“What does it feel like?” His breath quickened.
“Silky soft, full. It feels so good.”
A deep moan sounded in her ear. “I’m hard already.”
“Touch yourself, Jake. Like it was me.” She ran her finger around her nipples, closing her eyes to picture Jake sitting at his big, manly desk, holding himself in his hand, thinking about her.
“Shit, Mandy. I’m at work.”
“Are you doing it?” she whispered.
“God, I want you so bad.” Jake growled. His words made her body ache for more. She pulled her pants off and lay back down. “Tell me what you want to do to me.”
“I’d lick you from head to toe. Then I’d spread your legs wide and tease you with my tongue.”
“I’m spreading my legs right now.” The idea of his eagerness excited her more. She moved her hand lower searching her pleasure point. “Your mouth works wonders, Jake.”
“Your body is my heaven. Your smell. Your touch.” A heavy sigh sounded from the other end of the phone. “Are you touching yourself?”
“Mmmm.” She smiled. “And picturing your mouth on me, all over, circling and –”
“Mr. Edwards.” A woman’s voice interrupted on Jake’s end. Amanda jerked her hand up.
He whispered. “Hold on, Mandy. My secretary’s buzzing me.”
Jake spoke with his secretary in the background and finally Jake reappeared. “Shit, Mandy. I better let you go. I have a phone call from a client.”
“And we were having so much fun,” she mumbled.
“I’m going to have to find a place to take a cold shower. The gym upstairs or something.”
“While you take your cold shower, I’m going to finish my fun. Alone. Thinking of you and your big – ”
“Shit. I’m counting the hours ‘til I see you.”
“Goodnight, Jake.”
A low rumble of laughter fell across the line. “Sweet dreams, Mandy.”
Chapter Ten
“MISS, DO YOU NEED some help?” Jake stood at Amanda’s side, dressed in a dark blue suit and holding a Nathan’s Hot Dogs bag.
She took a quick sharp breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard a sexy, fashion-show manager was looking for a date.” His eyes were as bright as his smile.
A warm glow flowed through her as she leapt into his arms, dropping her carry-on to the floor. Hugging his neck, she crushed into him, and pressed her mouth to his. Jake held her chin with his empty hand and kissed her back.
When she pulled away, Jake tugged her closer by the waist and rubbed her back. “You feel so damn good. Welcome home.”
Her heart beat in her chest and heat surged through her. That was how she felt in his arms. At home. Wanted. Desired.
“God, I missed you.” She cuddled her head into the crook of his neck.
“You, too, Mandy.” He handed her the Nathan’s bag. “For you.”
She laughed in sheer joy. “A man after my own heart.”
“I figured you had enough of that French crap.” He grabbed the luggage handle and wheeled the suitcase behind him. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Amanda followed. “You know, most people think French cuisine is an exquisite culinary experience.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You forget how well I know you. You’d prefer a New York hot dog over a cream puff any day.”
She opened the bag and sniffed. “You’re absolutely right.”
He chuckled and escorted her to a dark town car.
“Another hired car?” Amanda stopped. He didn’t even hint that he would pick her up or that he knew what time she arrived. Yet, here he was, full of surprises.
“After our last phone call, I couldn’t wait to see you – alone.” Jake rubbed her cheek. “Get in.” He took her hand and led her into the backseat.
Once the car door shut, Jake pulled her onto his lap. Amanda squealed, then rested her head on his shoulder. Just feeling him so close to her sent her heart into flurries. She let out a satisfied sigh.
“How was your flight?” Jake whispered, his breath hot against her ear.
“Forget my flight.” Amanda fingered Jake’s chin then grabbed his jacket lapels. Parting her lips, she raised herself to meet his kiss. His demanding lips caressed hers, slowly at first, but then they searched hers hungrily. As his strong hands rubbed her bottom, his hardness pressed into her leg. She moaned as he positioned her body lower down in the seat. His lips seared a path down her neck and her head drooped back.
