Chapter 40

“Ready?” Jake appears at the door as I zip up my case, placing it beside his. He’s already done his, finishing before coming to get me off the couch. I’m playing catch-up under his watchful eye.

“Yup.” I smile and squeal as he scoops me into his arms for a kiss and tells me he loves me. I have missed this kind of spontaneity from him; the last couple of days have been filled with never-ending touching and giggles. He’s still being gentlemanly with where he places his hands, and it reminds me a little of the man he was before I was properly his, that boundary of what is appropriate touching but still hands-on in every way.

“I love you too.” I breathe him in before he puts me back on my feet, biting my lip in painful adoration as he bends and kisses my abdomen softly and mutters, “I love you too” to my dress before hauling me with him to the living room. I can’t stop the gush of complete infatuation coming over me at that little thoughtless moment, just instinctual, to tel