But Chloe had said there was more, hadn’t she?
Ugh. The whole thing felt so dirty. Like I was a suspicious girlfriend stalking her partner’s movements because she suspected him of something.
I stood up from the bed, making a decision. Jake could tell me about his personal life himself. It was up to him to share the information if he wanted to. That’s what normal people who were starting a relationship would do—and everyone knew how determined I was to hold onto normality.
I reached over and closed the laptop. Chloe had been right. What I’d read explained so much. Jake had probably always seen himself as a jock, and then just an average guy trying to make a living. He probably thought it was purely luck that he’d landed a role in a television commercial and his life had changed dramatically.
In his mind, it was this combination of luck and good looks that had gotten him where he was, which was why he let himself be typecast. Perhaps that was why he seemed so unaffected by the stardom. He was taking advantage of it while it lasted.
But if what Chloe said was right, Jake had the potential to be more than a Hollywood heartthrob. He could be a truly great actor. I wondered what it would take for him to get there.
“Whatcha doing?”
I jumped and stifled a squeal. I turned around to find Jake standing in the doorway of my bedroom.
“Hey. Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I didn’t know where you’d gone.”
He walked into the room and I exhaled a shaky breath.
“I was just catching up on some emails from my family,” I lied. And cyberstalking you while I was at it. Thank goodness I’d closed the laptop.
“Now that you’re famous.” He wasn’t looking at me. He was walking around the room surveying my personal space.
There wasn’t much to see. It still felt a bit like a hotel room with its plush furnishings. The decor wasn’t really to my taste. Walls and carpet in shades of cream were complemented by a sofa and curtains in a soft green. The wooden bed and dressing table had a period feel to them, whereas I preferred furniture that was more modern. The only sign I lived here were the bottles of make-up and perfume and some clothing I’d thrown over the back of an armchair.
I hid a smile. “You’re all mussed up.”
He ran a hand through his hair with a sheepish expression. “Yeah, your lasagna is lethal. Ultimate comfort food. Knocked me out.”
That he could be self-conscious around me and love my cooking at the same time sent a shiver through me. “How’s Chloe doing?”
“She’s still asleep. Where’s Lena?”
He registered my unusual silence and turned to me. “Ally?”
I blew out a long breath. “Duncan was here.”
“Shit.” He paused. “Business related?”
“Not exactly.” I knew I should keep my mouth shut, but the effort involved in silencing a Valenti was akin to mastering a lunar landing. With a resigned sigh, I gave him a brief overview of what I’d overheard.
“Son of a bitch. I guess I won’t ask you back to my place tonight.”
I stared at him. It hadn’t escaped my notice we were standing alone in my bedroom. “I thought we were going to do things properly?”
“You cooked me lasagna. That counts as dinner, right? And I was going to let you drive the Ferrari.”
“You were?”
He grinned at my stunned look. “If it made you agree to come home with me.”
I took a step toward him. “You don’t need to bribe me with your Ferrari.”
He cocked his head to one side then smiled. I wished I had something nearby to steady myself on. I needn’t have worried because in one decisive step, he closed the distance between us and gave me the sweetest of kisses.
“You’re doing it again,” I muttered after a while.
“What?”
“Making me like you more.”
He pressed his forehead against mine. “You say it like it’s a bad thing. Besides, I think you’re missing the point. I want you to do more than like me.”
His lips were on mine again before I could protest, and this time the kiss was anything but sweet. Frankly, it was indecent. His mouth was warm and needy and it sent a spark through me, lighting something hot in me.
I grabbed his hips and pulled him to me, then guided us until the back of my legs hit the bed.
“Ally?”
I didn’t say anything, just stared at him with my big brown eyes, hoping I looked confident instead of wide-eyed and shocked.
His hands gripped my hands tighter. “Say something.”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
A slow grin crept across his face. “Nothing?”
I shook my head. “I don’t feel like talking right now.”
I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until, in one swift movement, he pushed me down onto the bed, all of the air in my lungs leaving me in a huff. He knelt over me, pinning my arms above my head.
“Ally?”
“Yes?” I replied, breathless.
“Are you sure?”
I almost laughed. Was I sure? I’d never been more sure of anything in my entire life. It wasn’t just because he was Jacob Swan. It was reasons I couldn’t articulate and feelings I couldn’t quantify. And I didn’t need to, because right from the start being with Jake was easy.
Would it last? I didn’t know. But I knew I’d regret not taking this chance.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
Chapter 27
I groaned, my resolve to keep quiet lasting all of one second.
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t have protection.” Oh, that would be right. I was finally ready to do something seriously life-changing and because I’d spent my whole life being boring Ally I didn’t have the foresight to prepare for this moment.
“Relax. I’ve got it sorted.”
“You do?”
“I don’t sweep ladies off their feet without being able to follow it through.”
I gazed up at him. Even with the effects of gravity bearing down on him, he still looked perfect. His skin was slightly flushed and his blue eyes danced with a mix of anticipation and amusement.
