Chapter 17
GINGER
Ican’t believe I’m in bed with Jordan and his tongue is in my mouth. Two months ago, if someone had told me this would happen before the start of the new year, I’d have thought they’d lost their mind. But here we are, and the world’s not ending. If anything, it feels full of new possibilities.
I wrap my legs around his waist, drawing him closer. Slipping my hands underneath his t-shirt, I explore the solid expanse of his back. He shivers at my caress, making me feel a sense of power. I like knowing my touch affects him so strongly.
The thin fabric of our clothes provides little separation between us, and he feels long and thick pressing between my legs. He grinds against me, creating delicious friction that makes me moan.
“Can I take this off?” he asks, tugging gently at the hem of my shirt.
I nod, lifting my arms above my head. He pulls the garment up and over, tossing it aside before taking a moment to appreciate the view.
“I’ve imagined this countless times, but nothing compares to seeing your tits in person.”
“They’re smaller than you’re used—”
“No.” He cuts me off. “They’re fucking perfect.”
“Your turn,” I whisper, reaching for his shirt. He drags it over his head in two seconds flat and drops it to the floor. My hands immediately go to his chest, my fingers splaying across his skin as I try to memorize every inch of him.
He lowers back down, groaning at the sensation of his torso against mine. “God, you feel amazing,” he murmurs into my neck, trailing kisses along the sensitive skin.
“So do you.” I arch beneath him, my body responding to every touch and caress. I slide my hands down his back, fingertips tracing along the edge of his waistband before dipping below.
He catches my wrists gently and raises them above my head on the mattress. “Tonight’s all about you.” In the moonlight, his eyes look like dark pools as he stares down at me. His head lowers, and his mouth closes around a nipple.
I arch into him as his tongue flutters over the pebbled tip. “What if I want to touch you too?”
“Good girls get rewarded when they behave,” he husks, moving over to the other side. His teeth graze my sensitive skin, sending jolts of pleasure through me. I’m melting, my body responding as if it belongs to him.
My hands clutch his head, urging him to continue. His hair is soft between my fingers, and my eyes flutter closed as pleasure rolls through me. I’ve never experienced such intense desire before. “Jordan,” I whisper hoarsely.
He looks at me through his lashes, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Yes, G?”
I don’t even know what I want to say. My thoughts are scattered, my body humming with desire. “Don’t stop.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
His mouth returns to my skin, trailing kisses down my ribcage, to my stomach. Each press of his lips sparks my nerve endings. When he reaches the waistband of my shorts, he glances up. “Can I?” he asks, fingers hovering at the edge.
“Yes,” I agree, sounding almost frantic. I lift my hips to help as he peels them down slowly, like I’m a gift he’s unwrapping. The cool air hits my skin, but I barely notice as his warm hands slide back up my thighs.
“You’re so beautiful,” he says, his voice husky with desire. “I need to taste you. Is that okay?”
My breath catches in my throat. I want this, so why am I feeling so nervous all of a sudden? But this is Jordan. My Jordan.
“Yes,” I whisper, and he rewards me with a look that makes my insides flutter.
He positions himself between my legs, broad shoulders pushing my thighs farther apart. “Do you know how long I’ve been wondering what your pussy tastes like?” I shake my head. “Longer than I should’ve been.”
The first touch of his mouth against me has me gasping, fingers clutching at the sheets. He starts slowly, as if he’s learning what makes me respond and what makes me squirm. His tongue explores with deliberate patience, making my hips buck involuntarily.
“Stay still,” he murmurs against me, his hands coming to rest on my hips, holding me in place.
I try to obey, but when his tongue circles my clit, I can’t help but writhe beneath him. The pleasure builds quickly, my breathing turning ragged as he drives me higher with his lips and tongue. It’s almost too much for me to stand.
“Jordan, I…” My words turn into a moan when he slips a finger inside me, curling it forward in a way that makes my legs shake.
“Let go,” he encourages, his voice vibrating against my core, and I fall over the edge into the most powerful orgasm I’ve ever experienced. He stays with me, wringing out every drop of pleasure until I’m sweaty and limp.
He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and moves up my body to kiss me deeply. I taste myself on his tongue, and oddly, I don’t mind. I even find it erotic.
“Good?” he asks, a hint of smugness in his voice.
“Like you need to ask,” I say, still feeling slightly breathless.
He lies beside me, propped on one elbow, watching me with those dark eyes. His erection is obvious against my thigh, but he makes no move to address it.
“You’re not going to let me touch you, are you?” I ask, reaching toward him.
He catches my hand, kissing my palm. “Not tonight.”
“How’s that fair?”
“I’ve waited a long time to make you feel good,” he says, his other hand tracing lazy patterns on my stomach. “To learn what you like. And tonight was only the beginning.”
“You’ve thought about this for a long time?”
He laughs softly, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “You have no idea.”
I roll onto my side, facing him, and brush a lock of hair from his brow. “How long, exactly?”
“Remember my cousin’s fortieth birthday party at The Sand Bar? You wore a black sweater that kept falling off your shoulder.” His fingertips glide across my waist, curving around my back. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“But that was two years ago.”
