Stronger with You (With You Trilogy) (51 page)

Ian sighed and rubbed his temples, a sure sign of irritation. “Jelly, you’d be safer with Jason.”

I frowned in confusion, this was not the reaction I’d been expecting.

“She won’t be living far from me, Ian,” Jason said, looking as confused as I felt. “But they’re good guys.”

“You should have told me before you signed, Jelly,” Ian sighed, his attentions on me again.

“Sorry,” I apologised cautiously, aware that Ian was no longer looking quite so solider-like. “I was trying to sort things by myself for once. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not a burden, Jelly,” Ian reassured me, sitting down next to me on the sofa. “Don’t you need me to sign a guarantee?”

“No,” I shook my head. “We had to find a landlord that didn’t mind us not having one because Adam doesn’t have anyone to sign,” I explained.

“We would have signed for both of you, Jellybean,” Ian smiled kindly. “That’s what family is for.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled again, caught off guard by the fact that he was reacting so well to the news. I’d been expecting some sort of retribution.

“That being said,” Ian frowned, standing up again. “I expect to be informed about these things, Jelly.”

I nodded solemnly. This was more like it.

“You’ll both be joining me and Karl for our run at 0500 tomorrow,” he said firmly, leaving no room to question whether or not he was serious.

“Jason has to come too?” I pouted. It didn’t seem fair that the punishment extended to him as well.

“He didn’t stop you,” Ian frowned.

“Alright,” Jason nodded, giving me a look that told me not to push the issue because he didn’t really mind. I didn’t mind either. A punishment run was much preferable to other means.

Chapter 37

Sunday, June 2nd 2013

I got the impression that Karl was unhappy with my running. The thought made me grin. I knew this was meant to be penance for my misdeeds but I was having the time of my life. I’d never had such an easy time of keeping up with Karl. My running had gotten better and better over the past few months. I had to admit that Jason was right, the extra weight had helped. My BMI was up to just over twenty and I’d never felt so energized. I owed Jason a lot for helping me get there.

Karl scowled at me and I looked down at my watch. We’d been running for almost two hours and the pace had been brutal. He kept upping the tempo and looking at me as though he expected me to fall behind but I soldiered on, spurred on by his obvious frustration.

He gave up and waved us off once we got to the estate, breaking off and sprinting back towards his own house. I glanced over at Jason as we rounded the corner back onto our estate. He looked fine.
I guess all his training pays off
.

As usual, Ian had barely broken a sweat but I suspected he wasn’t far off letting his coffee and biscuit habit turn him into a crazy person. When we stopped outside the house and started to stretch, I was thoroughly enjoying a runner’s high.

“You’ve been practising,” Ian said, cocking his head at me.

“A bit,” I admitted.

“You can do thirty for enjoying it too much then,” he grinned.

I groaned inwardly, I hated press-ups. I sucked at them. Ian didn’t look too bothered at the fact that I hadn’t really considered my punishment all that punishing though. If anything, he looked a little proud so I just rolled over and got started on them and Jason followed suit.

The first thing I did when I got into the house was make for the coffee pot and pour Ian a cup because it was nice seeing him in a good mood and I wasn’t willing to risk it.

“Cheers, Jelly,” Ian winked, gratefully accepting the coffee and making straight for the biscuits.

I shared a delightful shower with Jason, which lasted a little too long and involved lots of attempts at muffling noises that were not suitable for my brothers’ ears.

We fell into a comfortable routine of hanging out with Adam, Alex, and my brothers. They were different with me, the same, but different. Or maybe it was me that was different? It was hard to say. I wasn’t openly challenging them and testing their promise. I still resisted rolling my eyes because I knew it bothered them, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful, but I did find myself answering back a little more where I might not have before.

A pleasant surprise was Jake and Craig’s behaviour. On the occasions I really pissed one of our eldest brothers off, for example on the day I was my usually clumsy self and spilt piping hot coffee all over Matt, Jake and Craig were at my side instantly. Jason didn’t even get chance to react before the two of them jumped to my defence.

“It was an accident, Matt,” Craig had said, a note of warning in his voice.

“Clumsy fucking cow,” Matt had scowled.

