JEALOUS, BABY? - sim jaeyun
summary. jake swears he’s not a jealous boyfriend yet still fights like he is when someone approaches his girl. pairing. boxer!jake x gf!reader. mentions. fighting/boxing, fluff, established relationship, i lowkey love this concept and have sm ideas i can’t wait to write them 🤭 [ more boxer!jake here ]
the late afternoon light cut through the high warehouse-style windows of the boxing gym, turning the air golden. dust floated in the beams like glitter shaken from the sun. every corner buzzed with that raw, gritty energy only boxing gyms had - the kind built from discipline, adrenaline and people trying too hard to impress eachother.
leather gloves smacked against pads. jump ropes snapped against the floor. water bottles clattered as someone kicked one over. a group of beginners stumbled through footwork drills, pretending they weren’t dying.
everything smelled like sweat, disinfectant, rubber mats and that faint metallic scent that always hung around the ring.
jake stood right in the middle of it all - breathing steady, gloves up, body sharp and precise despite the exhaustion tugging at his muscles. he was practicing with coach min, the same way they always did when coach wasn’t busy with new trainees or phone calls about upcoming matches.
coach min held the pads in his hands, his usual unimpressed look sitting firm on his face, “straight. hook. roll. again.”
jake reset his stance, took a quick breath in, ready to fire another punch with more intensity. but then coach min said it - casual. offhanded. like it wasn’t the single, most fastest way to fry jake’s brain mid-combination.
“your girl’s here.”
jake froze mid-jab. his glove hovered just under his cheek, breath caught in his throat.
he didn’t turn - he didn’t need to. his pulse kicked instantly, thumping warm and eager under his skin. a smile threatened to break his focus, tugging at the corner of his lips despite his best effort to stay disciplined.
he loved when she came by to pick him up. loved that she always stood just inside the entrance, as if too shy to walk further into the gym. loved that soft, tired smile she’d give him after her own long day - like seeing him was the one thing that settled her whole world.
“cool down.” coach min ordered, “two more minutes. don’t get sloppy now.”
jake swallowed, nodded, “yes, sir.”
he pushed through another set, body moving on autopilot - jab, cross, hook, slip - even though all he wanted was to turn around and look at her properly. but just then, halfway through his last combination, a laugh cut through the gym noise.
it wasn’t her. no, this one was too loud, too deep.
some guy.
jake’s eyes quickly flicked toward the entrance, just barely a fraction of a second, and suddenly his stomach dropped. y/n was still standing where she always did, but this time she wasn’t alone.
one of the new trainees - the tall one who had an objectively stupid haircut jake already hated - was leaning way too close to her. he seemed to be laughing at his own joke, talking with his whole chest like he was performing a comedy routine no one had asked for.
y/n gave a polite smile in return, small and tight, and jake recognised it instantly. it was her i-want-to-leave-but-i’m-too-nice smile.
jake’s jaw clenched. hard. tight. his punch slammed into the pad harder than he should’ve and coach min instantly grunted at the sudden impact.
“yah! control your strength.”
jake didn’t say anything, he physically couldn’t with how much he was seething through his breath. he forced himself through the last minute even though every instinct screamed to get out of the ring and peel that trainee off her like some annoying sticker.
across the room, y/n’s eyes were entirely focused on her boy.
the way his muscles flexed in his sleeveless top, the way his jaw clenched with each jab and deep breath, the way he pushed through even after knowing she’d finally come to get him - watching him like that always did things to her she didn’t want to admit.
and she swore she could see the smile tug at his lips from afar, warming her chest even further. she was just stood there, still in her work clothes and heels, with that pretty, fond smile playing on her lips, completely minding her own business when she heard someone speak up beside her.
“hey.. uh, you’re jake’s friend, right?”
y/n turned her head to see a boy - probably a year or two younger than her - tall, bad haircut, overconfident smile. she recognised him instantly - he was new, loud, tried too hard. the type who probably thought the gym was a social club instead of a place where people actually worked.
“yeah.” she answered, politely, “i’m y/n.”
he grinned like she’d just given him permission to keep going.
“you come here a lot?” he asked and stepped forward until she could smell the intensely artificial body spray he’d drowned himself in.
she instinctively shifted back, just an inch, but he followed the movement like he didn’t notice - or perhaps chose not to.
