“Good. Because I love you, too. Now we’d better go and help your mom with the party.”
Jonah interlocked his fingers with mine and led me into the house. Though it was my birthday, and I missed my mom, being with Jonah’s family as they healed and forged new bonds felt so right. I belonged here.
For the next three hours I prepared food, mixed drinks, and helped decorate the house. We worked in perfect synchronicity, dancing around each other as we moved around the house. I laughed along with Emily as she told stories about when Jonah was a boy, and then grew solemn when she recounted the times when she needed her son but he was no longer there. Emily didn’t cry, however. She retold the stories with a smile on her face, but touched Jonah several times to reassure herself that he was really back home.
It was heartwarming to watch.
When I went to shower and change my clothes I could still hear them talking in the kitchen. It confirmed that I’d made the right choice when I decided to push Jonah into reconciling with his family. He needed them, and they needed him.
I was in Jonah’s bedroom, drying my hair when the first guests arrived. After that they came thick and fast. I wondered just how many people could fit into the house, because it wasn’t large by any means, and I was nervous about meeting their family and friends. I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time, hoping the dress I was wearing was conservative enough for Jonah’s family, yet sexy enough to impress the man himself. I fluffed my hair, and applied some more lip gloss, before slipping on my blue heels.
“Well now, Happy New Year to me.”
“Is it?” I questioned, as Jonah wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.
“Has your mom stopped crying yet?”
He chuckled, the sound skittering across my body, breaking out the goose-bumps. “Can you image how emotional she’ll be when I propose properly?”
“When?”
He turned me to face him and kissed the tip of my nose. “You know it’ll happen, Red, and you’ll say yes.”
I took hold of the collar of his white shirt and tugged him back down to my lips. “Awfully, sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Only with you, and only because of you.”
We kissed with a slow, tender passion; his hands caressing my body with deliberate seduction. I wriggled out from his embrace, wagging my finger at him and smiling when he pouted.
“We need to join the party, especially now that it has turned into a pre-engagement one.”
Jonah opened the bedroom door. He placed his hand on my hip as he guided me into the hallway.
“And let’s not forgot your birthday,” he murmured.
“Do you have a party every New Years?”
He shrugged. “They didn’t when I was younger, perhaps because I would have stolen the liquor. Then I would have caused a commotion.”
“Yes,” his mom confirmed, walking out of the kitchen, glasses of wine in both hands. “He would have. But we won’t be here with Ben.” She patted Jonah’s cheek.
“This is my son. He changed himself when he changed his name.”
Jonah hugged her. Tears prickled my eyes at the sight of the two of them embraced. I wasn’t going to disturb them. I turned to go help in the kitchen, but Jonah reached out and hooked my pinkie in his. A couple of minutes later, Tom came through holding a platter of finger food.
“Can I join the love-in?” he laughed.
Emily tittered, and let go of Jonah. “You two go and watch the fireworks with Quinn. Mr. Driver sets them off every hour until midnight.”
I walked to the door, but Emily stopped me, tapping me on the shoulder and pulling me into a hug. She kissed my cheek and whispered, “Thank you for making my family whole again.”
Word failed me, so I gave her a shy smile.
“Stop daydreaming, and come outside, Red,”
Jonah teased as he passed my sweater to me.
He pulled me out onto the porch, smiling at the other guests that littered the garden. The people accepted Jonah without question, welcoming him into the community.
I wondered if the Samuels had spoken to any neighbors that remembered him, or if they simply introduced him as Jonah, their son.
Quinn seemed happier after our chat. He was talking and joking with his Jonah again. I hoped that in the next three days they could strengthen and mend their broken bond.
“You’re in your own world tonight, baby. What’s wrong?”
Jonah’s warmth seeped into my back as he stood behind me, cuddling me close. I rested my head back onto his chest, feeling his breaths ruffle my hair. I was utterly content.
“Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“How everything is about to change.”
His lips tickled my neck as he exhaled and then spoke, “It is, but remember one thing; I love you. That will never change.”
“That’s good, because you promised to put this ring on my other hand, and apparently I’m going to accept.”
His arms tightened around me. “Oh, you will. Now tell me you love me too.”
I smiled, lifting my hand to stroke his cheek. “I love you, Jonah. I really do.”
I was utterly content being in his arms as we stood on the porch watching fireworks. And though it wasn’t a fairy tale, I had no doubt that everything would be just fine for Jonah and I. Our story was just beginning, with the rules yet to be written.
Six months later
“So? Do you like it?”
Jonah hummed, peppering my shoulder and neck with kisses. He wasn’t looking at the monitor; he was far too interested in seducing me. Normally I wouldn’t mind, but today I was showing him the result of all my hard work.
I was showing him the website I had created for his graphic novels.
It had been difficult, and sometimes frustrating, but it was the best work I had ever created. It was a basic black and gray color scheme, with pencil sketches of his characters bordering the main menu. Clicking on each character would take you to a new section of the site, each having its own soundbite. I was incredibly proud of it.
