Chapter Sixteen
Jack knew it would be Ellie on the other side when he opened the door, but the sight of her made his breath catch.
Well, not catch. That was the sort of phrase Kathleen would write into one of her books.
But damn. She had her coat folded over her arm, giving him a full view of the dress she wore.
It showed off all the curves usually hidden by overalls, and her dark hair fell softly over her shoulders.
He had to resist the urge to run his fingers through it, to yank Ellie inside and into his arms and take her straight to bed.
Kathleen would probably write that sort of thing into one of her books, too, and he didn’t even care.
“Why do you look surprised to see me?” Ellie regarded him with amusement.
“I’m not.” He shook his head. “I’m happy to see you.”
She quirked a brow and his emphatic, if uninspired, declaration. “Does that mean you’re going to invite me in?”
He stepped back and held the door wide. “Of course.”
Ellie crossed the threshold and, before setting down her bag or her coat, leaned in for a kiss. A slow, lingering kiss that assured him he’d been as much on her thoughts as she’d been on his. She pulled back with a smile. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he said, wishing he was better at banter. “Um, I’ll take your coat, and you can leave your stuff on that bench for now.”
She handed over her coat, and he busied himself with hanging it while she took off her boots and rooted around in the duffel. “I took the liberty of bringing slippers. I hope you don’t mind.”
When she pulled out a pair of fuzzy, leopard-print slides, he didn’t try to hold back a smile. “I’m glad you did.”
In the time it took Ellie to slip them on her feet, Dot and Sophia extricated themselves from their blanket pile and ambled over to say hello.
Ellie immediately dropped to her knees and lavished them with greetings and pets.
“They’re so sweet,” she said briefly to him before shifting her focus back to them.
“You’re so sweet. And cute. And I bet smart, too. ”
They all stayed like that for a minute, then Jack suggested they move to the living room so everyone could be more comfortable while he finished making dinner.
“Will they follow us to the kitchen? It feels rude to abandon you completely.”
Before he could say he didn’t mind, Ellie stood and started in that direction. “Yeah, that’s pretty much their third favorite place, after the sofa and bed,” he said.
They moved as a ragtag pack, Ellie settling back on the floor as soon as she spotted the oversize dog bed in the corner. Dot and Sophia followed, fully blissed out by the combo of attention and a soft place to sit.
“I’d offer to help, but I’m too busy falling in love with your dogs.” Ellie looked up at him from the floor, her eyes as bright as her smile. “You’re okay with that, right?”
“I couldn’t be more delighted. You’re having fun, Dot and Sophia are in heaven, and I get to cook without anyone in my way.”
Ellie’s lips pressed together, like she was debating whether to laugh or tell him to go fuck himself. Eventually, she let out a chuckle. “I’d take offense, but I know exactly what you mean.”
He hadn’t truly worried about her reaction, but his shoulders relaxed. “I’m sure you’re great in the kitchen, but I have my routine, you know?”
She remained cross-legged on the floor and folded her arms. “What makes you think I’m good in the kitchen? I served you canned soup and pasta sauce from a jar.”
“Yeah, but you were self-conscious about it and apologized for your frozen meatballs. Either you’re a good cook or all your friends lie to you.”
She laughed for real then. “Okay, yes. I am a decent cook. And those are legit measures. I’ll cook you something nice if I manage to find a place to live.”
Jack paused, ladle full of stock midair. “Are you struggling to?”
“Oh.” Ellie laughed again. “No. I haven’t really tried yet. The last few months have been all about getting my mom settled, then clearing out the house and getting it on the market. When I negotiated staying onsite at Hampstead House, I gave myself license not to think about it for a while.”
He couldn’t imagine preferring uncertainty, even if the alternative was a lot of work. “It can be tricky, especially if you’re not looking in one of the cities.”
“Yeah. I’m hoping to avoid even the suburbs of Springfield,” she said. He must have looked confused because she added, “That’s where my mom is.”
“Close but not too close?” He lived five minutes from his parents, but he got why that was a thing.
She smiled. “Exactly.”
“Are you hoping to buy or rent?”
“Rent for now, because I don’t feel ready to commit to any place yet. But buy eventually. I have feelings about making a space my own.”
It was Jack’s turn to laugh. “Yeah. Logan and I bought this place as soon as she finished college. I was barely twenty-five and already over living in a rental.”
“That’s really cool. Did you two do a lot to it?”
“It was a disaster. Because that was pretty much what we could afford on our budget. We were lucky, though. Our parents cosigned the mortgage, and we were able to get materials at cost and do a lot of the work ourselves.” It struck him just how privileged that sounded.