“i’ve seen you around a few times.” he went on, running a hand through his hair like he was posing infront of a mirror. and then he laughed - loud, awkward and forced - “oh, don’t worry. not in a creepy way.”
yeah. sure.
y/n’s polite smile tightened just a bit and she let out a chuckle but it ended up just sounding like a breath, “right..”
“jake didn’t tell us he had someone.” the trainee tilted his head and y/n watched the way his eyes dragged down her figure in a way that made her stomach twist with instant discomfort. like he was sizing her up, trying to memorise her.
“he usually keeps to himself. guess i know why now.”
she wanted this conversation to end. preferably before jake finished training and saw this guy inhaling her personal space like it was oxygen.
“well, jake’s almost done. so-”
“oh, cool, cool.” he cut in. he shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged a shoulder like she was discussing weekend plans instead of trying to walk away. y/n tried to drag her eyes away but he only moved his face in her direction, as if forcing her to look at him.
he leaned in again, too casual, “does he train you too?”
she blinked, “train me?”
“yeah.” he said, eyes flickering over her again - this time more scrutinising than flirty - “you look like you could use a few lessons. strength, stamina… maybe posture too.”
her jaw tightened. a slow burn of irritation crawled up her spine.
because not only was he pestering her - he was doing it two feet from her boyfriend’s ring. in the same gym he’d practically grew up in, the same gym he’d made famous.
and while jake was literally watching from across the room.
still, the trainee wasn’t finished.
“i’m just saying if you ever want tips, i’m around after evening sessions. i could show you a few things… one-on-one.”
y/n’s stomach twisted. she wasn’t helpless, and she damn well didn’t need some rookie talking to her like she was.
the second coach min dismissed jake, he was ripping off his gloves, dropping them on the mat as if relieved of the timing. he hopped down from the ring - still sweaty, chest heaving, hair damp and messy.
he didn’t bother with a towel. didn’t bother catching his breath. he just walked straight to her.
the trainee’s teasing grin faltered the second y/n’s eyes flicked past him and jake approached the scene - not that jake was looking at him, anyway. he didn’t spare him a single glance.
“hey.” he said softly, voice lower than usual. his arm slid naturally, possessively, around her waist.
y/n immediately leaned into him like she’d been waiting all day for his touch, “hi, baby.”
something in jake’s shoulders loosened. his chest warmed painfully, protectively, as he took in her familiar, sweet perfume. she looked relieved yet happy at the same time as she played a grin and that same glint in her eyes that always sparkled when she looked at him.
infront of them, the trainee mumbled something that died on his tongue. he bit the inside of his cheek and forced himself to keep his expression neutral even though he was irritated.
jake didn’t care.
he dipped his head closer to her and let his hand slide lower on her back - slowly, intentionally and very obviously for an audience.
“you ready to go?” he asked, eyes locked on hers.
y/n lifted her brows in amusement at his touch, hand splayed dangerously low on her waist. she could instantly feel it.
his new clinginess. his claim.
“yeah.” she smiled up at him nonetheless and jake intertwined his fingers with hers. he grabbed his bag from the side before guiding her towards the exit, not looking back once.
he didn’t have to.
he could feel the trainee’s glare burning between his shoulder blades - and it only made the corner of his mouth lift in a quiet, satisfied smirk.
-
as soon as they got into her car, jake didn’t wait for the engine to start. the second his seatbelt clicked, he reached across the console, found her hand, and linked their fingers together so tightly it was like he feared she’d disappear if he let go for even a second.
y/n blinked at their joined hands, amused, “well… hello to you too.”
jake didn’t react. his jaw was locked, shoulders tight, eyes fixed stubbornly over the passenger window.
“you okay?” she asked softly, smiling even though she already knew the answer.
“i’m fine.” he replied quickly, almost too quickly. his tone was low and clipped, trying to hide the embarrassment curling under the surface of his sweaty skin.
y/n only hummed, “yeah, definitely sounds like you’re fine.”
he didn’t take the bait.
instead, without looking at his girlfriend, jake lifted their joint hands and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to the back of hers. it wasn’t casual. it wasn’t distracted. it was the kind of kiss that said he’d been thinking about touching her since the moment he saw that boy standing too close.
then, he lowered their hands into his lap and kept them there - like it was non-negotiable.
y/n laughed under her breath and started the car with her free hand, nonetheless. she tried to pull her hand away to shift the gear into reverse, but jake tugged it right back. she tried to shift her seat, and he tugged again.
finally, she chuckled through her breath and turned to her boyfriend a little bewildered, “jake, i need that hand to drive.”
