Overtime(76)

This was way more.

Pulling out of her, he drove into her again and again and again until he squeezed her so hard she was sure she was going to have bruises all over her, and he came with a guttural yell. He fell onto her, his heart slamming into her chest, shaking her own as his cock throbbed inside of her. He was heavy, so damn heavy, but she wrapped her arms around his middle, her legs around his, nuzzling her nose under his beard, taking in the addictive smell. When he gasped against her temple, she felt him smile as he rolled them to their sides, holding her tightly, his cock still inside her as they grabbed at each other. Soon their breathing returned to normal, but she couldn’t let him go.

Not yet.

His fingers came along her jaw before he tilted her face up, his eyes meeting hers. Running his thumbs along her cheeks, he whispered, “I love you, Kacey.”

Her heart melted, and she felt like she was flying through the f*cking clouds. They’d had sex a lot, a whole lot, but never had he looked at her and said those words. The words she wanted so desperately. It almost seemed like a dream, but she could feel him against her. Her body absorbing his and not letting go.

“I love you.”

His face lit up and she swore she saw his eyes glaze over a little bit. But before she could really see if they did, he nuzzled his nose along hers, kissing her lips as his eyes fell shut. Closing her eyes, she held on to him and wouldn’t let go due to the fear of him disappearing. Surely, this was a dream. But it wasn’t. His heat was burning her, his heart still thumping against her chest, his breath in her hair, and his scent…it took over every one of her senses. They didn’t move for a very long time, and as she watched as the sun slowly lower, she knew she didn’t want to be anywhere else. And felt maybe she had made the right choice.

She prayed she did, at least.

“I would have ruined you,” he whispered against her temple and her breath caught at his affirmation. “If I would have tried in the state I was in, we wouldn’t have made it. I didn’t tell you how bad it was because I didn’t think I had a problem. I made excuse after excuse for everything I did, when, really, it was because I didn’t love myself. How could I love you when I didn’t even love myself?”

Moving her face out from underneath his, she looked up at him. “I tried to love you enough for both of us.”

“I know,” he said, his voice raspy and full of emotion. “And that’s not fair. I knew I wasn’t the man for you. I knew I would hurt you, cheat on you, or do something equally stupid. I couldn’t risk it. Hell, I’m nervous now that something could happen, that I could relapse and let you down, but I gotta live, Kacey. I have to be who I want to be, and that person is yours.”

Her eyes slowly filled with tears, his face blurring out until she blinked them away. “I’d really like that, Jordie, and you won’t relapse because I’m gonna be there for you. I’m going to help.”

“I might need it,” he admitted shyly, and she reached up, brushing her thumb along his lip.

“I’m here. I was always here,” she reminded him and he nodded.

“I’m not letting go this time.”

“Neither am I. In it to win it,” she said, her lips curving into a small smile. Soon his face broke into one too, his fingers catching her tears. His eyes searched hers, and his arms wrapped around her and she swore they were about to become one as he squeezed her so tightly. Honestly, she was okay with that. She had yearned for him for so long and now having him was almost a fantasy.

“I’m sorry, so f*cking sorry for everything, baby,” he whispered against her lips and she nodded slowly.

“I forgave you a long time ago,” she admitted, her nose moving along his, her lips grazing his. “I knew what I was getting into.”

“It shouldn’t have ever been like that. I should have loved you the way I wanted to.”

“But you do now,” she declared.

“And I won’t stop.”

He said it as a promise.

One she prayed he’d keep.

Because she couldn’t do the heartache again.

She just couldn’t.



Jordie hadn’t expected after the way Kacey ran out of the restaurant that he would be lying in her bed with her in his arms, but he was pretty sure he was grinning from ear to ear with no plans of ever wiping it off his face. Cuddling her closer, he kissed her nose as she looked deep into his eyes. She was so beautiful, so delicate but strong as an ox. He had done her so dirty but, yet, here she was, trusting him again. He didn’t deserve her, but he’d be damned if he’d let her go. This was it. She was his.

“We should probably get a shower,” he murmured against her lips. “I bet you’re hungry.”

On cue, her stomach growled and she giggled. “Yeah, I am. But just a few more minutes,” she said, nuzzling her nose against his beard.

She’d always had a thing for his beard and it pleased him to no end. She was the reason he didn’t shave it off, despite Regina’s request every time she saw him. He didn’t care one way or another; he liked it but didn’t need it. But Kacey, she loved it. There were plenty of times in the last year where he’d wanted to just chop it all off, but then she’d nuzzle her nose in it and ask him not to.

So he didn’t.

He now knew he’d always loved her, had since he first saw her. But he’d fought it so hard and, as he held her, he wondered why he’d been so clueless. This woman loved with everything inside her. Her eyes made him feel worshiped, her body made him feel good, and her love made him feel complete. He’d had this in his grasp and, instead of taking ahold of her, he’d pushed her away. He wanted to hate himself for it, but really, it was all meant to be. He had to be sober to actually appreciate her. To be what she needed. And now he was more than ready. He just hoped she was too.