Unable to look at them, I lift my hand as a goodbye and allow Jacob to escort me away.
As soon as we’re out of view, he starts to laugh, and I look at him as if he’s crazy. “What?”
“Just that I’m fucking happy, Brenna. I’m truly and sincerely happy. It’s . . . funny because I never expected to be happy again.”
I understand exactly what he means. I’d been so sure that loving someone and being happy was a dream. Something that was possible but ultimately unobtainable. Jacob has given me the hope that I might get to be happy again. When I lost Luke, I thought that maybe I would like a man, maybe love him in some capacity, but never like this.
Never did I think I’d meet and love with my whole world.
Jacob has given me more in the few months we’ve been together than I had in all those years.
I push up on my toes, wanting to kiss him so much that I can’t stop myself. His hands move to my hair, tightening around the strands as the kiss grows deeper and more urgent.
We start to move, Jacob walking backward, guiding us to the tiny house he’s staying in. It’s become where we meet, make love, and part ways before the sun rises.
Tonight, I don’t plan to leave. I want to roll over in his strong arms and feel safe in his embrace.
He smiles against my lips when he can’t get the door open, and when he does, he scoops me up, my legs wrapping around him as we both laugh softly.
“Impatient much?” I ask.
“For you? Always.”
He moves into the very small space, dropping me onto the bed before standing back and letting his eyes roam over me.
“What?”
“I keep waiting to be told this isn’t real.”
I lift up onto my elbows. “Why do you think that?”
“Because when I look at you, I see light and beauty.”
“And are you going to drag me into the darkness?” I say with a grin.
“Is that what you want?”
I squirm under his gaze. “I want you in the light or the dark. I like you at dawn and dusk. It doesn’t matter when or where so long as you’re with me.”
His hands move down my neck, pulling the straps of my dress down as he reaches my shoulders. Jacob’s lips touch the sensitive skin right below my ear. “You could tempt a man to promise anything.”
My eyes shut as his deep voice vibrates through me. “Says the man who every woman fantasizes about.”
“And what do you dream about, beautiful?”
“You,” I say without hesitation. “I dream about your eyes watching me. Your lips touching me. Your hands on my skin and how I can’t . . .” His finger moves to my breast, making a slow circle around my nipple.
“You can’t what?”
“I can’t think.”
And I can’t. My brain is total mush every time he touches me. Jacob continues the motion before going to the other breast. “Want to know what I think about, Brenna?” he asks as his head moves down to where his hand is. “I think about your skin on my lips. I dream about how you look at me as though I’m worthy of you. I think about how I want to wake up next to you and feel your warmth and be able to see your smile.”
I’m a puddle of mush. “Jacob.” I sigh his name.
He leans down as he slips the dress lower, exposing me to his gaze. “I’m going to make love to you, Brenna. I’m going to show you how I feel, and even then, I don’t know that you’ll feel just how much I care about you.”
I know it. In every bone in my body I feel it. There’s nothing he needs to do to show me because it’s in his everyday actions. How he shows up, makes me laugh, shows me how much he cares. Jacob is strong and protective. Each day I find something else about him that endears him to me. I want a life with him. I want it all.
I run my hand through his thick brown hair, loving how the strands slide through my fingers and his eyes close at my touch. “Show me.”
His hands hook under my thighs, and he pulls me quickly, causing me to lie on the bed in one swift move.
There is a look of smug satisfaction on his face. “Your wish is my command.”
His shirt goes flying to the floor and then his shorts. God, he’s glorious naked. His body is lean and toned in all the right places. My mouth waters as I travel down his body to where his erection juts out. I can’t seem to resist the urge to touch him, so I don’t. I wrap my hand around his cock and move up and down.
“Fuck, Brenna.” I love that he says my name as though it’s a sob. After a few more seconds, he groans and pushes my hand away. “Not yet, baby. I need you more.”
He finishes tugging off my dress and tosses it to the heap of our clothing. I groan as his fingers slide against my opening. He teases me, toying with my clit, not quite pressing but exerting enough pressure that I feel it.
“Please,” I beg.
“Please what?”
My breathing starts to grow more frantic as he increases the friction. The pressure inside me is building, and his lips on mine are consuming me. The deep strokes of his tongue match what his hands are doing. He inserts a finger deep as his thumb circles my clit.
I’m rocking against his hand, desperate for the edge of the cliff. My nails dig into his back, and that spurs him to go deeper, harder, fucking me with his fingers all while kissing me so I can’t make any noise.
I attempt to turn my head, needing to cry out as the pleasure starts to become too much, but he moves with me. I can’t stop it. It’s too late. I scream into his mouth as he pulls every ounce of my orgasm that he can.
Then he’s pushing into me, and what I thought was pleasure before pales in comparison.
Jacob thrusts forward, his eyes finding mine. “I love you.”
My fingers graze the stubble on his face. “I love you.”
There’s no need for words as our bodies say everything else.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jacob
The play is tomorrow, and I’m freaking the hell out. These kids have worked so hard, and I’m not sure that we all won’t end up completely embarrassed, but I don’t quite care tonight. After seeing them earlier, it was clear that none of that mattered. For them, it’s truly the love of acting, and I can only hope to have that level of joy the next time I get onto a set.
I grab my phone when it buzzes with a text.
Catherine: Hey, I wanted to show you the photo that we’re going with. It’s seriously amazing.
It comes through the screen, and I can’t stop the grin from forming. I had no idea they were taking photos when Brenna and I weren’t paying attention, but there it is. It was the moment right after I told her I loved her. Her eyes are on my face, her hands are resting on my chest, and she’s looking at me as though I gave her the most amazing gift. Her hair has glints of orange from the sun, and she’s radiant. Of course, it’s nothing like how she looked last night. That was beyond the capability of any camera to capture.
Me: Wow.
Catherine: Right! I’m so glad the photographer and I were paying attention when you both weren’t. This photo will speak volumes as to the depths of your feelings for each other. I think this will be good, Jacob.