by Sarah Makela
Excerpt for Cold Moon Rising
With Jacob this close, it took every ounce of focus to keep my thoughts on the impending exam. More than once, I caught myself staring at his lips wondering how soft they’d be as they kissed my skin. I only hoped he didn’t notice my glances that might make things highly embarrassing.
“Think you’re up for a break, Kelly?” He shut his textbook and quirked his lips to one side. “We’ve been going at it for a while now.”
My notecards toppled from my hands, and I jerked back, caught off-guard by his words. “Uh, yeah...” If we’d really been ‘going at it,’ I would’ve refused to take a break. Stop thinking about him like that. “Yes, that sounds good. Want something else to drink? Maybe a coffee or Coke?”
The amused twinkle in his emerald green eyes melted my insides. Maybe studying on my bed hadn’t been the best idea. However, the dinette set would barely be enough room for one of our textbooks, let alone...
“Water.” Jacob leaned over me, brushing his palm over my exposed knee as he reached for the fallen study cards. “It’s kind of hot in here, isn’t it?”
He had to be kidding me. With him this close, it was like a sauna in here. I wanted to touch him, show him that all of this flirting was more than I could handle. My heart pounded in my ears. If I didn’t do something to him soon, I might explode.
As if on cue, he turned to face me. Our lips were barely inches apart, and I saw flecks of gold in his green eyes. Seconds ticked by. Was he going to make a move? I didn’t have the strength to sit by and not take this chance. Not if it meant this brief encounter would pass by forgotten.
I leaned into him. The moment our lips touched, a spark of lust... desire... chemistry burned its way inside me. One brush of lips wasn’t nearly enough. My body thirsted for more kisses.
Jacob froze in place, and I wondered for a split second if what I felt was only me. Maybe the flirting had been meaningless to him. He pulled me up so we stood beside my bed. His messy blond hair brushed across his forehead, and I ran my hand through his hair, savoring the softness.
He held me ever closer, his lips caressing mine. The kiss was gentle, careful as if afraid to take things too fast. This moment was heaven.
My arms circled his neck of their own volition, and I trailed my hands down Jacob’s back. The hard muscles flexing beneath my fingertips sent heat coursing through me. This so wasn’t a good use of our study time, especially now that final exams were on top of us, but I really didn’t care.
He’d been the only stable thing in my life since I’d come to college last September. We had three classes together that first semester, which was kind of crazy, but I didn’t mind. Ever since, we planned our courses together, as much as we could, at least.
Two of the three classes we had this semester were science and math, so I didn’t hesitate to take him up on study sessions. Fortunately, the last was English, my forte.
Jacob nibbled on my ear lobe, and tingles of pleasure blanketed my body. “Your skin is so soft, Kelly.” He slid his hands along the hem of my skirt stroking the backs of my thighs, the intensity of his touch growing less controlled by the second. His palm brushed against my backside.
If this kept up, we’d hit the point of no return. The simple kiss had gone far beyond what I’d anticipated. While I really enjoyed making out with Jacob, I wasn’t ready for sex with him. Intimacy shouldn’t be rushed. I wanted to wait for the right one, for a committed relationship. One-night stands weren’t in my vocabulary.
Besides, why give something away too fast? Most guys moved on after sex, right? Not that I suspected Jacob was that way. Besides, I counted on him studying with me. Without his help, my chances of doing well on finals for College Algebra and Physics were slim to none.
He slid his hands higher as his tongue slipped down the length of my neck, making my insides weak along with my self-restraint. A moan rasped from my throat, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure that had been my voice.
Could going to bed with him be that bad?
His mouth feels like heaven, but no! I wouldn’t go there. My rational mind struggled to make its point, but the more Jacob kissed me, the less resolve I had.
My knees gave way, and only Jacob’s hold kept me upright. This had to stop.
I pulled back, planting my hands on his chest, but he didn’t seem to notice because he hooked his thumbs into the waist of my panties. One moment they were on my hips, the next they were dainty strips of lace hanging from his hands.
A smirk curled the corners of Jacob’s lips. “Lovely. Just like you.” He didn’t seem like the Jacob I knew. There was something wilder, more untamed about him.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered, snatching the remainders of my underwear from him.
He blinked at me, his feral green eyes tightened with confusion. “What’s wrong? You seem into it too.” He circled his arms around me, either unwilling or unable to stop the delicious intimacy we had going.
What is he doing? I made myself clear. I squirmed in his arms and almost wished I hadn’t. My hips bumped against the bulging erection in his jeans. Desire mixed with an overwhelming need to take a few steps away.
The second I brushed against him, it was as if a dam burst. The intensity of what I felt for him had me spiraling out of control.
My lips met his, and I opened my mouth to him, wanting him so much and loving the feel of his body against mine. Abstinence be damned—
Wait, this isn’t what I want. But it feels so good.
