Chapter 24
24
We walked from the bridge to a quiet side street and a tiny coffee shop that had a long queue outside. As we waited, Jake told me that this was his favourite place to get a coffee the last time he’d come to the city. ‘I came here on a research trip for my book Meet Me in New York and discovered this place.’
I knew that was about two years ago as I had read that book while I did the rounds of interviews for a book-related job. I’d been starting to get frustrated and down, wondering if I ever would be able to work with books like I had always wanted to. I had started reading Meet Me in New York after a particularly bad interview where I had arrived late thanks to a sudden Tube station closure, been directed to the wrong floor by an unhelpful receptionist, and then proceeded to knock a bookcase of books over. I had sunk into my bed that evening and opened up Jake’s novel, grateful to escape into a life that wasn’t my own. ‘That book really cheered me up after a bad day,’ I told him. ‘I remember the characters have their first kiss over a cup of coffee.’
‘This is the place that inspired that scene,’ Jake said. He smiled at me. ‘It’s kind of crazy to think of you reading my books.’
‘Yeah I guess you can’t feed me a romantic line from one of your characters because I will know it’s not really you saying that.’
He laughed. ‘I’ll watch myself. But just because one of my character’s might have said it, all those lines were written by me and I’d never say anything romantic to you that I didn’t mean.’
‘I think dating a romance author could be dangerous,’ I replied. ‘Oh, not saying we’re dating but you know what I mean; if you tell me romantic lines, I might get carried away…’ I said then cringed at myself. ‘See? I always get carried away and say stupid things in front of you!’
‘I told you – I like the fact you say what you’re thinking. Back on the bridge, I was dying to know what you were thinking after we kissed,’ Jake reassured me with a smile. ‘And maybe I want you to get carried away, Freya.’
I was still staring at him as we reached the front of the queue and were asked for our order. He wanted me to get carried away? This man really was trouble…
I ordered an iced coffee as it was such a lovely day and Jake ordered a latte then we both got a cream cheese bagel. Jake led us to the Battery – a park where we found a bench overlooking the Hudson River. We sat down and as we started to eat and drink, Jake pointed out the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
‘So surreal,’ I admitted, shaking my head at the fact that I was looking at such an iconic landmark for real. We sat in silence for a minute, drinking and eating, as we took in another amazing view.
The silence was a contented one. Which for me was unusual. For maybe the first time in my life, I didn’t feel the need to shatter the calm by talking or trying to find out what the person next to me was thinking, or believing that I needed to entertain them. It again felt so far out of my comfort zone; I wasn’t sure what was happening when I was around Jake but I hadn’t experienced anything quite like it before. I liked it, though.
After a minute, Jake turned to me. ‘Are you okay?’
I met his gaze. ‘Yes. Why?’
‘I don’t know; you’re quiet so I was worried.’
That made me smile. ‘I suppose I’m usually not great at letting silences drag on. But this was… nice.’
‘It’s nice being here with you,’ Jake agreed. His words made my heart stutter a little bit that he felt the same way I did.
‘You ever have a moment and wish you could just freeze it and let it exist for hours and hours?’ I asked.
Jake thought about my question for a couple of seconds. ‘Yeah, I do wish we could freeze moments sometimes but then if we could, would they stay special in our memories? Or are they special because they are fleeting and we never know when we’re going to have one or how long the moment will last? Maybe that makes us hang on tightly and enjoy it for as long as we are in it, right?’
I nodded slowly. ‘It’s true. I thought I’d like to keep this moment going for a long time but you’re right; it’s special because I know it has to end soon. And I need to make sure I remember it.’
‘I’m honoured this is a moment you want to remember.’
I tore my gaze from his eyes and looked back out at the Statue of Liberty. ‘I don’t often feel calm or at peace. I’m thinking at a hundred miles an hour most of the time. And talking at it too, as you know. But I felt it then. I feel it now.’
Jake exhaled loudly. ‘The fact that you feel calm with me… God, I want to kiss you again.’
