CHAPTER 14
JETTE
Jette’s heart pounded. Before she could overthink, she typed out the hotel room number and pressed send.
In a flurry, she tossed her phone onto the counter and scanned the room.
Her clothes and shoes were still strewn about, a reminder of her earlier indecision while getting ready tonight.
She swept through the room in a flash, collecting any personal items and dumping them unceremoniously into the open suitcase by the bed.
As she finished nudging her shoes under the small bench, her eyes spotted the overflowing toiletries bag.
She paused for a moment and then swiftly carried it to the bathroom sink.
Fuck it. Jette grabbed the toothbrush and began furiously brushing her teeth while tidying up the rest of the room.
She flung the curtains open and admired the view once again.
In the dark, it was even more impressive as everything below seemed to twinkle.
Her stomach twisted into knots as she waited for Reese.
She paced indecisively for a moment and Jette couldn’t remember the last time she had been so nervous.
Flinging the mini-fridge door open, she was overwhelmingly disappointed at the sight of the empty box.
Not even a bottle of water or beer to be found.
Not that she was in need of a drink. If anything, alcohol was possibly the last thing on her mind.
Even more so now that Reese was on her way to her room.
But she couldn’t deny it would’ve been nice to have the option.
To have something to at least offer. Her breathing was erratic and thin and she quickly fished her wallet out of a pile of clothes just in time to hear a knock at the door.
She flew to the door and paused for a moment to collect herself before opening the door.
“Hey,” Jette huffed breathily. She gestured for Reese to come in.
“Hey,” Reese returned quietly. Her brows came together in confusion as she spotted the wallet and room key still in Jette’s hands. “Were you about to leave?” she teased.
Jette looked at her own hands and nervously chuckled, “I—no. I was debating going downstairs to grab a bottle of wine or something.” She self-consciously ran a hand through her messy hair.
“I realized just before you got here that I can’t even offer you a glass of wine or anything. But I can run down now, if you want?”
Reese snorted and waved her off. “You don’t have to offer me anything.” She fidgeted with the strings of her hoodie. “I’m not here for a glass of wine.” The words hung in the air as Jette felt her chest tighten.
“Right. Okay,” Jette answered, closing the door behind them.
The silence of the room felt overwhelming and Jette was desperate to fill it.
“I wasn’t sure. The night ended…” she paused to find the right words.
“Abruptly,” she finished. Reese held her eyes for a moment, but her face showed no emotion.
“Definitely,” Reese chuckled breathily. “I’m sorry about that.
Lida’s usually really great about keeping her shit together.
She’s normally the one looking out for me at the end of the night.
” She strolled farther into Jette’s room and cast an impressed look out the floor-length windows.
It was as though she was standing under an air vent because suddenly Jette couldn’t escape the smell of her perfume.
It filled the room and added to the haze quickly settling in Jette’s mind as Reese leaned against the counter.
Her sweatshirt had gotten caught on the edge, exposing a tiny sliver of skin at her waist. Jette had to tear her gaze away before she stepped forward involuntarily.
But the glint in Reese’s eyes was far more compelling and dangerous.
The tension between them buzzed and drew Jette closer, like a moth to a flame.
Jette laughed nervously to distract from her thoughts that were steadily becoming more inappropriate by the second.
Reese’s hair was artfully tousled in a way that beckoned Jette in.
God, she wanted to run her hands through those red curls.
“Don’t worry about it. I still think Lida is cool as hell.
” Her voice was shaky and she tried clearing her throat to steady herself.
“And it’s not like she was the only one who got a little too drunk.
I think everyone at the bar was getting a little carried away.
” She didn’t miss the blush that swept over Reese’s cheeks.
They stood so close, it felt like she could feel heat radiating off them.
“Yeah I guess so,” Reese agreed in a whisper.
Jette cautiously mirrored Reese, leaning one hip into the counter and resting her hand on the corner.
She fought every instinct that was driving her towards Reese’s lips.
Instead, she leaned back on her heels and glanced at the paper tickets laying on the counter between them.