The driver turned up the radio and she opened her eyes to see the car drive pass the airport tollbooth. “We better stop.”
Jake pulled back, his breath heavy. Shaking his head, he said, “Too many days apart.” He bent to kiss her again, but Amanda placed her finger over his lips.
She lowered her voice and nodded to the front. “We’re in a town car and I don’t want to give a show. You have to control yourself.”
He eased his hold on her and blinked. With a sigh, he took her off his lap and handed her the bag. “It’s past lunchtime. Eat.”
“Actually, dinnertime in Paris.” She pulled out a hot dog and opened the wrapper. “How’d you know I’d be starving?”
“Lucky guess.” He tried to grab the bag. “Give me one.”
She laughed and handed him a wrapper. “You’re grumpy now.”
He got a hold on the bag. “Yeah, well, I’m hungry.”
“I know exactly what you’re hungry for.” Amanda giggled.
Jake leaned over, wiped a smudge of mustard off her chin, then licked his finger. “Mmm. You taste good. I can’t wait to get you home.”
“I’ve got to get back to the store.”
Jake shook his head. “You’re coming home with me.”
Her lips pressed shut and she held her chin up. “I have a lot of work to do.” She knew he wanted to see her, but she had to think of her responsibilities. She couldn’t afford to be distracted by his romantic notions or lose her job.
He grabbed her chin. “You’ve been gone for five days and I’ve had withdrawals. I need you.” He kissed the tip of her nose and finally settled on her mouth. “I took off work to be with you.”
“Believe me, I’d love to go home with you, but I have to get to work. It was a condition of my supervisor when I asked for Friday and Monday off.”
His jaw tightened and he ran his hand through his hair. Rolling his eyes, he leaned over to talk to the driver. “Change in plans, Derek. Drive us to Macy’s.”
“Yes, sir,” the driver answered.
Jake threw his rolled napkin into the paper bag. “When will I see you, Mandy?”
Her heart tugged. She didn’t want him to be mad. Trying to lighten the mood, she laughed. “We’re together now.”
When Jake didn’t answer, she sighed. She didn’t know how to juggle it all. She wanted to see him, too, but she had her priorities, right?
After a long pause, she wound her hands inside Jake’s jacket. “Let’s meet for an early run tomorrow.”
Jake’s eyes searched her face. “Fine.” He gathered her into his arms and held her on his lap again. “For now, let’s make out.”
She laughed and gave in to Jake’s demands. Who knew he’d miss her so much? He wanted her. He needed her. She allowed him to take her to a safe, lazy place full of soft kisses and gentle touches.
****
Jake worked at his dining room table, his laptop opened to a contract. It was 12:30 in the morning and he wondered if he should call Amanda to see if she’d gone home yet. Shit, he’d even catch a cab and head to her apartment if she would let him. Five days apart had been too long. He didn’t even want to think about what that meant.
A message beeped into his phone: I need you, too. I’m downstairs.
He practically ran to the door to buzz her in. He leaned on the door jam, waiting for her to come, and looked down at what he wore. Only boxers. Shrugging, he hoped it was enough to turn Mandy on, since he couldn’t s
top thinking about her in his bed... naked...
The elevator dinged and Amanda stepped out with a sleepy smile across her face, looking every bit a temptress. The smirk on her face told him she was up to no good, and no good was perfectly fine with him.
Gorgeous couldn’t even begin to describe the woman in front of him. She wore tight black slacks, a white sweater that hung off her shoulder, and boots. Her disheveled hair was sexy as hell.
“Hi,” he croaked, not even aware that his heart pounded.
Without a word, she walked past him and pulled her sweater over her head. By the time Jake slammed the door, Amanda had everything off – sweater, boots, slacks – except her lacy black panties and bra that taunted him.
She turned and her eyes darkened with heat. How he stopped himself from touching her, he didn’t know, but he had the rest of the night – or morning – to explore every curve that called out.
