Chapter 10

She couldn’t move. Isabella struggled against the weight that held her in place as her alarm went off and managed to move it just enough to turn off the incessant beeping.

Her brain kicked into gear as she looked down at what held her hostage and traced the muscled forearm up to Jack’s face nestled against the pillow so close to her own. His dark brown hair was tousled, partially from last night’s activities. Isabella’s breath caught in her throat at the sight. His gray eyes were hidden in his sleep and Isabella had the sudden desire to stay in bed and watch him, as peaceful as he looked.

“Don’t go,” he murmured as his arm tightened around her waist.

“I have to go open the shop,” she whispered and stroked her fingers down his stubbly cheek.

“No,” he argued, still half asleep.

She smiled and watched him for another moment as he fought between sleeping longer and waking up with her. He succumbed back to the sweet embrace of sleep and she managed to slip out from beneath his arm. As soon as she did, he pulled her pillow down and snuggled it against his chest.

Isabella clamped her hands over her mouth to keep her giggle in as she watched him curl around her pillow and her heart melted at the sight. A glance at the clock reminded her that she needed to get a move on. She hopped in the shower and let the water wash away the evidence of last night’s activities, but she smiled the whole time, so much so that her cheeks started to hurt.

With a towel wrapped around her, Isabella pulled her clothes out of her closet and went back into the bathroom to dress and dry her hair. She was about to pull her shirt on when she noticed the slight reddish bruise on her neck. Her hand reached up to brush her fingers over it, noticing how sensitive it was to her touch and her eyes widened in surprise. She had a hickey, like some high school teenager who had made out with her boyfriend. She covered her mouth in surprise before she pulled her shirt on. Isabella nodded when she realized the collar of her shirt would cover it.

“Thank goodness. There’s no way I would be able to explain that to Lucy or Jessica,” she mumbled to herself before she smiled faintly again and left the bathroom. It was a brand, but a loving one, and she didn’t mind.

“Jack, wake up,” she said softly as she stood next to him and brushed her hand over his face. “I’m going to make breakfast if you want some. And there’s towels set out if you want to shower.”

He reached out and grabbed her hand.. “Stay,” he managed to say.

“I have to go to work. And so do you,” she said with a giggle.

“No. No work. Bed,” he mumbled and made a grab for her waist. But she was more awake than he was and managed to avoid his grasp.

“Jack Grayson, if you want me you’ll have to get out of bed and catch me,” she challenged.

And instantly regretted it when his gray eyes opened and he smirked up at her. “Is that so, kitten?”

Isabella blushed and knew she shouldn’t have challenged him. “I mean … Just get up,” she finally said and left the room. His chuckle followed her down the hall and she smiled again.

She set about making a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and coffee for them while she heard the shower turn on. Last night had been incredible. She had felt loved and alive. It had never been like that with David. She had mended herself after she had left David, bit by bit, but she had never been able to mend that part of her. But Jack had.

“Good morning,” Jack said in a gruff voice rough from sleep from behind her.

“I made breakfast. Do you want some?” she squeaked out as she turned around and saw him standing there with a towel wrapped around his waist and water droplets clinging to his chest.

“Oh,” she breathed out, completely unaware.

Jack laughed deep in his chest. “See something you like, kitten?” he purred at her.

Isabella squeaked and looked up at him again as the blush spread across her cheeks. “Um, maybe,” she said as she watched him approach her. But she had nowhere to go with the counter behind her.

“Just maybe?” he asked in a low voice as he placed both hands on the counter behind her, blocking her in, and leaned down to brush his nose against hers.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Yes, what?” he asked as he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.

“What?” she asked and blinked at him. Her train of thought had vanished completely.

“Did you want something?” he asked.

“Breakfast?” she countered with a shy look.

Jack smirked down at her. “Breakfast will do. For now,” he said but the promise in his voice was unmistakable. “Let me get dressed first.”

That man is trouble with a capital T. But telling herself that didn’t make her want him any less. She smiled as she watched him walk out of the kitchen and disappear down the hallway. And she shook her head at herself. How silly that she got distracted by his muscles. He had short wired her brain, that was for sure.

“It smells good, Izzy,” he said as he walked back into the kitchen and stepped up behind her.

