Leaning against his pillows, Jensen scrolled through his Facebook as he waited for Wren to come to bed. She had been at Brie’s house all afternoon, helping with the decoration of the house, and he had missed her. Though, he wasn’t sure the feeling was mutual. Which annoyed him. He tried to distract himself by working out with Dylan at the rink and going shopping with Vaughn, but his mind kept going back to her. She hadn’t even asked if he wanted to do something that day, she just left. He guessed he should be glad she had a friend, but still, he wanted to spend time with her. They could have set up the nursery or even just hung around. He wanted to be with her.
It was stuff like that that made him worry about their future, and he hated that.
He did, but what could he do?
“What did you do today?” she called from the bathroom, and he laid his phone in his lap, looking up to where he could see only her sweet ass from the bathroom. She was leaned into the sink, her panties basically up her ass as she did something to her face. She had so many lotions and shit. He was pretty sure she didn’t know what any of it was, though she did stay in there forever.
“Went and worked out, hung out with Vaughn. Oh. I bought your plane ticket for next week.”
“Oh, good, I forgot to ask you about that. We’ll fly right out to Colorado at the end of the week?”
“Yeah,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “For the wedding of the summer.”
“I’m beyond excited.” The sarcasm was so strong in his wife.
“Have you not talked to Wells?”
“Nope.”
That bothered him. “Oh.”
“Yup, but whatever.”
It wasn’t whatever, though. He knew it bothered her, but he could sense she didn’t want to talk about it. “What did you do over at Brie’s?”
“Sat on the couch and then helped her pick out colors for the house. She’s so indecisive, and then Vaughn makes it worse. He’s ridiculous. He wanted to paint the living room mint because he said she looks good in mint. He’s so silly.”
Jensen smiled. That was his best friend. “Oh, well, you should have just stayed here. We could have set up the nursery.”
Once he said it, he wasn’t sure how she would take it. But before he could say something to cover up that his feelings were hurt that she left, she peeked her head out, her face covered in some goop. “I didn’t even think about that. You should have said something.”
He shrugged. “Didn’t want to mess up your plans.”
“Oh, well, I’d rather have done that.”
That made him smile. “Then we’ll do it this week.”
She smiled. “Wednesday is my short day.”
“I’ll be here with a hammer and screwdriver.”
Her eyes darkened. “You’re good with that hammer, huh?”
When she winked before going back to the mirror, his lips curved. “You’re being suggestive again?”
“Always,” she called to him, and he laughed, the bed shaking underneath him. She was in a good mood, being herself, and he loved that. He hated the closed-up Wren. She irritated him. But playful Wren, he really enjoyed that girl. Reminded him of the girl she used to be before all those fucking dicks ruined her.
When the water started to run, he exhaled as he reached for his phone once more, scrolling through until he heard the water shut off. He looked up to see her reaching for the light to shut it off, and that’s when he promptly dropped his phone. Unlike she had been doing since they had started sharing a bed, gone was the oversized shirt, leaving her in only a very, very skimpy pair of panties and a completely see-through bra. Her nipples were crying for him, screaming at him, and yeah, he was rock hard before he let out another breath.
When she met his gaze, she had nothing but wicked intentions in those green depths. Swallowing hard, he was breathless as she said, “I’m super hot tonight.”
“I’d say so,” he muttered, and her lips curved in a sneaky grin as she walked around the room, putting away her clothes, and then getting out her outfit for the following day. His eyes were glued to her, his heart pounding in his chest as his whole body shook with want. He wanted to pin her against the wall, slide that bra down over her swollen breasts, and take them in his mouth. He wanted to spread her apart and bury his face between her thick thighs.
He wasn’t going to make it.
Forcing himself to move, he reached for his phone, his hands shaking as he begged his throbbing hard-on to just fucking relax. When she came to his side of the bed, his breath caught as he looked up at her while she bent over his thighs to reach for a shirt that was on her side. All he saw was her perky ass as she slowly stood back up in a very suggestive way, muttering, “Sorry.”
But he knew damn well she wasn’t sorry at all.
Chuckling to keep from reaching out and taking a handful of that sweet ass, he looked at his phone like it was holding all the secrets of the unknown.
Like how not to pounce on his wife and fuck her brains out.
“What’s so funny?”
“This meme,” he muttered without looking at her.
But then she was beside him, her hands on the edge of the bed, her breasts right fucking there.
Good Lord above. Take me. Please.
