Author's Note: Hey, everyone! KTJ here! It's been a while, hasn't it? Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter :D Keep those fabulous reviews coming!
I awake the next morning to the sun shining through the window and the feel of Jesse's warm body against mine.
"Good morning Susannah," he whispers down at me, squeezing me lightly before kissing my forehead.
I sigh and snuggle closer to him. "Good morning," I whisper, a smile spreading across my face.
"Stay put querida. I'm going to make a donut run, just for you because I know how much you like those things. Especially the raspberry jelly filled ones," Jesse says, trying to worm his way out of my grasp.
I shake my head and hold him tighter. "No. Stay here," I mumble.
"You may want to ignore your body's needs, but I on the other hand find that it is not wise," Jesse says to me softly.
I sigh and squeeze him tightly before letting him go reluctantly. "Hurry back," I tell him.
"I'll be back before you can even miss me," Jesse promises, not even bothering to change his clothes from yesterday.
He puts his shoes on before leaning down and kissing me softly but passionately. "Te adoro," he says.
"I love you more," I reply before lying back in the sheets and stretching, "now go. Get moving."
As he leaves I stretch and sit up, feeling more at peace than i have in a while.
I look around his bedroom, remembering the last time that I was in here, a slight frown forming on my face. I wish that I had never snooped. Maybe then I would've have gone through half the shit I had been through the past month and a half.
I'm just glad I have him back in my life. Sure, there are loose ends to tie up but...I'm just so happy.
I happen to walk past a mirror as I get out of bed to check my phone, Jesse must have picked up my purse, and see how nasty I am. I don't know how Jesse could've stood being so close to me all night. I definitely need a shower.
Sighing, I look down at my phone, cringing as I see three missed calls from Paul. Great.
I delete all 3 of them, not wanting him to be the reason a sour mood falls over today. I quickly dial the number of my work though, and let them know that I'm...ahem, sick and wont' be able to come in today though. One less thing to worry about.
After my shower I go out into the living room, grinning when I see Jesse sitting on the couch. "Hello," he says cheerfully.
"Hey baby," I reply, walking over to him and sitting on his lap.
"Querida," he mumbles as he slides his arms around my waist and kisses me tenderly.
"You took a shower while I was gone," he remarks, running his hand through my wet hair slowly.
"You took a shower while I was gone," he remarks, running his hand through my wet hair slowly.
I nod my head before resting it against his chest. "I was gross," I whisper to him. "How could you bear to be around me?"
"You? Gross? Inconceivable," Jesse admonishes, a shocked look on his face.
I smile up at him and close my eyes. "Why does the rest of the world have exist? Why can't it just be us?"
"Querida, that would be way too much work," Jesse says, chuckling and kissing me tenderly, "now let's eat."
We eat breakfast in a comfortable silence, me on his lap and his arms around my waist. It feels so...good to be here with him. So right.
"Do you have to go to work, Susannah?" Jesse asks me half an hour later as we just cuddle on the couch watching the morning news.
"Nope," I tell him, shaking my head. "I already called in 'sick'."
"Tsk tsk, you're being a naughty girl, Susannah," Jesse says in a tone that should be ILLEGAL.
Chills go up and down my spine as my arms tighten around him. "I know," I reply. "Whatever shall we do about it?"
"Well, I'm not quite sure," Jesse says, smirking as his hands move up and down my back.
"I can think of a few things," I whisper, my face inches from his.
"Querida...remember those loose ends?" Jesse replies, pushing me back just a little bit.
"What loose ends?" I ask, leaning in to kiss him.
"Susannah...I don't want to be the other man," Jesse says and I can tell he's trying to be stern with me.
I sigh and nod my head. "You're right," I reply. "I'm sorry."
"Do you want to go take care of that now?" Jesse asks me, leaning down at kissing my cheek.
"Do you want to go take care of that now?" Jesse asks me, leaning down at kissing my cheek.
I nod my head slowly, reluctantly stand up. "The sooner the better," I reply.
"Okay, good. Now give me a kiss and don't come back until you're a single woman...though you won't be that way for long," Jesse says, smirking and grabbing my wrist.
I laugh and lean down, kissing him, letting my lips linger on his for a few moments. "Mmm...I'll be back before you can miss me," I say.
"Too bad, I miss you already," he says, smirking from where he's sitting and I roll my eyes before hurrying from his apartment.
I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and hit the voicemail button, sighing. Yeah...three messages from Paul, all asking where I am and if I'm all right. I still don't know how exactly I'm going to do this yet. He's going to ask questions and I can't tell him what I know.
Sighing once again, I should be a champion sigh-er by now, I call Paul waiting as the phone rings over and over again, going directly to voicemail. Shit, he must be working, DUH.
So I decide to call Jesse and he answers on the second ring. "Yes, querida?" he asks, a smile in his voice. My heart starts racing at just the sound of his voice.
"Paul didn't answer. I think he's working...like I should be," I say, chuckling a little bit and sitting down.
He laughs and replies, "Well, there are still some donuts here with your name on them if you're not up to going home just yet."