Which it was, in a way. Hopefully, the context helped.
Ellie sighed. “I love what I do, but I sometimes wish I was more handy.”
“You could be.” Jack resumed stirring. “I’m trained as an electrician but know the basics of everything else. I’d be happy to teach you anything you wanted to learn.”
“Really?”
He didn’t want to come across heavy-handed, but it frustrated him how many people—women especially—felt helpless when it came to their homes.
But Ellie’s reaction held nothing but enthusiasm, and it was easy to imagine installing light fixtures together or showing her the basics of repairing a faucet or drain.
“The offer stands, whether or not we keep sleeping together.”
Ellie got up from the floor then and sauntered over. “I hope that’s your way of being a standup guy and not a hint that you don’t want to have sex with me again.”
“The former.” Jack gave a bobblehead nod. “Definitely the former.”
“Oh, good.” Ellie kissed his neck, right below his ear. “Because I’d love to pick up some do-it-myself skills, but I’m far more interested in you doing me.”
The snort escaped before he could stop it. “That’s a terrible come-on.”
“Is it?” she asked. He’d turned to face her, and she took advantage, pressing her breasts to his chest.
Jack groaned. “Yes.”
“Seems like you like the way I’m coming on to you just fine.”
“Not fair.” He shook his head. “You can’t chase a bad line with your breasts and expect me to hold firm.”
Ellie tipped her head. “I don’t think you have any issues with how firm you can be.”
The line might be even worse than the first one, but the innuendo worked. He was hot and horny, and they hadn’t even sat down to dinner. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
She licked her lips and sent his imagination to some particularly X-rated places. “I’m looking forward to everything you want to show me.”
* * *
Ellie eyed the serving bowl—still more than half full of risotto—that sat between them. “I’m resisting seconds solely because of what I hope to be doing in an hour.”
“I’ll happily send you home with leftovers if you’d like.”
It was sweet, the sort of thing a boyfriend would do.
Though, in her experience, it might be more accurate to say girlfriend.
She’d had mixed results with guys through the years—cis and trans alike.
Jack seemed different, especially now that she’d gotten to know him.
Definitely a guy, but more thoughtful than the ones she’d encountered. “I’m not going to say no.”
“I’m not much of a baker, but I picked up some brownies from the Sugar Shack if you’re wanting something sweet.”
Rhett had been going on and on about that place, but she hadn’t had the chance to check it out. “I’d love a brownie, but maybe not just yet?”
“Yeah, of course.” Jack nodded. “Just say when.”
She chewed her lip, debated how forward to be. “About everything? Or just the brownie?”
His expression turned quizzical.
“Sorry. I was trying to be clever.”
“Ah,” he said. Then his eyes lit up. “Oh.”
“I mean, we could watch a movie or something. I’m not only here for the sex.” She gestured to the food that remained. “And the dinner.”
Jack smirked. “We’ve established I’m not one for sparkling conversation.”
“You’re not so bad.” She looked him up and down. “Though I have to say I might enjoy some of your other skills a bit more.”
“Yeah?” he asked, clearly pleased with the statement.
“Oh yeah.”
“So.” Jack swallowed but didn’t continue.
“So, I’d love to see your bedroom.” No point pretending otherwise.
“Yeah. Okay. It’s upstairs.”
Ellie lifted her chin. “I’ll follow you.”
They barely made it through the door before Jack had his hands in her hair and his lips on hers. Knowing what was about to happen—knowing it was going to be good—spurred Ellie on. She started pulling at Jack’s clothes, wanting the sensation of his skin on hers.
Jack took the cue, shedding his shirt and pulling Ellie’s dress up and over her head. She smiled at the sight of his naked torso and traced her fingers along his scars. “Tell me about the ways you like to fuck,” she said.
Jack paused and pulled back enough to make eye contact. “I like lots of ways.”
She held his gaze. “Me, too.”
“Are you asking me if I like to strap?”
“Do you?”
His smile spread slowly. “Wait right here.”
He grabbed a bag and went to the bathroom. Ellie used the moment of privacy to wiggle out of her leggings. While she was at it, she shed her socks and underwear. “I need you inside me, the sooner the better,” she called.
“I’m moving as fast as I can,” Jack hollered.
Ellie perched on the edge of the bed. “For the record, I’m usually a very patient person.”
“Is that so?” Jack sauntered into the room, cock at full attention.
“Usually.” She stood and licked her lips, not even pretending to be subtle.
“But not now?”