from him. “No, this is the best plan. This is something I have to live with. Really, I’ll be fine. I’m sorry I woke you up.”
“Don’t. Don’t you dare apologize. I understand this is something that is going to happen from time to time for the rest of your life. Noah tells me all the time that Lexi still has nightmares. And even though it wasn’t anywhere close to as bad as what happened to you or Lexi, even Evie still has nightmares. It’s going to happen. What you’ve got to get through that thick skull of yours is that I’m here for you. You don’t ever have to go through one of these nightmares alone again.”
Jackson didn’t know what else to do to get through to her that he’d be there for her, no matter what. He wanted to take all of the pain away, but knew she had to let him in completely before that was going to happen. For now, he’d settle for her just letting him be her support.
Kat cleared her throat. “Ummm … could you give me a minute?”
“Oh sure, no problem.” He had forgotten that they were camping out in the bathroom. “Will you be okay if we turn the lights out for a moment while the door is open?”
“Yeah, I’ll be good.”
“I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Jackson leaned against the wall, counting the seconds until she would open the door to let him back in.
Jackson was right. She didn’t have to face this alone; all she had to do was open up and let him in. He’d shown over and over that he’d be there for her. Hell, he’d searched for her, for years . He’d kept the fact he knew her, a secret. She went back in her head to the last night they were together. She had completely relaxed with him, and given all she had, it was the best night of her life. She wanted that, and the woman she used to be, back. It was coming, slowly, but maybe there was something she could do now.
Leaning against the counter, she rubbed her hands over her face, wondering if she could do this. Knowing that if she did, it would change everything. It would mean Jackson meant more to her than her need for revenge. It would mean she’d have to start relying on someone else, knowing they would be relying on her too. She’d actually be in a relationship. As damaged and broken as she was, she really wanted this; she wanted it with Jackson. She needed him in her soul.
Having made her decision, she quickly undressed, folding her clothes neatly and putting them to the side. Taking a deep breath, she climbed in under the covers and called to Jackson so he would come in.
He slid into bed behind her and reached for her. She knew the instant he knew she was naked; his hand stilled on her shoulder and his breath caught.
“Are you sure?” he whispered.
Turning over so she was facing him, she said, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
She felt his hands shaking as they traced down her arm and across her belly, leaving a trail of goose bumps. Her eyes closed and she enjoyed being touched by him.
“I don’t want to do anything that will scare you,” he said as he kissed the side of her neck, just under her ear.
She pulled his t-shirt up so she could touch his chest. “Remember that last night we were together?”
“How could I forget?” His breathing became more rapid.
“Nothing you did then scared me. I was yours, completely. Take me. Take all that I am.”
She felt him go still for a second as her words sunk in. The next thing she knew, his lips captured hers and their tongues fought for dominance.
She pulled and tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against hers. Their mouths briefly separated as he yanked the shirt off over his head. They crashed back together, the years they spent apart melted away as their bodies remembered.
Once they were naked together, he slid into her and she shuddered, finally feeling complete. She matched him thrust for thrust, wanting more, demanding more from him. Rolling off the mattress,
“Don’t. Don’t you dare apologize. I understand this is something that is going to happen from time to time for the rest of your life. Noah tells me all the time that Lexi still has nightmares. And even though it wasn’t anywhere close to as bad as what happened to you or Lexi, even Evie still has nightmares. It’s going to happen. What you’ve got to get through that thick skull of yours is that I’m here for you. You don’t ever have to go through one of these nightmares alone again.”
Jackson didn’t know what else to do to get through to her that he’d be there for her, no matter what. He wanted to take all of the pain away, but knew she had to let him in completely before that was going to happen. For now, he’d settle for her just letting him be her support.
Kat cleared her throat. “Ummm … could you give me a minute?”
“Oh sure, no problem.” He had forgotten that they were camping out in the bathroom. “Will you be okay if we turn the lights out for a moment while the door is open?”
“Yeah, I’ll be good.”
“I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Jackson leaned against the wall, counting the seconds until she would open the door to let him back in.
Jackson was right. She didn’t have to face this alone; all she had to do was open up and let him in. He’d shown over and over that he’d be there for her. Hell, he’d searched for her, for years . He’d kept the fact he knew her, a secret. She went back in her head to the last night they were together. She had completely relaxed with him, and given all she had, it was the best night of her life. She wanted that, and the woman she used to be, back. It was coming, slowly, but maybe there was something she could do now.
Leaning against the counter, she rubbed her hands over her face, wondering if she could do this. Knowing that if she did, it would change everything. It would mean Jackson meant more to her than her need for revenge. It would mean she’d have to start relying on someone else, knowing they would be relying on her too. She’d actually be in a relationship. As damaged and broken as she was, she really wanted this; she wanted it with Jackson. She needed him in her soul.
Having made her decision, she quickly undressed, folding her clothes neatly and putting them to the side. Taking a deep breath, she climbed in under the covers and called to Jackson so he would come in.
He slid into bed behind her and reached for her. She knew the instant he knew she was naked; his hand stilled on her shoulder and his breath caught.
“Are you sure?” he whispered.
Turning over so she was facing him, she said, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
She felt his hands shaking as they traced down her arm and across her belly, leaving a trail of goose bumps. Her eyes closed and she enjoyed being touched by him.
“I don’t want to do anything that will scare you,” he said as he kissed the side of her neck, just under her ear.
She pulled his t-shirt up so she could touch his chest. “Remember that last night we were together?”
“How could I forget?” His breathing became more rapid.
“Nothing you did then scared me. I was yours, completely. Take me. Take all that I am.”
She felt him go still for a second as her words sunk in. The next thing she knew, his lips captured hers and their tongues fought for dominance.
She pulled and tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against hers. Their mouths briefly separated as he yanked the shirt off over his head. They crashed back together, the years they spent apart melted away as their bodies remembered.
Once they were naked together, he slid into her and she shuddered, finally feeling complete. She matched him thrust for thrust, wanting more, demanding more from him. Rolling off the mattress,
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