“Should I be worried that you’ve done this before?” Oh, God. He probably did this all the time. That’s why he had protection with him. I was a good girl. I didn’t do things like this—
He silenced my rising panic with a deep kiss, then drew back. “No. I’ve been waiting a long time to sweep the right lady off her feet.”
OK. Good answer. He read my silence accurately and kissed me again. Actually, he did more than kiss me. With only the power of his lips he reduced me to a mass of quivering muscles beneath him.
“Is it working?” he whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending a shudder through me.
“Not on my feet . . . ”
“Good.”
He ignored my mouth this time and dived lower, still holding onto my wrists. He slowly pushed my sweater up with his teeth, his lips grazing the skin on my stomach.
I let out something between a whimper and a moan.
He used his other hand to push the material up to reveal my cleavage. I closed my eyes, caught between the painful agony of wanting him and awareness of my heaving bosom straining against the thin material of my bra. So much about me was small, but that certainly didn’t apply to my breasts.
“So beautiful,” he murmured.
I felt a thumb slip beneath the fabric and I couldn’t help myself—I arched up, pressing myself into the palm of his hand.
My eyes flew open at Jake's deep groan. Need flared hot and electric in his eyes and he released my wrists. “Take everything off.”
I swallowed. “Everything?”
“Everything.” His voice sounded rough. He climbed off me and went to close the bedroom door.
“Don’t you want to do it?” Coward. Admittedly, being undressed by Jake held a lot of appeal. That and the thought of being comple
tely naked in front of him was exhilarating.
He leaned against the back of the door and crossed his arms. “No. Not this time. I want to watch.”
Oh, wow. My chest felt tight and my breasts obviously liked his suggestion because they felt heavy without his hands touching them.
I stood slowly, feeling slightly giddy, no doubt from the lack of oxygen. Breathing was overrated around Jacob Swan.
Not allowing myself to think, I slipped my sweater over my head and dropped it at my feet, then unhooked my bra.
He sucked in a sharp breath and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Keep going.”
Just like the first time I’d heard him speak, his deep voice sent tingles down my spine. It must have had some sort of magical effect because only that could explain what I did next.
I turned my back to him and undid the zip on my jeans. I pushed them off my hips, taking my panties with them in a slow striptease. They fell at my feet and I stepped out of them, baring my backside to him. I waited, exposing my normality in all its glory, and proud of it. I wasn’t ashamed of who I was. Plus, I was trimmer than I had been in a long time thanks to the regular runs on Lena’s treadmill, but I still had hips and a stomach—not a flat one.
He cleared his throat. “You have a damn fine ass, do you know that?”
“Genetics.”
I heard him chuckle, then he cleared his throat again. “Ally? If you don’t turn around soon I’m going to bury myself in you from behind just so I can feel that sweet ass pressing against me.”
“Oh.” Oh. I bit my lip and smiled to myself, liking the dirty way he spoke to me. “I’ll turn around if you take your shirt off.”
“That sounds like a fair deal.” I heard something soft fall to the floor and slowly turned around.
“God, Ally. Allegra,” he corrected. “You are stunning.”
He didn’t give me a chance to greedily devour the sight of his half-naked body with my eyes like I wanted to. He caught my face with his palm and pulled me in for a kiss, our chests meeting skin on skin. I felt a flutter of relief at the contact, but it was lost to a burning heat searing my skin.
His lips dropped to my neck, leaving a trail of fire as they traveled lower. I found myself arching back, my body instinctively offering itself to him. He covered a breast with his hand, taking the weight of it and circling it with his thumb.
A bolt of heat shot upward from my core and any lucid thought was overtaken by desire. I grabbed Jake’s hips, pressing myself into the hardness straining in his jeans. He responded by exchanging his hand for his mouth, his tongue teasing my nipple to a taut peak.
It was too much—way too much—and I tried to push away. A soft growl escaped his throat and he released me.
“Lie down,” he commanded.
“You’re bossy.”
“Do as you’re told.”
A surprised smile touched my lips. “Not so easygoing now?”
“You love it.”
He was right. I did. For the first time, I recognized the glimmer of the man who had played college football, who played to win, who craved the discipline of exercise and training.
I lay down on the bed and he stood above me, his eyes roaming over my body.
“You need to take your pants off.” I suggested rather than ordered him, strangely humbled by the intent I read in his gaze.
“You’ll get your turn. Me first.”
“I didn’t know I was an amusement park ride—oh!”
He’d pushed my legs open and his tongue deftly tore me in two. There was no warning, no slow build, he just used his mouth to obliterate me. Shock, heat, and a sort of sweet agony pulsed through me and I cried out.
“Jake,” I managed.
“I want to hear you.”
“But Lena—”
“Is over in the gate house with Jay. I checked. Surrender to me, Ally. Or do I need to make you beg?”
A shudder went through me at his wicked tone. I was now convinced he could play an evil role very well.
He stopped talking, which was good and bad. So very, very good and exquisitely bad. It was possible he was going to kill me.
