Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(120)

At those words, instantly, the tightness in his chest released and he cupped the back of Belle’s head and pulled her face close to his throat.

She resisted but only a little before her body relaxed into his.

When it did, Jack asked, “What were you saying to the baby about me?”

He was gratified to feel her nuzzle closer, pressing her forehead against his jaw as her fingers clenched his shoulder. “Just telling him that you were right. I’d met Cassandra and Angus that evening and they were so strange. I was telling the baby you were right about it not going back to normal and boring.”

“I was right, my love, things are definitely still not normal and boring and, with those two and your father in the house, I fear things will not be normal and boring for some time.”

Her body tensed then eased and he couldn’t believe his ears when she let out a short, strangled giggle.

His arms clutched her even closer and he was beyond thrilled when she didn’t resist but, instead, melted.

After several long, satisfying moments, Belle shared on a whisper, “I know you’re going to think I’m even crazier, but, Jack, I’m scared of the stairs.”

“That isn’t crazy, Belle, not after what happened.”

Her fingers pressed into his shoulder and she cuddled even closer. “Okay, but, this is even crazier,” she pressed ever closer and admitted, “Jack, I think there might be something in this house that wants to hurt me.”

He rolled to his side, taking her with him and he placed his fist under her chin and tipped it up so he could look in her eyes. They were still stormy with worry but the tempest had subsided.

“Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Angus and Cassandra.”

She tilted her head into the pillow and, seeing it and loving it when she did that, Jack couldn’t stop his smile.

“We will?” she asked.

He nodded. “We will, poppet. They’ve been working while we’ve been away and they assure me you’re protected.”

Regardless of the fact that there was evidence to suggest that there was something amiss in his house and something mysterious about his connection with Belle, Jack still thought Angus and Cassandra’s assertions were rubbish.

But he knew Belle didn’t.

And he was willing to use whatever he could to calm that storm in her eyes.

His tactic succeeded.

She took a shuddering breath and gave him a tentative smile.

Jack allowed himself a moment to let her smile settle in his chest and his gut then he gave Belle a squeeze before he rolled and turned out the light.

When he had them settled, the front of Belle’s body cocooned to his, she spoke softly, “Jack, we need to talk about something else.”

“What, love?”

She hesitated and said, “This.”

“This?”

“This. Here. Now. You. Me.”

He gave her a squeeze and whispered, “No, poppet. The one thing that we don’t need to talk about is this. Here. Now. You or me.”

“But –”

“All of that is the only thing that’s good and right in this f**king crazy mess.”

She was quiet then she asked, “It is?”

“Don’t you feel it?” Jack asked in return.

Her reply was breathy and hesitant, “I want to.”

He gave her another squeeze. “Then do it.”

“But, the baby… it’s what drew us –”

Jack gave her another, tighter squeeze, halting her words. “I thought I said we weren’t going to have this discussion.”

“But we have to!” she cried, her voice beginning to rise.

His hand came up to fist again in her hair and he used it to pull her head back gently.

Then his lips sought hers in the dark and he reminded her, “Belle, if you remember, there was no baby when I made you mine.”

“Jack –”

He cut her off, “It’s a sad fact that there’s no baby now. It hurts to think about it. It makes my chest tight and my gut ache. But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re still mine.”

“It makes your chest tight?” she whispered.

“And my gut ache.”

“Really?” she breathed.

“Yes, my love.” He tucked her face in his throat and went on, “But even with our loss, after your accident, I still felt lucky because I didn’t lose you.” He spoke cautiously, not wishing to feed into her fears but needing her to understand. “You could have been hurt in a much worse way, poppet, and, you being here, in our bed, in my arms, for that, I feel lucky.”

He could barely hear her when she asked, “You, James Bennett, feel lucky?”

“Yes, poppet,” he tipped his head so his lips moved against her hair. “I couldn’t lose you and, I promise you, my love, we’ll make another baby when the time is right. For now, we need to just be. You and me, we need to just be.”

“You and me,” she whispered.

“You and me,” he repeated.

“You…” she hesitated then said her next words in a way that made them sound impossible, “like me.”

He smiled into her hair. “Yes, Belle,” he gathered her closer before finishing, “I definitely like you.”