“Come on.” Leanna pulled Jessica’s hand, leading her toward the band. “Even Kurt is going to dance. Come on, Jamie! Everyone’s over here.” She guided them through the crowd, with Tony on their heels, and there in the thick of scantily clad dancing twentysomethings were all of their friends, including Pete’s sister, Sky, and Blue—and Amy and Jake.
Jessica shot a look at Tony. His eyes were narrow and his jaw was clenched. She went up on her tiptoes and whispered to Jamie, “Can Tony dance with us?”
“Three’s a crowd,” he said with serious eyes. “But as long as I don’t have to share you later, it’s fine with me.”
He settled a hand on her hip, but before Jessica could say anything to Tony, a cute brunette began dancing with him.
“Sorry. I just felt bad for him.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “You’re too sweet for your own good.” Jamie began swaying to the music, and Jessica fell into the rhythm effortlessly. It was easy to be in sync with him. He moved fluidly, without tension or worry about what other people thought. While their friends danced and laughed around them, making funny comments and drinking their beers, Jamie’s eyes were locked on Jessica’s. His hips pressed to hers, and the seductive smile on his lips sent a shiver right through her.
He pressed his unshaven cheek to hers. “I’ve been thinking of your sweetness all day, and I can’t wait to taste you again tonight.”
His heated whisper on her skin, the prickles of his five-o’clock shadow on her cheek, and the enticing innuendo had her entire body hot. Jessica circled his neck with her arms, and their hips took on their own slow, sensual rhythm, while the band played a fast beat. Jessica had never worried too much about safety, as she’d always traveled with the group of musicians she worked with, but here, on the beach amid all those people, she felt safe in Jamie’s arms. She’d seen him come right over in the pool when Tony closed in on her, and later, instead of peppering her with questions about the symphony and her hiatus—or her future—he kept her secret close to his chest. And now, as she pressed her cheek to his chest and breathed in his scent, feeling the steady beating of his heart, she knew she was falling for him, and at some point, all those important questions would have to be answered. But not tonight. Tonight she wanted to enjoy her new friends and disappear into Jamie’s touch.
“I bought you something today.” She slid the mood ring off her thumb and held it out to Jamie.
“A ring? What exactly are you proposing?” He arched a brow.
“That we see what you’re feeling. See how it’s purply right now? It’s a mood ring. This color means I’m amorous, sensual. Mischievous. Put it on. Let’s see what you are.” She watched him slide it on as they danced. “We only have to worry if it turns black.”
“What’s black?”
“Intense nothingness. A black hole. Angst so deep you can’t push your way out of it.”
“I can tell you what I’m feeling without a ring.” He pressed his hips to hers, and the feel of his arousal sent another thrill through her. The ring turned dark blue.
“Ooh, you’re love-struck. Deeply relaxed,” she whispered.
He pulled her close. “I am not deeply relaxed. Intensely turned on, hard as a rock, but not relaxed.” His voice was low and deep, and it pulled her under his spell again as he lowered his lips to hers and took her in another brain-numbing kiss.
The song ended, and Jenna waved everyone over to one of the bonfires, where Pete handed out sticks and marshmallows. Jamie leaned down and kissed Jessica passionately, pressing her body to his, stroking her tongue as if he were making love to her mouth. She came away breathless, momentarily unable to think, much less walk.
“Damn, I love how your body reacts to me,” Jamie whispered in her ear.
“My legs are jelly,” she admitted.
“Too bad I can’t lay you down right here and make your whole body feel that way.”
Oh Lord. Every nerve in her body was on fire. She was already damp between her legs, and they’d only just arrived at the beach. How was she supposed to make it through the evening without falling to pieces? Everything he said, every brush of his cheek, every glimpse of his sexy smile, made her insides quiver. With her body aching for him, now that she knew what it felt like to be naked in his arms, to be as close as two people could possibly be, she could barely clear her mind enough to think of anything else. The ocean breeze, the music, Jamie…it was all so romantic. The perfect night to hang out with friends and relax, and there she was, wanting to tear off his clothes and play him like an electric guitar, wild and uninhibited, then slowly, memorizing the feel of every inch of him.