Closing his eyes, he turned his phone to his Facebook, showing a meme that wasn’t that funny, but she laughed nonetheless, the airy sound making his cock throb so much harder he felt it in his chest. “That’s funny.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, looking right at his phone and not at the swells of her perfectly encased breasts.
She was going to kill him.
Exhaling, she stood up and made her way around the bed. “Do you need anything?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m good.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment as he held his phone so tightly, he worried he was going to break it. “Would it bother you if I slept without a bra? I’m so hot.”
He closed his eyes as he pressed his lips together. “I can turn the air down.”
“Oh. Good idea,” she decided, and with that, he watched as she sashayed across the room to the thermostat, turning it down, but all he saw was the curve of that ass and the dimples in her thick thighs. How in the world was he supposed to make it?
“Is that okay?” she asked, turning to look at him, and he just nodded.
“Good,” he got out as she headed back to the bed, getting in very slowly, and somehow, very fucking sexily. Pushing the blankets off her, she lay beside him, completely his for the taking, and he knew he was going to die a slow death from lack of blood since it was all in his cock. As her hands slid down her thighs and then up over her belly, his breath caught.
Was she doing this on purpose?
“Oh, he’s moving. Wanna feel?”
But before he could beg her not to touch him, she grabbed his hand, placing it on her belly. Within seconds, he felt the baby kicking with all his might. Away went his insane lust as a grin pulled at his lips while he sat up, taking her belly between both hands as the baby moved. It was mind-blowing, and he had always wanted a chance to feel this. For so long he thought he’d never get to, but as he sat there, his hands on her growing belly, he felt tears burning in his eyes.
“That’s amazing.”
“If I weren’t one hundred percent sure he was going to be a hockey player, I’d say the kid was destined for soccer.”
Jensen laughed at that. “He can do both. Wow, he’s strong.”
“He is.”
“Is the asshole big?”
When he looked up at her, her lips were pressed together. “Yeah, like you.”
“Cool,” he said, though he didn’t think it was that cool. He hated the guy. “Is he blond?”
“No, brown-haired.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah,” she said simply as his hands moved along her belly.
“Man, he is amazing in there.”
“He is,” she agreed as her hands covered his. She looked up, and their eyes met. The lust hit him like a puck in the middle of the chest. Her eyes were so dark, her lips so full, and soon she was moving toward him. “I hope he is just like you.”
His heart flip-flopped in his chest as she took his face in her hands, her lips coming to his with heated need. His eyes fell shut first, which usually didn’t happen, but everything was on fire and he couldn’t handle it. Sliding his hands up her body, over her full breasts, he wrapped his arms around her neck, holding her to him as he devoured her naughty little mouth. He was shaking, he wanted her so badly, yet, he pulled back, kissing her lips softly. When she tried to deepen the kiss, he backed away more. “I need to ask you something.”
She was breathing hard, her lips parted as she gazed up at him. “Or you can just kiss me, grab my boob or my ass. Whichever.”
He chuckled against her lips as he let her go, putting some space between them. “Or, we can talk.”
“Talking is overrated.”
“I don’t think so,” he said, sitting back in his place though his cock was basically cussing him out at this point. “Why don’t you talk to Shanna anymore?”
When he looked over at her, her face was full of annoyance and a whole lot of sexual frustration. “Really?”
“Yeah. I want to know.”
She pursed her lips and then exhaled hard. “It’s a long story.”
“And we’ve got all the time in the world.”
She glared at the ceiling, and he smiled. She wanted him, he could tell, but he didn’t feel it was more than that. Until he did, he wouldn’t be giving in. Call him an idiot, but he knew her. He knew how she worked, and he wouldn’t be another one of her mistakes.
He wanted to be her forever.
Even if it killed him and gave him the biggest case of blue balls the world had ever seen.
Swallowing hard, she shook her head. “I don’t know, Jensen. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Try.”
She shrugged, chewing on her lip as she chose her words. “I dropped her because I knew if I told her about the baby, she would judge me. She always judged me for my lifestyle because, you know, she’s married, kids, the whole nine. She always told me I was too old to be sleeping around. Plus, she’d want to know who the dad is and I don’t want to tell anyone and she’d get pissed and, yeah, I just let it go.”
“An over twenty-year friendship? Just like that?”
She met his gaze. “Yeah. I knew that she wouldn’t support me, so I dropped her before she could drop me.”
He held her gaze, knowing it was more than that. “Will you ever tell me who the dad is?”