“Jonah, you hate it, don’t you? Oh God, I’ll scrap it – start again.”
He held the seat of my chair, spinning me around to face him. He blockaded my body by placing his hands on the arms of the chair, then he leaned in low. “I love it. It’s perfect. I’m blown away by your talent. I guess I’m just overwhelmed that you wanted to do this for me.”
“So you’re doing what you always do?” I questioned, quirking a brow at him.
He shook his head; his longer hair whipping at his cheeks. “I’m not hiding behind sex with you, baby.”
“Good.” I wound my arms around his neck.
“Because you have enough therapy classes to attend without adding sex to the list.”
His chuckle skittered across my skin, and a delicious shiver wracked my body. Jonah’s lips moved back to my ear as he whispered, “You are an addiction I would never want a cure for.”
“Oh, Mr. Smooth. You have all the right words, don’t you?” I teased.
His teeth grazed my lobe, amplifying my lust tenfold. He was evil, sent to Earth to torture me with his nimble fingers and seductive drawl. Pure evil.
He brushed aside the question, sucking my earlobe into his mouth, then whispering, “I called Mom. She got the flowers and has the guest room ready for next weekend.”
I tried to concentrate on his words, rather than his lips but it was impossible. Jonah knew it, and he was keeping the conversation light on purpose. Did I mention he was evil?
I tried to pull him closer, wondering if I could overpower him enough to switch places and straddle his lap. It was futile though, my man wouldn’t budge.
“Problem, baby?”
I shoved at his chest, standing up when he stumbled back. “Nope, not at all. Hadn’t you better get going to Cellar?” I replied dismissively.
“Yeah, in a bit.” His arms cam
e around my waist, and he pushed his hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “I want some attention from you first.”
He pouted, putting on his best sad puppy face and eliciting a light giggle from me. “I give you far too much attention. Meow feels pushed aside.”
“Meow needs to find himself a female. Everything will fall into place when he does that.”
I snorted at his innuendo, though the expression on his face told me he had no idea what had amused me. I lifted my hands, combing my fingers through the front of his hair and watching as he closed his eyes, reveling in my touch.
“Did everything fall into place for you then?”
Jonah hummed, lowering his head without opening his eyes, and kissed me. He poured every ounce of love and devotion he felt into it. I was left breathless. I was always left breathless. I worried I would become complacent with him, because I had with Nathan, but Jonah was always a revelation.
“My life was dark, tortured, and empty before you found me. You brought the light, Red. I love you.”
I hugged him tightly, wanting to stay in his arms forever. I could never get enough of him, of us. I grumbled when he removed his hand from my pocket, unhooking my left arm from his neck. I thought he was about to lock his pinkie with mine, but instead he skimmed his thumb across the base of my left ring finger.
“Looks a bit bare, doesn’t it?” He rasped.
I swallowed, not wanting to get excited, murmuring, “I suppose.”
Jonah reached for my right hand, making eye contact as he slipped the diamond ring he’d given me off my finger. Butterflies began rioting in my stomach. I had to mentally tell myself to breathe.
“I bought you this for your birthday, promising you that when the time was right I would move it onto the other hand. That time is now.”
He bent down on one knee, gazing up as tears glittered on the tips of his lashes.
“Marry me, Elle.”
My whole body shuddered as my mouth opened and closed. I couldn’t say anything; emotion was choking me, so I lowered myself to the floor, and knelt in front of him.
I hooked my pinkie in his and nodded. Tears began to stream down my face, Jonah’s hand trembling when he pushed the ring onto my left hand.
“I know I’m not perfect. I know I still have a way to go, but I need you in my life. I need you next to me when I wake up, need you holding my hand when everything gets to be too much, and I want you in my bed at night. I know there is no one else for me. You were made to be a part of my life, and I can make you happy, baby. I can make you so happy.”
Before he could say anything else, I flung myself at him, toppling him onto his back. I straddled his hips and sprinkled kisses all over his face. The salty tang of his tears mixed with my own as I pulled back to speak to him.
“And I can’t be without you, Jonah.”
His hand gripped my side, his fingers flexing when they came across a foreign texture. I smirked.
“Red?”
I climbed off him, stood, and removed my tank.
Turning my back to him, I revealing a patch of raw skin at the base of my spine. It was covered in a clear film that was taped to my skin, but I knew Jonah could see what I’d had done.
“A tattoo? You got a tattoo? For me?” He stammered incredulously.
“I did.”
It was his signature – the one he used on his graphic novels; two circles bisected with one line. It would be etched on my skin forever, just like Jonah was etched on my heart forever. It was true, he still had things he needed to work through, but I wouldn’t change the journey we were on for anything.
Every step Jonah had taken led him here.
To New York.
To the mailboxes.
To me.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
M.A. Stacie, Unwritten Rules
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