“I figured we could both use the protein this morning,” she said as his hands slid around her waist and rested against her stomach.

“Especially after last night,” he murmured into her ear as he nibbled on the sensitive skin just behind her ear.

“Jack,” she whispered as she paused spooning out the food onto plates as he nibbled up the shell of her ear.

“Yes, Izzy?” whispered into her ear as his hands pulled her back against him.

“Behave,” she said in a shaky voice. She tried to be commanding, but she was almost certain she failed.

“Your voice doesn’t convince me very much,” he said as he wrapped her more snugly in his arms.

“The food will get cold,” she argued breathlessly.

“Is that all you can think about right now?” he asked.

“Jack, please,” she pleaded.

“Please, what?” he murmured, low and husky as he turned her around and stared down into her eyes.

She put a hand to his chest, not sure if she should pull him closer or push him away. But common sense won out in the end, unfortunately. “It’s too much too soon,” she said as she looked up at him, first his eyes and then his lips. No, Izzy, focus.

Jack paused. She wanted him and he definitely wanted her. But he had promised he wouldn’t push her and she trusted him to keep his word. He nodded.

“Breakfast,” he said as he stepped back and dropped his hands.

“Right. Breakfast,” Isabella repeated and turned away from him to carry the plates to the table.

They ate in companionable silence as Jack watched Isabella and she studiously avoided looking at him. Her nerves were starting to take hold and make her question what she had done with Jack last night.

“Izzy, are you going to be shy about this now?” he asked before he took a sip of coffee.

Isabella looked up with wide eyes and stared into his gray eyes while she thought about her answer. “No. I’m just not used to this,” she said as she waved a hand between the two of them to encompass what she meant.

“This?” he questioned. He wasn’t going to let her get out of answering him. Not if it meant she would shut down. He would push her in this so they could get past it and move on.

Isabella hesitated for a moment and took a sip of coffee to gather her thoughts. “Being with a man,” she finally said in a quiet voice as she looked down at her plate.

Jack set his mug down and looked at her. “Izzy, I want to be with you. And I think you want to be with me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let me stay last night. ”

“I do want that, want you. I’m just not sure how to deal with it, that’s all. It’s new,” she said without looking up.

“Look at me, Izzy,” he commanded.

She slowly lifted her eyes to his and knew he would see the extent of what her ex had done to her. She wasn’t sure of herself. Not her mind, not her sexuality.

“Isabella, I want to be with you and not just for sex, although last night was amazing. But I want to be with you in every way. And I’m not going anywhere. So if you don’t want me around, tell me, because that’s the only way I’ll leave,” he said firmly.

She looked at him and saw the sincerity in his gray eyes. He wasn’t going anywhere. Isabella nodded. “Stay, please,” she whispered.

“I told you I would,” he whispered back and reached out for her hand, bringing it to his lips to place a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.

Isabella smiled and the happiness ran through her..

“We should clean up before we leave,” she said in a soft voice as she looked at him.

“How about I wash and you dry this time?” he suggested as he finished off his coffee.

“Deal,” she said with a smile.

They moved around each other as she dried the dishes and put them away. She enjoyed this domestic time with him. It was comfortable and safe. And there was that word again. Safe. Isabella was falling for him, hard. Face it, Izzy, you’ve already fallen for him.

“Izzy, I’m going to change your locks while you finish getting ready for work,” Jack said once they were done with the dishes.

“Are you now?” she asked.

“For my peace of mind if not for your own,” he said as he walked outside and got the bag with the new locks and his own tool bag out of his car to bring back inside.

“Fine. But only because I know you’ll just call Lucy and tell her I wouldn’t let you,” Isabella said.

“Fair enough,” Jack said as he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “Now go get ready. I’ll have these finished by the time you’re done.”

She gave him a little salute. “Whatever you say, Jack of all trades.”

Isabella saw his smile before she turned away to go get ready for work. It wouldn’t take him very long to change the locks, so she hurried as she dressed and tied her hair back in a braid.

“Wow. I’m impressed,” she said as she joined him by the front door and realized he had finished changing her locks by the time she was done getting ready, just as she had planned.

“Didn’t I tell you it wouldn’t take long?” he asked.