She shook her head, pressing her lips together. “He isn’t important. You’re the dad now. So why does he matter?”
In a way, he didn’t, Jensen guessed, but he wanted to know. “I just want to know.”
Biting on her lip, she dropped her shoulders, and he thought maybe she was going to tell him. Instead, she whispered, “He doesn’t matter. Only you matter.”
His heart soared in his chest. Reaching out, he took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth, pressing his lips to it. “That’s my favorite thing you’ve said to me thus far, except for the day you told me, yes, you’d marry me.”
Her lips quirked as she shook her head. “I don’t deserve you.”
He scoffed. “Funny, I say that every day.”
Her eyes widened as he reached over, kissing the side of her mouth. “Goodnight, babe.”
“Goodnight?” she asked as she watched him while he turned over, plugging in his phone and cuddling into the pillows.
While his body was still screaming for hers, he knew he was doing the right thing. Because like his dad had always said, “If you want something you’ve never had, then you have to do something you’ve never done.”
For her, her default was to fuck her feelings away.
And if he wanted her for the rest of his existence, he couldn’t let her do that.
He had to love her.
For her to love herself.
And then, hopefully, him.
* * *
Gasping for breath, Jensen looked over at Vaughn who was lying on the floor, also fighting for air. “Why do you do this to me?”
Jensen’s brows rose. “We are working out.”
“I know, but I want to sit on my couch and eat. I’m supposed to be relaxing.”
Jensen laughed, though it sounded like he was choking. “We don’t want to get flabby.”
Vaughn’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong with being flabby? We can be flabby through the summer and then clean up our act before training camp.”
“Or, we can do the two workouts a week that I’ve set up to keep us good through the summer.”
“You’re ruining my life,” Vaughn decided as he rolled over to his back, struggling for breath. “I hate you.”
“I know,” Jensen said as he crunched down, running his hands through his hair. He had asked Kacey Thomas for a workout, and she wasn’t holding back. He was sweating everywhere, and he knew he was pushing himself to get rid of the crazy lust inside of him. He didn’t want to work out. He wanted to veg on the couch, but he had to do something, or he was going to lose his ever-loving mind. Wren was trying to kill him. For the last four days, he had gone to bed with the biggest boner known to man because his wife had decided she wanted to run around in basically nothing before bed.
Those thongs and that bra were becoming his kryptonite.
Watching her as she slathered her face in lotion with her sweet ass hanging out and those thighs… Jesus, those thighs for him to drink in was basically torture. She was killing him slowly, but he was staying strong. And killing Vaughn in the meantime.
As he finished up his burpees, Vaughn fell to the ground once more and lay there, shaking his head. “I’m done.”
“We have another round.”
“I refuse. Let’s go get chicken,” he said before sitting up to meet Jensen’s gaze, his eyes hopeful. “You love chicken. Hot chicken. I’ll buy you all of it. Just for you.”
Jensen laughed. “No.”
“You’re mean.”
“It’s for your own good.”
“You’re just taking out your sexual frustration on me,” he accused as he stood up, slowly and with a groan. “It isn’t my fault you won’t put out. That’s your own issue.”
Jensen laughed. “You know nothing, my friend.”
“I know it all, because Wren was at my house bitching.”
Jensen’s brow quirked. “What?”
Vaughn set him with a look. “Yeah, she was at the house on Sunday, talking to her new BFF—which is very weird to me, by the way—and they were talking about how you won’t put out.”
“She said that?”
“Well, no, she said you wouldn’t do her because you aren’t attracted to her.”
He scoffed. “That’s fucking bullshit.”
“I know this, because you’ve had a boner for her for, like, ever, and I told her that.”
Jensen’s whole body went cold. “You did? What did she say?”
“She didn’t believe me, or Brie.”
“I can’t believe you told her that.”
“Does it matter? She didn’t believe me.”
“But still.”
“Dude, she thinks you’re doing this because you’re honorable.”
Jensen brought his lip between his teeth as he shook his head. “I swear, that girl’s confidence is in the tank, and it’s fucking annoying.”
“It is.”
He sat there for a moment, thinking it over, and slowly he moved his head side to side in annoyance. How could she think that? “I don’t know what to do. Do I just give in? Or do I keep on? I mean, I seriously tell her daily that she’s beautiful. Tell her that I love the little things, her hair, her line thing she does to her eyes, I mean, everything. But because I won’t let her use sex as a way to feel something for me, then I’m not attracted to her? That’s not fair.”
