Hard To Resist

by Janelle Denison

  HARD TO RESIST

  Janelle Denison

  Copyright © Janelle Denison, August 2012

  eBook Cover Photo Copyright August 2012 by K. Denison

  eBook Design by A Thirsty Mind

  Published by Janelle Denison, August 2012

  All rights reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Janelle Denison.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

  Jake Copeland's husky, sex-infused voice washed over Renee Griffen, making her shiver all over again. “Oh, yeah, it was spectacular.”

  Her face warmed at the realization that she'd just had Skype sex with the same guy she'd willing gone all the way with at the end of her senior year in high school, based on a mutual pact that neither one of them wanted to head out into the real world as inexperienced virgins. Unfortunately, the experience had been less than earth-shattering. For both of them.

  Now, ten years later, and that boy had become a devastatingly gorgeous man who knew exactly what to say and do to make a woman unravel and come apart—without even physically touching her. She couldn't believe that she'd let his seduction go so far, but then again, things had been heading in this direction ever since they'd reconnected on Facebook a little over a month ago. They'd gone from getting reacquainted via emails, to flirtatious phone calls, then more intimate Skype sessions.

  But for as much as they'd shared, she wasn't sure how to define this long distance relationship. It was something they'd never talked about, and she honestly had no idea how Jake felt about them. And it didn't help matters that she lived in Chicago, and he resided in Atlanta working for a marketing firm, which made it even more difficult to pursue a deeper and more lasting connection.

  Smiling shyly at her laptop's web cam, she readjusted the thin straps of the lacey camisole top she'd worn so that her breasts were covered once again. “The only thing that would have made it better was you being here in person.”

  “Yeah, we need to arrange that,” he agreed, his blue eyes still holding remnants of lust and heat from their steamy encounter.

  He braced his forearms on his desk and leaned closer to his own camera. He'd taken off his shirt just before things had gotten down and dirty, displaying a nicely muscled chest that she wished she could reach out and stroke and caress right through her monitor. As fun and sexy as this live video chat had been, and for as much as she enjoyed reconnecting with Jake, the entire situation left her wanting so much more.

  “There's always our ten year high school reunion next month.” She bit her bottom lip as she threw out the suggestion. One that would hopefully help them to figure out where all this was heading.

  He dragged his fingers through his dark hair, making the thick strands stick up in places. Disheveled looked very good on him. “You know, I've been thinking about that, too.”

  Her heart leapt with hope. “And?”

  A slow, sinful smile curved the corners of his sensual lips. “What do you think about meeting up at the reunion for a do-over?”

  She tipped her head to the side. “A do-over?”

  “Yeah. A do-over of our first time together after grad night.” He playfully waggled his brows at her. “You have to admit that having sex for the first time in the backseat of my cramped Honda Civic was awkward and less than satisfying. For you, anyways,” he said, acknowledging that at least he'd achieved gratification.

  She laughed, easily recalling that eight-second ride that had left her wondering what the fuss about sex was all about. “Yeah, it was over pretty quickly.”

  He groaned, his expression pained. “I swear I've got way more staying power now.”

  Oh, she believed him. They'd just spent half an hour sexually teasing one another over Skype and drawing out their releases, so she knew the man could definitely go the distance. And oh, Lord, the things he'd told her that he wanted to do to her—how he wanted to suck on her nipples and go down on her before fucking her hard and fast—made her hot all over again. It had been that last declaration that had sent her over the edge, and him, too. Their orgasms had been simultaneous, and watching his expression as he climaxed had increased her own pleasure.

  If he was that impressive on a video chat, she could only imagine how good he was in person. The thought made her shiver.

  “Give me the opportunity to make it up to you,” he said. “We didn't even get the chance to be together again after that.” The tone of his voice expressed his genuine disappointment.

  So true, and something she truly regretted, too. A few days after grad night she'd left for Europe for a month, and he'd gone off to college. They hadn't kept in touch, though Renee never forgot Jake Copeland and what could have been had they had more time to spend together that summer.

  Sexually, things hadn't worked out, but in every other way, he was a prince. He'd always had a great sense of humor. He'd been popular with the guys and a real catch for the girls. She'd never been able to get the “what ifs” out of her mind, especially when she'd flipped through her yearbook to the “Most Likely” page and had seen what he'd written there a few days after they'd had sex.

  She might have been voted The Girl Most Likely to Travel the World by her classmates, but Jake had made a change to that superlative to read: The Girl Most Likely to Give A Guy a Second Chance. At the time, she'd laughed at his sense of humor. But now, ten years later, Jake was asking for that second chance, and she found it hard to refuse something she wanted so badly.

  “Well?” The sensual promise in his deep blue gaze coaxed her to agree.

  God, she was so easy when it came to this man, which said way too much about the depth of feelings she'd developed for him. Somewhere along the way, during all their late night phone calls, chats, and conversations, she'd fallen hard. Not knowing where she stood with him left her feeling vulnerable, and set her up for potential heart ache. But she hoped, based on what she'd heard in his voice and seen in his eyes, there was something more there for him, too.