She shook her head to clear the dirty thoughts and realized Jamie had been watching her the whole time. He pressed his cheek to hers again and whispered, “I love that look in your eyes. It makes me want to take you right here.”
Oh God, yes. She clutched his waist.
“Want me to cook you a marshmallow to take your mind off of what we really want to be doing?” he asked.
Marshmallow, yes, that’s good. Marshmallows have nothing to do with sex. That should help get her mind out of the gutter. She’d never had a dirty mind before, and as surprising and new as it all was, she didn’t fight it. She reveled in it, wondering what was happening to her.
She looked up at Jamie. You’re happening to me. “Sure. A marshmallow sounds great.” They joined the others by the fire.
“Petey’s making mine golden brown,” Jenna explained. “Not golden, not brown, golden brown. Which reminds me…” She ran her fingers through her dark hair, then reached into her pocket, pulled out a plastic tiara, and settled it on her head.
“And your marshmallow has arrived, princess.” Pete held the marshmallow up for Jenna to inspect.
Jenna lifted her chin as she assessed the marshmallow with a scrutinizing gaze. She slid it from the stick with a wide smile.
“Perfect! Thank you!”
Pete leaned down and kissed her lips, then smiled at Jamie. “Gotta treat her as she deserves.”
Jenna stared adoringly up at Pete.
“Oh my God. That’s too cute. How long have you been together?” Jessica asked.
“In my mind? Six years, but in real life? A year,” Jenna explained.
Bella, Caden, Leanna, and Kurt joined them as Jenna was talking.
Pete wrapped his arms around Jenna from behind. “Guys can be thick-headed, or so I’m told.” He slid his eyes to Tony, still dancing with the brunette.
“Not all guys. Caden and Kurt knew what they wanted and went for it.” Bella leaned against Caden’s side.
“Hey! Are you dissing my man?” Jenna put up her fists and pretended to box with Bella.
“Put those puppies away, Jen, or I’ll unorganize your closet,” Bella teased.
Jenna dropped her hands and looked up at Pete. “I tried to defend you.”
“That’s my girl.” He kissed her again.
Bella draped an arm over Jessica’s shoulder and looked at Jamie as he crouched by the fire. “At least Jamie’s not thick,” Bella said with a smile.
Jessica bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from saying, Yes, he is. Thick and long, and oh so good. “No. He seems to know exactly what I’m thinking all the time.”
“You kicked ass on your cello tonight,” Bella said. “You should play professionally.”
“That’s what I’m trying to decide this summer. If I should continue to play with my orchestra, or if I want to back off for a while. Maybe teach music to children or something similar.” She hadn’t really considered anything beyond making a decision about the orchestra yet, but the idea of teaching kids was appealing. She hoped one day to have a family, and she loved children. She imagined it would be fulfilling to bring children and music together in a fun way, rather than the high-pressure tutoring sessions she’d endured.
“Come on, babe. Let’s dance so I have an excuse to have your body against me.” Caden pulled Bella to his side.
&
nbsp; “You never need an excuse.” Bella laughed and waved as they walked down the beach arm in arm toward the band.
“Wait for us!” Leanna grabbed Kurt’s hand and they followed Caden and Bella.
Jessica tucked the idea of teaching away for later consideration. There was so much love in this group of friends. She felt as though she’d left Boston and been plunked down on a whole new planet. She sat beside Jamie by the fire.
“Hey there.” He pulled the marshmallow he was roasting off the stick and fed it to her.
She bit part of it off, then guided the rest into his mouth and tried not to laugh when the sticky marshmallow stuck to his fingers. He shook his fingers up and down.
“I think it’s stuck for life,” he joked.
