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Her back straightened. She planted her feet back on the carpet. “Yeah, okay sure.”
He pushed her to the wall and kissed her neck. “Two minutes. Don’t change your mind, okay? This is a good thing.”
He stepped back and snatched one of the clean towels, then disappeared into the bathroom.
She sighed and plummeted backward onto one of the beds, arms stretched wide. It is a good thing, she thought. He is a good thing.
Jess sat up and began unbuckling her sandals as her phone made a chirpy ding next to her. She paused her unbuckling and flipped her phone on the bed to see the screen, then froze.
Jessie, I can’t do this anymore. This is too hard. I need you.
A chill rippled down her spine as she stared at Charlie’s name at the top of the thread. It was her first time hearing from him since she walked out. She couldn’t help feeling disappointed that he’d never stopped in at the bakery, didn’t try to show face or text her congratulations or something. But she also wasn’t surprised. Charlie didn’t think much beyond himself and his needs. She learned that long ago, when he left for college and stopped by to see her only when it was convenient for him.
“Everything okay?”
Jess looked up at Kevin. His face was twisted with concern, probably at whatever shocked look was currently on her own. She scanned his face, her eyes landing on a lock of wavy wet hair curling at the center of his forehead, tiny droplets trickling down his nose.
“Y-yes,” she lied, her voice cracking. “All good.”
He brushed a hand under her chin, guiding her gaze to those hazel eyes. “Did you change your mind?”
The Jess before would have said yes, would have never put herself in this position in the first place. She would have run to Charlie, given him what he needed, sacrificed for him…then sacrificed some more. Because it’s what you did in a relationship. You gave yourself up for another.
But this Jess was different. A little selfish. New. Brave.
She silenced her phone and tossed it to the other bed, then tugged on the towel at his waist, letting it fall to the floor. “No,” she purred. “Like you said…this is a good thing.”
Kevin removed her clothes at the speed of light, his hands roaming her body and his mouth tasting her like she was the dessert he’d been craving. When he was done ravishing her, her body quivering with desire, they finally came together. And oh my, Jess thought. This is, in fact, a very, very good thing.
It was far too late to be up; Jess was used to early nights and early mornings now that she ran her own bakery. But a single time with Kevin didn’t quell the deep hunger she had for him. So they kept thoroughly exploring one another with their hands and their mouths.
Jess lay in bed, lazy and content, her hand splayed on his chest. She kissed the tip of an ivy leaf on Kevin’s pec and rested her chin there. “Tell me about your tattoo.”
He twirled a piece of her hair with his fingers. “It’s a reminder that home isn’t just a place, that I can find it anywhere. As long as I’m brave enough to seek it.”
She smiled. “Your mom taught you a lot about bravery.”
“She gave me the confidence to say what I feel. To allow myself to be soft when the rest of the world tells me I need to be hard.”
She traced a finger up the vines to his neck. “I like that. I like her.”
“I like you.”
Her chest expanded with joy. “I think I might like you, too.”
He grinned and pulled her closer, skin to skin. “Looks like someone is learning how to be brave, too.”
“Trying to be,” she whispered, a soft confession only for him. He was the only person she felt like she could be brave with.
He planted a soft kiss on her temple.
She hummed. “Okay I’m exhausted. Get out of my bed.”
“Dammit!”
She smirked. “Thought you could change my mind with your hot body and naughty mouth?”
“Told you I wouldn’t need to watch it.” He smirked, nuzzling his nose in her neck.
