he spoke, his voice was low but firm. “Listen to me, Jenny. I think, today, you ended something that wasn’t right for you. You haven’t been happy for a long time. You told me that. What happened today was simply you moving on from a relationship that has been dead longer than you realized.” He paused, his hand ghosting up and down my arm. “I know this is fast and completely out of character for you. What happened earlier, on the couch? We didn’t plan it, but it wasn’t wrong. I’m sorry you’re regretting it.”
“I’m not regretting it, Connor.”
“No?”
“I just need you to know it’s not my usual style.”
He chuckled. “I already knew that, but duly noted.”
“John and I… We haven’t been, um…”
He held up his hand. “That is none of my business, Jenny.”
I grabbed his hand and held it tight. “Please, let me.”
“Okay, Wren. Whatever you need.”
“Things have never been very passionate between us. I always questioned that because it didn’t seem right. My friends all talked about this connection they had with their partner, and I never felt it with John.” I looked at Connor intently. “I’ve never felt anything like I felt with you on the couch. Ever.”
A slow smile spread across his face, but he didn’t say anything.
“The past few months, it got worse. I didn’t like his touch anymore. It just felt wrong. He only stayed over twice since you moved in, and both times he was drunk and nothing happened. He thought it did, and I let him, so I didn’t feel so guilty. But there was no spark.” I sighed. “I should have broken it off months ago.”
“So, you liked the couch?”
“Yeah. I did.” I chewed the inside of my cheek. “I’m not sure I’m ready for more just yet, though.”
“I can handle that. Just being here with you, like this, is more than I hoped for.” He tapped my cheek, shaking his head. “Stop beating yourself up about not breaking it off with him sooner. Hindsight is a powerful thing. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“And for the record? I liked the couch, too. That spark your friends talked about? We have a fucking inferno. When you’re ready, I’m more than happy to show you just how hot we are together.”
We both grinned at each other, his arms still wrapped around me.
He turned serious. “Jenny, have you ever had a feeling? Just a sense that told you something, someone was the exact right thing for you?”
“I don’t think so.”
He smiled down at me. “I have. Three times. My parents died when I was young, and a great couple named Kelly and Jason adopted me. They had come to the group home to see a little girl, but I took one look at them and informed Kelly she was supposed to be my new mommy. I remember looking at her and just feeling like she was what I had been waiting for. That once she loved me, I would be okay again.”
“Connor—” My voice caught at the emotion in his voice.
His arms tightened, his hands splayed across my back, his fingers moving. “They took both of us—since I also refused to leave without Carly. As soon as I met her at the orphanage, I became her big brother, and I told Kelly and Jason we were a package deal. They came to see her and adopted us both.”
I felt the tears gathering in my eyes as he shared his past with me. I wanted to know everything about this man. He was quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in his thoughts.
“You said three times?” I prompted quietly.
He stared at me thoughtfully, his fingers still moving on my skin. When he spoke, his voice was full of warmth. “First Carly, then Kelly and Jason. I knew I was supposed to have them in my life, and I was right. They’re my family.” His hand stopped its caresses and moved to cup my face. “I can’t wait for them to meet you. They are gonna love you.” He drew in a deep breath. “The third time was when I met you, Jenny. You offered me your hand, and when I took it, it was as if I had come home. I knew, one day, you’d be mine.”
I could no longer contain my tears. They poured down my face as I looked at him. No one had ever said something as beautiful as that to me in my life.
He wiped away the tears and leaned in, his lips nuzzling my cheek,