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Jake had warned, a boldness I’d never seen him use with Matt before.

“I’m sorry, Matt,” I’d apologised wholeheartedly, already pouring him a new cup of coffee.

To my further surprise, Matt had simply sighed and backed off, nipping upstairs to change out of his coffee-stained trousers.

The week passed in a blissful blur. I spent a lot of time with Adam and Alex as we tried our best to cheer Adam up whilst he hatched a plan to win Laura back. Despite the fact that I was having a great time with my best friends, my amazing boyfriend, and my mostly reformed brothers, I felt my mood getting worse and worse as the week progressed and Monday loomed on the horizon.

I knew Jason could tell I was upset but he didn’t press me. Instead, he brought me a new box of chocolates on Sunday evening with a knowing wink and a lovely calming cuddle. I appreciated the gesture. I didn’t think I could talk about it with my brothers around, it was too much, but I liked the fact that he was giving me a new box of questions. A whole new set of truffles filled with delicious information about my equally delicious boyfriend.

“A girl could get used to this,” I grinned, pulling open my truffles as I sat cross-legged on the sofa with him, Alex, Rab and Adam.

“Share!” Alex demanded once he saw what the box contained.

“Nope,” I grinned. “These are all for me,” I apologised. “But I’ll buy you a slice of Rocky Road next time we get coffee.”

“Why not?” He pouted.

“Because these chocolates are special,” I answered.

“Jason,” Ian popped into the room and nodded his head, beckoning for Jason to follow him.

Jason nodded and kissed me on the forehead, leaving me to wonder what Ian wanted. To my pleasant surprise, there was no twinge of worry in my stomach. No anxiety that they’d end up in a fight. The fact that Ian had actually
wanted
me to move in with Jason spoke volumes about the trust he held for Jason. I knew they were uncomfortable with me having a boyfriend but I also respected how much effort they were putting into accepting it.

When we curled up in bed that night, I questioned Jason about Ian’s chat and he was unusually unforthcoming. It made me nervous so I resorted to my chocolates to force it out of him.

“Jamie,” Jason eyed me cautiously as I popped a truffle into my mouth. “You know I won’t lie to you when you ask me chocolate questions. I promised you that, but please don’t ask me something that will put me in an awkward situation.”

I frowned, caught off guard by the caution in his voice. I wasn’t sure I understood. “You really don’t want to tell me what you two talked about?” I asked uncertainly.

He shook his head. “I do,” he reassured me. “It’s just not the time. If you give me some time, I promise I’ll tell you when I’m ready, okay?”

I nodded, feeling a little better but still wary that he was hiding something. I was scared Ian might have made a threat against him or was punishing Jason in some way for something I’d done. I knew I had to trust him though.

“I’ve already eaten my truffle,” I pouted, thinking of what else I wanted to know about Jason. Whilst I was thinking, he pulled my chocolate covered finger to his lips and slowly licked all traces of cocoa from my fingers with the familiar heat dancing behind his eyes.

I let him guide me so that I was straddling his hips, the two of us naked save for the blanket wrapped around my waist and covering his legs. The light from my bedside lamp cast shadows on the right side of his body, highlighting every muscle and demanding the attention of my eyes.

I traced the shadows with greedy fingers, watching as Jason closed his eyes and relaxed with his hands on my legs, enjoying my fingers on his body. I let them travel up over his stomach and circle each of his nipples before indulging in one of my favourite pastimes of tracing Jason’s tattoo.

A thought popped into my head and I knew what my question had to be. “What does your tattoo mean to you?” I asked. He’d never told me. He’d always shrugged it off, but nobody got that much ink put on their body for no reason.

I watched Jason’s eyes flash open and a look of insecurity crossed his face. It was both endearing and heartbreaking to see.

“Jamie,” he breathed, the insecure look still locked in place. “I promised I’d open up, and I will. I’ll never break a promise to you. I’m just not quite there yet.”

His voice was raw and honest and I could see the plea in his eyes, but I didn’t understand his disinclination to share himself with me.

“Don’t you trust me?” I asked sadly.