“I hear you, brother,” Vaughn added, holding his hand up. “But maybe she needs that.”
“No, she wants to rely on it so she doesn’t have to feel anything else for me, and that’s bullshit.”
“But if she thinks you aren’t trying to get her naked, how is she supposed to feel sexy?”
“’Cause I tell her!”
“You’ve said, ‘Damn, Wrenny, you’re sexy’?”
Jensen snorted a bit. “Not like that, but I tell her she’s beautiful.”
“Not the same thing.”
Jensen grumbled as he thought it over. He understood what Vaughn was saying, but he didn’t know if he agreed with him.
“Listen, bro, I got you. I hear what you’re saying, and I get it. Really, I do, but you know how she is. She’s used to one thing. Maybe that’s the way you two can connect, and it won’t just be about the sex for her. It will be more.”
Jensen bit the inside of his cheek. “Says the person who’d rather fuck than talk.”
Vaughn held his hands up. “But let me tell you, Brie and I had a very healthy sex life, and I fell hard for the girl.”
“But you never had any intentions of falling for her. How do I know Wren will have feelings for me?”
Vaughn shrugged. “You knew that from the rip, bro. This whole relationship has been like the moment in the crease—where the puck could go in, or you could block it. She’s the blocker, and you’re the puck trying to go in. It’s a gamble. A big one.”
Swallowing hard, Jensen admitted he had known that from the beginning. He did, but hearing it once more made it even more real.
And scared the living shit out of him because he didn’t know what to do.
Should he stay strong, wait for her to feel something for him?
Or should he just take her to bed and hope for the best?
Fuck, this was complicated.
* * *
Wren’s heart ached in her chest as she watched Tate struggle in front of her.
He looked so wrung out. His shoulders were down, and his eyes were full of such defeat. She wished this wasn’t happening, and she hated her stupid hormones that were making her want to hug him and cry with him. As he looked up, meeting her gaze, she clutched her notepad as he tried to smile.
“You’ve thought this through?”
He nodded slowly, his eyes filling with tears. “Audrey and I have been talking since our last session. She started crying last night because I was still so unsure, and she just wanted me to be happy. She said that if I want to push myself and try to get back on the ice, she’d support me and she’d love me no matter what, even in a wheelchair. And that hurt me. I don’t want to do that to her or my kids. If I retire now, I can give my body the time it needs to heal, and I can be there for them.”
“You’re right. And good for Audrey. You’re lucky to have such a great woman.”
His lips turned up in a true smile. “I’ve loved her since the moment I met her. She’s so strong. So beautiful and the best woman I know. She loves me hard, and she loves our children with her whole soul. We’ve stood beside each other through thick and thin, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner for this life.” Wren’s heart shattered as he inhaled deeply, his lips quivering. “As much as I will miss the ice, miss being between those pipes, I miss playing on the floor with my kids more. Being able to lie with my wife the way she loves…sorry, TMI,” he laughed and she smiled. “But I’d rather be able to be there for my family and love them, like they’ve always loved me. The best thing for me is to retire.”
“And that’s what you want?”
“Yes.”
“Good, I’m glad that we’ve all worked together to come to this realization. I think it’s for the best, but in the end, it’s what you want.”
He nodded. “I know, and I do. I might not like it fully yet, but I know that if I keep trying to push myself, I’m not only going to hurt myself but my family too, and nothing is more important than family.”
Wren’s lips started to quiver. She missed Wells. She missed him so much, but she was still so angry with him. It wasn’t only that; it was the fact that she knew, like Tate, Jensen would do the same thing for her and her child.
And she wasn’t sure she would do the same.
That hurt her.
Pissed her off.
Why couldn’t she be like Audrey?
Reaching out, she took Tate’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m proud of you, Tate.”
“Thank you,” he said, squeezing back. “I don’t want to stop our sessions, though. I think I still might need them.”
Wren smiled, loving that he wanted to keep seeing her. She had been worried he would drop her since he had come to this decision, but she knew he would continue to need her. The pain was still so overwhelming for him, and not playing would take its toll. “I’ll always be here for you, Tate. Except for the next three weeks.” She laughed. “I’m going back home. But my phone is always on.”
He smiled. “That’s great. You need a break. Especially with dealing with me.”
Wren laughed, shaking her head. “Never. You’ve been a joy, Tate. I’m so proud of you.”
