Chapter 8
Shannon
The long bus ride back to Meadow Dawn gave Shannon too much alone time, because all she could think about was Jamie.
More specifically, his soft, full lips and that electrifying kiss. It was wild how his mouth had rendered her speechless.
Was that supposed to happen?
Were real men capable of such sorcery?
And, boy, was he a real man. In every way possible…from his manners to his boxers.
She couldn’t stop wondering whether they fit well or were loose enough to let his…dick swing.
Yeah, swing.
It had to be impressive, or he wouldn’t be so damn cocky.
The sweet ache of arousal grew hotter as she sank back into her seat .
He’d paid the bill, kissed her sanity away, and then vanished. No further contact.
Exactly what a guy like him would do after being turned down by a nobody like her. Jamie didn’t have to chase women.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as a deep sigh puffed from her nostrils.
Anyway, he’d pick the skilled, polished party girls, not an inexperienced country girl who preferred the company of animals over people.
Jamie could charm the petals off the prettiest rose, leaving it exposed and shivering in the cold, still craving his attention.
And buying lunch was an underhanded way of making her accept his money.
It didn’t matter, though. Life was too busy for hassles.
She palmed her forehead and groaned.
Acceptance settled in her belly. She‘d made the right call by turning him down, even though it meant losing out on what could have been the best sex of her life.
The cross-country league finals were fast approaching, and she had to prove herself worthy.
Focusing on the weekend ahead didn’t help. She still couldn’t shake the heat smouldering low in her core.
The only other traveller sat six rows away from her, blasting music on his headphones. Shannon sat alone, a seat away from the back row. Hidden and restless.
Her body hummed with a craving she couldn’t get rid of. The pulsing in her clit refused to fade, no matter how many times she squeezed her thighs together or crossed her legs.
Despite her efforts to think of something else, the memory of him kept pushing back, hotter and more demanding.
His smirk, that dimple, the way his posture moved with confidence. All of him made her pulse go wild, and the heat inside her flared again.
She knew she shouldn’t. God, she shouldn’t be thinking about him like this, not in a public coach.
But the urge was overwhelming. The fantasy of his rough hands and deep voice had her veins burning, and her skin desperate for touch.
Her fingers slid toward the waistband of her trousers. She hesitated, aware of the boundary she was about to cross, but the need screamed louder than her sense of reason.
Slowly, she pulled at the zipper and held her breath as her fingers slipped inside. The fabric of her underwear was thin and very wet.
She bit her lip, fighting the urge to press deeper.
No, stop. You can’t ? —
The thought of Jamie’s chest against hers…his mouth and that dominance of his made it impossible to stop.
Daring fingers brushed her throbbing clit, the pulse of desire making her blood burn.
Her breath came faster, her mind locked on him, and she almost gave in.
Then, catching herself, she froze, cursing herself under her breath .
No. You can’t do this. Not now. Not like this.
But the hunger was too much to resist, and before she could talk herself out of it again, she slid her fingers deeper, the heat of her skin and the damp fabric blending together in an overwhelming rush.
Then, the coach lurched to a halt at a red light.
Goddammit… She couldn’t stop now.
The mounting intensity was right there, ready to bubble over, pulling her deeper into the fire she couldn’t escape.
Every instinct screamed at her to slow down, to stop before she went too far, but it was already too late.
Her body was lit, urgency pushing her further into the madness, and the image of Jamie was there in her mind, tempting her, making her pulse thrum harder.
She slapped her free hand over her mouth, her breath ragged as she tried to muffle a groan.
The heat between her legs was unbearable, spreading up through her chest.
She knew she should have stopped, but Jamie had altered something. He’d set off a chain reaction inside her.
With her hand still pressed over her mouth, she gave in, her fingers moving faster, seeking the friction she was desperate for.
It was reckless, but, fuck, when the rush hit, it was worth it.
The dirty moment shattered when her phone belted out the theme tune of Black Beauty . From inside her bag, the screen lit up with an incoming call— Jamie .
What the hell?
She gulped, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of humiliation as she tugged her hand free and fixed herself.
After fishing her phone out, she took a steadying breath.
“Hello?”
The gruff voice of her masturbation fantasy filled her ear, making her heart pound.
“Hey, I added my number to your phone earlier so we could sort out our next date.”
The line went silent.
Shannon peered through the seats as if expecting to see him sitting somewhere.
“Persistent, aren’t you?” she murmured, voice tighter than she meant, her fingers curling around the edge of the seat.
“Only when I know what I want,” Jamie said, smooth as velvet, threaded with heat.
She pressed her forehead to the smudged glass, the world flashing past in neon and shadow. Her skin still tingled from thinking dirty thoughts about him.
Get a grip.
“And what do you want, Jamie?” she asked, quieter now.
“You,” he said simply. “I want a second date. Just me, you… and a few hours where you don’t have to pretend you're not tempted.”
Her stomach dropped. God, she was tempted. Especially after what she’d just done, like some hormonal idiot who couldn’t stop thinking about her crush. Shame heated her chest.
The call crackled briefly before his voice cut back in, lower this time. “Where are you?”
“Still on the bus,” she answered.
“Have I caught you at a bad time?” he asked, and there was something knowing in his tone, just enough to make her squirm.
She bit her lip. “Why would you say that?”
“You sound…flushed,” he said, the last word dripping with suggestion. “And I have a good ear for tone, love. Especially when a woman’s just been thinking about me.”
She froze, blood rushing to her face. He didn’t know. Couldn’t know. Right?
Still, her thighs pressed together.
“I’m just sitting here alone. By myself. Not doing a single thing other than looking out the window.”
A beat of silence passed before Jamie’s voice came back, playful yet probing. “Not thinking about me at all?”
Damn it.
Shannon’s pulse thrummed harder, but she masked it with a laugh. “Why would I be thinking about you?”
His laugh was low and teasing. “Because I’m hard to forget.”
She couldn’t help the small, exasperated smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“Well, I’ll admit, your kissing skills were next level. I guess it’s hard to forget someone who leaves an impression like that. ”
There was a brief pause before his voice deepened, amused. “So, you are thinking about me, then?”
Shannon could sense the challenge in his tone. She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say that.”
He chuckled, clearly enjoying her discomfort. “Oh, but I think you did. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
“And what if I don’t want to admit it?” she countered, her tone defensive, but her pulse giving her away.
Jamie didn’t miss a beat. “Then I’ll kiss it out of you. Again. And again. Until your smart mouth stops lying.”
Her breath caught. “You’ve got a big ego, Jamie.”
“I’ve earned it, love.”
She bit her lip, her body betraying her as the memory of his kiss flashed in her mind all over again.
“One very hot kiss means nothing.”
His voice dropped even lower, sending a shiver down her spine.
“I think it means more than you’re letting on.
So tell me this, are you ready for round two?
My brother and I are hosting a bash this Saturday evening at The Fitz.
Kicks off at eight thirty. I’d like you to come along as my date for some free booze, party food, and, most importantly, my undivided attention. ”
She could hear the sexual invitation in his voice, the playful rasp that only stoked the fire she’d already indulged in.
A rush of possibilities flooded through her veins.
Why not jump into bed with him for a night? It wasn’t like she had anything to lose…except his timing was all wrong .
Pressing the phone to her ear, she swallowed back the bitter taste of disappointment.
“I’m really sorry, Jamie, I can’t. This Saturday doesn’t work for me. I have other plans.”
The line stayed quiet for a beat.
Then came his deep voice, sure, and steady. “That’s a pity. You’ll regret it the moment I hang up.”
Click.
She stared at the screen, her pulse hammering in her ears.
Damn. It. All. To. Hell.