Chapter 20 #2
He pulled his face away from mine. His hands cupped the sides of my face. Our lips hovered. Panting. I wanted his to crash into mine again. I reached for him. But Jake pulled away farther. Creating more distance between us.
“Ali,” he whispered. “We’re drunk.”
“What?” I blinked, trying to push through the haze. “So? That’s okay. I’m okay. Are you okay?”
I was breathless and desperate for this to not stop. Not now. Not ever.
“I don’t want this to happen like this. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret tomorrow. It’s okay to take things slow.”
I leaned my forehead against his and curled my hands into his shirt. “Jake, I’ve wanted you like this for weeks. I promise. It isn’t just because of wine or sad stuff. I don’t want to resist anymore. I want you to make me feel good.” I looked into his eyes, pleading with him to keep going.
He exhaled, eyes closed, like what I said gutted him.
He groaned. “Then you’ll still feel this way tomorrow, and if you still want it, I will make you feel good.”
The ache between my legs was throbbing. Damn it.
I swallowed hard and released my grip on his shirt. He was right. He was being the rational, responsible, gentlemanly one. The one he always was.
And me? I was being the wild, chaotic, impulsive one. The one I always was. And here I thought Lakeside was changing me.
I eased off his lap and turned away from him, feeling frustrated and slightly embarrassed—not because of the way I was—but by my obvious need in this moment.
And I needed this man. My body hummed with it. Every inch craved his touch. His kiss. I wanted to be fucked by this man and only this man. I wanted to feel the weight of him on me. Consuming me. Keeping me.
“Hey,” he whispered, pulling my attention back to him. “I can show you to the guest room down the hall.” He stood up and gestured for me to follow him.
We entered the cozy room. I nodded and paused.
My body was still humming. Still full of desire.
“Where’s your room?”
“Upstairs.”
“Kind of far away,” I said—flirty. “You don’t trust me?”
“Believe me, it’s for your protection.”
So he was finding it hard to resist too. Good.
“Why’s that?” I asked. I was still trying to keep him with me. Tipsy or not, I knew what I was doing. I was ignoring those stupid warning bells in my head.
This wasn’t impulse either. Maybe I was bolder because of the alcohol, but this need had been building in me for a long time. The space between my legs ached with it.
“Because it’s taking everything in me to walk away from you right now,” he admitted.
“You don’t have to walk away. I’ll keep my hands to myself,” I demurred, a new idea brewing.
“I’m going to leave now.” He made his way toward the door.
The effect I had on Jake. That alone was intoxicating. I wanted to be the one to make him lose himself. To drive him wild.
“Good idea. I’m going to have to take care of this pent-up desire on my own if I’m ever going to fall asleep.” I slid my hand below my hemline and inched my fingers to my inner thighs.
“You can watch if you want . . .” I said as I sucked in a breath.
Jake stopped and turned, his eyes growing darker and more lustful with each move I made. Still under my dress, I moved my hand against my own tender skin, gently at first. Jake’s gaze felt heavy. Present. Hungry.
My fingers circled deeper. I pictured his touch while I watched his jaw tighten. He balled up his hands. The veins in his arms bulged. I was pushing the boundaries. Making it hard for him to resist. If he wouldn’t allow himself to touch me, he could at least allow himself to watch me touch myself.
“Hmm . . .” He inhaled sharply. “You’re making it very hard for me, Ali.”
“Oh, I can see that, Dr. Elliot,” I purred.
He huffed a laugh, “Hard for me to stay put and not help you.”
“But you will. You are nothing if not controlled. You stay there. Your eyes on me are all I’ll need.”
“Okay. I’ll play.” He crossed his arms, popping his arm up and used his thumb to trace his bottom lip. The space I think I nibbled when I straddled him on the couch.
“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he practically growled, making me smile with satisfaction that he knew this game.
“The same thing I’ve been thinking about since we kissed on the trail around the lake. Against that tree. The way your lips felt on my body.” My voice was breathy. “For everything else, I’ve had to use my imagination.”
He lifted an eyebrow in response to that admission. He understood. I’d thought about our kiss and touched myself.
“And what have you come up with?” he asked.
“That you know exactly where to touch me. Like right here.” I sighed as I pressed into a sensitive spot. My pulse started to climb and my slick center warmed.
“You’ll have to remind me of that spot tomorrow,” he groaned.
We were feet away from each other, and yet the tension between us and his eyes on me filled the space. I was still fully clothed and well out of his reach, but I’d never felt sexier or more consumed by a person.
My other hand reached up and squeezed my breast over the top of the dress. Then I reached under the fabric and inside my bra, letting my fingers find my nipple and caressing along the top. Ripples traveled through my center. My climax wasn’t far.
“I see that you like your nipples teased. I’ll remember to give them some extra attention with my mouth.” He licked his lips. He looked so good standing there trying to control himself. Wincing every time I whimpered or groaned. Each inhale racked. Each exhale like a thrust. I matched his rhythm.
“I’m close,” I panted. “Oh God, I’m going to come.” I dropped his gaze and tossed my head back.
“Nuh-uh. Keep those eyes on me. I want you to see me when you come,” he commanded as he stepped a little closer. “I’m watching you. You’re fucking gorgeous. Show me how good it feels thinking about me.”
Our eyes locked. He licked his lips, his jaw tight, his chest rising and falling like he was panting with need right with me but maintaining control to allow me to have my moment.
My two middle fingers dipped inside me as my palm pressed and rubbed against my clit.
I rolled my nipple between my fingers and pinched it hard, never looking away from Jake.
In his eyes I saw all his confidence I thought I’d never get to see.
It looked different, though—because now it was overcome with desire for me.
I could see the fire behind his eyes. I knew he wanted me.
I knew I was driving him crazy. And I knew this was just the beginning.
It wasn’t just a release. It was a detonation.
I came hard, my mouth parted in a gasp, Jake’s name on my lips.
I tried to hold his gaze, but my eyes fluttered shut, too overwhelmed to stay open and pretend like I had any control left in me.
Heat rushed through my body, hot and sharp.
I shook with intensity and was left breathless and consumed.
I opened my eyes again. Jake hadn’t moved. But his eyes told me everything, like they always did.
His Adam’s apple lifted and slowly slipped. Gulping down what? I wanted to know but dared not ask.
He rubbed the front of his jeans. Not a stroke. An adjustment that outlined his hardness. Maybe telling it to stand down. Maybe wanting to see how I’d react seeing the bold gesture. Noticing his size. Seeing how aroused I made him.
I couldn’t look away. I bit the side of my lip.
A sexy little grin inched across his face. I guess he saw something he liked in my expression.
“Damn,” he said with a groan. He raked his hands through his hair and turned to the door. “Sweet dreams, Ali,” he said as he left the room.
“Night, Jake,” I said dreamily, feeling both powerful and soft. Satisfied. For now.