8. One Night To Remember #2
Jamie shakes his head, his blue eyes boring into mine. “That's exactly why that wasn’t working for me anymore. Because what we’ve been doing stopped being fake for me weeks ago. Baby, I wasn’t breaking up with you. I was trying to ask you if you’d consider turning our relationship into a real one.”
Oh.
I hit his chest with the back of my hand without even thinking about what I’m doing. It’s a knee-jerk reaction caused by the relief and the annoyance that surge through my body at his words.
“You asshole!” I screech, cradling my hand because hitting Jamie’s chest is like punching a brick wall. “Is this how you ask someone to be your girlfriend?”
His dark blue eyes are full of regret. “I know I fucked it up. I’m sorry, baby. But I was too nervous.”
“You were nervous? But you’re Jamie Hart; any woman on campus would beg you to just give them your attention, even for a few moments.”
“Yeah,” he sighs. “But none of those women matter. None of those women makes my heart go faster when they smile at me. They don’t occupy my thoughts every minute of every day.”
God, he’s so good at this when he really tries. “Every minute of every day?” I don’t even realize that my arms are around his neck.
“I’m falling for you, Bex.”
His lips find mine, and I wouldn’t be able to tell you who initiated the kiss, but I melt against him.
Jamie’s lips are soft, but he kisses me hard. His mouth takes mine, hot and demanding.
I’m the one who licks at the seam of his lips, and when he opens up and our tongues tangle, I feel that kiss everywhere in my body.
One of his big, slightly rough hands traces my jaw, slipping down to caress my throat.
His touch is possessive but gentle, and I want more.
I pull him closer, needing to feel his tall, sculpted body against mine. My skin is buzzing with need as my nipples strain against the fabric of my bra and the spot between my legs throbs in sync with my heartbeat.
Jamie is hard in his jeans, and I grind against him. I’m not ashamed to show him how much I need him.
His lips leave mine, going on a journey down the column of my neck; when he reaches the spot at the base, near my collarbone, my control snaps and my hands fly to his waistband.
I pop the button of his jeans, but Jamie stops me, covering my hand with his.
“Wait…” he’s breathing hard, harder than after an intense shift on the ice. “Does this mean that your answer is yes?” he asks, nipping that sensitive spot and sucking my skin into his mouth straight after to soothe the sting he just caused.
“Yes?” I blink, totally lost in the feeling of his mouth on my neck. “What was the question again?”
He lifts his head, his blue eyes wide with mock hurt. “If you wanted to be my girlfriend. For real this time.”
The answer rolls off my tongue before I can even think about it. “Yes. I’ll be your girlfriend… oh, I guess that means I’ll never get to know.”
It’s Jamie’s turn to look confused. “You’ll never get to know what?”
I bite my bottom lip as guilt rears its ugly head. “Nothing. Don’t worry.”
“Bex.” Jamie’s tone is gentle but firm. “What is it you’ll never know if you agree to be my girlfriend?”
I attempt to lower my gaze, but he traps my chin between his fingers, keeping my eyes pinned to his.
“That kiss. At the Zeta party. If I’m with you for real, then I can’t try to kiss Connor to find out.”
He lets go of my chin, but leans closer, his forehead touching mine. “Do you just want to kiss him to know if he was your masked kiss, or is there more between you and Con?”
Jamie doesn’t sound angry, but my heart is pounding against my ribcage as I admit the way I feel.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve felt attracted to him from the beginning, like with you.
Connor is handsome and so kind. I think he understands how much I’ve been hurt in the past, how much I craved my dad’s love and acceptance; to the point that I almost lost Luke.
And that night we didn’t watch the Bridgeport game together was so hot.
If things were different, and Connor had asked me out before you did, I would have probably said yes.
But I’m falling for you too, Jamie. I hope you understand that how I feel about Connor doesn’t change that. ”
The corners of Jamie’s lips tip up. His next question comes in a low rasp. “What if you could still find out if Connor was behind mask number six? If you could still see how things work out between you and Connor?”
I don’t understand what he’s trying to say. “But I want to be with you. I want to be your girlfriend. For real.”
The pad of his thumb runs across my bottom lip.
