Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5)(29)

“But?” Maya asked. “Because I know there’s a but in there.”

“But know that going into this, I’m going to do my best not to f*ck this up. I’m going to show you what we could maybe have, and try not to think too hard. And what happens with Border? Well, I don’t know. Because it’s all too much, you know?”

Maya cupped his face. Her hands were soft on his skin, and he wanted to lean into her hold but barely stopped himself. “Stop thinking.”

“It’s kind of hard when we’re about to change everything.”

Maya searched his face. “Okay. Then stop making yourself sick over it. Have me, be with me. Do what we should have done before and what we’ve danced around for far too long.” She paused. “And be with Border if you need to.” Jake opened his mouth to say something, and she shook her head. “I’m not like my sisters, you know that. I’ve always been a little more open, so this isn’t going to be any different. Be with him and be with me. And once we get to know one another, maybe we’ll all be together. But you need to find your way, Jake. And I’m selfish enough to want to find my path with you, as well. This is serious, but we’re not going to take ourselves too seriously. That’s the difference.”

He didn’t know what god or goddess he’d been blessed to know in a former life, because the light that shined down on him now at the thought of this woman would forever have his gratitude.

Here was a woman, stronger than anyone else he knew, who wanted to not only be with him, but wanted him to find out how he felt about being with another man. That had to be unheard of, and yet here he was, living it.

“You could get hurt,” he whispered.

Maya gave him a sad smile. “I’m hurting without you, Jake. I’m willing to risk more for you. You’re worth it. I wish you could see that.”

Jake leaned down and rested his forehead on hers. “You’re so much stronger than I am.”

“No, I’m not. It’s just my turn to be strong. I’ve leaned on you before, and that will happen again. So why don’t we lean on each other, Jake?”

“I love you, Maya,” he whispered. “You’re my best friend.”

“I love you, too.”

They both knew those words would mean something different in the future. There was no denying that. And because of that, Jake knew he would have to stop using them until they made sense of the next steps in what they could be.

“So what do we do now?” he asked, and Maya let out a laugh.

“We’ve never been awkward like this, have we?” she asked, and Jake slid his hand down her side.

“No, I guess not.”

She licked her lips, and he swallowed hard. “Will you kiss me again?”

Jake smiled then. “The Maya I know doesn’t ask to be kissed, darling.”

She rolled her eyes and grinned. “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

He slid his hand over her ass, and when he squeezed, they both let out a breath. “I think I know you just fine, Montgomery. I think if you want this kiss, this time, you should take it. You’re the woman who told me how oral is a deal breaker for you. You’re the one who prowled toward me that night. So take what you want, Maya. And I’ll do the same.”

Her eyes darkened, and he knew that had been the right thing to say.

When she cupped the back of his head and brought his lips down to hers, he was lost. She bit his bottom lip, forcing a groan from him. He pressed her lower half closer to him, and she kissed him harder. When he rocked into her, the hard ridge of his cock pressing into her belly, he knew there was no going back.

But Jake didn’t want to go back.

Ever.

He ran his hands over her body, wanting to know every inch of her. Again, for the first time, for now, forever. They were older now, a lot more confident, and yet on a new plane when it came to who they were to each other. This wasn’t a one-off after a long night of dancing and drinking. He wasn’t even sure it would have been back then.

This was now, and he knew he’d do anything to keep it like that.

He pulled away, trying to catch his breath. “I want you in my bed, Maya. I want you everywhere, come to think of it.”

“Then have me, Jake,” she said, panting. “Because I don’t think I can wait any longer. Oh, and I’d better get oral this time. Just saying.”

He threw his head back and laughed, knowing that no matter what happened next, he had Maya for now, and he would try to keep what they had the same…but evolved.

This was his Maya.

And Border? Well, maybe he’d have Border, too.

That should have made him a selfish man, but he couldn’t help but think maybe he was finally just Jake Gallagher.

One lucky motherf*cker.





Chapter Eight


Maya swallowed hard as Jake laughed, and she tried not to freak the hell out. She might not have been joking about the oral thing, but now she wasn’t sure what to do next.

Maya hated being unsure.

And this was about as sure as she’d ever been about being unsure. Sure, she’d told herself she’d try a ménage with them, but now here she was, taking the first step.

And she hadn’t even talked to Border yet.