“Of course I trust you, baby,” he soothed, sitting up to cup my face in his hand. “I trust you more than I’ve ever trusted anyone. That’s not what this is about. It’s too… I’m not… I can’t talk about it just yet.” He closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them, staring into my own with a look of desperation. “I will though.”

I knew he meant it and I didn’t want to push him. He’d been true to his word and he’d opened up to me so much. I knew that I was closer to him than anyone, I knew he’d told me things that he’d not even told Ben. I didn’t need him to tell me more than he was ready for so I nodded my understanding, resting my hand on top of his as he held my face so that he’d know I was okay with it.

“I get another question though, right?” I grinned. It was only fair since he hadn’t really answered that one.

“I suppose so,” he grinned, his body language relaxing and the heat in his eyes returning somewhat.

He lay back down on the bed and I studied him contemplatively, continuing to tickle his torso and enjoying watching him relax under my touch. I liked the questions game. I liked focussing on Jason so that I wouldn’t have to think about what was bothering me. I wouldn’t have to focus on the thing I’d been putting off all week.

I leant down to position myself over Jason and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, waiting for him to open his eyes as I pulled away.

“Is it okay if my question is more of a request?” I asked, letting my lips hover on his as the question hung in the air.

“I suppose so,” he answered curiously, bringing his hands up to my waist and encircling me with his warmth.

“I want you to do very naughty things to me,” I grinned, lowering myself a little so that our naked bodies were pressed together.

“You do, do you?” He grinned, his voice adopting the low growling quality that had my insides quivering in delightful anticipation.

I nodded, tipping my head down away from him to hide my compulsory blush.

“Got anything particular in mind?” He asked, letting his hands travel down my back, his fingers barely touching my skin.

I shivered at his gentle touch and my skin broke out into goosebumps. “Nope,” I shook my head and began pressing soft kisses to his chest. “I want you to pick. I want to make you happy.”

“Jamie, I didn’t know what happiness truly was until I met you,” he said earnestly, bringing one hand up to tilt my face towards him and press his lips to mine. He kissed me so tenderly, so sweetly, conveying the truth of his words with his compassionate caress. “That being said, I know exactly what I want to do to you,” he breathed as we broke off the kiss.

“I’m yours,” I answered back.

He smiled a rare shy smile, a smile I knew was reserved just for me, and brushed my hair away from my face, pulling it all to one side.

“Stand up for me, baby. I want to look at you,” he said gently.

I stood in front of him, not at all ashamed by my nakedness as I once had been. I loved the way his eyes shone with a dark heat as they travelled over my body. I loved how sexy I felt with his eyes on me, I loved that he made me feel that way.

“You are so beautiful,” he breathed, scooting forwards on the bed so that he could run his fingers down my sides.

I smiled back at him because I knew he didn’t like me brushing off compliments. I doubted he would smack my ass as he might have done on other occasions. I recognised the tenderness in his touch, the silent appreciation in the way he looked at me. I knew this would be a night of lovemaking. I knew it would be slow, tender, and not in any way lacking. Jason had taught me the difference between sex and making love and I knew each had a time, place, and purpose.

He took his time trailing his fingers over my skin, the pads of his fingertips barely grazing me. He studiously avoided my nipples and the juncture between my thighs, even though they were craving his attention desperately.

“Jamie,” Jason said, cocking his head at me in that way the he did when he wanted to make sure he had my full attention.

I met his gaze and let him pull me down to straddle his lap. He rested his hands on my hips and studied me for a few seconds before speaking.

“I know you’ve been a bit down the past few days,” he said, continuing quickly when he saw I was about to open my mouth and tell him I didn’t want to talk about it. “And that’s okay. I understand. I just want you to know that it’s okay. I’m here for you if you need me. You know that right?”

I nodded, feeling the sinking feeling in my chest because this was exactly what I wanted to forget. I wanted to go to the little corner or Nirvana that we shared together in our moments of bliss.

“Good,” he smiled. “And now I’m going to help you forget all that.”

Psychic as always.
I smiled back at him because no more needed to be said. Jason always knew exactly what my body, mind, and soul needed and was always there to meet the need. And meet the need he did. Very thoroughly.