They shared a smile as he slowly got up, reaching for his crutch, before leaning on it. “Thanks, and oh, congratulations. Audrey told me that you and Monroe eloped.”
She blushed. “Yeah, we did.”
“And that you’re having a baby. I hadn’t realized.”
“Yeah, I just look fat,” she teased, waving him off, and he turned bright red.
“Never.”
“I was teasing you.”
He smiled as she walked with him to her office door. “You know, Wren, he’s the greatest guy ever. He texts me at least three times a week to check on me. When everything happened, he brought food for my family so Audrey wouldn’t have to worry about it. He babysat for us while I was in the hospital. He’s got a great heart, and since I think you’re the best, I’m really happy for you two.”
Her lips trembled as she placed her hand on the middle of Tate’s back and met his gaze. “Thank you. He’s wonderful.”
“He is. Congratulations again and enjoy your trip.”
“Thanks, Tate. Get with Leah for your next session.”
“Will do. Thanks.”
“Thank you,” she called as she watched him walk to Leah’s desk.
When her tears started to spill over her, running down her face, she shut the door and leaned her head into it. Everyone had nothing but nice things to say about Jensen. Everyone. She knew the only person who probably didn’t like him was his ex-wife, but she was a cunt, so it didn’t matter. Wren was married to the best damn guy on earth, and she wasn’t one hundred percent committed. She would be home in a matter of days, and she knew in her soul that everyone would see right through them.
She felt like she wasn’t doing anything right. She was fighting with Wells. She hadn’t talked to Shanna in almost seven months. She missed her friend, she did, but what she had told Jensen was the truth. Shanna would judge her and then push to know the father. Wren knew she would see Shanna when she went home, and she was dreading it. Then on top of all of that, she couldn’t allow herself to even entertain the chance that she and Jensen could work. It seemed so foreign to her, and that bothered her. He was such a great guy, and apparently, he adored her. So what was the issue?
Meanwhile, she was in charge of helping men with their mental health?
She was a fucking impostor.
As she wiped away her tears, she shook her head.
“Kiddo, I love you, I do. But man, you are making my hormones turn me into a fucking crybaby who has no clue what to do with her life, and that’s not good, man. I gotta figure this out.”
Or she was going to be alone.
* * *
Looking down at the pile of bills on the counter, Wren closed her eyes as she sucked on the spoon full of ice cream, tears dripping down her face. She’d made the mistake of stopping by her mailbox for her mail. Inside was bill after bill—and the biggest one from their trip to the baby store. She wouldn’t let Jensen pay, and because of that, her credit card was maxed out. Her first thought was she’d pay it off with the money from her trust, and that opened up the waterworks.
What if they got home and her dad saw right through them, not giving her their money? What if Jensen was wasting his time? What if she was dumb enough to fall for him, and he decided at the end, when she was flabby from having a baby, that he didn’t want her? God, why was she such a fucking mess?
Today sucked.
“Pity party for two. Sorry, kiddo, you’re in this because you’re inside me.”
When the front door opened and Wren saw Jensen coming through it, she turned away quickly, wiping her face as she walked, hoping he didn’t see her crying. She hadn’t expected him to be home yet since he said he would call. So, of course, she was in the middle of the kitchen with a container of ice cream and tears flowing from the day that had turned her into an emotional mess.
“Whoa, where you going?”
“Nowhere,” she said, turning around once she was sure her tears were gone. “I thought I had to pee.”
His brows were drawn in, his arms carrying two bags from her favorite taco place. “The bathroom is right here,” he said, pointing to the bathroom that was right beside the door and so much closer than the one in the bedroom. “So, want to try that again?” Setting the bags down, he came around the counter as his eyes held hers. “Are you crying?”
“No.”
“Yes?”
“Maybe.”
“Why?” he asked, leaning his hip to the counter, his eyes never leaving hers. “What’s wrong?”
“I had a tough day,” she said slowly, shaking her head as she placed her container of ice cream on the counter. “And it sucked and I’m emotional and it’s weird because I can’t stop crying. I think I’ve cried more today than I have my whole life.”
Coming off the counter, he reached for her. “Come here.”
But she held her hands up. “No. I can’t think when you hold me.”
“More of a reason to come here,” he decided, taking her hands and pulling her into his arms. The warmth of him was intoxicating, and she instantly felt safe as his arms went around her completely. How did he do that? “We can dance.”
She made a face against his shoulder as her tears started to fall once more. “There’s no music.”
