#1 - Page 54 (1/2)
“I understand that. I can deal with it. You have to trust me.”
“I thought you were the one with the trust issues,” I grumbled.
“I trust you, babe. You don’t see yourself the way I see you.”
I traced a little ‘J’ on his chest. “I do trust you. I just didn’t expect Ellie to lie to me, so I took her word as gold. I’m sorry.”
Braden let go of his breath. “I love you, Jocelyn. These last few weeks have been a nightmare for more reasons than one.”
I thought of the long-legged blonde that had put me through h.e.l.l. “And Isla?”
“I swear I never slept with her.”
“Did anything happen?”
His chest froze beneath me.
“Braden?”
He sighed heavily. “Yesterday she kissed me. I didn’t kiss her back. I pushed her off and told her about you.”
I was silent a moment and then I replied decisively, “You have to fire her.”
Braden snorted. “Are you finally admitting you love me?”
“I can’t promise it’ll be easy, Braden. I’ll probably always be a little irrational about the future. I’ll worry a lot.”
“I told you I can handle it, babe.”
“Why?”
“Because…” he sighed, “You make me laugh, you challenge me, you turn me on like no else can. I feel like I’m missing something really important when you’re gone. So important I don’t feel like myself. I’ve never felt like someone was mine before. But you’re mine, Jocelyn. I’ve known that from the moment we met. And I’m yours. I don’t want to be anybody else’s, babe.”
I leaned up on my elbow so I could look him in the eye before I pressed a soft kiss to his lips and fell against him as his arms came around me to hold me close as he deepened the kiss. When I finally came up for air I was panting a little. I touched my finger to his lips, determined that one day I’d enjoy this contentment without worrying it would be taken from me. “Do you think you might be able to come to Virginia with me? To go through my parents’ things?”
His eyes smiled, and I can’t tell you what it did to me that I could make him that happy. “Of course. We’ll go whenever you want. But we’re coming back.”
I nodded. “I was only moving to Virginia because I thought you were moving into Isla.”
Braden grunted. “Nice.”
“You’re firing her right?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You just want me to fire her?”
“If I told you that Craig kissed me last night would you make me quit?”
“Point taken. I’ll find her a job elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere as in nowhere you work.”
“Christ, your bossy.”
“Uh, do you not remember dry humping me to a desk after Craig kissed me?”
“Again, point taken.”
I buried my head against his chest. “I thought I’d really f**ked up.”
He squeezed my nape. “We both really did. But that’s over now. From now on I’m completely in charge. I think we’ll have a lot less drama, and definitely no more breakups, if I’m in control of this thing.”
I patted his stomach. “Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through the day, baby.”
“You still haven’t said it you know.”
I turned my head and smiled up at him. I took a big inner breath. “I love you, Braden Carmichael.”
His grin made my chest swell. “Say it again.”
I giggled. “I love you.”
He sat up quickly and then swung out of the bed, pulling me with him. He pushed me towards the en-suite. “You’re going to say it again while I f**k you in the shower.”
“This whole taking control thing is kind of hot.”
“It’s about to get hotter, babe.” He smacked me lightly on my a.s.s, and I gave a little squeal, his laughter and mine filling the bathroom as we stumbled together into the shower.
~26~
“Now, you’re sure you’re going to be okay?”
Ellie crossed her arms over her chest and blew air out between her lips. “If you ask me that again, don’t bother coming back.”