Chapter 39
Mia
A warmth kisses my face, like the sun on a clear day. It’s like a dream I’ve had countless times before, as if someone is there kissing me, touching me.
My eyes slowly flutter open to the sight of deep green eyes tenderly observing me.
“Good morning, princess, did I wake you up?”
“Were you watching me sleep?” I rub my eyes as I adjust to the early morning light.
“You looked so beautiful and peaceful, it’s hard not to watch.” His lips curve into a tender smile.
I roll over and straddle him, his body hard and warm beneath me. My fingers tangled in his blonde tousled hair, gently ruffling it as I lean down to kiss his neck. He shivers under my touch, his breath hitching.
“What are you doing, baby girl?” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Nothing,” I grin, my lips brushing against his skin.
“Douxy, you say no sex, but you didn’t say no kissing .” I tease slowly, drawing out the words, watching the way his eyes darken even more.
“Douxy?” He raises an eyebrow. “That’s french, right?”
“Yes, doux, it's French for sweet.” I smile, biting lightly on his neck. He groans, a distinct sound that sends a thrill through me. “Hmmm,” I moan, “so sweet.”
I laugh as he rolls me over and pins me on the bed, his green eyes turning into a darker shade of hunter green. My laughter dies in my throat as his hardness pressing between my thighs, memories of early morning sex, middle-of-the-night sex, and the best orgasms I’ve ever had flood my mind. Desire shoots through me, and as always, it seems that he can read my thoughts.
He smirks and kisses my forehead before pulling away.
“I hate you,” I grumble, throwing a pillow at his head.
“I hate you too, Moonie.” He chuckles.
“Moonie?” I remember how he used to call me that back at the cabin, but I never asked him why. “Why do you call me Moonie?”
“You’re like the moon,” he begins. “You have phases, and each one is beautiful in its own way. Sometimes you’re bright and full of light, and other times, you’re mysterious and hidden. But no matter what phase you’re in, I’m drawn to you and the light you bring to my life.”
I take a moment to think about his words, a playful smirk forming. “Is that your way of saying I’m moody?” I pretend to be offended.
“That’s what you got from that?” he teases, moving over to tickle me. “Maybe I should call you Moody.”
“I was joking,” I giggle, squirming under his touch. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” I look at him from under my lashes. “Thank you.”
“I meant every word,” he says as he leans in to kiss me again.
My phone rings, breaking the moment. I glance at the screen—it’s my grandmother. I pick it up and bring it to my ear. “Bonjour, Elena,” I say, listening to what she’s saying.
“Perfect, à tout à l’heure.”
“My grandmother invited us for breakfast,” I tell Jake as I put the phone down.
“Is Luc going to be there?”His face turns into a frown.
“Yes, and what’s with the face?” I tease when he doesn’t laugh. I move closer. “Why do you have a problem with Luc?”
“Because,” he hesitates, “I don’t like him. With his perfect French accent, the guy is too perfect.” His jaw tightens. “And don’t forget he kissed you.”
“It was one kiss, and he apologized for it. We’re just friends now.” I hop onto his back, looping my arms around his neck to kiss behind his ear. “You’re my perfect guy, Douxy.”
How can he not see that I’m utterly and completely in love with him? My heart belonged to him long before we met.
With one swift movement, he shifts me until I’m straddling him. When our eyes meet, my heart, my stomach, my whole body does all kinds of funny things. The look in his eyes is enough to make me melt.
“You’re perfect,” he says, tucking a few of my crazy curls behind my ears. Why does my bonnet always come off when I sleep? But I love the fact he started using a silk pillowcase without me even asking.
Oh God, he is perfect.
“I’ve got to get ready,” I blurt out when his intense gaze becomes too much.
“You can shower here, then we can go together and I’ll wait for you to get ready,” he suggests.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, baby,” I lower my voice. “You, me, naked in the same bathroom.”
“I have self-control, baby. Do you?” He smiles knowingly. “You can use the tub and take a bath, and I’ll use the shower.”
“You know I can see you in the shower from the tub, right?”
“Yes, and?” He smiles again.
He wants to play—two can play this game, Jacob Harrington. Let me see that self-control, baby.
As always, he gets my bath ready for me, turning around to give me privacy as I slide into the warm water, even though he’s seen every inch of me—even the little birthmark on my buttock.
