Chapter One Hundred And Six

Chapter 106

The morning light spilled across the room, filtering through the half-drawn curtains. Jemima stirred the warmth of the bed contrasting with the coolness of the air outside. For a moment, she lay still, letting the memory of the previous night wash over her—the words, the touch, the unspoken promises that had finally been voiced.

Jemima smiled genuinely and allowed herself to absorb the warmth of the morning sunlight.

She turned her head, expecting to find Jay still beside her, but the space was empty. The sheets were rumpled, still carrying the faint scent of him, but he was gone.

Her chest tightened. Was it just a fleeting moment for him? Had he decided it wasn't worth the risk after all? What if he didn't want to be her boyfriend anymore?

Pushing herself up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and scanned the room. The sound of soft movement caught her attention. Turning toward the window, she saw him sitting in the armchair, his back to her.

She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a sigh of relief.
He was shirtless, the morning light catching the contours of his shoulders and the faint scars that traced his skin. His head was bowed, hands clasped as though he were deep in thought.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked softly, her voice breaking the quiet.

Jay didn't startle, but his head turned slightly toward her. "Didn't want to," he admitted. "Didn't want to miss this... miss you."

The honesty in his voice caught her off guard, leaving her unsure of how to respond. She pulled the blanket around her and slid out of bed, her bare feet making no sound on the wooden floor.

She stopped just behind him, her fingers brushing against his shoulder. "You've been brooding," she said, trying to lighten the moment.
She turned around and sat across his lap, cradling him in the process while she wrapped her arms around him.

Jemima gently placed her forehead against his and closed her eyes, breathing in his woodsy scent.

He let out a soft chuckle, the sound tinged with self-awareness. "I guess I have."

He closed his eyes and absorbed her bubbleberry scent before planting a soft kiss on her lips.

"Do I get to know what's going on in that overthinking head of yours?" Jemima asked softly as she adjusted a little, just giving him a small distance as she brushed her fingers through his hair.

Jay reached his hand out and held her by the waist, dragging her closer. His gaze met hers, steady and searching. "I was just thinking about how much I don't deserve this. You. And how much I want it anyway."

Her heart ached at his words, the vulnerability in his tone something she rarely heard from him. She stared into his eyes, saying nothing but enjoying the intensity of his gaze upon hers. "Jay, you've been there for me through everything. Even when I didn't think I deserved it. You never gave up on me. So why would you think you don't deserve the same?"

His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "Because I've done things, Jem. Things I'm not proud of. I don't want those shadows to touch you."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes holding his. "You're not the only one with shadows, Jay. And if I can accept yours, maybe you can try accepting mine. Besides, we are in the mafia, it’s part of what we do. It’s part of who we are."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of their shared pasts hung between them, but so did the undeniable pull of their connection. Jay leaned in, causing Jemima to shut her eyes with her mouth slightly parted.

In one swift move, Jay closed the gap between them by taking Jemima’s lips in his mouth. Jemima Insha led sharply, savoring the sweet sensation his mouth erupted from her. Her mouth slowly traced across his lips while his lips demanded entrance.

Jay’s hands slowly slid up Jemima’s nightie, grabbing her thigh possessively. Jemima let out a soft moan, causing Jay to groan as he gradually became needy.

Jay finally broke the kiss, his breathing becoming erratic as he stared at Jemima. They both watched each other in silence as their breathing slowly steadied before Jay broke the momentary silence that had engulfed them, his voice low and filled with conviction. "You're not just someone I want, Jemima. You're someone I need. And I'll spend the rest of my life proving that to you if I have to."

Her breath caught, the sincerity in his words breaking down the last of her defenses. She rose to her feet, pulling him with her, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You don't have to prove anything, Jay. You're already everything I need."

The rest of the morning passed in quiet contentment. They dressed and headed downstairs, where the smell of coffee and freshly baked bread filled the air.

Ava was already at the table, sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone. She looked up as they entered, her eyes immediately narrowing in mock suspicion.

"Well, well," she said, setting her mug down with an exaggerated flourish. "Look who decided to grace us with their presence. Together, no less."

Jemima rolled her eyes, but a blush crept up her cheeks. "Good morning to you too, Ava."

Ava's grin widened. "Good morning indeed. Did I miss the part where you two officially became a thing?"

Jay smirked, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "We’ve always been a ‘thing’ Ava."

Jemima shot him a look, but the warmth in her eyes betrayed her amusement. Ava's teasing didn't bother her as much as it might have before. She completely enjoyed the tease.

“Ava, where is your husband? I haven’t seen him around since I got back from the hospital,” Jemima queried looking around before her gaze landed on Ava’s kids who were playing in the garden.

Ava stiffened, her expression hardening and for a moment Jemima could see raw pain in her eyes but before she could completely decipher it, it was gone just as quickly as it came.

“He’s out of the country. I made breakfast, you hungry?” Ava deflected, causing Jemima’s brows to scrunch up in worry. She glanced at Jay who just shrugged, he did not know any better what was going on.

As Jemima opened her mouth to speak, Marcus entered the room, his expression immediately sharpening as he took in the scene. His protective instincts were practically visible, and Jemima braced herself for the inevitable interrogation.

"Jay," Marcus said, his tone neutral but his eyes watchful. "Can we talk?"

Jay met his gaze evenly. "Of course."

The two men stepped outside, leaving Jemima and Ava alone in the kitchen. Ava raised an eyebrow. "You think Marcus is going to threaten him?"

Jemima sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Probably. It's his default setting."

Outside, the tension between Marcus and Jay was palpable.

"I need to know where your head's at," Marcus said bluntly, crossing his arms. "Jemima's been through enough. I'm not going to stand by and let you hurt her."

Jay nodded, his expression serious. “You know me Marcus, have I ever let you down?”

Marcus scoffed, “This is my sister we are talking about Jay.”

Jay nodded again, “I understand. And I don't blame you for being protective. But I'm not going anywhere, Marcus. I've been here for her through the worst, and I'll be here for her through whatever comes next."

Marcus studied him for a long moment, his jaw tight. "She's not just my twin, Jay. She's been my responsibility since the day we were born. Don't make me regret trusting you with her."

"You won't," Jay said firmly.

The rest of the day passed in a haze of normalcy that felt almost surreal. Jemima and Jay found small moments of quiet intimacy—brushing hands as they passed each other, sharing smiles that spoke volumes.

That evening, as the sun set and the stars began to emerge, they found themselves in the garden. Jay had brought a blanket, and they sat together under the open sky.

Jemima leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. "Do you ever think about the future?" she asked softly.

"All the time," he admitted. "Though for a long time, it was hard to imagine one. But now... now it feels possible."

She tilted her head to look at him. "What do you see?"

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I see us. Together. Happy. Safe."

Her chest tightened at his words, the simplicity of his vision making her realize how much she wanted it too.

But as they sat there, a distant sound shattered the tranquility—the roar of approaching vehicles.

Jay's body tensed immediately, his instincts kicking in. Jemima sat up, her heart pounding.

"What is it?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Trouble," Jay said grimly, rising to his feet.

The peaceful bubble they'd created was gone, replaced by the harsh reality of the world they lived in. But as Jemima stood beside him, ready to face whatever was coming, she realized she wasn't afraid.

They would face it together.