She swallowed the piece she was eating and captured his hand in hers. Their eyes met. He knew what she was about to do. She saw it in the darkening of his eyes, felt it in the tension in his hand. She had no idea that following her heart would take her down such a dirty trail, but follow she did as she drew his finger into her mouth and rolled her tongue over the sugary sweetness, sucking until all that was left was the taste of him. She held his gaze as he drew his finger slowly out of her mouth. Jamie was breathing hard. His hand came around the back of her neck, hard and hot against her skin, and their lips came together in a hungry kiss that had her mind sprinting down the dirty trail again. She was one stroke of the tongue away from climbing onto his lap, wondering if they could unzip his pants and make love beneath her dress with no one knowing. She pawed at his shoulders, his chest, and—Oh God—a moan slipped from her lungs into his. Surely everyone around them was thinking they were going to rip each other’s clothes off any second—because man, oh man, did she want to.
She forced herself to tear her lips from his. A quick scan of the beach told her that nobody cared that she was wet and he was probably hard as a freaking rock, or that she’d been ready to make a spectacle of both of them.
“Let’s get out of here.” It wasn’t a question. Jamie pulled her to her feet and crossed the sand like he was on a mission. “We’re taking off!” he yelled over the music in their friends’ general direction. Then with one arm around Jessica’s back, her take-charge boyfriend led her toward the dunes.
Chapter Twelve
JAMIE WAS HOT, hard, and hornier than a bunny on Viagra. The image of Jessica sucking his finger with that seductive look in her eyes that did him in every time played over and over in his mind. They were halfway to the dunes—the parking lot was three minutes away. Four, tops. And there was no way he was going to make it. He had to feel her against him. They were shrouded in darkness, far away from the band and the lights. He swept Jessica into his arms and cupped her perfect ass. Her eyes were at half-mast, full of desire and the same well of emotion he’d seen earlier. Jesus, he was so far gone, he couldn’t ignore his feelings for her if his life depended on it. He forced himself to slow down. After how aggressively he’d taken her the first time, he wanted to cherish every inch of her, show her how good she could feel with tenderness instead of heady need. He ran his thumb over her lower lip and heard the breath leave her lungs.
“Jess.” He breathed deeply, reminding himself to be sweet and tender, and forcing his greediness away. He lowered his mouth, a whisper away from hers, so they were breathing the same air. He had to taste her, to feel the woman who had seared herself into his heart so fast. He dragged his tongue along the swell of her lower lip, and she inhaled a jagged breath. A seductive, intoxicating sound that nearly brought him to his knees. He grazed her lips with his, kissed her softly, resisting the urge to deepen the kiss. His hands slid lower on her ass, and he felt her heat through the silky fabric of her panties. His tongue slid over hers, to the smooth enamel and jagged ridges of her teeth. Her jaw dropped open and she melted against him, giving herself over to him as she’d done from their very first kiss. Allowing him to lick the insides of her lips, the creases and corners, as he memorized every dip and curve of her sweet mouth.
He could barely think for the need to be inside her. He drew back, putting distance between their lips, if not their bodies. There was no way in hell he was letting go of her.
Her eyes opened and her lips curved into a contented smile. “Hi.”
Her whisper brought his forehead to hers. “Hi.”
“Kiss me more,” she pleaded.
“I’m going to kiss you all night long.” He forced his hands from her butt and circled her waist, lifting her into his arms. Her legs wrapped seamlessly around his waist as their lips met again in another interminable kiss. At some point, maybe a minute later, maybe ten, he became aware of his hands on her ass again, beneath her panties and inching closer to the promised land. What the hell am I doing?
He parted from her delicious lips, and his powerful legs carried them up the sandy path to the top of the dunes. Jessica rested her head on his shoulder, her hot breath on his neck, and ran her fingers through the ends of his hair.
“Hurry,” she whispered, as he picked up her flip-flops from where she’d left them.
The word shot through him like a bullet. The temperature had dropped, and a chilly breeze swept over them. Her body was so damn soft as she gripped him tighter and cuddled closer.
“Dune or bed?”
“Whatever’s fastest,” she answered.
He tangled his hand in her hair and tugged softly, so he could see her eyes.