Once I’m settled, he gets into the shower, keeping his back to me. I have a front-row seat to the best view in the world. My eyes trace the lines of his back, lingering on his firm ass. I love how it tightens when he’s fucking me. Desire coils in my belly, and I need some relief. We agreed on no sex, but we said nothing about me pleasuring myself.
I slide my hand between my thighs and let out a small moan as my fingers find my swollen clit. He turns abruptly at the sound, his eyes widening through the fogged glass shower when he realizes what I’m doing. Now I have a clear view of his shaft, and I watch as it grows longer by the second. Fuck, I forgot how big he is.
The heat and desire radiating from him scorches my skin as my movements become more urgent and faster. Another moan escaped from me as I locked eyes with him. I’m almost there; I can feel the pleasure coiling in my stomach, ready to explode as I imagine his skillful tongue on me. The whole time, he just watches, his eyes dark and intense, not even touching himself. He watches as I turn into a beautiful mess in front of him.
Closing my eyes, I am consumed by the intense pleasure that courses through every inch of my being. When I open them, I find Jake standing in front of me. Water drips from his chiseled body, forming small puddles on the floor. My eyes trace down to where he’s painfully hard, and I clench my legs under the water. Biting my lip, I realize I’ve never had the chance to taste him, but now I want to.
Just dating, Mia. No sex, remember? That’s what you always wanted.
I wonder if he’ll stop me if I try.
He kneels beside the tub, gripping the edge so tightly his knuckles are white. His jaw clenches, and his green eyes, practically burning into me, darken.
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?” he growls, his breath hot against my ear.
A shiver runs down my spine at his proximity. “I guess I have some idea.” I have the upper hand, and I know it.
He cups my cheek, his thumb brushing my lower lip. “You enjoy torturing me?” His voice is rough with need, his eyes intense and yet teasing. “I could pull you out of the tub and fuck you against the sink, and you wouldn’t stop me, would you?” His tone doesn’t match the raw hunger in his eyes. “But I’m not gonna do that.” His eyes soften.“You just wait, Moonie. I’ll show you self-control.” His low promise sends another wave of desire through me, making me ache for him even more.
He stands up, his eyes never leaving mine, and grabs a towel. The fabric rustles softly as he wraps it around his waist. The muscles in his arms and chest ripple with every movement, taking away my view, and I can’t help the pout that forms on my lips. Who am I now? That’s what a summer with him did to me.
He holds a towel for me as I step out of the tub, and I follow him to the bedroom, where he has my clothes washed and ready for me.
“Get dressed. We have breakfast to get to,” he says, his brows furrowed, and there’s a slight twitch in his jaw as if he’s fighting to maintain control.
This game of self-control is just beginning, and I can’t wait to see who breaks first.
After Putting on my olive-green jumpsuit, I grab my phone to check my email like always. There’s a notification sitting at the top of my inbox. My heart pounds in my chest as I stare at it.
Could this be it? I try not to have my hopes up.
My thumb hovers over the email before opening it. Whatever the answer is, I’m ready to accept it. My eyes follow the line as my pulse quickens with each word. I re-read the last line over and over, my eyes and my mind trying to make sense of it.
I sit on the bed, my legs wobbly as I fight the tears burning in the back of my eyes. Jake rushes over and kneels in front of me, his hand on my knees. “Baby, are you okay?”
I shake my head, my breaths coming in sharp bursts.
“Baby, talk to me, please. What’s wrong?” His hand squeezes my thigh gently, grounding me.
“I received an email.”
“And?”
“I have an agent for my book series.” Laughing and sobbing, tears spill over. “I emailed her about a month ago, and… this happened.” I hand over my phone to him, and wait for him to finish reading.
His face lights up with a smile as he puts the phone on the bed. He lifts me off the ground and spinning me around. “Yes, I’m so proud of you.” He laughs.
I giggle. “Thank you.”
“You’re going to be a published author, baby girl,” he sets me down gently but keeps his arms around me.
“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot that has to happen before we get to that point.” I know I need to be realistic and not set my expectations too high, but it’s hard to hide my excitement. I’ve been waiting for this moment.
“You got this, okay?” His hands tenderly hold my face. The certainty touches the deepest corners of my soul.
“Okay,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.
I have my bookstore, a chance to finally publish my book and the love of my life.
Love of my life.