so soft under my hands.

A tiny truth bubbles to the surface. “I hate it, Jules,” I whisper. “I never wanted this. He told me I wouldn’t have to deal with the business side of things. He brushed me off. You worry too much. You overthink.” My breath breaks and I try and clear my throat. “This is why I worried, and he just . . . he thought it was stupid.” His arms squeeze me, solid and warm. I press my face into his chest, and everything I’ve been holding onto unravels in the safety of his arms. I lose it. Jamie, the shop, Maddox’s ashes, this trip. I’m failing. I’m a failure. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he murmurs in my ear and rubs my back. I think I feel his lips press to my ear, but maybe I’m imagining that. “We’ll get through this. I won’t let you fail.”

“It’s not your job to keep my shit together.”

“No, it’s not.” I do feel the soft press of his lips in my hair. “But the person we pay to keep your shit together is terrible at her job and we’re both too afraid to fire her.” A laugh slips past my lips. “She’s a terrible secretary.”

I laugh harder. “She really is.”

“But irreplaceable.”

“She is.”

I should pull away, but I don’t.

Instead, I hug him tighter, like he’s the only person keeping me tethered to earth. In a way he is. “Goodnight, Jules.”

“Night, Ian.”

I think I feel another kiss on my head, but I don’t move from the cocoon of his arms to check.

Morning comes, gray and muted. Rain still taps against the windows, and I doubt it ever stopped.

I wake up to warmth.

Julian’s arms are draped over my waist, heavy and familiar in a way that makes my chest squeeze. My face is pressed to his shoulder. His breaths are slow and even. At some point in the night my leg slipped between his thighs nearly grazing a very sensitive spot.

For a moment I don’t move. I don’t think about what I should be doing or what we have to do today. I just feel him. I soak in the warmth and heavy weight of his body against mine. He feels too good to ignore.

He’s warm and smells so good. The way he wraps around me feels so right. Jamie’s teasing comes to mind. It’s not a secret how attracted I am to him. He’s beautiful on the outside sure, but he’s equally as gorgeous on the inside.

I press my lips to his shoulder.

Reality snaps me back.

What the hell am I doing?

I pull away, the mattress shifting beneath us. Julian stirs, blinking sleepily as I sit up and swing my legs off the bed.

“Morning,” he murmurs, voice rough.

“Yeah,” I say, already standing, and I pull on my jeans and tug on my shirt like it’s armor against the warmth lingering on my skin from his touch.

Julian sits up, rubbing his eyes. “Did you sleep okay?”

“Fine.” The word comes out sharp. Too sharp. What’s going on with me? I can’t fucking breathe. I can’t even look at him.

Julian blinks sleep out of his eyes. “Okay . . .”

I pace the small room then grab my phone and wallet, anything to keep my hands busy. My skin feels tight. “We should check flights. And call about the bag. See if the storm will let up. We can’t just sit around. I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“I’m barely awake,” Julian says gently. “Let’s go eat first.”