I felt the sensation of being stretched and very nearly sobbed as he pushed a finger gently into me. It must have been good, though, because I raised my hips off the bed to help him.
I thought I heard him say ‘that’s it’ but I couldn't be sure because there was a roaring in my head and my vision blurred. I became lost to everything expect the sensation of him worshipping me, because that’s what it felt like he was doing. Honoring me, cherishing me. In the dirtiest way possible, of course, but it felt special and it felt right, like the rest of the world had receded and there was only the two of us, and we were all that mattered.
My tiny, tiny world exploded into a burst of bright light, fragments of it flying everywhere. Raining down on me, bursting forth from within me. I cried and sobbed and I didn’t care. I wanted him to hear me.
Slowly the real world came back into focus. I was greeted with the sight of Jake watching me from his position between my legs, looking particularly pleased with himself.
I raised a limp hand and tried to point at him. “In a moment . . . when I have my breath back . . . it’s my turn . . . alright?”
I couldn’t see his mouth but I could tell he was grinning by the look in his eyes. “Sure.”
I dropped my hand. “Oh? Not bossy anymore?”
“Nope.”
I laughed and it felt good. “Stand up and remove your pants.”
“Whatever you say.”
I laughed again, but when he dropped his jeans the sound got caught in my throat. I was still unable to move from my position on the bed but I was confident my eyes were living up to their reputation of complete honesty.
He stood before me in all his naked glory. I was completely speechless. He was beautiful. Sculpted in all the right places like one of those statues, but he was blissfully real. Finally managing to blink, I forced my exhausted muscles to move.
I sat up in front of him. His gaze turned serious. Hungry.
I responded by stroking him with my hand.
“Yes,” he breathed as I ran my thumb along the length.
I couldn’t remember ever being so forward before, but it turned out being with Jake in the bedroom was easy, too.
With a sense of wonder at the revelation I could be myself with him in and out of the bedroom, I took him in my mouth. Tentatively at first and then I grew more confident, letting my tongue explore.
The act I was performing wasn’t something I’d ever felt particularly driven to do—until now. I suddenly understood the appeal. The way his eyes glazed over—they were literally dark with desire—and it was all because of me. The hard muscles in his legs going taut in response to what my tongue was doing, and the ridge of his stomach rising up and down with the effort of maintaining control.
I was doing that. Me. It made me want to lap every last inch of him up.
I dared a glance up at him and almost choked (easy to do given my position). His eyes locked onto mine and what they held in them went beyond need. He was looking at me like I was vital, so very essential to his existence that I was the only thing keeping him alive.
I hesitated and he eased away from me gently.
He turned and picked up his jeans, treating me to a generous view of his backside, which I ogled appreciatively.
Having located what he was searching for, he faced me again. I watched as he rolled on the condom.
The seriousness in his eyes transformed into amusement. “Bambi, you do good things for a man’s ego.”
Like he needed help.
“OK?” he asked.
More than OK. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “If only I knew this was the secret to keeping you quiet. We would have done this much sooner.”
I tried to swat his leg, but he caught my hand and kissed my palm then pushed me back down on the bed.
Always the gentleman, his fingers found me wet and ready. He seemed determined to make sure I was prepared.
“Jake,” I complained, writhing underneath him. “I want you.”
“But I’m having fun.” He quickened the pace of his fingers and I cried out.
“Jacob Swan. It’s your turn to do what you’re told,” I ground out.
“And what’s that?” he teased.
Oh, seriously, he was killing me. Or, more accurately, tormenting me. And enjoying it.
Well, two could play at that game.
I twisted away from him, rolling over onto my stomach.
“Hey. Come back here.” He tried to grab my hips but I wriggled out of his grasp, scooting up the other end of the bed.
He lay opposite me, laughing. It really was a lovely sight.
“No more teasing, please?” I wasn’t sure if I could bear it.
He stopped laughing, but his grin remained firmly fixed. “Seeing as you asked so nicely . . . ”
I squealed as he chased me up the bed. I wasn’t sure why I was trying to get away exactly. I let out an ‘oof’ as he caught me from behind, both of us kneeling together, his chest pressed against my back.
“This will work,” I heard him say. His hand, which had been holding my shoulder, slipped down to cup my breast and I sighed.
Then he lowered his hands to my hips and carefully and deliberately eased himself into me from behind.
I shivered in shock at the feeling of being stretched and so completely filled by him. His arm came up to wrap around my chest so I wouldn’t fall forward.
“Jesus, Ally.” I didn’t need to see his face to know he was no longer grinning.
It was the best kind of intense. It was instinctive to push myself back into him and he responded by groaning and gripping me tighter, his strength a serious turn-on. The movement set our rhythm and then it was just the two of us again, desperate to possess each other.
When Jake reached around to slip his fingers between my legs, I purred like a cat and he let me fall forward onto the bed. The change of position invited him deeper still. I should have been disappointed that we weren’t able to kiss like this, but I was too overcome with the sensation of being joined to him.
Heartthrob (Hollywood Hearts, #1) Page 20