“still using it.” he mumbled, tightening his grip and sliding his thumb rhythmically against her knuckles, “drive with one.”
“baby.” she grinned, “you’re being clingy.”
“i’m allowed.” he muttered and his eyes lifted from her knuckles to stare straight ahead - stubborn expression, ears slightly pink, like a sulky puppy who refused to admit he was pouting.
the more she glanced at him, the cuter he became. he wasn’t angry, just… bothered. quiet. protective. a little insecure in a way that made her chest soften - he was this big, strong man out in the ring but with her, he practically melted into a puddle.
“did something happen?” she asked with a gentle tone that dipped into something a little more serious. with how quiet he was, she thought maybe he was bothered by more than that small interaction in the gym.
“nothing happened.” he spoke immediately - too fast again.
his fingers squeezed hers. his knee bounced heavily. his gaze stayed glued to the road in front of them, razor sharp as if he was the one driving.
y/n raised a brow, “you sure?”
he swallowed once, then lifted her hand again to brush his lips over her knuckles - slower this time, more tender.
“just wanna be close to you.” he murmured.
her heart melted on the spot. jake always got like this - after fights, after long training sessions, and especially after something, or someone, irritated him.
but y/n didn’t push him further, or tease him.
she just squeezed his hand back, let her thumb stroke over the back of his much rougher knuckles in a delicate caress.
“okay, stay as close as you want.” she whispered.
jake exhaled like he’d been holding his breath the entire drive.
he didn’t let go of her hand. not even once. not when she was parking, not when she turned off the engine and not even when she tried, and failed, to reach for her bag in the backseat. he stubbornly held onto her like she was something he’d won and absolutely had no intention of losing.
-
the next day, jake returned to the gym with every intention of being mature. he really did.
he told himself on the walk over that yesterday didn’t matter. he told himself she’s all his, she chose him, and that he had no reason to waste energy on some rookie with a bad haircut and no understanding of boundaries.
he was practically repeating it to himself like a mantra.
be mature. be calm. you’re above this.
that lasted about four minutes.
he’d just tossed his bag to the side of the changing room after searching around for his wraps, and was now making his way to the main area of the gym when voices drifted down the hallways. loud ones. laughing ones.
familiar ones.
jake slowed on instinct, suddenly intrigued, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up slightly.
“bro, she is so pretty.” that same deep voice of the trainee from yesterday bragged, letting out a chuckle with his two other friends, “i’m telling you, i didn’t even care that she wasn’t into it. i could still try-”
jake fully froze in his spot, his hand paused against the wrap on his palm. his blood didn’t burn, his pulse didn’t spike. no, everything just went completely still, eerily silent inside him.
one of the other trainees groaned, “doyeon-ah, stop. you said enough yesterday.”
but the kid kept going, louder, bolder, more disgusting.
“i’m serious! if she wasn’t so loyal to him, i swear i’d try again.. i mean-” he snickered like some psycho planning something, “did you see the way she looked? those legs? bro, she’s-”
“doyeon.” the second hissed, glancing around nervously. none of them had seen jake standing just further down the hallway, “shut up. that’s his girlfriend, and he’s our senior. we shouldn’t be disrespectful.”
“so what? not my fault jake pulled someone way above his league.” he laughed again, “anyway, even if she acted all shy, i bet she-”
that’s when one of the other trainees noticed jake stood down the hallway, silently fixing his wraps while quite clearly listening into their conversation. the kid’s heart dropped, eyes widening in shock and he instantly smacked doyeon against his sleeve.
“doyeon-ah, shut the fuck up.” he hissed but jake was already moving off.
he was walking into the main area when all the trainees went pale, straightening up instantly mid-breath as if they’d been caught stealing - actually, this was probably worse than being caught stealing.
jake didn’t say a word. he didn’t need to.
his expression was blank, calm, almost bored as he looked ahead, fixing his wraps and rolling his shoulders back. his stare was razor sharp, and his jaw clenched like he was calculating just how much force it would take to drop each one of those kids right now.
he looked more serious than he did before he went into the ring - and that was not a good sign.
all three of them stared at him like he had two heads. the silence thickened and seemed to tense even more when coach min walked out of his office. he gave them all a stern nod in greeting and then his eyes landed on his star fighter, a slow smile curling his lips.
