Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Sinclair
“You’ve got something right there.” Jameson reaches toward me.
He set the table while I was arranging the flowers in a very large glass vase in my room. Instead of seating us opposite each other, he opted for two elegant place settings next to each other.
When I reached the table at precisely eight o’clock, he was dressed in a well-tailored dark blue suit and a striking patterned tie.
I smiled when he yanked on the back of one of the chairs to pull it out and laughed out loud when he waited for me to sit before he did.
He called himself a true gentleman. I didn’t disagree.
“Where?” I ask as my fingers skim over my chin.
“Right there.” His thumb centers on the corner of my mouth. He swipes it there, catching what looks like a single grain of rice.
I watch as he takes it between his lips.
That shouldn’t be sexy, but it is.
I drop my gaze to my lap. I thought I could handle this. The delicious food, the robust wine, and the way Jameson kept leaning closer to me to brush his forearm against mine have made me feel a million different things.
Longing, excitement, regret, and a little frustration top that list.
“Are you all right?” he asks as he studies my face. “You’re a little flushed.”
I suck in a breath and place the blame squarely on the wine. “I had a little too much to drink.”
He glances at my almost full glass. “You had three sips.”
I make it four by downing half of what’s left before I place the glass back down with a shaking hand.
Jameson reaches for it, pulling it into his. “You’re nervous.”
I look at our hands. I could lie, but he’ll see right through that. He could always see into my soul, so I admit it. “A little bit.”
He brings my hand to his lips to kiss my palm softly. “Tell me why.”
“Sex,” I blurt out the word without giving it any thought.
A smile tugs on the corners of his lips. “You’re not a virgin, are you?”
I can’t help but grin. “No.”
“Me either.” He gazes into my eyes. “I feel a little like one tonight, though.”
I wasn’t expecting that confession, so I shake my head. “You’re joking.”
“No.” He kisses my hand again. “This is a pretty big deal for me, Sinclair.”
“Sleeping with me is a big deal for you?” I try to mask the surprise in my tone, but that’s an epic fail.
He lets out a laugh. “Don’t be so shocked. You’re the ultimate for me. You’ve always been.”
My brow scrunches. “I’m the ultimate what for you?”
He turns, so he’s facing me directly. “Girl. Woman. Dream. Don’t tell me you’re not aware that I’ve been crushing hard on you for most of my life.”
I stare into his eyes, trying to find truth in his words. “You had a crush on me?”
“Have,” he corrects me. “You were out of my league. I was always your best bud.”
I smile at that. He used to call me that when we played soccer together. It’s how he introduced me to the other players on our team. Jameson started in the league a year before I did, so when I decided to take the plunge, he took it upon himself to show me the ropes.
I felt safe and protected back then. I feel that now too.
“What’s running through your mind right now?” he asks softly.
I answer honestly. “I was thinking back to when we were kids.”
“Tell me it’s not about when I got food caught in my braces or that day my pants fell down in front of the entire class.”
My hand leaps to my mouth, but I can’t hold in the laughter. “I forgot about that. You were wearing Holden’s pants, right?”
He nods. “Without a fucking belt. All of my pants were too short, so it seemed like a great idea until I raised both hands during my speech about the moon, and boom, the entire class got a good look at my superhero underwear.”
I glance at his lap.
“I don’t wear them anymore.” He laughs. “In case you were curious.”
The gravity of what we are about to do suddenly hits me. I push back from the table and bolt to my feet.
Jameson does the same. “What’s wrong?”
“Your underwear,” I whisper. “I’m going to see it.”
He laughs. “You already saw it, Sin. I caught you checking out the goods in the kitchen one morning. Remember?”
I step back, trying to find some air to fill my lungs. I’m going to sleep with Jameson Sheppard tonight. This is really happening.
“What’s going on?” His tone softens. “Are you having second thoughts, Sinclair?”
I look at his face. “No.”
He inches his chin up. “Good.”
The look in his eyes is pure desire. I see it. It’s so palpable that I can feel it. I want him, but I need a moment to catch my breath.
“I should take Duds for a walk,” I mutter. “Before…you know…before we…”
Jameson leans closer to me, lowering his voice to a growl. “Before we fuck.”
I step back so quickly that the heel of my left shoe catches on one of the legs of my chair. I stumble back, but Jameson has me in his arms before I can fall.
He guides me backward, one tiny step at a time, until my back is against the wall. “Do you still want to go?”
“Go?” I ask because what the fuck is happening? I can feel how aroused he is. I am too. I swear I’m about to have an orgasm just from the anticipation of feeling him inside me.
Suddenly, he guides my arms above my head as he trails kisses over my cheek toward my neck. His hands hold my wrists in place, pressing them against the wall.
I let out the slightest moan. “Oh, I…”
“You were talking about taking the dog for a walk,” he says roughly. “Or you could skip that, and I’ll fuck you right here.”
One of his hands slides down my arm to my neck. He wraps his fingers around it, drawing my gaze up to his.
“You want me now.” He stares into my eyes. “I feel it.”
I nod. “I do. I want you now.”
Before I have time to think about what happens next, his lips are on mine in a hungry kiss that I know won’t be enough to satisfy either of us.