“Baby, I want to love every inch of your body the way you deserve to be loved. I want you to feel how good your body is capable of feeling, learn each of your most sensitive spots. Hurrying is the last thing on my mind.”
Her eyes went dark. “Bed.”
He carried her to the car and settled her into the passenger seat. God, he loved taking care of her. Jamie climbed into the driver’s seat and leaned over for another kiss. Bed. Bed. Bed. He started the car and set one hand on her thigh as he drove. He was surely going to hell, because he slid that hand up until he could feel her heat. When she spread her legs and rested her head back, eyes closed, he slid his fingers beneath her panties and stroked her already slick, sensitive folds. He tried to pay attention to the road, but his eyes darted toward Jessica. He loved the way her body responded to him. She was practically panting for more. She licked her lips and shifted in her seat so he could slide his fingers into her.
“Mm.” She fisted one hand in her dress and clenched the edge of her seat with the other. “Oh God.”
Someone behind him honked, and Jamie realized he’d eased off the gas. He wasn’t about to leave her hanging, and they were still a few blocks from Seaside. He turned down a dark, deserted road and cut the engine. Without the rumble of the engine or the road noise, the car was silent, save for Jessica’s heavy breathing. He leaned over the console and drew her panties down to her thighs. She tried to spread her legs, but they were restrained by the thin material. He slid his fingers in deeper, and then he lifted her dress and leaned across the center console, bringing his mouth to her clit, swirling his tongue, taking it between his teeth and sucking, licking, teasing. Sexy little noises filled the car as she squirmed against his touch, pleading for more and holding his head so he had no choice but to continue. A thrill rumbled through him. He loved when she took a little control, and he couldn’t wait to explore more of what she liked. He stroked her wetness with his tongue and felt her thighs tense.
“Look at me,” she whispered.
The mimicking of his words brought his arousal to a whole new level as he met her gaze, and she cupped her breast, then squeezed her nipple as he’d done the night before.
“Holy Christ, you’re sexy.” He quickened every stroke of his tongue, feeling the orgasm grip her, her body pulse and swell. He watched as her eyes slammed shut and her jaw dropped open.
“Jamie. Jamie. Jamie.”
A rush of whispers that made him want to drive his hard length into her.
A few blessedly hot minutes later, she opened her eyes and he brought his mouth to
hers. It was a desperate kiss, each clawing for more as she licked her sweetness from his tongue.
“Home,” she whispered.
Less than five minutes later they were unlocking the door to her apartment. Jessica fumbled with the keys as Jamie kissed the back of her neck, his hands exploring her taut stomach and the undersides of her breasts, beneath her dress.
She turned in his arms and held her hands up by her head, surrendering herself to him again. “I can’t unlock…”
He settled his mouth on the curve of her neck.
“Unlock the door,” she whispered.
He pressed his hips to hers and held her wrists against the door.
“I think it’ll be a little embarrassing if everyone comes home and finds me buried deep inside you right here on your deck.” Just the thought had his body twitching.
She strained against his hold, craned her neck, trying to kiss him. He lowered his mouth, leaving a sliver of air between them.
“Or they might find me on my knees between your legs.”
“Jamie…” she said with pleading eyes.
“Or you on your knees.”
She narrowed her eyes seductively and licked her lips. “Open. The. Door.”
He slid her wrists closer together against the smooth wood and held them both in one hand, then pulled down the strap of her dress and lowered his mouth to the silken crest of her breast.
“Now you’re just getting demanding.” He smiled up at her as he kissed a path between her breasts.
“Please open the door? You’re killing me.”
His heart sank, and he released her wrists. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry, babe.” He cupped her cheek, and she leaned forward and kissed him.
“No, silly. You’re killing me in a good way.” She handed him the keys, then wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her cheek to his chest.
He blew out a relieved sigh.
“We need a safe word.” He fumbled with the keys.
“Safe word? Like to make you stop?”
Jamie closed the door behind them and tossed the keys on the table. He wrapped his arms around her waist and touched his forehead to hers.
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