Jealousy coursed through Jordan's veins, fighting back the words to tell her she should go out with him instead of this supposed date. This date was probably some insipid fumbling youth just looking for a quick lay.
"Katie, you're far from pathetic. You're sweet, smart and beautiful. In fact, should you be going out with this guy? I mean, what will your aunt and uncle say? Maybe you need a chaperone or just not go out with him at all. I don't want you taken advantage of." He was acting like an idiot, but he couldn't seem to help himself around Katie.
He'd known her for less than two days.
He wanted her with a desperation he couldn't quite handle. He hadn't felt like this since the first time he had seen Jack standing outside his apartment in just his boxers and T-shirt. Jordan wanted to be Katie's first. He wouldn't let someone else take that from him. Katie pulled back from his embrace to stare at him before giving a laugh.
"You're too sweet, Jordan." She surprised him by planting a kiss on his cheek. "Are you offering to chaperone me?" There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"If it keeps you safe, I'll happily stand guard with my sharpened axe ready to hack him to pieces if he even looks at you the wrong way."
She laughed.
"I'm far from a silly teenage girl. I think it's time I get out and experience life and all the pleasures it has to offer."
Jordan was staring at her lush lips. They were so close, feeling her body heat seeping into his outer thigh.
"Katie, I..." It was barely a whisper. Her breath quickened slightly as she looked up at him. Oh god, she licked her lips, wetting them as if she knew what he was thinking.
He couldn't stand it any longer; he had to kiss her. He lowered his head. "Can I kiss you, Katie?"
Her answer was a soft whimpered yes that drove him crazy with lust.
He could feel her soft breath. His lips had barely touched hers when a loud horn blaring nearby tore them apart. Jordan wanted to beat the blarer of that horn to death.
She stood up, spilling her now cold tea. The horn blared again and a male voice yelled for Jordan.
Katie was looking wide-eyed and somewhat confused. She wasn't the only one.
"I think the electrician's here," she mumbled, looking embarrassed. She fumbled with the lid of the biscuit box. He jumped up, grabbing her hand.
"Sorry, Katie, I tried, I mean, I..." Oh fuck, he'd screwed this up. "I want us to be good." She looked at him before giving him a soft smile.
"We are good." She squeezed his hand then stood up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
"Now, go see to the electrician."
Jordan conceded, gave a quick nod then released her hand. Jordan went to see and strangle the electrician. All he could do was think horrible, angry thoughts in order to make his cock deflate.
~ * ~
Katie drew in a deep breath to steady herself. Crikey, he had almost kissed her. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to kiss him. She may be innocent in a lot of ways but not so naive not to have noticed Jordan's hard bulge in his pants. It seemed he wanted to do more than just kiss, and she found she wanted it too. Hell, she was already walking around with damp panties as fresh cream flooded between her thighs every time he looked at her. Her nipples could be registered lethal weapons they were so hard. Thank goodness she had worn a loose top to work over her usual long sleeved shirts.
She prayed she would make it through the day without making a total fool of herself by throwing herself at Jordan. She smiled, thinking about the way Jordan had acted over their 'almost kiss.' The way he had asked her showed he was attracted to her; any blind person could see that.
How could she want someone so badly after knowing him for less than a day? It was craziness. Her thoughts turned toward Jack Cullen. Her stomach fluttered, thinking about the kiss he'd given her. How could she want him just as much as she did Jordan? She was very confused. "All right, I think I'm officially crazy," she muttered to herself as she walked back to the old house to do some more work.
Chapter Seven
Three o'clock rolled around. Jordan had been kept busy with the electrician, so Katie had taken her lunch break by herself. Her arm ached from constant use of the plastering trawl. She had managed to finish the dining room, the kitchen and had started on the main foyer but was almost out of mixable plaster. She was still working in the foyer as Jordan walked the stout, bald headed electrician to the front door. The electrician gave her a wink as he passed her.
"You sure you can get the rest finished on Monday?" Jordan said in a serious tone.
"Not a problem. All I need to do is put in the fittings; make sure you have the ones you want."
