Page 145 of Rescued
“You are worthy,” I say softly. “I’ve had those same thoughts and those same struggles. But you are.Weare.”
New tears well up in Salem’s eyes. “I know it’s hard to believe,” I whisper. “It was hard for me to believe too. Sometimes it still is.” That gets his attention, and his gaze shoots to mine. “We are not what we’ve lived through. We deserve more than that. We deserve this.”
“I’ve been with Jasper for over a year now, and he’s never given me any reason to think he’s not in this, Salem. Hell, when he told me he loved me, I ran away because I didn’t think I deserved him.” Well, and because I didn’t think he’d want the kids, but that’s not gonna help my case any. Didn’t matter anyway because it wasn’t true. “And you know what he did?”
Salem shakes his head.
“He fought for me. Hewantsus, kid. We wouldn’t be here if he didn’t.”
His throat bobs heavily, and then he smiles. It’s barely there, but I’ll take it. “He told me he loves me. I think he really means it.”
I wrap my arms around Salem, pulling him in close and squeezing him half to death. “Of course he means it. You are so,soeasy to love.”
“Even when I’m being a little asshole?” Salem asks, his voice muffled against my shoulder.
I bark out a laugh. “Even when you’re being a little asshole. Fuck, I love you, kid.”
Salem’s back shudders under my hands. “I love you too.”
“Let’s go inside, okay? I think Nora would like to see you.”
“Okay,” Salem whispers.
He untangles himself from me, then wipes at his face again before turning to walk into the house.
Jaspercrawlsintobedbeside me, letting out a sigh. “Jesus, baby boy, it’s been a long day.”
I hum, rolling into him as soon as he’s settled. “You can say that again.”
His fingers trail up my spine, then he cups my nape, drawing me in for a kiss.
When he pulls away, he sighs again. “I didn’t realize that it would be so hard for him.”
“What do you mean?” I prop myself on his chest so I can look at him.
Jasper smiles, then reaches up with his free hand to brush my hair off my forehead. “I think I just…” He pauses, shaking his head. “I’ve never had money issues. Never. And I think sometimes I take that for granted, is all.”
It really can be hard to grasp the idea of abject poverty if you’ve never lived it. Hell, Ihave,and even I didn’t realize that’s what was tripping Salem up. “You couldn’t have known.”
“I told him it was no big deal to me,” Jasper says softly. “To buy things, that is. Here’s this kid who’s had to fight for basically everything his entire life, and I’m just throwing money around like it’s nothing. But…” He swallows so hard I can hear it. “Itissomething. It means something. It’s one thing to have your needs met, but it’s something else entirely to have your needs met plus being bombarded by some guy you don’t even know trying to spend all this money on you.”
My heart skips. He’s not entirely wrong. It can be a little jarring. Especially if you’re not used to it.
“You meant well.”
“Yeah, I know. But intent doesn’t negate impact. He’s spent weeks worried that I was gonna regret him, believing that he didn’t fit here.” His face twists. “I hate that.”
“I know you do. I hate it too. But now we know.” I press a kiss to Jasper’s jaw. “And we can do better.”
Jasper snorts. “Yeah. No more two-hundred-dollar dinners.”
“I think he’d be more receptive to it now that he feels more stable.”
“He’s so much like you.” Grinning, Jasper presses his thumb to the freckle on my bottom lip. “I should have known.” Something passes across his face, and he laughs. “What is up with you Montgomerys making me damn near chase you down to accept my love?”
I raise myself up, dropping a kiss on his lips. “It’s a gift.”
Jasper hums. “You’re a gift. He’s wise beyond his years like you as well.”