“Yeah. What if you could date us both? Whether he was your mystery kiss. What if you could explore the attraction between the two of you? If we could have more nights like that night in our living room? I mean, not every time. I still want you all to myself sometimes, and Con does too. But what if you didn’t have to choose between us? ”
My heart skips a beat.
“Seriously? Would you guys be ok with that?”
“More than ok.” He reassures me. “We talked about it earlier. We both have feelings for you, Bex. Neither of us wants to let you go. We both see a future with you. And Con and I are best friends, so we want to see each other happy.”
I consider his words. “You wouldn’t be jealous?”
“Maybe. But we’ll work on that. Most relationships at some point or another deal with jealousy, regardless of how many people are involved. As long as you don’t have a favorite, and you promise not to choose, I think we could be very happy.”
“Oh my God,” I giggle. “Luke is going to be so jealous when he hears that I have two boyfriends.”
His smile widens. “I wouldn’t be surprised if your brother planned all this when he asked us to let you move in. He considers himself a matchmaker. So I bet he’s going to be smug, more than jealous. Especially if Keene was part of this relationship, too.”
“Keene?” I gasp. “What the fuck are you talking about? The guy hates my guts. I would have a better chance of winning Poonani over than Keene.”
Jamie’s smile is a little cryptic, as if he knew something I don’t. “Riiiight. Is that why last night he put his body between you and the front door when we didn’t know if someone was still in our condo?”
“He just didn’t want me to be attacked on his watch, since Luke had asked him to see me home safely.” I snort.
But my boyfriend disagrees with me. “He thinks you’re hot. That’s why he acts like an asshole around you.”
“I doubt it.”
Jamie insists. “Think about it, baby. Keene has been hurt badly by his ex-wife. He swore he wouldn’t trust another woman ever again.
He said over and over that he was done with relationships for good.
The last thing he could imagine is that a couple of months after moving in with us, the hottest girl he’s ever seen would practically barge into his life.
He acts like a douchebag around you because he wants you, but he’s too scared to admit it even to himself. Cut the guy some slack.”
I’m not convinced. “A douchebag? I’d say more like a psychotic asshole. The first time we met, he threatened to let Poonani sharpen her claws on me and to let her have Lady M as a snack.”
“Because he likes you.”
I roll my eyes. “He hates me.”
“He hates that he likes you.” Jamie chuckles.
“I know his behavior is a little childish, but if he didn’t want you, he would be nice.
Have you seen how polite he is with Candace and the other Zetas?
The way he acts around you is the equivalent of a kid pulling on a girl’s pigtails on the playground because he doesn’t know how to let her know that he’s crushing on her. ”
You’re beautiful.
Keene’s deep voice this morning rings in my ears. Could Jamie be right?
“Your theory would be feasible if he weren’t downstairs trying to find someone to get laid,” I argue.
“That’s because he’s in denial about his feelings for you. Didn’t you see how he was shooting down every prospect Connor suggested?”
That’s true, but I’m not entirely convinced. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“He pretty much admitted it earlier, when Connor and I were talking about sharing you and we asked him if he wanted to date you, too.”
My eyes almost bulge out of their sockets at that tidbit of information. “You two did what?”
Jamie is anything but sorry. “He likes you, Bex. And you like him too. When we walked out to the deck this morning, you two were about to kiss.”
“We were not.”
My denial comes out almost automatically, but Jamie’s words give me pause. I tried to tell myself that the feeling that Keene was about to kiss me was just in my head. But if Jamie noticed that too…
“I think,” he says. “That if you guys stick with this truce and you give each other a chance, you could be very good friends. Maybe even more than friends.”
I don’t understand. “More than friends? What are you talking about?”
Jamie doesn’t look phased by my reaction. “Connor and I wouldn’t have a problem if you and Keene wanted to get to know each other better. I think the two of you have been clashing because, deep down, you have similar personalities.”
I push against his chest, getting enough room to cross my arms over my chest. “Are you calling me an asshole? Because that’s Keene’s main personality trait.”
He laughs. “No. I’m calling you smart, loyal, caring and a little stubborn. No, scratch that. A lot stubborn. You and Keene are both sensitive and generous, but you put forward a tough front to protect yourself from being hurt again.”
“That makes sense.” I admit. “But that doesn’t mean he and I are alike. And if you and Connor might be ok dating me together long term, I can’t imagine Keene wanting to be a part of it.”