“Oh … Well … Jayden, thank you, but I'm all right. I know you have things to do, and I need to head home.”
“I’m doing what I need to be doing, and if you’re ready to go back, then I’ll walk you.”
“I am, but you don’t need to. You don’t owe me anything.”
“You’re correct, I don’t owe you anything, but you owe me a few things.”
I jerk back to look at him. I have no idea what he is talking about. He notices the confusion over my face and continues. “I want answers. I need to know what I’m up against before I have to go around punching the whole city.”
“You’re not up against anyone. Simon is the past that won’t leave, and Nick, I’m done with.”
“Good, now let’s get you home before you catch a cold.”
“Jayden, why did you come find me? I thought you said you were done with me.” I fiddle with my fingers and keep my gaze on the cold concrete below my feet.
“I might have said it, and I wish I could stick to it, but there’s something about you, Morgan, that I just can’t stay away from. Maybe if I never found out how good you taste, I could fight you away.”
I don’t respond, but I do stand up and offer my hand out to him. As Jayden places his hand on mine and rises to his feet, we’re face to face. We stand this way for a little bit as we stare into each other’s eyes. Jayden lowers his forehead down to mine and I watch through my hooded eyes as he closes his and releases a sigh. It’s like he’s fighting this attraction just as much as I have been. But why are we doing this? We both have an attraction to each other. Hell, my whole body catches on fire when he’s near me. It’s not how he speaks or touches me, it’s in his eyes; the way he watches everything I do, right down to the stupid smile he’ll give me to convey everything he’s thinking or feeling.
My heartbeat picks up a few beats faster. My breath hitches in my throat. This moment feels more intimate than anything I have ever experienced.
THE WALK TO MY APARTMENT seems to take forever as we walk side by side in the quiet. I take in everything around us, the way the air smells, the way the cars passing by seem to have no idea what a mess my night has been. Even the way the smoky air blows out when the other couples around us are talking. It’s like a movie scene, when you know the end is about to come and you’re trying to make it last as long as you can. Our steps are small and slow as we get closer and closer to my apartment. My hands are stuffed deep inside my coat pockets, but nervously tapping against my body as I try to come up with something to say. I go to open my mouth and shut it just as quick, as I decide I want to soak up this moment with him. It might be the last time I see Jayden. I have no idea what we are doing. We’ve been dancing around our chemistry for a month now, only for it to always end in a disaster. It’s like the Gods of love are torturing us, showing us just what we could have, but it’s out of reach.
We turn to head up the sidewalk that inches us closer to my door. As my hand comes out and touches the door knob, I take a chance and search for my voice. “Want to come in for some hot tea, or something?”
“Sure,” he says, causing my heart rate to pick up speed.
It’s not the first time Jayden has been in my apartment. I’m instantly brought back to that day when Simon showed up. I wonder how far we would’ve gone if not for the interruption. Jayden slides my jacket off my shoulders and I take it from him and lay it on the back of the chair in the living room. He follows my steps and does the same as I watch him repeat what I just did. “Tea, hot chocolate? Or do you need something stronger?” I ask as I make my way toward my kitchen.
“I don’t think we need hot chocolate. What do you have that’s stronger?”
“I have some brandy, but that’s about it. I’m not a big drinker so I never keep it in stock.”
“That’s fine,” he says as he leans back against the counter and crosses one leg over the other one, shadowing the same action with his arms. I turn the heat on under the kettle to warm the water for me and grab a brandy glass for Jayden. On my tiptoes, I reach up to the top cabinet to retrieve the bottle that Simon would keep here. I feel a hand softly touch my shoulder as he reaches up and grabs it for me. I turn to him and watch as he places it on the counter. A lump forms in my throat as his hands come up to cup my face. Jayden leans down closer to me, and our mouths are inches apart when he leans his forehead to mine. I can hear my heart beating in my ears as my blood starts to heat up. I want him to kiss me again, I want him to touch me like he did the last time we were in my apartment together.
Just as I finish the thought, he brings my face up to look at him, and the way he’s staring into my eyes speaks volumes about what’s in store. His soft lips land on mine in a gentle peck to see what my reaction will be. When I don’t move, his tongue darts out to wet mine before he goes back for another kiss. This time he deepens it as he moves his hands to the back of my neck. My hands slide up his back and gather at the crease of his neck and hairline, pulling him in to me. Our mouths become sinful as we claim each other. The need for more has overtaken my body as Jayden pulls back, breathless. I pray he doesn’t walk away; I couldn’t take him leaving. I go to speak, but he lays a calloused finger to my lips to shush me. With a gentle stroke, he pushes away the hair that’s fallen down on my face. “I want to see all of you, but I need to know that you’re free of him. I won’t be a sidekick to make him jealous.”
“I don’t belong to him, and even if I did, I couldn’t now. I don’t know what you have done to me Jayden Rivers, but you’re all I think about.”
“I should be a gentlemen and leave, but something about you, Morgan, has me making bad decisions.”
“We can be bad together,” I say, and as soon as it registers with my ears, my eyes go wide. This is not me, Jayden brings out an altered side to me.