He paused then, taking out his phone and hitting play before laying it on the counter. Something soft and slow started, she wasn’t sure, she hadn’t heard the song before as he started to sway with her. Instantly, she was taken back to the New Year’s Eve party Elli had thrown, the way Jensen had taken her out to the dance floor and danced with her then. He didn’t say much, and he sure as hell didn’t try anything, but he never left her side. He was there.
Just like he had been then.
“What song is this?”
“‘Sometimes It’s Hard’ by Jamie Lawson.”
“Oh, it’s nice.”
“It is,” he agreed. “I listen to it when I stretch. It’s calming.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, closing her eyes as she leaned on him. The music was beautiful and so very calming. But the words, man, they hit her right in the soul. She hadn’t heard of this guy, but she figured he knew her and her situation before deciding to write a song about it. Getting lost in the song, she held on to Jensen as they swayed together in the kitchen. It was silly, but soon her tears dried against her cheeks as her heart gradually slowed in her chest.
Leaning his head to her, he inhaled slowly before whispering, “Now tell me what happened today.”
She leaned into him, closing her eyes. He smelled divine, and he felt so damn strong, holding her like she was a feather against him. “You can’t ever tell anyone I told you this. Even if you are my husband, it’s player confidentiality.”
“Of course.”
“Tate decided to retire today.”
He exhaled hard, shaking his head. “That’s a fucking shame.”
“Yeah, but he’s in so much pain, and seeing him almost in tears as he chose his family over the sport he loved just gutted me.”
He nodded against her. “I can imagine. That guts me just thinking about it.”
“It sucked.”
“It does.”
Swallowing hard, she swayed with him, her fingers tucking into the belt loops of his shorts. “What else happened?”
“How do you know that something else happened?”
“While I know you love your job, that’s not the only thing to have you crying in the kitchen ignoring the tacos on the counter.”
“We’re dancing.”
“It’s tacos, Wren.”
She smiled against his shoulder. “You know me so well.”
“I do.”
“I miss Wells.”
His shoulders fell a bit. “I’m sorry.”
“And Shanna. But I know Wells and I will work it out before Shanna and me.”
“Maybe you can call them both?”
“I don’t know.”
“Want me to call them?”
She smiled. “No. It’s my responsibility.”
“I can handle Wells, and you can take Shanna.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s fine.”
“Okay.”
“But thank you.”
“Always.” She let out a long breath and then leaned her head back into his chest. “Is that it?”
She pressed her lips together as his chin rested on top of her head. “I went by my mailbox.”
“Oh, good, you’ve been meaning to do that.”
“Yeah, but it was bills galore in that sucker.”
“Give them to me, I’ll pay them.”
“No. They’re my bills.”
“I don’t care. You’re my wife.”
“Jensen.”
“Wren.”
“No.”
He moved his lips along her temple. “I do what I want.”
She smiled against his neck. “I said no. If everything works out, I’ll have my money, and I can pay them off.”
“There is no if, Wren. Everything will be fine.”
But she shook her head. “I’m worried about everyone not believing us when we go home.”
“That won’t happen.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. I’ll make sure of that.”
She closed her eyes, hoping he was right as she wrapped her arms around him, needing his strength. As they swayed through three more songs, all slow and sweet, Wren couldn’t stop thinking about everything. Tate, Wells, Shanna, going home, but most of all, Jensen. She couldn’t shake her reservations. Her anxiety over all of it ending in a fiery explosion. She didn’t realize it, but she needed this. She needed constant support. She’d never had that, and now that she did, she didn’t want to lose it. But she couldn’t use Jensen for that. He deserved better than that, but could she truly let herself love him? It would be so easy if she allowed herself to. But what if he didn’t love her? What if she was a means to an end?
The baggage for the baby he so desperately wanted.
She opened her eyes as she inhaled harshly. She had to know. Moving her head, she pulled back to look at him as he moved his head. “Jensen.”
“Yeah?” he asked, meeting her gaze, and God, he looked so beautiful. So content, so relaxed, while she felt like she was coming out of her skin. But looking into his eyes, she felt herself calming a bit.
Swallowing hard, she almost didn’t ask, but then she knew she had to. “I need to ask you something.”
His eyes searched hers as his thumbs moved along her back, sending chills up her spine. “What’s that?”
Her heart was pounding in her ears and making her head hurt, but if she didn’t ask, if she didn’t find out the truth, she was going to make herself crazy. “Why won’t you sleep with me?”