He’d taken it.

“Thanks for the toast either way,” Jamie said. “And the orgasms. Those were pretty good, too.”

He could see her starting to gather her brave Jamie face. Trying to get into that space where she forced everything to shed off her, like a particularly aggressive duck bound and determined to get that water to roll off her back, dammit.

Even when it was determined to try to soak in.

He wondered if Jamie had ever let someone take care of her.

“Thank you for the orgasm,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Are you going to keep me here all night?” she asked. There was nothing suggestive in her tone; he had a feeling it was related to the fact that he had ordered her back to bed only a few minutes ago.

Still, his body began to stir.

Great, you asshole. So great to get wood over a woman who just cried in your arms. Maybe give her a break.

“Whatever makes you feel better.”

She let out a shuddering breath. “I think I should go home.”

“Okay. You sure you’re okay?”

“I...” She popped the last bite of toast into her mouth and chewed over the top of what would’ve been her next words, likely giving herself a chance to pick some new ones. “It was more intense than I expected it to be,” she said after she swallowed. “It was like... You know, when you finish riding a bronco. After that eight seconds is up. You can’t control the shaking. Doesn’t mean you’re scared. Doesn’t mean you won’t do it again. It just...”

“Physical,” he said.

“Yeah,” she responded. “It’s a physical thing.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you Monday for work, I guess,” she said, lifting the hot chocolate up and draining that quickly.

Obviously, Jamie was done. A little bit of a carb injection and some sugar, and she was ready to scurry off into the night.

“Okay.”

“My brothers can’t know this happened.”

“Yeah, funnily enough, I was not going to call them up and let them know.”

“Okay.”

“Jamie...” He didn’t quite know what to say.

She nodded as if she knew what he’d intended to voice. Which was funny, because he didn’t even know.

“See you Monday,” she said.

He nodded. “See you Monday.”

Jamie collected her clothes and dressed quickly, and Gabe sat up in bed until he heard the front door slam behind her, until he heard her truck engine start. Then he stood up, pushing his hands through his hair.

He wasn’t totally sure what had just happened between them.

The sex had been extraordinary.

What had happened after had knocked him for a loop.

He knew what to do with a woman physically.

Hot chocolate and toast was the best he had emotionally.

Family was one thing. You were bonded by blood with family. This was different. To feel an obligation to someone just because they’d gotten naked.

Though maybe that was a sign he wasn’t as broken as he’d worried he might be.