On Solid Ground: Sequel to in Too Deep Read Online Free PDF Page A

warm nakedness and goose bumps raised from every pore on my body. I could feel them stacking one on top of the other as his kisses continued from my jaw down to my collarbone. His light stubble added to the sensation.
    It felt like Jake and I had been together for years. His self-confidence and strength and the fact that he was completely comfortable in his own skin was a total turn on. As often as he was shirtless, he had to be comfortable with himself. Good Lord, the bare abs and low slung jeans thing would be the death of me. The things that flashed through my mind when his happy trail peeked out above the button on his jeans would make just about anyone blush.
    Sometimes, it felt like everything that happened with Noah was just one really long, bad dream I’d had years ago. But then there were times when a wave of emotions bowled me over without warning. Those emotions didn’t feel like memories; they always felt like they were happening in real-time. I was still dealing with the residual effects of what I’d endured during my relationship with Noah.
    The memories of walking away from Noah for the last time empowered me. But that confrontation had taken me out for a couple days, and I still struggled with the despair that sometimes flowed right under the surface. I wanted to be done with Noah. I wanted, so badly, to not even think about him, and I surely didn’t want those memories and the pain to always be something that Jake had to deal with. That wasn’t fair to him. So, I did what I had to do to stay happy and in the moment. I folded up those years of torment and tucked them so deeply into the folds of my brain that they would be sure to shrivel up and die. I hoped. And one day, just maybe, when someone would utter that N-word, my heart would have no response whatsoever.
    I lifted my chin toward the ceiling as Jake’s lips brushed up my neck and moved to find my mouth. He moaned softly as he claimed my mouth with his tongue. His kiss was so deep and full, so passionate yet gentle. So slow it was breathtaking. He gently sucked my bottom lip into his mouth and bit down just enough to evoke a tender growl from my throat.
    I ran my hands from his firm backside, up across his broad back, appreciating every muscular nuance along the way and I floated to a place only Jake could take me.
    Sometime later, we succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed. Sweaty bodies on cool sheets. “Comfortably Numb” was playing softly from our nap playlist we’d created last semester. Our breathing slowed to a gentle, simultaneous rhythm.
    “I love you, Gracie Ann Jordan.”
    “I love you, Jacob Andrew Rockwell.”
    And with that, we fell asleep in each other’s arms, completely bare and with nothing to hide.
    ****
    There’s nothing more peaceful than falling asleep in the arms of the man who just made mad, passionate love to you, except maybe waking up next to him. The same man whose gentleness was both in how he touched me and with the words he spoke as I felt every inch of him.
    It was barely morning. Our bodies lay entwined, my naked chest and stomach pressed against his as Jake held me firm.
    “Jake?”
    “Yeah?” Only his lips moved.
    I felt bad trying to talk to him while he was still sleeping.
    “What do you think of people who are in counseling?”
    “Well...” His hands started to softly rub my bare back. He most likely knew exactly why I was asking. “I guess I see them as being stronger than the people who don’t get help. Coming to terms with the fact you can’t get through something on your own is a very brave step. And, I honestly believe that step is fifty percent of the work toward healing.”
    “Becki thinks I should try it, but I want so badly to just leave it all behind me. I don’t want Noah to be a part of our relationship anymore.”
    “Sweetheart,” he said as he pushed his body back and tipped my chin up with his gentle hand, “Noah will never leave if you don’t purge yourself of every scene in