Chapter Twelve
Jamie
“What the hell, Jamie? Where do you think you’re going?”
I barely had time to turn before his hand closed around my arm and yanked me back. Hard.
I stumbled, momentum carrying me straight into him. He caught me easily, arm locking around my waist, planting me back onto the bench like he owned every inch of me.
“You think you can just drop that and walk away?” His voice was controlled, but there was an edge to it that sent heat spiraling down my spine. “You think you’ve ruined something here, so you’ll run before you have to face it?”
His grip didn’t loosen. Neither did his stare. “What are you so afraid I’m going to see?”
The question pinned me in place.
Was it wrong that this turned me on?
My pulse skidded as I licked my lips, nerves and heat tangling together. His eyes followed the motion, darkening, attention sharpening like I’d just issued an invitation.
He bent close, his mouth brushing my ear. “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Do not even think about walking away from me.”
The words shot through me like lightning, igniting every nerve ending along the way.
“Do you have a real boyfriend, Jamie?”
The laugh that escaped me was thin and shaky. “No.”
“The guy waiting for you in Toronto—that’s your son?”
“Yes.” My pulse was racing now. “His name’s Hunter.”
He pulled back to study me, gaze intense and searching, like he was mapping me from the inside out.
God, I’d never felt more exposed. So stripped bare.
And I didn’t hate it.
“When I kissed you before, did you want that?”
My face flamed as a strangled whimper crawled up my throat.
His brow lifted, the corner of his mouth curving. “I’ll take that as a yes, beautiful.”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“Good.” His voice dropped to something dangerous. “Would it be alright if I kissed you again?”
“God, yes. Please.”
Something broke loose in his expression. A sound rumbled out of him, low and hungry. But he didn’t close the distance the way I expected.
Instead, his hands gripped my waist and lifted me with effortless strength, repositioning me before I could process it. Suddenly I was straddling him, legs braced on either side of his thighs.
Heat pooled low as tingles raced through me.
He slid his hands up my sides, unhurried, reverent. Over my ribs. My shoulders. He framed my face, fingers threading into my hair, thumb brushing my mouth like he was testing my reaction.
“You amaze me.” His eyes searched mine, intense enough to steal my breath.
I didn’t have the clarity to question it.
He drew me down slowly, deliberately, letting the anticipation stretch until it hurt. Just before our mouths met, he stopped, holding me there, breath mingling with mine.
“No more pretending.” The command vibrated against my lips.
Then he surged forward and kissed me, leaving no doubt that he meant exactly what he said.
Our mouths met, and my body lit up. Heat snapped through me all at once, like every cell had been waiting for this exact moment.
Strangely, my mind went quiet. No noise. No doubt. Nothing but clean, steady calm as I melted into him.
My fingers slid into his hair, luxuriating in its thickness, one hand trailing down the back of his neck, over the solid span of his shoulders. I knew, with sudden certainty, that if all I ever did was kiss him like this, it would be enough.
His arm locked around my waist and drew me closer, and we sank down against the back of the bench. He took his time, lips moving with intent, tongue brushing mine in a slow, seeking sweep.
I answered without hesitation.
The sound that tore out of me was unfiltered and helpless. Any softness vanished. Eric’s mouth turned hungry, demanding. He traced a path along my jaw, down my neck, his breath hot against my skin, leaving me aching.
I felt his need as clearly as my own. It wasn’t gentle. It was focused. Urgent.
I pressed closer, unable to stop myself, hips shifting instinctively, chasing friction. His grip tightened as I ground down over his erection, the contact stealing what little control I had left.
This. This was what I’d been craving. The electricity. The heat. The way my body finally made sense.
“Fuck.” He broke away, stealing a sharp, final kiss. His hands clamped firmly onto my hips, halting my movements.
“Jamie.” His mouth hovered over mine.
I hummed a sound that might’ve been an answer.
“Beautiful, beautiful girl. You are fucking killing me.”
“You said a swear!” The shrill voice hit like an alarm.
I yelped, jerking back in surprise, nearly tumbling out of Eric’s arms as I twisted around. He stiffened behind me, attention snapping to the interruption.
A little girl stood there, hands planted on her hips, glaring at us with unmistakable disapproval.
If I hadn’t already been flushed from everything that had just happened, I would’ve been red with embarrassment. “Well, hello there. You scared me half to death.”
Eric, entirely unapologetic, still had my leg draped over his lap, one hand secure at my thigh, the other locked around my waist like our audience was only a minor inconvenience. His shoulders shook with silent laughter.
“You said a swear.” The little girl’s finger stabbed in Eric’s direction. “I heard you.”
“Me?” His eyes narrowed as if genuinely offended. “Impossible.”
“You did. The big one. The one that starts with F. Mommy told me it’s not a nice word and you shouldn’t never say it.”
They stared each other down. A full-on standoff. Alpha male versus pint-sized moral authority.
I glanced around, suddenly aware of how alone we were. Where had this little hellion come from?
“Hey, sweetie,” I said, leaning into my friendliest voice. “Is your mommy or daddy somewhere nearby?”
“Nope. Mommy’s home with my new brother, Benjamin,” she announced proudly. “Daddy’s carrying Bella up the mountain. I told him I was the fastest. I am.”
“You definitely are.” Eric’s amusement was thick in his voice.
“Kara.” A man’s voice boomed across the space as a tall, exhausted-looking figure stepped up to the lookout, a squirming toddler balanced on his hip.
Relief and irritation battled across his face when he saw his daughter. “I told you to stay with me.” Then his gaze slid to us. To Eric’s arm still around my waist. To my leg still very much over his lap.
His expression hardened.
“Come here, Kara. Leave these people alone.”
“But Daddy—”
“It’s okay.” I tried to ease out of Eric’s hold.
The man’s eyes flicked pointedly to our tangled lower halves. “Perhaps you two could…relocate. I’m sure there are better places to enjoy the birds and the bees.”
I jumped to my feet, grabbing Eric’s hand and tugging him along with me.
“Daddy, I don’t see the bees.”
Eric barked out a laugh so loud and sudden I lost it, giggles spilling out of me as we started down the trail.
The man just stared after us, unimpressed, exhausted, and possibly a little envious.
“Thank you. Goodbye.” I called over my shoulder.
Eric didn’t slow until we were clear of the lookout, fingers still laced with mine, laughter still shaking his chest.
And somehow, even as I fled downhill, embarrassed and red-faced, I was still turned on.