“That you did. Thank you, Jack.”

He nodded in response and put his tools away. “I’m going to run home quickly for a change of clothes, and then I’ll see you at The Bean,” he said as they stood at the front door and tugged their light coats on for the morning chill in upstate New York.

“Okay. I’ll see you later then,” she said as she looked up at him and wondered what the proper way to say goodbye to a lover was.

“Come here,” he said. His arms wrapped around her waist and she let herself be pulled against his chest. She looked at him for a moment before they kissed, long and slow and sweet.

“Thank you for breakfast,” he said when he pulled back.

“Sure. Maybe we can do it again,” she said as she looked at his chest, unable to meet his eyes.

“And other things,” he whispered against her forehead as his other hand settled on her hip.

Her eyes shot up to his at the suggestion, but she didn’t say no so. Baby steps, that’s what she needed to do.

“What’s this?” he murmured as he pulled her collar aside slightly.

“You know perfectly well what it is,” she scolded him as she tried to tug her shirt back into place.

“Do I?” He smirked at her.

Her answering glare was playful and his chuckle rumbled deep in his chest as he brushed his thumb over the mark.

“We should go,” she suggested in a slightly unsteady voice.

“In a minute,” he said as he bent his head down and licked over the mark he had left on her neck. He smiled at the shiver she gave in response.

“Now we can go,” he said as he stood straight and stepped back from her as the blush spread on her face.

“You enjoy that, don’t you?” she asked.

“What?”

“Making me uncomfortable,” she said.

“Do I make you uncomfortable? I thought it was more like aroused,” he said with a devil’s grin as her hand slipped on the doorknob and she turned back to look at him with shock.

“Jack, you can’t say things like that,” she said, prude that she was.

“Why not? It’s true,” he argued, that grin still plastered on his face.

Isabella stared at him for another moment while she gathered her thoughts. She wasn’t going to win this one, not with that roguish smile on his face.

“I’m going to be late,” she said as she turned around and opened the door. Isabella did her best to ignore Jack’s quiet laughter as he stepped outside after her and waited while she locked the door.

“Whatever you say, kitten.”

“Jack,” she said in warning.

“Yes, kitten?” he asked in wide eyed innocence.

“Behave or you won’t get any more,” she said. It was another challenge born of false bravado.

His eyes darkened in surprise and arousal as he stepped closer to her and pressed her up against her car. “Is that a dare, Miss Isabella? Because I’ll play,” he said, his voice deep and husky at the thought of earning his reward.

“Maybe,” she said, a bit breathless as she stared into his eyes.

“Be careful, kitten,” he warned.

“Or what?” she challenged again, comfortable enough with him to be playful.

“I might bite,” he said.

“You already did,” she reminded him with a small smile.

“Oh, Izzy, I had no idea you had this much fire in you when we first met,” he said as he leaned against her more.

“You should be careful around fire,” she said with a smile.

“No, it’s too much fun to play with.”

The look in his eyes made her insides turn to putty. There was heat there and she knew she would be the one burned in the end. But maybe this burn was worth it, maybe it would fan her own fire. After all, she had never been this forward with anyone else.

“Kiss me,” she said.

He couldn’t refuse her, so he swooped down to capture her mouth in a searing kiss.The whole town knew she was his and he placed little biting kisses against her lips as he pulled away so her lips would be red and slightly swollen by the time she arrived at The Bean.

Jack pulled back and studied his handiwork as she stood there with that dazed expression in her eyes. Her lips along with the hickey would let David know Isabella didn’t belong to him anymore. She was her own woman and she had made her choice.

“I’ll see you later, Izzy,” he said gruffly as he pulled away and opened her car door for her.

“Right. See you later,” she said as she shook herself out of her haze and got in her car.

“Get ahold of yourself, Izzy,” she said as she watched him get into his own car.

But it was too late. She had fallen for him. Her heart was his. And he had made it very clear that he wasn’t going anywhere. She smiled all the way to work and the knowing look in Jessica’s eyes was enough to make her blush again, but she met her friend’s gaze evenly and smiled. Isabella knew she looked disheveled from her morning encounter with Jack, but she didn’t care. She was happy. She was in love. And she would relish the first blossoms of that feeling.