“Jesus, Mandy, you’re breathtaking,” he whispered as his gaze roved her body, lazily appraising her.
He sauntered over and reached out, but she held her finger up and said, “Nah, ah, ah.” Then pushed him away to the kitchen counter.
She reached behind, unsnapped her bra and let it fall to the ground. Through the moonlight, her breasts peaked and her nipples beaded. A goddamn beauty.
“Mandy,” he pleaded.
Ignoring him, she licked her lips and slid her fingers down her stomach to the tops of her lacy panties. Her hand lingered at the top and when he took a second to look up at her face, the fire in her eyes burned brighter. She bit her lip and he looked down again to see that she had traveled further down to touch herself.
Am I dreaming? He pressed his hand against his chest, splaying his fingers out. His heart actually seemed to freeze and pound at the same time.
“What are you doing to me?” He reached out and she took a step back, her butt hitting the dining room table.
Shaking her head, she pulled her panties down to pool around her ankles and kicked them off to land on his counter. He swallowed hard as he slid his boxers off, waiting for her to signal for him to approach.
She smiled slowly, spread her legs, and beckoned him with her finger. “Come here.”
With two steps, he had her body in his arms and his lips on her neck, her hair, her ears, because he wanted to taste her everywhere. The blur of frenzied moments blinded him. Her hands tangled around his neck and he grabbed her ass, pulling her closer. When he pushed her back against the table, she wrapped her legs around his middle and arched into him.
He grabbed his laptop and tossed it into a nearby chair. With one swoosh, he had the rest of his folders and papers off his makeshift work area and himself and Amanda on top of the dark wooden table. She fisted her hands in his hair and pulled his mouth to hers as he let his hand grace down her thigh and back up again to the center of her universe.
“Jake,” she cried out as his thumb brushed her in a slow circle.
He hovered above her and their eyes locked. She reached up and touched her breasts, tugging at her nipple. The action made her arch more into him. His pulse hitched and his face roamed downward as he took over with his mouth -- all the time, circling her inner core.
She called out his name again, arching and squirming, yanking his hair. The thought of bringing her to this delirium made him even hotter. It wasn’t just the sensual pull that wound him up. It was the fact that she hadn’t said a word... only his name.
She had texted him I need you, too.
Damn right, he needed her. In more ways than she could imagine.
When Amanda’s body moved quicker around his fingers, pleasure flared in his heart. He leaned down and kissed her swollen nub, making her moan and grab his head, moving her hips against his tongue. As he circled her over and over, her body shivered beneath his mouth. When she tried to move faster against him, he held her hips to slow her motions.
“Take it easy, baby.” He murmured, as he moved her knees up and pulled her butt to the edge of the table for better access.
“I need you. Now.” She clutched his shoulders.
He chuckled and lifted his body. “Now you talk?”
He loved knowing that he was the only one who could make her lose control like this. His hands explored the soft lines of her waist, and rubbed gently back and forth. He bent his head down and outlined the tips of her breasts with his tongue. She arched her body toward him and shuddered.
“Jake.” His name was a plea. She reached down and held the length of him. “Condom. Purse,” she breathed.
A low, uncontrollable moan of pleasure shook his throat. Quickly retrieving her purse and finding a box of condoms, he raced back to the table. “Want to move to the bedroom?”
“Now!” she cried out.
He kissed his way up her body, starting with her nub, which made her squirm beneath him. Her stomach was next, then her waist, her nipples, her neck and her chin. Feathery kisses made her writher against him. He finally looked into her eyes and entered her in one full thrust.
Amanda met his cry.
Did she even know how weak she made him? Sweet Jesus, he would do anything for her, right here, right now.
Jake grabbed her hands and held them above her head as each thrust willed a longing inside him. A closeness, an intimacy with a woman. He lifted his gaze to her face and what he saw scared him... but excited him at the same time.
She loved him too.
