Page 59 of Break Me Not

I leaned down and placed another kiss on her lips before smiling and getting out of bed, making a point to slowly and carefully close the door behind me to show her I wasn’t mad that she was requesting some alone time.

After getting my clothes back on, I got to work heating up the food and resetting the table. It wasn’t long until she showed up in fresh house clothes with her hair still wet from the shower.

I motioned for her to sit down at the table, her plate already ready for her.

It was a simple dinner. One I had prepared a thousand times in my lifetime. Roasted vegetables, chicken breast I’d found in her fridge, a small side of rice for carbs, and a bit of fruit.

But when she looked at it, it had me worried I hadn’t put enough effort into it. That maybe I should have spent a little more time making it better for her. After all, I was trying to impress her… right?

“Do you not like⁠—”

“No!” she said quickly and picked up her silverware. “It’s not that. I just haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a long time.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Your girlfriends never cooked for you? Or are you usually the one cooking?”

Embarrassment hit me hard when I realized that it sounded like I was calling myself her girlfriend. But it didn’t look like she caught it.

She closed her eyes the moment she took a bite. “Fuck, this is good.”

The tension in my shoulders disappeared. “Good. I’m glad you like it.”

I watched her as she ate, warmness filling my chest.

I like taking care of her.

The thought came unbridled and had my cheeks heating.

“I never had a girlfriend,” she said, looking at me and catching me off guard. “Also, where’s your plate?”

I sat up straight. “You never had a girlfriend? You do not fuck like you never had a girlfriend.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I clapped my hand over it. There was a pregnant pause before Jax exploded in laughter.

My skin heated, and I sat back in the chair with my arms folded.

“Glad to know I’m getting high rankings on my performance,” she said finally, a smile spreading across her face.

When she got up, I almost protested, but she waved me off. She grabbed a plate for me and started dishing up some of the food.

“Eat before I’m tempted to ask why you feel like you can’t eat at the table with me.”

Was it weird for the two of us to eat together at the table where she’d fucked me? Yes, but it was even weirder that I felt like I wanted to tell her the truth.

“It was a habit that started when Claire was young. By the time I had taken a few bites, she was usually done eating, and I had to help her clean up. When she was older, I was busy taking care of Trevor’s needs—whatever they might be—and often found myself eating alone or not at all.”

I took a bite of the roasted vegetables, satisfied that they didn’t come out too mushy.

Jax gave me a long look before she began eating again.

“That was my sharing session,” I added, giving her a pointed look. “Now it’s your turn. I won’t ask you why you came home like that, but I am going to ask you why you thought I wouldn’t care about you.”

She froze, going so still I was afraid she had stopped breathing entirely. When she put her silverware down, she took a deep breath.

“I struggle with… Damn, I really didn’t think I was going to get into this.”

“Take your time. This can be as serious or as casual as you want.” I took a bite of my food again. I almost added that she didn’t have to tell me, but curiosity was winning.

And I want to help her.