Katie watched as Jordan gave a nod and let the man out the door. Jordan swiveled around to look at her once the electrician was gone, his hazel eyes dancing with amusement.
"It's Casper the sexy ghost."
"What?" She glanced up in confusion.
He laughed. "Have a look at yourself, Katie." She glanced down at her work clothes and smiled. She was covered in plaster mess.
"Oh, I see."
"Pack up the trawl and plaster, Katie, I'm taking you home," Jordan said with a mischievous smile. "I'll lock up." Katie cleaned out her bucket and trawl by the back tap, putting them and the ladder back into Jordan's work truck. She was just closing up the back when Jordan came around.
"Right, in you go." He took Katie's arm, opened the passenger door, and practically pushed her inside.
"But my scooter," Katie protested.
"I locked it in the shed, don't worry. I'll bring you back to pick it up later." Jordan closed the passenger door, walking around to climb in the truck cab. Katie sighed and fastened her seat belt.
"Well, you are the boss." Jordan gave her a sexy smile, making her pulse race.
Damn, the man was gorgeous.
"Yup, so doing what I ask is imperative, well mostly."
She gave a laugh as he started the truck and drove out of the property.
~ * ~
They stopped at a Wolseley trade centre to get supplies. Jordan insisted she help him pick out light fittings. He took her hand, pulling her round to each section. Katie laughed, enjoying Jordan's enthusiasm for shopping for hardware. They acquired more plastering, pipes, timber, wiring and other supplies they needed for the on-going renovation of his old Victorian. With everything packed into the work truck, they climbed back in.
"It's my turn to grocery shop this week," he said as he drove his truck down towards the east village. "It's not my most favourite of things to do. Would you help an undomesticated male with the shopping, Katie?" He gave her one of those sheepish looks.
"Okay, but what do you mean by your turn?"
"Oh, picked up on that huh? I share an apartment with ah, uh, um, mate. We plan to move into the Victorian once the restorations are complete." Jordan was looking somewhat uneasy, as if there was something he wasn't quite telling her. But Katie let it slide. She was having too much fun to want to spoil it.
"You have a shopping list?" she asked.
"Ahh, no, do I need one?"
"Well, do you know what you need or are running low on?"
"Uh, food?"
Katie stared at Jordan in astonishment.
"What do you eat at home?"
Jordan gave a shrug. "Pasta, and a lot of microwave meals."
Katie gave a groan of pity. "Didn't your mother teach you how to cook?"
"Well, she taught me how to use a microwave," he said with a touch of pride. "Mom isn't the best of cooks either." Jordan suddenly brightened. "Hey, I remember we need orange juice and milk."
Katie saw she had her work cut out for her with Jordan. They parked and went into the supermarket. It was her turn to drag Jordan around the shops, explaining easy ways to make meals. Slowly they filled the cart. Jordan was like a big kid. He kept putting in sweets, candied bananas, UFO's lollies and cakes. She kept taking them out.
"Behave yourself or I'll make you sit in the truck," she scolded
Jordan stuck his hands in his pockets, pretending to sulk. She packed everything up as Jordan paid. With the truck loaded, they drove across to an unfamiliar side of town.
"I'll have to dump you and the shopping on the sidewalk while I park the truck."
Jordan handed her a key. "If you want to start taking it inside, I'll be around directly.
It's number thirteen there." He pointed to the row of terraced apartments.
She jumped out of the truck and swiftly unloaded the grocery bags onto the sidewalk.
Jordan drove off. She picked up as many bags as she could carry, leaving two on the pavement. She dropped them at the front door before going back to retrieve the other two bags. She pushed in the key and opened the door, gathered up the bags, and walked into Jordan's apartment. It was nice, in the tones of black and white, very modern. She manoeuvred around a black leather sofa, careful not to touch anything, as she was still covered in white plaster mess. She easily found the kitchen in the large open space. After dumping the bags on the kitchen counter, she went back for the others. Jordan had beaten her to them.
"I got these. I'll show you where the shower is located. Please ignore any mess. Both Jack and I are busy people. You understand."