The world spun and careened on its axis.
Amanda was the one. She was all he needed in his life. To hell with his insecurities. He would take her now, tomorrow and forever, in any way he could.
With the realization, he moved faster and Amanda met his pace. With each thrust, his muscles flexed, ready for release. He surged one last time into her melting body and shuttered inside her, as she exploded with him.
Contentment and peace flowed between them, as their breaths evened out. He held her, still buried deep inside and pulled her closer. He wanted this feeling to never end, but as time ticked by, he knew they couldn’t stay on the table forever.
He leaned up and smiled. “Eating at this table will never be the same.”
She laughed and reached up to caress his chin. “It’ll be our little secret.”
“Let’s get to bed.” He stood and pulled her off with him, leading her to his bedroom.
Once in bed, he curled her body into his and nuzzled her neck. “Goodnight, sweet Mandy.”
“Mmmm.” She whimpered and they both let sleep overcome them.
****
Jake woke to annoying beeping. It was still dark outside. Way too early. He reached over Amanda and found her phone. “Mandy. Your alarm.” She only wriggled next to him, so he pushed the off button. He pulled Amanda closer to him so that she curved into his body. “Do you really need to get up this early?”
“Just give me a few more minutes.” She curled into his body, eliciting an immediate reaction from a certain part of him.
Jake rubbed her arms and chuckled. “You may not leave at all today, if you don’t stop that.” One hand slid down her taut stomach to the swell of her hips.
She settled back and sighed. “I wish we could do that today, but I can’t.”
His hands moved downward and skimmed her waist to her thighs. “I shouldn’t miss work either, but I’m calling in.”
“No, Jake. I really have to go in.”
He rolled his eyes. “Are we going to go through this again?” When Amanda started to pull herself out of the bed, Jake grabbed her hand and gathered her on top of him. “Okay. Okay. Just stay and talk for a little bit.”
She squirmed against his lower half and smiled. “I don’t think you have talking on your mind.”
He chuckled and rubbed her ass. “Baby, I definitely would rather bury myself in you.” He caressed her butt with both hands. “But, we do need to talk. Christmas is a week away.”
She leaned into him and sighed. “Yeah.”
“We need to make our flig
ht arrangements to Louisiana.” They were going home together, whether she liked it or not.
When she frowned, he continued, “I actually made the reservations yesterday. I wanted to check with you if the dates were okay before I bought the tickets.” His hands moved up her back.
She shrugged his hand away. “You should’ve asked me first.”
“I know, but I’m impatient. Haven’t you figured that out by now?” He fingered her collarbone. “You’re beautiful in the morning, you know that?”
“Hey, stop the sweet talk.” She took a deep breath. “We can go together if you keep it a secret, like we agreed.”
He nodded and lowered his finger to the tops of her breasts. “Of course.”
“And I can only go for five days.” She reached for her phone and lay back on her side of the bed.
He liked that she had a side of his bed. In fact, he was ready to have that side of her bed a permanent fixture in his life. What would she say if he asked her to move in? She’d probably go ballistic again. Making plans for them was not something she favored. He would have to think of a way to ease her into the idea.
She looked at the calendar on her smartphone. “How about we go on Thursday, the twenty-second? That would give us a few days to spend with the family before all the uproar of the dinners. Plus, Carley’s baby is due on that day, she’s usually late, but you never know…” She stopped when he smiled back at her. “What?”
“Do you realize you talk with your hands a lot?” He kissed her fingers. “I love that.”
She smiled back. “Sweet again.”
“Now can we have a quickie before you run off and leave me again?”
She threw her phone to the bottom of the bed and straddled him. “Only if you really let me take charge this time.”
“Baby, you’re always in charge, whether you know it or not.” He chuckled and allowed his hands to explore the soft lines of her back, her waist and her hips.
Amanda’s head fell back and a smile spread across her face. “I could get used to these kinds of mornings.”
Time Changes Everything Page 9
