“I’m sorry he hurt you the way he did.”
She shrugged. “I survived it. We all did, and that’s what matters. Your sons are lucky to have you in their lives—and they know that. That’s why they didn’t tell you to get lost when you told them the truth.”
“I was so afraid they would.”
“Kids just want to feel safe and loved. I’m sure you gave them both those things today.”
“Thanks for letting me come home and drop this on you.”
“I’m glad you dropped it on me.”
“Do you forgive me for making you feel insecure?”
“That’s my issue, not yours.”
“It’s our issue if I’m the cause of it.” He trailed his fingertip over the outline of her jaw. “I never want to be the cause of that.”
“It matters to me that you care.”
“You matter to me, and I do care. A lot.” He lifted her chin and kissed her softly and sweetly, but the minute their lips connected, the fire from the night before ignited between them.
Her lips—and other important parts—were still sore, but that didn’t stop her from clinging to him as one kiss became two and then three.
“You make me crazy,” he whispered as he kissed her neck.
“Right back at you.”
“Should we take this somewhere more comfortable?”
“Why not?” She was falling hard and fast for him, but for once, she couldn’t find a single reason to hold back or slow things down. She could always find a reason to hold back, but not with Jace.
He helped her up and then followed her toward the bedrooms. In the hallway, he kissed her cheek. “Go get comfortable. I’m going to grab a quick shower.”
“Okay.”
Cindy changed into a T-shirt, got into bed and tried to calm her racing heart and hyperactive libido. She nearly giggled at the thought of having a hyperactive libido. That was so not like her. She was usually so busy trying to protect herself from being hurt that she didn’t allow herself to let go with a man.
Jace was an exception to all her usual rules.
As she waited for him, she tried to find some semblance of control, but she felt nothing but a desperate need for more of the way he made her feel.
He appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, wearing only a pair of formfitting boxer briefs. And holy God, the man was indeed hot as fire.
Cindy held out her arms to him, and he came down on top of her, picking right up where they’d left off in the living room. If this was insanity, it was the best thing she’d ever experienced.
Jace couldn’t get enoughof her. He’d come home wound up after a rough day, but she’d provided him with a warm, soft place to land that made him thankful to have her in his life. All he wanted, especially after hearing how he’d made her feel insecure by going dark all day, was to show her how much he appreciated her.
He tugged on her T-shirt. “You’re overdressed for this party.”
“Take it off.”
As he helped her out of her shirt, he loved how free she was with him, how giving and open, and yet, he understood, somehow, that was unusual for her. They’d shared a connection from the first night she came into his bar that had only grown with every subsequent meeting. He trusted her, which was something that didn’t come easily to him, especially after years in prison.
It was amazing to realize he’d trusted her immediately. That was truly a first for him, and it was why he was here, in her bed, kissing her senseless and loving every second he spent with her, because he felt safe with her.
“I thought about this all day today, even when I had other things I needed to deal with,” he whispered as he kissed the tip of one perfect breast. “I was still thinking about you and this and how sexy you are and how much I couldn’t wait to be with you again.”
She grasped his head to keep him anchored to her chest as she lifted her torso to press her heated core against his erection.