“Jacob…” she whispered.
He looked up and silenced her with his expression. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted you?” She shook her head no. He tilted his head, speculating. “Well, I could tell you, but I’d rather show you.” Grinning, he rose up to kiss her and gently pressed her down on the bed.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and arched her back when she felt him tugging her tee out of her jeans. He pushed her shirt up to the band of her bra and slid down to kiss her belly button. She squirmed. The kisses across her tummy tickled, but when he started upward, she held her breath, body tingling with anticipation. He nosed the shirt higher and kissed the underside of her left breast through her bra, his hands caressing her sides.
“If you change your mind, tell me,” he said.
“I won’t.”
Her whole body felt intensely sensitive and he’d barely touched her, yet. He slipped her tee higher with both hands. She raised her arms so he could slide it over her head. He tossed it on the floor, his eyes zeroing in on her cotton-clad breasts. They weren’t special, or anything, barely a B-cup, and she closed her eyes. It was easier to feel what he did than see it.
“Bethie…” His breath touched her lips before his mouth did.
Mmm… Kissing was good…kissing she knew how to handle.
He could render her mind silent, distracting her into not noticing his sneaky hands until they reached places, like under her bra. She gasped into his mouth at the feeling of his calloused fingertips circling her nipple. Her bra sprung loose, his other hand having found the clasp in back.
He cupped her breasts with both hands, timing his movements with his kiss. Playing her as deftly as his guitar. Heat concentrated between her legs and she pressed her chest into his palms. The world could fall down as long as he didn’t stop touching her.
And while her mind went wandering again, he rendered her topless… “Um…oh…” Whatever she’d been about to say flitted away when he suckled her breast. His teeth grazed her nipple, which she liked a lot. “Oh, God…”
He chuckled with satisfaction when he made her arch off the bed.
Sitting up to pull his tank off, he undid his belt, then slid the belt out of his jean-loops, tossed it on the floor, and came back down to her.
Oh, wow… Skin-on-skin felt awesome, especially with how soft his was. The metal button of his jeans was cold on her tummy, and it clicked to her his belt buckle would have scratched her skin. So thoughtful.
“My pretty pet… Feel good?”
“Don’t stop,” she said, and arched into his hands again.
She finally opened her tightly-screwed-shut eyes and looked down, her breath catching when she saw the sexy gleam in his gaze. There was no mistaking he wanted her. He was the predator ready to devour her all up, and…where was he going?
“You’re definitely not naked enough, love,” he announced, and undid the fly of her jeans.
Oh, God. Thankfully, she shaved today. He slid her jeans down her legs and dropped them on the floor. Ran his gaze down her body. She wished she could dive under the covers without looking like a complete fool, and covered her breasts with her arms.
“Hey…you’re beautiful. Come here, kitten.”
He wanted me to stand? She scooted to the end of the bed, blushing down to her armpits. He took her hands and pulled her to him, twining her arms around his neck.
“Been dreamin’ about this since you first kissed me.” He looked her over and shivered. “But are you sure? It’s only been a week and…I don’t want to lose you because you regret this tomorrow.”
His vulnerability touched her. For the first time, she knew she had power over him, too.
“I want this. You. It’s always been you.”
He revealed a dazzling smile and dipped his head to kiss her. She met him in the middle, standing on her toes. He hugged her tight as their tongues dueled for dominance, his hands splayed on her back. Her desire simmering long enough, she snuck her hands between them and popped the button on his jeans. Humming his approval, he picked her up and laid her on the bed, her head on one of his pillows.
“Hold that thought,” he said, and walked out of the room.
“Hey...” She moved the covers from under her butt and kicked them toward the foot of the bed.
He returned a minute later and shut the door, leaving them in darkness except for the faint glow of the city through his small window. She watched his jeans drop to the floor, then he crawled up the bed to hover over her thighs and started sliding her panties off.
Oh, God…
Okay, so I’d never done this before, and now Jacob was—
“OH!” she shrieked.
That was good. That was really good. Note to self: singers have dexterous tongues. It felt too good to get self-conscious over his face being down there. His fingers joined his tongue, gently sliding inside her, stretching her.
“You okay?”
“Uh-huh!” Her stomach tightened as her body got ready to soar off that cliff to bliss…and then— “You’re stopping?”
The bastard chuckled. “Only for a second, love.”
He crawled up her body and kissed her. She melted into the kiss, just like the others, her hands wandering with a mind of their own. He was built so beautifully, so strong, and hard…well, something pressing against her hip was hard.
Her lover was smooth, too. She didn’t even notice he’d moved until he was nudging at her entrance.
“Let me in, baby,” he whispered hotly in her ear.
This was the moment, the point of no return. Any further, and I would never forget this. Did I want to know how well he could love me? How it felt to be as close as two humans could possibly get? My eyes opened again to see him gazing down at me, his expression naked, completely open. I didn’t want to cry, so I just smiled and moved my legs further apart.
He kept eye contact with her the whole time until he was fully seated in her body. Kissing her, he started slowly rocking, like he didn’t want to pull away. “God, you feel good.”