“You're cute when you blush. That’s what I love about you. Deep down you have this sexy personality but don’t know how to show it. That’s the beauty within you.”
“Are you trying to sweet talk your way into my bed?”
“No, I’m telling you the truth. I already know where we’ll end up. I just had to know you’re free to be with me.”
“I’m so free, and all yours.” And as soon as I finish, the awareness of what I said hits. I just gave him my heart, and I don’t want it back.
A flame glistens within his eyes as those words register for Jayden. It’s a spark and enough to ignite his next move. In one swift movement, Jayden hauls me up to him, and I wrap both my legs tightly around his waist. Our lips devour each other as he walks us toward my bedroom. I feel the jerk in his body as his legs touch the side of the mattress. Gently he lays me down. My back sinks into the mattress from the weight of us both, and I watch as he pulls back and slides his shirt over his head. My eyes admire the sight before me, his chest glistening from the light cast from the streetlamps through my blinds.
I’m in a simple black dress and wonder how I’ll get out of it, but not for long. He leans down and lifts my back from the bed. He slides the zipper down and lays me back down. My arms rise above my head, hips lift to allow him the space to slide it up and over my head. My body aches. It’s pure agony lying here watching him take my body in. His eyes glide down my body taking in the pink and black lace bra, matching panties, and when they land on the garter belt that’s attached to my stockings, he shakes his head. A laugh escapes when his finger pops the side of the belt. “This is different, but I like it,” he says in a deep husky voice as he shifts my panties down, leaving the belt and stocking’s in place.
“Noted,” I say and mentally make a checklist to go buy more so I can have this effect on him. Jayden leans forward and claims my mouth again, only to pull back and say, “I’m addicted to your taste. You always smell sugary, and taste even better.”
I allow myself to get lost in everything Jayden. I don’t know where we will go from here, but right now I’m right where I want to be. He shifts his body weight around, never breaking contact as
he slides his pants down. When I hear the thud of the material hitting the floor, my heart rate picks up even more. I know what’s coming next. My legs wrap around his back allowing the access he needs. A moan escapes me as he enters, causing me to arch my back from the mattress. Gentle thrusts in and out as our bodies move, and another deep moan from me only fuels Jayden to move faster. My hands let go of his back and land down next to my sides as I grip the comforter underneath me. He slides a hand behind me lifting me more, and I allow him to play my body like you’d play the strings of a guitar. I thrust my hips in the same motion as his as we sync ourselves. It’s like our bodies have become one, and I don’t know where mine ends and his begins. As his speed quickens, I lose myself in the overwhelming contractions within my body. I’m close and he knows it. I open my mouth, but he stops me. “I want to watch you; I want to lose myself in your eyes.”
And it was my undoing. Those simple words take us both to another level of pure ecstasy. The spasms that course through both of us are strong and something that I’ve never experienced before. This is an experience I have never felt, something so raw and pure wrapped into one. As my trembling legs unwrap from Jayden’s back, I soak up his touch as he caresses the side of my face. “Morgan, you’re going to be the worst and the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, but you, Jayden, make me want it all. You give me back the hope I thought I lost. I’ve never been so turned on, or been able to get off like that. In the past, I couldn’t with him. It was emotionless sex, not like what we just shared.”
“I know the feeling. Let me get you cleaned up and tucked in,” he says, and my eyes must say it all, as I’m not sure what he’s meaning. “I was going to …” he tries to explain, but I stop him.
“I got this, I’ll be right back,” I say as I slide out from under him and head to the bathroom. This is something new, and I’m not sure how to react to the gentleman lying on my bed. I take this time to gather my senses. I need a moment to process.
A few minutes later I emerge from the bathroom, and Jayden is tucked into the other side of the bed where he slept that night. In one giant move, he throws back the comforter and pats for me to come lie down. I forego my regular pajamas and crawl in next to him, bra, garter belt, and all. Jayden pulls me into him and wraps his arms around me. My body relaxes into his, and all the worry I had moments ago fades away. This right here, it feels natural, like my body was made to fit against his. The way we moved together as if it was a practiced performance, it’s like our souls are meant to be one. The only question I have now is, what will happen when the sun rises in the morning? Where does this take us? That’s what goes through my mind as I fade away into a deep slumber, protected in Jayden’s arms.
MY EYES DART AROUND the room as I remember last night and the person who is wrapped around me. For the first time in ages, I let the smile that threatens to break free. This is what I’ve dreamt about, waking in someone’s arms, feeling like they protect me from the outside world. It’s just one of the things that were missing from the relationship I had with Simon. We never cuddled. It was always like I was sleeping with a friend. Jayden Rivers, on the other hand, proves all past relationships wrong. I notice the time and gently lift his arm so I can slide out from underneath his weight. Not in a rush, I glance down to where I left him asleep and admire his features. He’s grabbed my pillow, and I swear I witness him sniff it, which makes me laugh. I leave him to sleep a little longer as I head to start the shower. Jaime opened this morning, but I still need to show up at a reasonable time. Just as I step in and allow the heated water to hit my naked body, I hear the faint sound of the door opening and just the thought of Jayden being in here makes my body come alive.
“You got room for one more?”