I turned back to him. ‘Why don’t you?’ I challenged.
He smiled and leaned in to brush my lips with his. Then he kissed my cheek and slid down to my jaw, moving to kiss me under my ear and then down the side of my neck, making me sigh. He kissed back up my neck to my ear then leaned in to whisper, ‘Do you have any idea the hold you have over me already?’
I shivered with pleasure. I wanted to believe every sweet thing he said. He sounded so sincere. He made me feel so good. I could feel myself wanting to get carried away too. I had been looking for kisses and touches and moments like I had read about in romance novels. And now finally, here they were. How could I stop myself now?
His lips found mine again and this time, this kiss was even more passionate than it had been on the Bridge. Our lips met in a frenzy and I didn’t think I’d ever kissed a man with such abandon in public. But there was a magnetic pull between us and I was helpless to resist it. His lips pressed harder against me, his tongue searched for mine and his arms held me snug against him. I moved closer, wishing I could climb onto his lap and maybe I would have done if we had been in private. His tongue massaging mine turned me on more than I could have imagined.
When Jake broke from my lips, and moved back to kiss my neck, his hand reached for my hair, tugging it over to one side so it fell over my shoulder. The move surprised and thrilled me. I let out a soft moan.
‘That sound,’ Jake breathed into my ear, ‘might be my downfall.’
‘Jake,’ I breathed as he pulled my earlobe into his mouth and gave it a little suck. ‘Everyone can see us,’ I said, even though I wasn’t sure I actually minded one little bit.
‘Sorry, you’re right, I’ll stop.’ Jake pulled away and looked at me. ‘Shall we go somewhere else?’ He stroked my hair. ‘Anywhere you like?’
‘Anywhere?’ I asked, trying to focus my thoughts on his question but it wasn’t easy with my chest rising and falling with ragged breaths and my whole body humming with desire.
‘Hmm. Anywhere you want,’ he replied, giving me another soft kiss on my lips, staying close to me as his eyes searched mine. ‘What do you want to do, Freya?’
I thought about earlier when I wondered if he was going to suggest our hotel as our next destination. The words bubbled up and I couldn’t stop them. I craved Jake. My body was desperate for more of his kisses and touches. I mean, it had been a long time since it had had any and I needed more. ‘Let’s go back to our hotel,’ I said in a rush. My cheeks turned pink but I held his gaze as confidently as I could. I didn’t think I was at all seductive but I hoped Jake wanted this as much as I did.
Jake’s eyes darkened as he looked back at me, his eyes dropping to my mouth then back up to my eyes again. ‘That’s what you really want?’ he asked slowly.
I nodded.
‘But I know you were worried about what I’d overheard in your office: that I thought you might be easy…’
‘I’ll never really know if that made you think of me in that way more than you ever would have otherwise,’ I said. ‘But these kisses aren’t enough. I want more. I need more.’
‘You know I feel the same,’ he said in a low voice.
‘We don’t have long left in New York…’ I had no idea if there was even a possibility that this sudden and unexpected fire between us could continue past this trip and if not, would I regret not doing more than just kissing Jake? The answer was a resounding yes. ‘We should make the most of it.’
‘I feel like I never know what you will say or do next,’ Jake said, shaking his head. ‘And it’s addictive.’
‘So, yes to going back to our hotel?’ I bit my lip, hoping he wouldn’t reject me.
‘It was always a yes,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to be sure you were sure. We do whatever you want, okay? You just want a kiss and a cuddle, that’s more than enough for me…’ He held out his hand. I took it and he pulled me easily up off the bench with him. Then he put his fingers under my chin, tilting my face up towards his. ‘Okay?’
I nodded. ‘Anything I want.’ My mind was alive with delicious possibilities. It had been a long time since I felt this kind of desire for a man. It was heady. Exhilarating and terrifying. But one that I knew I would be forever pissed at myself if I ignored. ‘Maybe we should get a taxi,’ I added impatiently.
Jake chuckled but his eyes flashed with equal desire. ‘Hmm. I think that’s a very good idea.’