"Jack?" The image of Jack Cullen sprang into her head but she quickly dismissed it; there must be thousands of Jacks in London.
"Yeah, my um... the guy I share with." Katie gave a laugh. "Is he as undomesticated as you?" She followed Jordan down the hall. He opened a door. "I'll get you some clothes if you don't mind wearing guys' stuff for a bit."
"Thanks, um, what about you?" She looked at Jordan's sweaty body and dirty clothes. Self-consciously she licked her lips. She wouldn't mind a taste of his salty, sweaty skin. He smelled so male, so masculine.
"I'll use Jack's en-suite. He won't mind." Jordan's gaze was suddenly intense with that same hungry look she had seen before. He moved in closer. His body was mere inches away from hers.
"Katie, sweetheart, don't look at me like that or I may not be able to help what happens next," Jordan said in a low husky tone which sent a shiver down her spine.
It made her belly constrict. Be brave, be brave. She chanted in her head. She sucked in a breath and reached up her hand to run over Jordan's stubble cheek. It felt so good to touch him. He closed his eyes briefly, his expression reverent as if savouring her touch.
"Maybe I want what happens next," she whispered softly. Oh god, did she really say that? It was out and she couldn't take it back. She didn't want to take it back. She wanted this. This is what she had been waiting and hoping for, a man to finally make love to her, not just any man, but Jordan.
In a heartbeat Jordan's mouth covered hers in a crushing kiss. He pressed her against the doorframe of the bathroom. Katie could feel his erection pressing into her hip as his tongue ran across her bottom lip and demanded access. Her mouth opened willingly and he plunged in, delving to ravage every part of her mouth, tasting her, sucking her tongue back into his. Her hand slid up his shoulders and into his hair; she whimpered softly as her whole world seemed to spin around her. She clung to him. Her legs felt as weak as water. Jordan plundered her mouth over and over again. He tasted so good. For her second kiss ever, Katie felt that it had been well worth the wait, and now she needed to make up for lost time.
When he pulled back, she was panting for breath. He didn't stop. Now his lips moved across and down her skin to kiss and lick her neck.
"Katie, Katie, Katie." He whispered her name like a prayer. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" His lips vibrated against her neck, making her moan.
"I could say the same for you." She felt him chuckle as he shifted to the other side of her neck, moving lower. One of his hands glided up over her waist to cup her breast and he squeezed it. Her knees almost buckled. His strong arms snaked around her waist, pulling her flush against the hard wall of his muscled chest. He raised his head.
The golden flecks in his hazel eyes where beautiful to gaze at.
"Katie, I need you. Let me make love to you." He was so tender, so sweet, she wanted him, but reality and fear set in as she remembered her scars. What if he didn't like what he saw? Katie swallowed hard, trying not to panic.
~ * ~
Jordan felt her stiffen and sensed her change of mood. Something was worrying her.
Shit, he must have scared her, being too bloody desperate to make love to her.
"Katie, what is it? I've been an asshole coming on too strong. I'm sorry."
"No, it's not you. I want nothing more than to make love with you, but I have some things you may not like." Her wide blue eyes filled with nervousness.
What would he possibly not like about Katie? Maybe there was someone else?
"You do have a boyfriend."
"No, I don't."
Inwardly, he sighed with relief. She avoided his gaze, and that just wouldn't do. He put his finger under her chin, lifting her gaze back up to his. "Tell me, please. I promise you there is nothing that could make me need you less than I do now," he said softly, not wanting to frighten her further.
A sweep of strong emotion washed over him, the same kind of feeling he had for Jack. Jordan knew he'd lost his heart to this sweet little Aussie girl. He loved her. He saw her swallow and draw in a deep breath. Gently, she pushed at his chest; reluctantly he stepped back giving her the space she wanted.
"When I was eight, I got hurt. It left me with some horrible scars."
Her confession made him want to laugh. He didn't care about scars; all he cared about was Katie.
"Will you show me please?" he coaxed. If she needed her confidence built, then he definitely wanted to be the one to help. Jordan's thoughts turned to Jack. He wasn't due home for a few hours yet. He'd have plenty of time to forewarn her and tell her his secret; he would also have to warn Jack before introducing him to Katie.