“You, too,” she said.
“Wrap your legs around me, love.”
She complied, her eyes rolling back when the new position changed how he stroked her inside. It was like they were made to fit perfectly with each other, the tension from her previous near-climax building again until her ears were buzzing and her skin prickled hot. Then he slowed down again, taking longer strokes and driving her mad.
All with a look of adoration. It was beautiful, he was beautiful, and I thought I could die. If this was my last moment, it couldn’t be any better. “I wish I could stay,” she whispered.
“We’re here now, you have me. Always my girl…aren’t you?”
“Yes…” Always had been, really, so why stop now?
He sped up. She felt her inner muscles tightening, her delayed orgasm near again. “Close?” He must have felt it, too.
She nodded, clinging to his shoulders. He slipped one hand between them and rubbed her clit. “Oh… Don’t stop.”
“Not gonna.”
It was too much, but she needed more…then her body arched off the bed and endorphins flooded her blood. She panted hard enough her throat was instantly dry.
He thrust a few times and collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily. “Damn…”
She giggled. Felt drunk. His face was next to hers, so she turned her head and kissed his nose. It was the closest part handy.
“Gimme a minute and we’ll go again,” he said.
Again? She tried to reply, but all that came out was more giggling. He broke her brain.
He grinned. “Can you try a coherent sentence, sweetheart?” She shook her head. Her smile probably looked really goofy. He softly kissed her lips. “I’ll be right back.” He carefully moved away.
She watched him drop the condom in the trashcan next to his desk. Oh. Good thing he’d thought of one, as it never crossed her mind. He got back in bed, pulling the covers over them, and wrapped his
arms around her. Her body was like a rag-doll’s, limbs flopping where he pulled her.
“Take a nap, Beth. There’s time.”
She snuggled into him. “Thank you.”
He felt Beth go lax in his arms after a few minutes, and sighed happily. Brushing wisps of hair off her face, he whispered, “I love you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Beth stretched, rubbing her body against him, and opened her eyes. “How long was I out?”
“Less than two hours.”
She tilted her face up to kiss him. “Mmm. I’m going to use your bathroom.”
“Hurry back.”
Slipping out from under the sheet, she located her shirt and bent to pick it up, giving him a nice view of her cute little bum. She pulled the tee on and left the bedroom, the shirt just skimming her thighs.
He tucked his hands behind his head and waited, his erection returning—though, it’d been at half mast from the moment she snuggled up to him nude. Normally not the cuddling type, holding her filled him with sweet warmth. She was still the only girl he’d ever watched sleep. The only girl he wanted to.
The bathroom door opened and she came back. Her hair was down from the ponytail and her face scrubbed clean. There was no hesitation in crawling into bed. She straddled his lap and kissed him again, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth.
She trailed hot kisses along his jaw, brushing his ear with her nose, and down his neck, pausing to nibble on his pulse point.
“I love this cologne on you,” she said.
“Yeah?”
She nodded. “Oh, yeah. Drove me nuts in high school. The night of Prom?” She shuddered.
“You helped with my tie.” He had a vague memory of his date, a nice friend he hadn’t clicked with.
“Uh-huh. You complained it was too tight.” She bit above his nipple, making him hiss in pleasure-pain.
He wrapped his hand around her hair and gave it a light tug to get her to look up at him. “Want you.”
She grinned and slid downward under the sheet. He felt her hand grip his prick and moaned, then felt a condom rolled down his shaft. Didn’t know she had one in hand—sneaky.
She sat up, pulled her shirt over her head, tossed it to the floor, and crawled up his body to fuse her mouth with his. He knew this time would be even better than the first, with no anxiety in the mix. She wiggled until he felt the head slide along her slick opening. Just the tease of what was to come had them both moaning into the kiss. She slowly took him inside, inch by inch, and paused, breathing fast.
“Feel so good, baby,” he said. “You okay?”
“Just needed a minute. You stretch me.” She started rocking her hips. Her eyes fluttered shut, the expression on her face one of pure pleasure.
He’d have to get her back to the house by sunrise, and it wasn’t fair. They were just beginning to touch something special. He’d imagined making love until they were too tired to move, sleeping in each other’s arms, then having a late breakfast in bed. Saying goodbye in mere hours wasn’t part of the original equation.
He didn’t want to let her go—out of his arms or his city.
It would take amnesia or senility for me to forget this night. I thought I understood how it was supposed to go, you know? Your mom told you it should be special and to wait for someone you love. The romance books described the act in minute passionate detail. The horror stories of classmates made you fear everything that could go wrong.
None of that prepared me for the actual experience of spending hours in Jacob’s arms cocooned in the darkness. I didn’t know our breathing would sync. Couldn’t have imagined the connection of looking into his eyes while he came. The pleasant ache in muscles I’d never used in this manner before—not that I wanted to be sore, but from the knowledge of how I got that way. Our shared grins when our limbs were too noodle-y to go another round again.
They showered together, unwilling to part until they absolutely had to. He wanted to help Beth wash parts, though, which led to naughty soapy touching and her having to tell him she was too sensitive for a quickie against the shower wall. Guaranteed way of making your man pout, let me tell ya.
