Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
JACKSON
The car ride back to my apartment feels more torturous than Isabelle not letting me kiss her earlier this evening, and I don’t think I’ve ever hated New York traffic more than I do tonight.
Every minute stuck in the long line of cars feels like a long hour, and all I know is that I’m shaking with the need to kiss and touch Isabelle again.
Technically, I could kiss her now, but I want to be respectful toward Tony.
I can tell Isabelle’s affected, too, with the way her thighs are clenched together and her breath is hitching.
When we finally arrive at my apartment building, we thank Tony and exit the car. The moment he drives off, I crash my lips against Isabelle’s, not having the patience to wait until we’re inside my apartment.
I kiss her passionately, fiercely, fervently, and with all of me. I kiss her like a desperate man who’s craving the taste of her, like an enchanted man who will give up anything for her, and like an infatuated man who’s absolutely smitten with her.
“Jackson,” Isabelle cries against my lips.
My hands roam her back, bolts of electricity rushing down my spine as she melts into the kiss and plays with the back of my hair. Neither of us pulling apart, we ride the elevator up—grateful that it’s just the two of us inside—and stagger to my apartment.
I only end the kiss to dig out my apartment key, my heart racing at a million miles. Fuck. It’s really happening.
My hands fumble as I unlock the door, inadvertently turning the key in the wrong direction.
“Hurry,” Isabelle gasps.
I turn to her, admiring the pretty sight of her ruined lipstick—all work of mine. “Not so patient anymore?”
“I am patient,” she huffs. “You’re just taking too long.”
“Want me to kick down the door?”
“Yes.”
The door opens, and I flash Isabelle a smirk. “In that case, I’d have to get it repaired tomorrow morning and bill the fees under your name.”
Before she can respond, I curl a hand around the back of her neck and crash my lips against hers again.
Isabelle and I are still kissing as we step inside my apartment. Miraculously, I manage to shove the door shut. The suit jacket I’m holding drops to the floor somewhere in the living room.
We only pull apart for air when we arrive at my bedroom. It’s pitch-dark, so I flick on a light switch.
“Is this lighting okay?” I rasp.
I want to see Isabelle’s beautiful body clearly, but if she prefers to leave the lights off, then I’m happy with that, too.
Isabelle nods, her chest heaving up and down. “Yeah.”
I squat down in front of her to undo the straps of her silver heels, glancing up so that our eyes meet. The shoes look amazing on her, but I know her feet are probably tired from wearing them all night.
“Thank you,” she breathes.
When her shoes are gone, I stand up and reach for the strap of her dress. “May I?”
“Yes,” she gasps. “Take it off. Take everything off.”
A low chuckle vibrates from my throat, and I don’t waste time in removing the pieces of fabric in the way. Her dress. Her strapless bra and underwear. My shirt, pants, socks, and boxers.
At the sight of Isabelle’s bare body, my mouth turns dry. She turns me on so much it’s almost painful, but fuck, she’s so perfect.
A blush paints her cheeks as her gaze dips down to my body, and she reaches out a hand, but I stop her before she can touch me.
“Not yet,” I say, dropping my voice to a lower tone. “Let me make you feel good first.”
I take her to my bed, laying her down on the mattress, my heart pounding in my chest like a jackhammer. Her breath hitches as she glances at me through her long eyelashes. I climb on top of her, relishing the feeling of her soft, bare skin against mine.
She consumes me. All of me.
I trail a line of kisses from her jawline to her neck, collarbone, and chest. My mouth explores her body reverently, like it’s something sacred—because to me, it is. I want to memorize every inch and detail. The beauty mark on her chest. The curve of her hip. The stretch marks on her thighs.
The fact that she’s comfortable sharing her body with me is something I’ll never take for granted.
Her heightened breaths linger in the air, and I pause every now and then to glance up at her gorgeous face. I want to make sure this is pleasurable for her, that she’s enjoying this as much as I am.
When I reach her core, I’m completely undone, fueled by a primal need to make her feel so goddamn good.
Isabelle’s fingers tug at my hair as she softly moans my name and cries for more, and I do just that, reveling in the sensation and taste of her.
The bedroom rapidly fading around us, I’m caught in a lavender haze I don’t ever want to leave.
Isabelle’s back arches off the bed as she reaches her climax, and I wait a few moments for her breathing to ease before brushing a kiss against her lips.
She stares at me, eyes hazy, lips swollen, and hair sprawled out on the pillow, looking so ethereal, like a goddess. It’s an image that will be permanently etched in my mind.
“I want to go all the way,” she says.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
Isabelle nods.
“The number of times I’ve fantasized about tonight,” I murmur, grabbing a condom from my nightstand drawer. “You have no idea.”