She gave a nod. Jordan's eyes tracked the movement of her hands as they moved down to the hem of her shirt. She gripped it tightly in her fingers before lifting it up and over her head, peeling both layers off in one sweep.
He sucked in a sharp breath, seeing the gorgeous swell of her breasts covered by white satin-laced bra. Oh god, his cock hardened to the point of pain. She was magnificent; his gaze lowered to her left shoulder. From the bra strap a series of red and white raised scar tissue snaked its way downward to just above her elbow. His eyes swept over the rest of her semi exposed body, noticing a second scar on the right side of a beautiful rounded belly, but all he could think about were her fantastic, full hips. Jordan forced himself to focus back on the scars. It wasn't a wonder she was worried. Any lesser man would have seen them as ugly.
He smiled at her and reached for her hand, tugging her back into his embrace. He lowered his head to kiss along her neckline to her shoulders.
"Is this all you are worried about?" His hand traced along the side of her stomach scar, spreading his fingers out to feel the smoothness of her skin. Her vanilla scent was driving him crazy. "You are," he breathed between his kisses, "the most beautiful, sexy woman I have ever set eyes on." He felt her tremble in his arms. He glanced up at her to see her eyes brimming with tears.
"You're not just saying that?" she squeaked in a small voice. He gave her a wicked smile.
"Sweetheart, this doesn't lie." He took her hand and guided it down to the bulge in his jeans. He skimmed his other hand up over her shoulder to the bra strap, slipping his fingers under it to slide it down her shoulder. "I want to kiss, lick and taste every inch of your beautiful body." He watched as her eyes darkened with desire. He covered her mouth with his and this time she responded just as hungrily to his kiss, wrapping her arms tightly around him, moulding herself into him.
Jordan skimmed his hand down under the waistband of her shorts. She gasped into his mouth when he rubbed the palm of his hand over her panties. He could feel how wet the silky material was. He groaned into her mouth, so hot and ripe. He pressed his fingers into her wetness, finding her hard little nub then he pressed and rubbed it over and over again, soaking the material further.
"Oh, oh Jordan!" she panted, her wide-eyed gaze filled with surprise and pleasure as he pushed her towards an orgasm. She clung to him as her entire body began to tremble in his arms.
"Yes, that's it baby, come for me," he whispered close to her ear. He took the lobe of her ear into his mouth, sucking on it before swirling his tongue inside. Her eyes closed, and her red lips parted as she panted. He tightened his grip on her, watching the flush rise though her neck into her cheeks. She convulsed and cried out as she came for him. The sight of Katie almost had him coming in his pants. She was so breathtaking when she came. He continued to press her clit through the material of her panties, riding her through her climax.
"Oh, sweetheart, I think you needed that." He kissed her softly as he pulled his hand out. He was struggling to keep himself from ripping off her clothes and plunging himself into her wet heat. No, she deserved better than a hasty fucking in the hallway.
Jordan pulled away.
"Go shower, sweetheart." Fuck, he loved that dazed, confused expression on her sweet face.
"But I though you wanted me."
"Sweetheart, I do most desperately, but we're going to do this properly, I want to make your first time special. Right now I don't trust myself." He tasted her lips thoroughly before pushing her into the bathroom and closing the door.
His hand gripped the doorknob tightly as he pressed his forehead against the timber of the bathroom door. Jordan drew in a deep breath trying to calm the raging desire in his body. It was no use. He forced himself away from the door and hurried down the hall into Jack's room. He had to take care of his hard on before he could take care of Katie.
Chapter Eight
Jack pushed open the door of his apartment. It was always nice to get home from work early. He was looking forward to this weekend. Fucking Jordan was always a given, but adding Katie to the mix would be a nice topper.
He saw the shopping bags on the kitchen counter. Jordan must have just arrived home. He peeked in some of the bags to find them surprisingly free of frozen dinners but full of fresh ingredients. He did a quick check of the freezer. Only two microwave meals left. What had Jordan been up to?
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