Fair Game (The Rules #1)(101)

I shove at him and he grunts. “Give me a break. I was unsure about…everything. I didn’t know how you really felt about me. It was happening so fast and I was trying to find a roommate all this week and failing miserably. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

“And all this time I was trying to work up the nerve to ask you to stay with me. That would’ve solved your problem in an instant. Crazy.” He runs his finger down my nose. “Why didn’t you ask if you could stay with me?”

“I already told you. I didn’t want to burden you with my problems.”

He drops a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Your problems are my problems. We’re in this together, baby. Can’t you see that?”

I blink up at him, noting the sincerity in his dark gaze. How did I get so lucky that this man is mine? I remember how he drove me crazy when we first met. Now I can’t imagine my world without him. “You mean it?”

“Cross my heart, hope to die.” He kisses me, warm and sweet, his arm curling around my waist so he can bring me flush against him. “I love you, Jade.”

Oh God. Just hearing him say the words makes my heart feel like it could swell to three times its size. “I-I love you too, Shep.”

I wrap my arms around his neck as I drown in his kiss, the assured way his lips move against mine, the delicious sweep of his tongue within my mouth. “This is going to be the best summer ever,” he whispers against my lips after he breaks the kiss.

Now I’m feeling a little shy. I mean really? What in the world is wrong with me? “Do you want me to help pay rent? Enid is moving me up to fulltime for just the summer.”

He pulls away from me slightly. “Are you f*cking kidding me? No, you’re not paying rent. You won’t have to pay a dime, just make me cookies and get me fat. That’ll be your payment.”

“I can’t do that,” I say, laughing. “I’ll get just as fat.”

“At least we’ll be fat and happy together.” His smile fades and his expression turns serious. “I want you to go back to Enid and tell her you don’t have to work fulltime after all.”

“But…” I start to protest and he places his index finger against my lips.

“I want to spend as much time with you this summer as possible,” he explains, his gaze locked on mine. “I know you need to work and I get that. But I want to be with you, Jade. As much as I can, before the fall semester starts back up and we’re busy.”

I nod slowly. “Okay,” I whisper against his finger. “I’ll see what can be arranged.”

He smiles and removes his finger from my lips before he kisses me again. “You do that.”

“You look way too f*cking happy,” Tristan groans as I walk into the kitchen.

Smiling, I grab a mug from the cabinet and pour myself a cup of coffee. “That’s because I am.”

Gabe is sitting at the island, wearing a pair of tropical print swim trunks and nothing else. “I’m hanging out at your pool today,” he declares as a greeting.

I nod. “Sounds good.” Too bad Jade has to work this afternoon. I’d suggest we do the same thing. Not that I want to see these *s catch a glimpse of Jade in a bikini but…

Damn. I need to get a hold of this possessive wave I feel every time I think of someone looking at my girl.

“What’s got your panties in a happy twist?” Tristan asks. “Hey, you never did tell us how dinner with your parents went last night.”

“Fucking awful,” I say cheerily, dumping a bunch of creamer in my cup. “My mom was a total bitch to Jade.”

“Ah, man. I could’ve predicted that,” Tristan says.

“Yeah, no thanks to you and your gossiping ways,” I mutter.

Tristan looks pained. “I already told you I’m sorry.”

And he did. I knew he was sorry. I just like to give him shit for it.

“It’s all good. We held our own and bailed early,” I explain as I take a sip from my coffee.

“Where is Jade? Is she here?” Gabe asks.

“Still in bed. My bed.” Sleeping and cute, all naked and mussed. I’m tempted to run back up to my room and f*ck her one more time before she has to go to work but I’ll restrain myself.

Barely.

“So she’s moving in for the summer,” I announce. They both stare at me in quiet shock. “I’m in love with her. And she’s in love with me. We’re trying to make this work.”

“Seriously?” Gabe asks. “She’s moving in?”

“Seriously,” I confirm. “Just for the summer though.” Maybe longer if I can convince her.

“That is pretty f*cking serious,” Tristan adds.

“I know.” I smile. “I can’t wait.”

“What are you going to do this summer besides play around with Jade?” Gabe asks.

“Probably officially join the soccer league again.” I’ll need to so I can keep the weight off from all the cookies Jade’s going to bake me. “Maybe take Jade on a trip or two for a couple of days. Nothing too far. She’s going to work through the summer.”

“Unbelievable.” Tristan shakes his head. “I never thought I’d see this day, especially not this soon.”