CHAPTER 9 #4
Jette’s eyes fluttered shut as Reese pulled her in, letting their lips touch.
The kiss was soft like an unspoken question.
God, she had thought about Jette’s lips more times than she wanted to admit, but this was simultaneously everything and nothing like she imagined.
Reese inhaled deeply and pressed their lips together again, firmer this time.
Her tongue skimmed across Jette’s bottom lip and tattooed hands tugged her closer in response.
Jette’s back was pressed against the closed door and Reese could feel her shiver.
She ran her hands through Jette’s long curls, enjoying the feeling as they knotted behind her neck.
It was as though the dam had burst, and a flood of emotions coursed through Reese’s veins.
She desperately leaned closer, feeling like she couldn’t get close enough.
A small moan escaped the back of Jette’s throat and the sound ignited a frenzied heat that flooded her body.
God, that sound. Reese couldn’t focus on anything except the way their bodies moved together.
Instead she tried to memorize the way Jette’s lips felt on her feverish skin, trailing down her jaw and neck.
Her fingers slid under Jette’s sweater, gliding over her smooth skin before Jette gently cupped her face and brought their lips together again.
Reese felt lightheaded when she finally broke away, silently gasping for air.
Her skin was hot and prickly where Jette’s hands rested on her hips.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, wildly flustered but not in the least bit self-conscious.
“I’m not,” Jette husked. The tone of her voice sent the butterflies in Reese’s stomach lower as Jette’s fingertips brushed the waistband of her jeans.
The feeling left her breathless and wanting.
As something coiled in her lower half, Reese couldn’t remember ever feeling this kind of desire.
She couldn’t get enough. She needed to know that Jette wanted her as badly as she did at this moment.
The sinful look in Jette’s eyes left her mouth dry as she delighted in the way Jette was responding to her.
Those dark eyes never gave away her intentions, but the steady way she pushed forward was undeniable.
Reese’s breath came out in a soft gasp as her own back met the wall.
When Jette dragged her lips back to Reese’s mouth, Reese could feel her knees threaten to give out.
Jette’s tongue searched hers hungrily and incessantly, as though each touch only made her more insatiable.
It felt like every inch of her skin was buzzing.
She gently kissed down Jette’s neck and felt another buzz.
Jette froze against her for an instant before pulling away.
The buzzing wasn’t imagined. It was coming from the phone in her pocket.
Reese shot back, putting a chaste amount of space between them as she slammed the phone to her ear.
“Hey,” she answered before clearing her throat loudly, desperate to erase the hoarse quality that escaped naturally.
Jette’s eyes stared into hers as she replied to Lida’s voice on the other end of the call.
“Yeah, we just finished up,” she ran a hand through her tousled hair and frantically glanced around the dark hallway.
Jette was leaning against the door, her chest rapidly rising and falling as they both tried to catch their breath.
“Uh huh,” Reese punctuated the heavy silence that filled the air, desperate to rush Lida off the phone.
“I can send you pictures in a minute. Can I call you right back?” she hurried.
When she finally hung up, they stood apart in uneasy silence. “That was—” she began.
“It’s okay,” Jette interrupted. Her voice was filled with emotion. Jette looked up at her with hooded eyes and the sight gave Reese pause. She leaned forward, bringing their bodies closer as the deafening silence hung between them. It was as though the silence was compressing her from all angles.
Part of Reese—the rational part, she supposed—knew that she should leave.
But another part of her—namely the part thudding uncomfortably in her chest and lower half—wanted to press forward again.
She frantically searched Jette’s face in the dark, looking for any indication as to what she was thinking.
Warm brown eyes carefully studied her, leaving the space between them unbroken.
As though giving Reese the chance to back away and run.
“Do you have to go?” Jette finally murmured, the words just barely audible. Reese couldn’t make the words come out. They stuck in her throat hard and unmoving. Instead, she silently nodded, never taking her eyes off Jette who gave a single nod in response. “It’s getting late,” Jette mused.
It was as though every reason why they should stop filled the charged space between them.
Jette’s eyes looked almost black in the darkened hallway and her breath came out ragged and uneven.
Her hands had drifted demurely to Reese’s waist, her eyes searching Reese’s face as she nodded with difficulty.
“That was—” Reese began to speak, her voice raw and breathless.
“I know.” Jette sounded strained this time.
The narrow hallway suddenly felt claustrophobic as the words that Reese couldn’t manage to say hovered around them uncomfortably.
Jette held her gaze for what felt like an eternity and in that unending moment, she swore that Jette could read her mind.
That she understood every thought racing around her head.
Every emotion she was wrestling with. Everything she wished she could say out loud.
They stared into each other's eyes, unable to put the feelings into words. Jette’s lips were still swollen as she swallowed and placed her hands on either side of Reese’s face.
The butterflies in Reese’s stomach fluttered back to life as she held her breath.
Jette came closer and Reese suddenly couldn’t remember anything except the feeling of Jette’s fingers on her cheeks.
Reese had meant to leave. Really, she had. She had meant to scramble out of the studio in a frenzied daze the moment they’d separated. She hadn’t meant to lean closer, to softly press her lips to Jette’s again.
The contact was a stark difference from the heated kisses they’d shared just before.
There was no dangerous undercurrent of electricity, no rush of fire coursing in her veins.
The flames that previously scorched her skin had now settled deeper in her chest. Like glowing embers radiating a gentle and unforgiving heat, threatening to swallow her whole.
It was Jette who pulled away first this time.
“I know,” she repeated quietly, her hand cupping Reese’s cheek for a moment before letting go.
The unrelenting look in Jette’s eyes said more than words could convey while Reese struggled to form a single coherent thought.
“Text me when you get home.” Jette cleared her throat, wiping away all traces of her raspy timbre.
A bitter taste was left on her tongue as Reese agreed.
It was as though she were operating on autopilot.
She shifted out of Jette’s grasp and blurted out, “Have fun on tour.” But the words lacked the enthusiasm she wanted to convey.
Again, Jette exhaled forcefully through her nose.
This time it wasn’t quite a laugh. She nodded and gave a parting glance as Reese shuffled down the hallway and out the front door.
Feeling a tightness in her chest, Reese trudged down the stairs as the wind savagely cut through the heavy coat she had yet to close around her.
The cold brought tears to her eyes, making it hard to see.
A knot solidified in her throat as she began walking home and despite the feeling, she was tempted to look back.
But when she turned to look for Jette, the curtains had already swung closed.