“jake! good timing.” he said cheerfully, completely oblivious to the bloodbath brewing in the air. he clapped his hands once, loud enough to make the trainees jump, “i want one of the newbies to get some sparring experience with you today.”
jake nodded, “who?”
coach min looked around the group of boys and raised a brow, as if thinking which one needed the most improvement.
“you.” he pointed, “kim doyeon. get your wraps.”
kim doyeon.
jake’s lips curved ever so slightly. it wasn’t big or noticeable to coach min, but it was a smile - a calm, terrifying one that never reached his eyes.
“perfect.” jake said to his coach, voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous.
doyeon’s face practically drained of colour. his friends winced at the situation and he swallowed hard, scrambling to grab his wraps as if being shaken out of a nightmare. except this might’ve been the nightmare - he was about to go against jake. the best fighter in their gym, the most known boxer out there right now for how good and sharp he was.
jake, who’s girlfriend he was just bad-mouthing and laughing about.
his hands shook as he grabbed his wraps and his friend had to practically help him whilst jake jumped up into the ring to warm up quickly. he joined him soon enough and jake patted him on the shoulder, friendly, almost gentle, but with a grip that made doyeon flinch.
“this’ll be good practice.” he murmured with a polite tone, “for both of us.”
doyeon didn’t respond. he couldn’t. he was too busy trying not to pass out.
the second the bell rang, doyeon charged, fists high, chin up, overconfident in the way only rookies could be - all speed, no precision, all ego, no discipline.
jake didn’t budge.
he slipped to the side as if he’d been waiting for this attack since yesterday.
“too slow.” he murmured, tilting his head.
doyeon skidded on the canvas before whipping around with an irritated grunt. he raised his fists and instantly went to throw another punch, sloppy and rushed, more emotion than technique.
jake pivoted away with a single step, barely shifting his weight, “still too slow.”
a few trainees snorted under their breath. they tried to hide it, but the sound carried and echoed in doyeon’s ears, flushing his neck red. it was humiliating how much he was getting thrown about - but what did he expect? this was jake he pissed off.
he tightened his fists and launched a full combination - jab, cross, hook - the kind young fighters practiced in mirrors thinking it made them look intimidating. jake saw every motion before it even formed - of couse he knew, he’d fought actual fighters with worse form than this kid right now.
without effort, jake landed a small jab to doyeon’s ribs. it was light enough not to bruise but sharp enough to humiliate.
doyeon stumbled and caught his breath, “stop running and fight-”
“then hit me.”
that only made doyeon angrier. he swung again recklessly, as if just punching for the sake of it, and it was hard enough that it could’ve actually knocked someone out if it landed.
but jake didn’t even need to step back. he leaned just far enough for the glove to whisper past his cheek. the crowd murmured, impressed, and jake’s lips curved into a small smirk.
doyeon saw it. it made him snap.
shots became wild. footwork completely disappeared. he wasn’t boxing anymore, he was just chasing jake’s shadow.
from outside the ring, someone muttered to another, “you can’t just let him play you like that-”
doyeon, stood right infront of them, snapped his head with irritation and humiliation chasing up his neck, “shut up!”
that’s when jake closed the distance and muttered with a voice low enough only he could hear, “you should listen to them.”
doyeon threw the last punch he had in him - a desperate, ugly right hook that only made coach min shake his head in disappointment. something in jake’s expression shifted - he became more sharper suddenly, shoulders squared and the air in the gym shifted like everyone expected something was about to break.
jake didn’t dodge. he stepped forward and connected his fist with doyeon’s jaw in perfect form, full rotation, literally a textbook execution. it was hard, precise. the sound cracked through the gym and everyone watched as doyeon’s body flew back.
he was caught by the ropes, his head whiplashed, mouthguard half-slipping out, feet scrambling for balance. the gym went dead silent.
someone whispered, “holy shit-” barely audible over the ringing tension. the kid stared up at the dull ceiling lights with ringing ears, unfocused eyes and a brain that suddenly forgot exactly where he was.
jake approached him slow and terrifyingly calm, “that was for talking about her.”
doyeon, his heart in his mouth and jaw aching, swallowed hard as the fear and shame finally took over his arrogance. this was the jake everyone feared out in the ring, the quiet boxer who barely snapped but when he did, it was brutal.