“I think we could manage,” I say, but I’m not sure about sharing a shower with Jayden. He’s the first to ever share the same water space with me. In the past, I used to imagine Simon with me in here, but that never happened. As the water streams down my back, I watch him step in and close the glass door behind him.
“Morning. Sleep well?” he asks, giving me a sexy smirk that makes my legs go weak.
I swallow hard and find my voice. “Morning. I did, and you?”
“Better than I normally do. Did you know you put off a ton of body heat while you sleep?”
Words can’t even begin to form in my head as I’m distracted with him invading my space. All of a sudden I feel self-conscious and not sure what to do. I turn my back to him and grab the shampoo so I can continue my shower. I hear Jayden behind me as he picks up the bottle of shower gel and squeezes it on the luffa. I jump from my skin as the material touches my back. “Easy, tiger, I’m just going to wash your back.”
I allow him to continue, my eyes closed as I take in the feel of his hand and the motion. “Sorry, this is new for me,” I say in a hushed tone.
“You’ve never showered with anyone else?”
“No, you are the first.”
“I like that. I like that I’m the first one to witness this. I also like waking up to your body next to me, and being able to do this.”
I turn to face him. “What are we doing, Jayden? What’s this mean?”
“What do you think we’re doing?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I know what we did, and what’s happening right now, but … You know, what about tomorrow, or next week?”
“How about this, we take each day as a new one as we figure this out? Who says we have to classify it? I know I like you, and I hope you feel the same.”
“I do, and that sounds like a safe plan. One day at a time.” I place a quick kiss on his nose and we both finish showering. After I step out and dry off, I head to my closet to search for something to wear today. The image of last night, when Jayden took my dress off and saw the garter belts, makes me want to wear a dress today. I don’t know if I’ll see him this evening, but just the thought of it make me smile. Jayden steps out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and droplets of water dropping to his chest from his hair.
“I need to dress and head home to change before I go in this morning, but do you have plans tonight?”
“I don’t think so. The bakery has been slow, so I haven’t had to stay late since the holidays.”
“Okay, well, I’ll either stop by or call you later.”
“I’ll answer,” I say and laugh at how stupid my response sounds.
Jayden walks over to me and places a sweet kiss on my lips. It’s not intense like it was last night, it’s more of an “I’ll see you later and don’t forget about me” kiss.
“I’ll talk to you later, have fun today,” he says as he exits the bedroom, and I hear the front door open and close behind him.
I plop down on my bed and take a moment, just long enough for me to get my boundaries set. I was supposed to be working on myself, but I can’t deny myself the attraction I have for him. It’s like nothing I have ever experienced. I’m scared to put my heart on the line for him; it petrifies me that he could do the same thing Simon has done. Jayden is nothing like Simon, or anyone else I have ever dated. They broke the mold when he was born. I finally pull my head out of my ass and finish getting ready for the day. On the walk to the bakery this morning, I instantly reach up and touch my lips, and the memory of the shared embrace hits me.
When I enter the shop, I notice we have a few more regulars sitting down enjoying their coffee and pastries this morning. As I approach the counter, I let a smile out as I say good morning to Jaime and Zara. I take in Zara, who looks a little better today. Her color is back and the dark circles that were taking up residence under her eyes are lighter.
“Did you murder someone this morning? You have this radiating glow around your face,” Zara says, causing Jaime to laugh.
“No, I just had a good night and an even better morning.”
“You had a date last night with Nick. And by the way, he’s already been h
ere this morning and said he’ll be back later. So… Spill it,” Zara demands while I grab a cup and pour some coffee into the mug.
“I did, but I wasn’t with him, I was with Jayden.”
“Jayden? What are you now? Are you doing tricks or something? Because the last I knew, you and him weren’t speaking. And let me remind you, you had a date with Nick.”
“Yes, the date started with Nick and ended up with me leaving after Jayden punched Simon and then he walked me home. Oh and he stayed the night and I finally took a shower with a man,” I say with a goofy smile.
Jaime pipes up. “Wait, you just now took your first shower with a guy? How is that even possible?”
“Yes, and it’s easy. Simon didn’t like it and wasn’t a morning person. You have to remember, we didn’t live together, only spent a few nights together.”
“That explains a lot, you know. Did he have a small penis? That’s usually why men don’t like to shower with women,” Jaime says, causing me to choke on the hot liquid.
Zara just shakes her head before she says, “First, this chick here has me beat. Second, I would have paid money to witness Simon getting punched. Third, you had sex, didn’t you?”
“She does have you beat. You might need to up the game. You would have loved it, but he did deserve it. And if you must know, yes, I did, and now I’ll go to work.”
“Oh hell no you won’t … Jaime, you take the counter. I need the details and need them now.”
“No you don’t. Plus, you know I have stuff to do.”
“That shit can wait. It’s not every day your best friend acts like a hooker. I need this … Are you going to deprive a pregnant lady?”
“Lord, I can see it now, you are going to use that baby to get your way for everything, aren’t you?”
“It works with Hatcher, so I thought I’d try it out on you. Well?”
Frosted Sweets (A Taste of Love Series Book 1) Page 16
