Page 24 of Feral
“Oui.We have a son together.”
“I know. I read your records,” I say, taking the seat next to him and waiting for him to continue talking.
“Bastien’s a good man. He takes after his mother.”
“I’m sorry about everything that's happened to you, Jacob. When I came here looking for you, I didn’t know what kind of a man I’d find. You’re nothing like the Press makes you out to be.”
He sighs, puts his mug down. “You should know better than that, sweetheart. The news rarely tells the truth about anything.”
“They did get one thing right, though.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re just as mysterious and intriguing as they portray you to be.”
“Mysterious, huh?” he chuckles, then takes my hand and pulls me closer to him. “And intriguing?”
“Yes,” I repeat, moving to sit on his lap and loving the way he smells up close. Like tobacco and bourbon with a hint of sweat.
So deeply masculine.
So wildly intoxicating.
“Well, don’t start paying me compliments just because we fucked. I am notthatpathetic.”
His honesty strikes a chord with me and I take another sip of the rich coffee.
“Was that what I was doing?” I say nonchalantly. “Well, to be perfectly honest with you, I have no one to go back to. My last boyfriend turned out to be an absolute jerk, my parents are both remarried and living abroad, and I’ve been craving a little change in scenery lately.”
His focus now is solely on me. He’s hanging on to my every word.
Chapter 14
Gemma
“Don’t you dare tease me like that, sweetheart. What are you trying to say?”
“I don’t know, Jacob. I must be crazy to even think of it; I can deliver the article on your story and take it from there, right? I can work from home. Maybe get a new job here. I kind of like the living off-the-grid vibe of this place.”
He smiles and it reaches his eyes, lighting up his whole face.
“Don’t fucking say stuff just to appease me. I can take it if you leave, you know. It won’t be the first time.”
I reach down and take his hand in mine.
“I am not doing this out of pity, Jacob. I think it’s time I turned over a new leaf. The city’s been draining all my energy. I like how quiet it is out here. I like you.”
“I like you, too, sweetheart.”
“You do know that people are going to talk, right?” I add, looking into his dark, unfathomable eyes. Eyes that probably hide a million secrets and a ton of lies.
“What about?”
I purse my lips, staring at him with a grin on my face. “You know exactly what about. You are old enough to be my father.”
“I thought that’s what you liked most about me, is it not? Who do you think is going to notice? I have no neighbors spying in on us, sweet girl.”
“Word gets around one way or the other, Jacob. I’m going to need to get a job. Mingle.”