  “Okay, let's do it.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Tell me again why I agreed to come to this shindig?”

  Renee glanced at her best friend, Ali Seaver, as the two of them walked into the room at the Celebrations Resort where their high school's ten year reunion welcome reception was being held. The anxiety in her friend's voice was unmistakable, and Renee knew Ali's nerves were due to the fact that her teenage-crush-gone-wrong, Will Beckman, was supposed to be here, too.

  She knew exactly how Ali felt, because somewhere in the crowd of alumni Jake Copeland was waiting for Renee, ready to pay up on a sexual promise ten years in the making.

  Wanting to put Ali at ease, Renee flashed her friend a fun-loving smile. “You're my back-up plan, just in case things don't work out with my old flame.”

  “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot.” Ali rolled her eyes, though there was a bit of humor lurking in the depths. “This weekend is all about you getting laid.”

  Renee grinned, unable to argue. That was precisely why she was here, though she was hoping for something more, too. The two of them surveyed the crowd mingling at the cocktail party, where everyone was already getting reacquainted with old classmates. People were clustered in groups, and recognizing faces from her past,
Renee realized that the high school cliques had remained pretty much the same and converged even now. The popular cheerleaders and jocks were gathered together, and across the way the thespians still spoke loudly and dramatically. The preppies and those involved in student council had formed their own group as well, with the men in their Polo sand Oxford shirts and loafers, and the women in their coordinating resort wear and designer purses.

  Some things never changed.

  Back in high school, Renee hadn't gravitated toward any particular group. She'd been labeled a floater, someone who was friends with most everyone because of her easy going personality and ability to adapt to any situation. While Ali had been involved in cheerleading and followed the “in” crowd, Renee's interests had leaned more toward the arts, like poetry, photography, being president of the French and German clubs, and dreaming about exploring foreign cities outside the United States. It was no surprise that her classmates had voted her The Girl Most Likely to Travel the World—a prediction she'd more than fulfilled.

  She'd gotten her first taste of traveling abroad after graduation and she'd fallen in love with experiencing another country's cultures and customs. She'd explored many other places over the past ten years, like Japan, Ireland, Australia, and Germany, to name a few. Instead of going to college, she'd used her experience to start her own online based business as a travel agent for big corporations. She'd grown an impressive client base and made a good living, and the best part of her job was being able to travel whenever the whim struck.

  Lately, however, that “whim” was striking less and less. Over the past few months she'd become increasingly aware that her personal life was lacking. She'd never minded traveling solo, but at twenty-eight, she wanted more out of life than carefree adventures and brief affairs with the men she met along the way. While she didn't want to give up her traveling altogether, she longed for a relationship with a man that could lead to something more meaningful and long-term.

  For her, that someone had become Jake Copeland.

  “Ali and Renee, over here!”

  The two of them turned toward the woman who'd called their names. Leanne Barton, with her meticulously styled blond hair and hot pink dress, was waving them over to her little clique, which was comprised of all the popular girls who'd once been on the same cheer squad as Ali. The same ones who'd once ridiculed Ali for accepting a date with the class nerd.

  Beside Renee, Ali stiffened as they reluctantly moved toward the group. They'd had no choice—it would have been obviously rude to ignore Leanne's invitation.

  “And so it begins,” Ali murmured as she fabricated a cheerful smile. “If it wasn't for you being my best friend . . .”

  “I know, I know. You wouldn't be here,” Renee whispered back while giving Ali's hand a grateful squeeze. She appreciated her friend's support, but Renee hoped that Ali would take this opportunity to seek out Will and resolve what had happened between them ten years ago. It was the only way she was going to put that part of her past to rest.

  Renee smiled and nodded as she half listened to the conversations going on around her, mostly gossip about other classmates and what people had heard about them through social media sites. The women were still as catty as they were as teenagers, and Renee was far more interested in scanning the crowd for Jake. Thanks to their time on Skype, she knew what he looked like now—a hotter, much sexier version of the lanky boy she'd lost her virginity to.

  After a while, she finally caught sight of him talking to a few of his old high school buddies, and the thrill of seeing him in the flesh rejuvenated her excitement. He turned his head, met her gaze, and the dazzling smile that curved his mouth made her weak in the knees, as giddy as an infatuated school girl who'd just been noticed by her secret crush. She tingled from head to toe. She couldn't remember the last time any man had such an instantaneous, all-encompassing affect on her. That in itself said a lot for her crazy attraction to Jake Copeland.

  Doing her best to reign in her enthusiasm, she leaned toward Ali and spoke softly. “There he is,” she said, torn between going to Jake yet not wanting to ditch her friend. “Will you be okay if I leave?”

  Ali gave her a reassuring smile. “Go and have a good time.”

  Hearing the sincerity in her friend's voice, Renee only paused a fraction of a second before she started toward Jake, who was already on his way to meet her. Tall, dark-haired, and devastatingly gorgeous, he not only turned female heads but he exuded a confidence that was so freakin' hot it made her heart skip a beat. With his stunning good looks and amiable personality, she had no idea how some lucky woman hadn't snatched him up by now—though, admittedly, his single status was one topic of conversation he'd managed to avoid during their late night chats.