"Ooh, really, they say Suze Simon?" I say, gasping a little bit.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, they do," he says, chuckling. "Come back. It's lonely here without you."
"Okay, I guess I can. I'll be back soon," I say, smiling as I hang up the phone and turn around.
When I open up the door to his apartment, he takes me into his arms and kisses me. "I missed you," he whispers.
"Aww that means I didn't get back in time," I say, wrapping my arms around his neck and leaning in a little closer.
He laughs and kisses my forehead. "I don't think I'm ever going to let you leave again. Ever," he says playfully.
"That might be an issue, Jesse," I reply, resting my head against his chest and inhaling his scent softly.
"Why?" he asks, gently stroking my hair. "I get to be with you all the time...I don't see an issue."
"What do we do for money, or food, or anything?" I ask him, smirking a bit even though I try not to.
He shrugs, smiling down at me. "Not important," he says. "All I need is you."
"Awww, you're so corny. But I love you none the less," I whisper, leaning up on my tip toes to kiss him.
Our lips touch for a few moments, but he pulls back before it can get any deeper. "Loose ends, Susannah," he whispers, sounding just as disappointed as I feel.
"Jesse I tried, he's working and he doesn't get off work until at least 5!" I exclaim.
He groans and buries his face in my hair, holding me closer. "Querida, we shouldn't," he mumbles, clearly trying to convince himself.
"Says who?" I demand playfully, stroking his hair softly and kissing his temples.
"Says everything I believe in," he responds, his hands moving up and down my back, making me shiver. "I don't want to be the other man."
"I stopped doing that back in high school. I did that...well, let's say I can't count how many times on both my hands," Jesse says quietly.
He falls silent and I press a soft kiss against his hair. "Okay," I tell him. "Loose ends. We'll wait."
"Thank you, Susannah. It means a lot to me. Now, if you hadn't decided to skip work you could've done it there and then just came home early...buuuut noooo," Jesse teases.
I sigh and shake my head. "You're right," I reply. "What was I thinking?"
"Don't worry about it querida. You didn't know. I just want to make sure you know that I love you and I am willing to wait to have you all to myself," Jesse whispers.
"I love you too, Jesse," I tell him. "I'm sorry about everything that's happened. I just wish I hadn't wasted so much time being angry at you."
"I know. I wish that too sometimes. But you being stubborn is part of the reason why I love you," Jesse chuckles, bringing my hands to his lips and kissing them.
I cup his face in my hands, looking into his eyes, getting lost in them. I lean forward to kiss him when my phone rings, making me jump.
"It's Paul. He must be on lunch break," I whisper, not wanting to ruin the moment with Jesse, yet knowing that I needed to answer Paul's call.
"Answer it, querida," he says softly, backing away from me a little. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."
"Okay," I whisper. "I love you." With these words I sigh and open my phone, closing my eyes before answering it.
"Suze! I've been trying to reach you! Is everything all right?" he asks, sounding panicked. "Even Cee Cee said she didn't know where you were. I've been so worried."
"Nothing to be worried about, Paul. Uhm actually, can we meet up while you're on break? I have to talk to you," I tell him quickly.
"Sure. We'll meet at that cafe across the street?" he asks and I nod my head. "Yeah, sounds good. See you then," I say before hanging up.
"I'll be back as soon as possible," I tell Jesse, leaning in and giving him a quick kiss before hurrying out.
It doesn't take me long to get to the cafe where Paul is already waiting, standing up and leaning in to kiss me as I approach the table, but I back away. "Sit down, Paul," I tell him.
"Suze? What's the matter? Wait, what's that bruise on your face from?" Paul demands, reaching up and touching my face gently at the spot where that...that man must have hit me.
"It's nothing," I tell him, turning my face away, deciding it's best not to tell him about what happened. "Listen, Paul...I don't think we should see each other anymore."
"Suze...what? Where is this coming from? Just yesterday we were fine!" Paul exclaims, his face suddenly very angry.
"I...can't really explain it, I just really think we should see other people," I say, realizing that I can't tell him the real reason for breaking it off. He can't know what I know.
"That's a lie. You're lying and I can tell, Suze. You know how? Because you've always been an awful liar," Paul says.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, Paul," I say angrily, standing up. "It's over, and I'm leaving."
"Suze, don't walk away from me!" Paul exclaims, standing up as well and following me as I start to leave the restaurant.
I'm two steps outside when he roughly turns me around and takes me by the shoulders. "Suze, what the hell is wrong with you?" he shouts.
"Paul, ow! Get off me!" I exclaim, wincing as his hand digs into the bruises leftover from yesterday.
"Why are you covered in bruises?" he asks, pulling down the short sleeve of my shirt to reveal the bruises. "What happened to you??"
"It's really none of your business, Paul. Now get your hands off me and leave me alone. Please. We're over, sorry," I say all in one breath.
It takes him a moment, but he finally relinquishes his hold on me. "Fine," he says quietly, his voice angry. "I don't know what I did, but fine. You will be sorry for this, Suze." With those final words, he turns around and leaves.