jake leaned down without blinking, his gaze sharp enough to cut, “and next time you even think about her again,” he tapped his glove against the boy’s cheek mockingly, “you’ll get worse.”
the warning hit harder than the punch.
coach min blew the whistle so loud half the gym flinched, “okay, enough. jake, out! now.”
jake didn’t argue, didn’t even look at doyeon again. he simply stepped out of the ring, going straight towards his bag for his towel and water bottle with smooth confidence as if he hadn’t just scared an entire room into silence. as if this was light work for him, something casual.
the jealousy that had been boiling under his ribs since yesterday, seeped out of him at last, leaving him much lighter, clearer, almost relieved.
+ BONUS
jake swore to himself he wouldn’t do it again - he wouldn’t let jealousy fuel him, he wouldn’t let it take over especially during a fight. but he couldn’t help the way it angrily seeped in when he heard a laugh. her laugh.
her loud, confident, pretty laugh.
the sponsor’s son, the same guy who’d been hovering around y/n all night, even as she kissed jake outside the ring before his match like usual, even as she exchanged small words with coach min while jake was warming up, even as she asked some staff for a bottle of water.
he was there… hovering, smiling, laughing just to impress her.
either way, it hit jake’s ears like a slap.
his first round started evenly - almost too evenly for jake’s taste. he’d kept his guard high, his footwork proper, his rhythm and the way his weight shifted before every punch. jake wasn’t aggressive yet; he was studying his opponent, calculating.
the crowd was murmuring with each exchange, filtering in with the continuous narration of the commentators. the air was thick, heavy with anticipation and jake had only looked toward ringside for barely a second.
only a second when he heard her laugh.
but that split second cost him.
it was all it took for his opponent to land a clean jab against his cheek.
his head turned sharply with a grunt and the crowd gasped in unison. y/n’s eyes widened as she snapped her head from the gradually irritating man next to her. her heart dropped with the gasps of the audience and she instantly stood up.
coach min slammed the ropes, “eyes on the fight, jake!”
jake blinked once. twice. slowly. he snapped back to the opponent without another thought and instantly everything inside him shifted. his whole demeanour changed. annoyance, jealousy, possessiveness - it all shot straight through his chest like he’d been plugged into an electric outlet.
he let out a long, deep exhale and suddenly he wasn’t just fighting. he was proving a point.
with his coach’s groans in the background and the shouts of the commentators, jake moved forward and his punches snapped through the air with terrifying accuracy. his dodges weren’t just evasions but statements - every hit made the ropes tremble, every counter made the crowd cheer louder.
by the middle of round two, his opponents breaths were ragged, hands dropping an inch lower with every failed attempt to touch jake again.
but he didn’t let him recover.
he slammed a brutal body shot right under the ribs - the kind that stole air and dignity. the crowd instantly exploded and then came the combination with smooth, practiced ease that made the crowd scream even louder.
right hook, left jab, cross.
the other fighter staggered back with wobbly legs. coach min’s voice cut through the noise, “finish it!”
jake didnt hesitate. he stepped in and delivered a clean, merciless uppercut, the perfect hit that made the guy drop to the canvas like a felled tree.
the ref didn’t even bother counting. it was clear jake had won as the arena erupted with gleeful cheers and waves and the match concluded itself. jake didn’t hear any of it as he waved back at everyone with heaving breaths and weak shoulders.
he instantly climbed out of the ring, pulling his mouthguard out, sweat sliding down his jaw and his hair clinging to his skin. his chest rose and fell quickly and his heart was banging in his ears but it wasn’t exhaustion tightening his breath - it was jealousy.
hot. sharp. still humming beneath his skin like a live wire.
and that - more than the win - was what pushed him down the steps and toward the hallway where he knew he’d see his girlfriend soon enough.
-
y/n caught him the moment he stepped out of the locker room with flushed cheeks and hair damp from the shower he rushed through. jake was rolling his shoulders out, still buzzing with leftover adrenaline and still littered with slow, growing bruises on his jaw and abdomen.
she didn’t even wait for him to notice her. she practically threw herself into his space, hands going straight to his shoulders with hurried excitement.
