A Little Hope by Francine Beaton

Author:Francine Beaton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Francine Beaton

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jenna woke up long before the alarm she set on her phone alerted her. For a moment or two, she blinked, disorientated. Then Ben’s breathing behind her back and the firm grip of his arm around her waist reminded her.

She turned, careful not to wake him.

She couldn’t distinguish his features in the semi darkness of the room, but his breathing was easy. That had to be a good sign.

Jenna brushed her mouth over his forehead, dislodged his arm, and crept out of bed. She reached the door and just congratulated herself that she didn’t wake Ben up when he mumbled, “Where are you going?”

Jenna turned but instead of walking to the side of the bed where she slept, she sat next to Ben on the bed. “I’m sorry I woke you up. I need to get ready for work.”

He shifted, leaning his back against the headrest, and rubbed his hand over his face. He took her hand and gave her a crooked smile. “You didn’t wake me up. I had …”

He stopped and squeezed her hand tighter. “Thank you, Jen. For last night. For listening and … Thank you for staying with me.”

“How do you feel this morning?” she queried.

“Ask me after I had coffee,” he chuckled. He then added more seriously, “I slept well and … It doesn’t feel as … heavy, as if everything drags me down. I feel ready to do something again.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted with that husky laugh, causing her tummy to somersault. “But I’ll think of something today. After I had coffee.”

He leaned closer, and then added, with the smile still curling around his mouth. “But I think we need to practise first.”

“Practise what?” Jenna whispered. She wasn’t stupid. She knew what was to come, and the anticipation spread like tentacles through her body. Ben’s breath fluttered over her mouth, then his mouth claimed hers.

Jenna wanted to protest that her breath wasn’t fresh, but then nothing mattered apart from Ben’s searching mouth and his hand, which had slipped under her hair and folded warmly behind her head.

When he broke the kiss, he dropped his forehead against her, his breathing as laboured as hers. Only when he lifted his head, Jenna opened her eyes.

He untangled his hand from her hair, brushed a gentle finger over her cheek, then ordered, “Now you can get ready for work while I make coffee. Do you like toast or cereal for breakfast?”

Jenna’s brain didn’t function. It stuck on that kiss.

Ben tapped her nose, then he dropped his hand and pushed his hip against her leg. “Come on, sweetheart. Don’t blame me if you’re late for work.”

“But it will be your fault,” Jenna accused. “Don’t kiss me silly and …”

When she realized what she said, she jumped up and rushed to the door. “Cereal, please,” she mumbled when she realized she hadn’t answered him yet.

She was already in the hallway when she heard Ben’s husky laughter. It made her smile.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.