  He was dressed in a dark purple shirt that elevated the brilliant blue of his eyes and a pair of casual black slacks that tailored to his lean, toned physique. As he neared, his heated gaze took in the emerald green, strapless bandage dress she'd bought specifically for tonight's reunion with Jake. The material hugged her curves, the form fitting bodice doing a decent job of enhancing her bust and giving her a bit of cleavage. Judging by the appreciative look in his gaze, her choice of dress had been a worthwhile investment.

  They reached one another, and he didn't hesitate to wrap her up in a warm, sensual embrace that melded their bodies and felt so good in so many ways. There was absolutely no awkwardness between them, and by the time he let her go, she felt dizzy and breathless and aroused . . . and wished they were already alone.

  Staring down at her, he tipped his head curiously, the boyish smile curving his lips so at odds with the tempting man he'd become. “You still use the same shampoo,” he murmured as he wound a long auburn strand around his finger and gave a small, playful tug that tingled from her scalp right down to the tips of her breasts.

  Of all the things he could have said to her, this was the most unexpected, and his intimate comment caused her stomach to do a little flip. “Yep, Suave Fresh Mountain Strawberry.”

  The one and only time Jake had gotten close to smelling the scent of her hair was when he'd thrust inside her that first time, groaned roughly, then buried his face against the side of her neck where her hair trailed across her shoulder. He'd inhaled a deep breath right before he'd lost control and everything ended before it truly had a chance to begin.

  That he'd kept such a simple memory of that night locked away made her want to believe he was a romantic soul. However, the smoldering look in his eyes bypassed simple sentimental fancy and took a flying leap straight to lust.

  Let the seduction begin . . .

  She shivered in delicious expectation, but instead of whisking her away to somewhere more private, he splayed his hand at the base of her spine and together they made the rounds at the cocktail party. He didn't seem to care what people thought of his affectionate touches and subtle caresses that suggested they were a couple, and when someone questioned them about their relationship, he just smiled and told them that they were definitely getting reacquainted, leaving his vague response up to individual interpretation.

  When the conversation around them turned to someone else, he leaned closer, his hand oh-so-casually dipping lower on her back to the curve of her ass. “You look beautiful and so amazingly sexy,” he murmured huskily.

  Her pulsed raced, wreaking havoc with her equilibrium. With just a look from those devastatingly blue eyes, he made her feel incredibly desirable, more than any man she'd ever been with. And vulnerable, too, because her heart was involved, far more than she'd ever planned or anticipated.

  In time, they mingled toward another gathering of classmates, and yet again he unraveled her senses with another teasing, exhilarating invitation, whispered so only she could hear. “I can't wait to get you alone so I can kiss you the way I've been wanting to since the moment I saw you across the room.”

  She swallowed hard as the need inside her intensified, which she suspected was his sole intent. The thought of kissing him co
nsumed her, making her ache to feel his mouth on hers. Late night phone sex and what she imagined in her mind just couldn't compare to the real thing.

  Yet again, as they walked away from another couple, he murmured softly in her ear. “I can't stop thinking about your breasts, and how warm and soft they're going to feel in my hands and mouth.”

  Her face flushed and her nipples puckered into tight, sensitive points. He’d come so far from the inexperienced boy he’d been, and he had her so flustered and on edge she couldn't think about anything but getting him alone and having her way with him. Or vice-versa. Before anyone else could interrupt them, she brought him to an abrupt stop.

  He smiled at her, much too innocently for a man who had her on the brink of combusting, right then and there. “You’re tense. Is everything okay?” he asked.

  She exhaled a stream of breath that did nothing to ease the tension he'd caused. The powerful pull of hot attraction, along with the desperate longing for him to make good on his last promise to worship her breasts, overwhelmed her. “Are you purposely trying to drive me insane with lust?”

  “Oh, absolutely, sweetheart,” he replied shamelessly. “It's called foreplay, something that you and I missed out on ten years ago.”

  She swallowed back a small groan. “You're killing me with all your sexy come-ons, you know that, right?”

  The wicked gleam in his eyes confirmed that he had just enough bad boy in him to reduce her to a quivering mass of need. “I take it you're ready to blow this joint?”

  She nearly swooned. “I thought you'd never ask.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Once Jake had Renee's answer, he clasped her hand tight in his and made a beeline for the exit. He walked with such single minded purpose that no one dared to waylay them for another round of meaningless conversation—though they did attract a few curious stares on their way out the door.

  He didn't give a damn. Coming to his ten year reunion had never been about getting reacquainted with people he no longer had anything in common with, and everything to do with Renee Griffen and finding out if all those emails and late night chats had affected her as much as it had him. Not just physically—clearly, they both wanted each other badly—but emotionally, too. Because at some point, when he'd least expected it, she'd become more than just a fun, sexy “do-over” to indulge in at their ten year reunion.