“there you are.” she breathed, eyes shining with pride and jake felt himself soften, “babe, you were amazing!”
before he could respond, she lifted her sleeve and gently wiped a few drops of water from his jawline, fingers trailing a second longer than necessary. it was a quick, mindless action but it had jake freezing in his spot, his hand on her waist stilling.
she was soft. warm. too close.
he hadn’t even cooled down from the fight and she was starting an entirely new one inside him.
jake caught her wrist lightly before she could pull away, “who was that guy?”
his voice was low, slightly rough, still carrying the edge he fought with. his dark eyes bore down into hers as he leaned down ever so slightly. his breath mingled with hers and despite it all, y/n only blinked up at him.
“what guy?”
“the one sitting next to you.” his jaw tensed, “the one laughing at everything you said.”
“oh.” she realised slowly. she let out a soft, airy laugh that fell straight into jake’s heart, “him? he was just being polite. i don’t even know his name, i barely talked.”
but jake wasn’t buying it. he leaned in closer, just enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. close enough that she could feel his breath skim her cheek.
“he kept leaning toward you.”
his voice wasn’t raised, or angry, or mean. just possessive in a way that hit straight through her ribs.
y/n’s lips twitched in amusement. she knew what was happening, of course she did when he was making it so obvious. just to rile him up further, she slowly, deliberately let her hands glide from his shoulders to his hard chest. she trailed her fingers over the fabric of his dark hoodie, brushing the hem before drifting back up and letting her touch linger.
just enough to make him melt.
“jake.” she murmured, warm and teasing, “were you jealous, baby?”
he didn’t even try to hide his reaction - it was instant. the flush of his cheeks, the flicker of his eyes.
“no.”
y/n raised her brows. his jaw clenched and he looked away, almost shyly, “…okay, yes.”
her smile spread, slow and irresistible, like she was savoring the moment her sweet, quiet boyfriend finally cracked. like she was seeing an entirely different side to his usual tough exterior.
she stepped fully into him, chest pressed against his and slid both hands up to loop behind his neck.
“you fought better because of it.” she brushed her thumbs against his skin lightly.
he made a small, low sound - somewhere between a scoff and a groan - and looked off to the side, almost embarrassed.
“didn’t like him looking at you like that.”
y/n tugged gently on the chain around his neck and innocently pulled him closer until their noses nearly touched. the tension sparked between them, sharp and warm as she let her breath linger between them.
“well, i only look at you.”
jake cursed under his breath - a soft, low sound with her name tangled somewhere inside it. his hands slid to her waist with a certain firmness it made her heart race when he dragged her flush against him like the idea of even a millimetre of space was unbearable.
she laughed against his lips, “baby, you’re so easy to tease.”
jake rested his forehead against hers, breath ghosting over her mouth, “keep teasing. see what happens.”
a shiver rippled down her spine, one she couldn’t even hide.
and she didn’t.
y/n rose slowly onto her toes, fingertips delicately brushing the back of his neck as she leaned in. her lips ghosted along the sharp line of his tense jaw, against his warm, gentle bruises and she planted a kiss that wasn’t meant to be sweet at all.
it was deliberate. purposeful. a bit dangerous since they were stood in an empty hallway that anyone could walk into any second.
but she didn’t care. she savoured the way his breath hitched and her chest tightened and she only continued - her lips pressed another kiss right beneath his ear, the spot she knew he could never stay calm through. his inhale came sharp and uneven and his rough hands clamped down on her waist automatically, like a reflex he couldn’t control.
jake didn’t bother pretending he wasn’t affected. didn’t bother hiding the way his fingers dug in. didn’t bother keeping a moan out of his voice when he whispered her name.
and then he kissed her. not hesitantly or carefully.
he kissed her like he’d been holding everything in - the jealousy, the adrenaline, the way she always knew exactly how to undo him - all packed into one moment.
it was deep and hungry and the kind of kiss that made her back arch slightly and the hallways feel too small to hold them. his hands slid up her back, all warm and strong, dragging her closer until she could feel every breath he took, every beat of his heart against her chest. he held her like he’d been waiting all night, all week, maybe forever, just for her to touch him like that.
the jealousy that had sparked everything melted away and was replaced by something hotter. something steadier. something that wrapped around her like heat and gravity.
devotion. want.
and something that felt dangerously close to worship.
she was his - not because he said it, but because of the way he touched her and breathed her in like she grounded him.
and jake? he was absolutely, undeniably hers. every heartbeat, every sharp inhale, every look that said she was the only one he ever saw.