She’d invited Reese here under the painfully pathetic guise of handing the tickets over directly.
They both seemed to pause as though debating how they wanted this night to end.
Nothing incriminating had happened yet. Reese could swipe the tickets off the counter and turn around to walk out and Jette would have to respect that.
She would finally put this ridiculous hope blooming in her chest behind her once and for all.
But Reese didn’t reach for the tickets. Instead, she brought her gaze back to Jette.
Her eyes blazing in a way that Jette had only ever seen one other time.
She trailed her hand even farther away from the tickets and Jette didn’t think it was a coincidence that she slid her fingers just an inch away from Jette’s.
Jette couldn’t bring herself to look Reese in the eyes when she finally spoke. “Were you?” She asked the question unexpectedly boldly and her ears felt hot and prickly from the tension that crackled around them.
“Hmm?” Reese hummed as if she didn’t understand the question. She didn’t move an inch.
“Were you getting carried away?” Jette murmured.
“Earlier, I mean. At the bar,” she clarified.
The room was so quiet she Jette could hear Reese’s breath quicken.
Jette wanted to move closer but resisted the urge.
She waited until Reese’s eyes finally met hers.
Her cheeks were flushed and her pupils were blown.
Impossibly soft-looking pink lips parted slightly as though she couldn’t catch her breath.
Jette knew the feeling. She confidently took a single step closer and froze.
Reese’s breath was warm and minty against her cheeks.
Jette lightly brushed her thumb against the side of Reese’s hand and delighted in the way she twitched closer.
Jette involuntarily held her breath when Reese shakily answered, “I think it was pretty obvious.” Heat exploded in her chest. A raspy breath caught in the back of Reese’s throat and the sound drew their bodies closer.
Jette held Reese’s gaze for a moment until her green eyes pointedly darted to Jette’s lips.
That tiny movement was all it took to persuade Jette to finally press forward.
Her mouth met Reese’s swiftly as hands scrambled to grab her waist. The whiny sound that escaped Reese’s throat was like pouring gasoline on the fire in Jette’s chest. She would’ve done anything to hear that sound again.
Reese parted her lips and Jette sighed against her mouth.
She’d spent the last month desperately trying to forget this exact sensation.
Though at the moment, she couldn’t remember why she had even bothered.
She wanted to be everywhere all at once but she couldn’t bear to drag her lips away from Reese’s.
Their tongues delicately tangled as Jette ran her hands through Reese’s wavy hair.
She involuntarily closed her fist at the nape of Reese’s neck and groaned at the strangled sound that came from the back of Reese’s throat.
Reese reached for the hem of her own sweatshirt, trying to lift it overhead.
Begrudgingly, Jette separated their mouths to discard it on the floor.
Jette’s eyes raked over her chest and toned stomach.
She swallowed with difficulty as she ran a hand over Reese’s sternum and neck.
It wasn’t hard to notice that Reese wasn’t wearing a bra under the thin gray tank top.
The thought alone was enough to drive Jette wild.
Jette’s skin burned as Reese’s short nails gently scratched down her sides.
She tilted her head to the ceiling in disbelief as Reese’s lips messily trailed down her neck and over her collarbones.
A moan built in the back of her throat as Reese stumbled back against the counter.
In an instant, Jette nudged Reese’s legs apart, purposefully sliding her thigh between them.
She’d been here once before, and this time Jette didn’t think anything could stop where this was obviously headed.
Her chest pounded as Reese clung to her.
Reese gasped against her throat and Jette held still, not providing any friction between them.
Despite her intention, Reese’s nails dug into her hips and tugged closer, wordlessly begging her to push harder.
Jette cradled her face before bringing their lips together.
She wanted to drag out this delicious tension for as long as possible.
Reese’s breathing hitched again as she greedily reached for the hem of Jette’s shirt.
Smirking, Jette broke away and pulled the shirt overhead in one fluid motion.
Reese’s eyes widened as she watched the rapid rising and falling of Jette’s chest. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” she whispered with a heavy flush across her face.