“I know.” His hand slides down, cups one of my ass cheeks, and squeezes. “I’ve been thinking about you ever since.”
The revelation makes my heart swell. All this time, I had been trying to convince myself that he saw me as a friend, and he was secretly wanting me too.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” I ask, rubbing the thick stubble covering his jaw.
“I don’t know. The timing was never right. There always seemed to be a reason not to. You were dating someone, or I was afraid of ruining our friendship. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you completely.”
I think about all the wasted time, all the nights I laid awake wondering what it would be like to be with him. And then talking myself out of it because he’d never commit to one woman.
I shake my head. “We’re idiots, aren’t we?”
“Seems like it. But things usually happen when the timing is right, so maybe we’re geniuses for letting things evolve organically.”
“If Travis hadn’t asked you to put up my shelves, I might not be here. Guess that makes him our matchmaker.”
“Can we please never mention that to him or anyone else?”
I laugh. “Yeah. But he might figure it out himself.”
“I doubt it. Travis ignores stuff like that.”
“When do you think we should come clean with everyone?” I ask. “Willow and Nina both know I’ve been crushing on you. Nina mentioned something about it as far back as the summer.”
“I guess this is my turn to ask how long you’ve had feelings for me.”
I grimace. “I’m not sure I want to tell you.”
“It can’t be longer than two years,” he says.
“It’s been so long it feels like forever. I can’t even remember when it started.”
He shakes his head. “I had no idea.”
“Good. I tried hard not to show it.”
“As far as telling everyone, I’m good with whatever you want to do. I know as soon as Reed finds out, I won’t have a moment’s peace. He caught me staring at you at Thanksgiving, so he knows I’m interested.”
“Let’s keep it to ourselves for now. What if we don’t work out? Everyone will know, and it’ll be even more awkward.”
“Jesus. Why are you being so negative, G? If I wasn’t serious about wanting a relationship with you, I wouldn’t have pursued one.”
“I’m sorry. I was trying to be realistic, not negative. People break up all the time, even ones with good intentions.”
“Well, that’s not happening with us. You’ll just have to wait and see that I’m right.”
I smile at his sureness. “Okay then. We should get some sleep so I can feed you in the morning.”
“Let’s sleep in.” He rolls to his back, and I lie with my head on his shoulder. His arm comes around me, holding me close, and he presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “Goodnight, G Thang.”
I snicker. “Goodnight, Jordan.”
I wake before Jordan, the quiet of the room broken by the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing. Morning light slips through the blinds, making shadowy stripes across the bed. For a while, I lie still, watching him sleep and trying to name what we are. Is he my boyfriend?
We haven’t defined it, but after last night and the best orgasm of my life, it’s hard to imagine calling him anything else.
Careful not to wake him, I slip from the bed, find my pajamas on the floor, and put them on. The floorboards are cool beneath my bare feet as I pad toward the kitchen. Maybe I can have the muffins ready before he wakes up.
The pantry and fridge provide me with everything I need except for cranberries, but he has bananas as a substitute.
I set the coffee to brew before I mash, stir, and measure, enjoying the simple rhythm of preparing breakfast. The scent of sugar and vanilla fills the air as the oven warms the room.
While the muffins bake, I pour myself a mug of coffee and then settle at the table.
The wooden sign I was painting the other night still waits there, half-finished.
I dip my brush and start working, losing track of time until the timer dings.
Pulling the muffins from the oven, I set the pan on the stove just as footsteps shuffle down the hall. Jordan appears, still half asleep, wearing nothing but boxer briefs and a lazy smile.
“What’s that incredible smell?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“Banana muffins.”
“Why’d you let me sleep so long? I wanted to help.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you did.” He kisses the side of my neck. “Give me a second. I’ll grab my shirt, and we can eat.”
“Don’t put one on for me,” I tease.
He chuckles. “My mom drilled into us to never come to the table bare-chested. She said it was rude and showed a lack of manners.” He disappears down the hall, calling back, “So now I don’t.
” When he returns, tugging a t-shirt over his abs, he grins at the golden muffins cooling on the stove.
“You know, if you keep this up, I might start thinking you’re trying to domesticate me. ”
“You? The hottest bachelor in Havenport?” I arch a brow.
He smirks. “Can I tell Reed you said that?”
“Nope.”
He laughs, leaning closer to the muffins. “They look so good. I can wait to bite into one—or ten.”
“I still need to remove them from the pan.”
A sudden knock rattles the front door. Both of us freeze.
Jordan groans. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Are you expecting anyone?”
“No,” he mutters, raking a hand through his hair. “But considering my family lives right next door, that doesn’t mean much.
The knock comes again, louder this time, followed by a fist pounding on the door.
He exhales sharply. “Reed’s the only one who’d show up on a weekend before nine.”
My heart jumps. “What do I do?”
“Hide,” he says, already moving toward the door.
“Where?”
He points down the hallway. “Spare room. Go.”
I dart out of sight before he opens the door.