The sun was just starting to illuminate the city when he took her home on the bike. He parked at the entrance of the property, not wanting to chance waking someone in the house with the engine noise.
“Call me when you know the time of your flight,” he said.
“Wait a few minutes. Your mom probably left the info on my bed.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Mmm…bed…”
“I know…I could sleep ‘til noon.”
“Wore you out, did I?” he asked, wearing a proud smirk.
“Hey, I’m not the one who had to slam a Red Bull to be able to drive.”
He laughed. “Fair enough. Come on.” He took her hand and led her through the gate.
Luckily, the front door and its lock were well-oiled. They entered with only the slightest sound.
“Wait here,” she whispered.
“Don’t trust me in your boudoir?” he teased.
“Hell no.” Not with them both wanting to strip down and curl up in bed until tomorrow.
She took the stairs with gingerly steps, both to be quiet and because of her protesting thighs. Just as she thought, Vivian had scribbled the flight number, time, and gate on a notepad in neat cursive. She copied the info and went back down to him.
“Flight leaves at noon if it’s on time.”
“Too soon.”
A lump developed in her throat. “Don’t make this harder. I have to go.”
He sighed, and hugged her. “I know, love. Sorry for bein’ a selfish git. Your mum is a special lady and you should be with her to support her.”
“Thank you. Well…see you in a few hours?”
He pulled back enough to meet her eyes. “Count on it. I’m escorting you as far as they’ll let me.” She nodded, knowing if she tried to speak she’d cry. He cupped her face, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, and softly kissed her. “Until later, sweetheart.”
“Later.” She appreciated that he didn’t say “goodbye”.
He slipped out the front door. She watched him walk down the drive to the street, then went up to her room, the tears she’d been holding back no longer cooperating. Exhausted, she set the alarm, then changed into pajamas and brushed her teeth. She’d pack when she got up.
Once she stretched out in bed, though, the saying too tired to sleep came to mind. Her fears started taking over—fear Mom wouldn’t be alright, worries about his feelings fading away once she was gone—and she couldn’t shut off her brain.
When the alarm buzzed, she felt like she’d just fallen asleep. It took a few minutes to get her body to follow the command to get up and shut it off.
Twelve hour flight. She could sleep on the plane.
Jacob came back shortly after she went down for food. He looked about the same as she felt—walking zombie.
“Coffee, dear?” his mother asked him.
“Please.” He walked over and kissed Beth on the cheek. “Hey.”
She looked up. “Hey. You have a show tonight, too, right?”
“Yep.” He dumped a generous helping of sugar in his mug. “Rumor has it a critic is gonna show up.”
“Pro review? Sweet. It was a good show last night.” Though she preferred the performance at his apartment.
He grinned, winking at her when his mother’s back was turned. “Thank you.” He looked at her plate—two slices of melon and a piece of buttered toast—and added a scoop of scrambled eggs.
She glared at him and mouthed I’m not hungry. He shot her a look of disapproval and put two pieces of bacon on the plate, too. “Stop that.”
“You need to eat,” he argued.
“I don’t like starting with a heavy stomach.”
“Ah, the bickering. No wonder I thought L.A. was so quiet,” Vivian said.
“Sorry,” they said in unison.
She
shook her head, smiling. “Elizabeth, are you packed?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She nodded. “Very well. Jacob, help with her things and get her to the airport on time?”
“You’re not coming?”
“As much as I’d like to see you off, dear, I feel I would only be in the way.” She patted Beth’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll see you soon. The sale of the house still has to be overseen.”
“Oh.” On the one hand, she was glad to get one more moment alone with him. On the other, it didn’t feel right leaving Vivian here.
“Jacob, could you give us a moment?” she asked.
“Sure.” He got up from the table and went outside.
She took Beth’s hand. “The truth is, I’m not good at goodbyes. You’ll need to be brave, Elizabeth, and my blubbering won’t help…because this isn’t goodbye.”
“Just ‘see you later’.”
She smiled. “Exactly. If you need to talk when you get home—”
“I’ll pick up the phone. I, um… I can’t thank you enough for your hospitality. This trip was a big deal for me.”
She glanced at Jacob pacing outside. “Important for both of you, it seems. Well, give me a hug, and we’ll part with smiles.”
Gladly. Beth lingered in the embrace as long as she let her. Logic was usually her course, but intuition told her this trip had changed her life, that the path before her would be different, and not for the cliché reason of losing her virginity. If there was another Beth out there facing her mother’s illness without these memories, experiences, she’d be much more alone.
Mrs. Lindsey left the kitchen and Beth tried to finish her breakfast. Jacob came in off the patio, sat down, and watched her eat. “You didn’t finish your toast,” he said.
“It’s cold.”
“Microwave is over there.”
She stood with her plate and set it next to the sink. “Back off, okay? I’m too anxious to eat much and pushing food at me doesn’t help.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” A chair slid on the tile. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
She leaned back against his chest. “Know you’re only looking out for me.”
Kissed Page 13