She lets out a laugh. “I guess tonight’s the night your dirty dreams come true.”
I tear off the foil and roll on the condom. There’s anticipation lingering on Isabelle’s gorgeous face, but I can sense there are some nerves, too.
“Are you nervous?”
I want to make sure she’s a hundred percent comfortable before we go ahead.
“A little.” Isabelle hesitates. “It’s … been a while since I’ve done this.” Her eyes meet mine, and I see the desire in them, real and undisguised. “But I want this so much. I want you, Jackson.”
A lump forms in my throat at her last words and the conviction in them. “I want you so much, baby. I’m going to go slow at first, okay?”
Isabelle nods, and I finally close the remaining distance between us, instantly letting out a groan. She feels so incredible. So mine.
“Does this feel okay?” I ask, my voice ragged.
“It’s perfect,” she says, voice breathless.
I’ve always cared about a woman’s pleasure, but in the past, sex revolved merely around the physical act. With Isabelle, there’s extra layers of intimacy, connection, and vulnerability I’ve never experienced before, something so raw and beautiful.
Our bodies fit together like they were made for each other, but more than that, I’ve never experienced a need so potent and strong that it’s brewing in every bone of my body.
It’s enough yet not enough. Magical yet real.
Scary yet exhilarating. I want to mark her as mine with every piece of physical contact between us.
Her moans, her whimpers, her cries—I want to claim them all.
She said she’s ready to take a leap of faith, but I’m jumping, too. I’m in so deep with my feelings for her, but hell no am I going back now.
It’s me and her, her and me. That’s it.
I hate myself for not realizing my feelings earlier, but the past isn’t important anymore. The present and future are what matters.
When our gazes connect, I intertwine our fingers and move my mouth on hers again.
The electricity sizzling in my nerves is a choreographed dance, setting me alight like never before, and I could do this all night long.
I want to make Isabelle come as many times as she wants to, hear my girl say my name like it’s the only word she knows.
I feel it when Isabelle’s close, and she lets out a loud cry when she falls over the edge, my name tumbling from her lips.
“Isabelle,” I rasp.
I’m whimpering, stars flickering and dancing around my vision as my own release follows shortly after, blinding in the best way and consuming like a tsunami wave.
Our bodies lined with drops of sweat and our breathing heavy, we stare into each other’s eyes, holding on to the moment.
I get up to toss the used condom in a trash can before washing my hands and rejoining Isabelle in the bed. She’s smiling at me shyly and sitting up, her face sated with a content expression.
Isabelle lets out a dreamy sigh. “That was so good.”
“Just good?” I teasingly ask.
She gives me a playful look. “It was out-of-the-world amazing. Happy?”
“I’m one very happy man.” I brush a gentle kiss against her lips, then motion for her to lie on my chest. “Come here, baby.”
Isabelle snuggles her head against my chest, a blissful smile spreading across her face as we lean against the headboard. I wrap my arms around her, holding on to the incredible woman I never want to let go of.
“I’ve wanted you for so long,” I say. It feels good to finally say that out loud.
“How long?” she asks.
“Since high school. I was only competitive with you because I wanted your attention, even if it meant you hating me or being annoyed at me.” I drag a hand through my hair. “Except I was an idiot and didn’t realize that until we met again this year.”
Isabelle turns and glances up at me, her eyes widening, as if she’s piecing the puzzle together.
“I’d never have admitted it back then, but the competitions between us weren’t that bad,” she then says. “And you’re not an idiot, Jackson. Don’t say that. Not realizing your feelings for someone earlier isn’t dumb.”
I give her a weak smile. “I only called you Isabella because of that same reason, too, even though I didn’t realize it either back then. I wanted you to remember me. I’m sorry for being such a jackass.”
I didn’t plan on spilling everything tonight, but screw it. After a long time of being in denial about my feelings, I want to let her know how strongly I feel about her.
“Jackson,” she breathes.
“And I hated seeing you with someone else because I wanted that to be me,” I add. My jaw clenches at the thought of Oliver. The fucker never deserved Isabelle, not even for a millisecond. “I wanted you to be with me. Only me.”
Isabelle opens her mouth, as if to say something, but then closes it. Instead, her hands cup my face, and she kisses me.
“My feelings for you are so strong, Jackson,” she says, looking at me with hooded eyes. “I hope you know that now.”
“I know.” My voice is hoarse. “Mine for you are so strong, too.”
Her eyes lock with mine, and I kiss her again, my tongue sweeping against hers. A needy groan trickles from my mouth when she climbs onto my lap, straddling me.
Once we break apart, a sultry smile crosses her lips. “My turn now,” she says.