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My body goes rigid. How does she know something is up? “What?”
“The other night. You said his house got broken into.”
I relax. Of course—that makes more sense than whatever I was thinking. What, that she’s working for David or something? Jade isn’t that type of person.
“Yeah, he wasn’t home. He got shot a couple weeks ago, and he’s been away. It’s complicated, but basically his girlfriend’s ex is...”Fuck.I shouldn’t be telling her any of this. “It doesn’t matter. Blaze and his girlfriend are fine. The problem is that Brooke’s ex went missing, so they’re not entirely... safe until we find him.”
Jade pauses, her face paling. “He disappeared?”
Shit. I’m probably scaring her.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What’s—uh, what’s his name?”
“Don’t worry about it.” I set the last plate on the dish rack before taking the damp towel from her hands. “How’re your pain levels today?”
She shrugs. “The usual. I have to work tonight, and I don’t want to overdo it, so I should probably sit down.”
“No need.” I toss the towel onto the counter and pick her up. Her legs wrap around my waist almost instinctively, and the surprised smile on her face has me peppering her neck with little kisses.
“Don’t you have to go into work?”
“I’ll get there when I get there,” I say, moving toward the living room.
This is more important.
If past Dominic could see where I am right now, he’d freak out. I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with a woman until I could guarantee her safety. Hell, I even judged Alex and Blaze when they didn’t wait.
Let’s just say I understand now.
Jade’s forehead meets mine as her eyes close. The worry that was on her face moments ago is gone. Instead, there’s a calm contentedness that tugs at my heart.
You’re not supposed to feel like this.
Like what?
Safe.
For what’s probably the thousandth time, I wonder what’s holding Jade back. I’ve told her that what’s keeping me from a relationship is only temporary, but she hasn’t said the same thing. Maybe she reallyisonly in this for sex. But it doesn’t feel like it.
Still, the thought threatens to tinge my mood with a frustration I don’t want to deal with right now. So I press my face into Jade’s hair, inhaling the sweet floral scent of her shampoo.
As if her mind is in the same place as mine, she whispers, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I don’t want you to hurt me, either.
“Let me worry about that.”
“Dom, I—”
“It’s grumpy to you.”
Fuck. I never thought I’d get attached to that nickname.
I sit on the couch, her legs still wrapped around my torso, soaking in her smile. “The things I want to do to you,” I murmur.
“Tell me,” she whispers.
