because I don't want to go through this shit again, you hear me?"
Her face reminds me of Chase's when she resigns herself to listening to advice I’m giving when she has no intention of following my words, and that won't do. Wanting Jess’s full attention, I grab her ankles and lift her legs, wrapping them around my waist while setting her on my lap. She catches the edge of her mouth with her teeth and wiggles until comfortable. My dick grows hard. In less than five minutes, I plan on pulling her panties to the side and fucking her just like this, but first…
"I am in love with you. Not, I might be, or I think. I am. Through assholes, and job losses, and family drama, or long distance. I fucking love you, my Little Aggie. You, and every bit of you. That includes your baggage, your mom's baggage, and your father's too."
A choked sob erupts in her chest, and she slaps her hands over her mouth while tears cover her face.
“You walked back into my life at such an unexpected time. I wasn’t looking for you, I wasn’t looking for anything. All I wanted to do was build cars and be mad at the world for taking football away. You made that impossible from moment one.
“I sat outside Bleachers that first night, did you know that? Finn and the guys were giving me shit about the way I acted around you before you’d brought our second round of drinks. They saw it right away.”
Jess gives me a watery smile. “Finn told me about you waiting for me to get off on nights I worked late. I can’t believe you never said anything.”
“I was trying to deny what I felt. Sex is easy, feelings…” I lift a shoulder in a half shrug. “Feelings are scary as fuck, Jess, but I can’t turn them off. We don’t have the luxury of falling in love when the timing is right. It just happens.” Or that’s how it happened for me.
"I love you, too," she says with a hiccup. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a mess. I’m sorry I’ve doubted you”
That has me drawing back. “You have?”
She swipes at her damp cheeks. “I think I did. That’s why I didn’t want you dealing with my life.”
Her words are the truth I’ve suspected since the argument she had with Owen and Chase. “You didn’t trust I’d stick around if I knew what a mess you were dealing with?”
“Funny thing was, I didn’t even know I wanted you to stick around.” I arch a brow and she chuckles and touches my jaw with her fingertips. “Okay, so subconsciously I knew. My heart knew, my head and my pride fought it though. I expected the fling, I didn’t expect the rest of this.”
I turn my face into her palm and kiss her soft skin. “You scared the shit out of me today, Jess. Sonny’s damn lucky I spotted Chase first. If I’d come across him hurting you…” I can’t finish the sentence. Not right now. “I don’t want to taint this moment with that.”
"I'm sorry about Chase. I'm sorry—"
With a groan, I drag her into my chest. "No more apologizing."
Her hands circle my neck, and mine press against her spine, holding her close. "All the things you’ve done for me in such a short time, Carter. Keeping me safe, helping my dad, calling Jules and Cass.” She kisses my neck and inhales and exhales long and slow before looking me in the eyes. “You followed Sonny and threatened him."
I touch my forehead to hers. "Of course, I did. That's how far I'm willing to go for you, Jessica Womick. You were so worried no one would pick you up. You said no one saves you. I would. I will."
Jess
Love is a lie.
It must be. Or so I thought.
Mom gave birth to me. She raised me and told me she loved me before bed each night. Then she left.
Dad promised me he was working on getting better. Told me I was the best thing in his life. Swore, he loved me. He hit me, then left.
But Carter Cooper;
Carter rescued me. He made me fall for him, made me trust in another, protected me. Told me he couldn't live without me.
And he continues proving himself day after day, and month after month, through Dad leaving, through Sonny's arrest and preliminary hearing, through four months of long-distance.
Not that he has to prove himself, but having someone willing to climb