Chapter 45
forty-five
“I had a great time with you tonight, Kate,” Jake says as he pulls into his driveway.
He didn’t say a word during the ten-minute drive from the country club.
I haven’t, either. My thoughts are consumed with finding the best way to tell him how I feel and trying to beat down my ever-increasing nervousness.
“Me, too,” I reply softly.
Jake takes a final look at me before getting out of his truck and coming around to open my door. He graciously takes my hand to help me down, and a zing of heat travels from my fingertips to my toes. His grip tightens on my hand, and his eyes darken.
He lets go of my hand, exhaling deeply. “I guess it’s good night, then.
” He runs a hand through his perfectly styled sandy-blond hair and looks at the night sky.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Kate.” He leans forward, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
My body tingles at the brief connection as my heart starts to race.
It’s now or never.
Without a word, I tilt my head and press my lips gently to his.
He startles, then lets out a relieved, “Thank God.”
The kiss starts off tender, both of us holding our breaths, unsure whether it’s really happening or if it’s a fever dream.
The lingering chill from the early spring air dissipates as the heat between our bodies ignites.
Even the cold metal of his truck against my back doesn’t stand a chance against the fire building inside me.
The one I’m igniting by making this jump.
Giving us a real chance. Letting him into my heart, trusting he won’t break it.
I part my mouth slightly, nipping at his bottom lip and letting out a soft whimper.
His eyes flare as something inside him snaps.
Instinctively, he tugs me closer until I’m flush against his chest and can feel his heart racing.
Just like mine. One hand moves to cup the side of my face and the other buries itself in the soft curls of my hair.
His tongue strokes inside my mouth, deepening the kiss and setting every inch of me ablaze. True sensory overload.
This kiss is unlike any other.
Sensual.
Electric.
Claiming.
Jake groans. “Fuck, Kate,” he pants, his forehead pressed to mine.
“I’ve been dying to kiss you from the moment I saw you in that dress.
I want nothing more than to kiss every inch of your skin.
Take you into the house and claim you with my lips,” he whispers.
Then something changes, tensing the muscles in his body, and he increases the space between us.
“But I promised I wouldn’t kiss you until you were ready to become more than friends.
I don’t want one night with you. I want to earn a lifetime. ”
I can barely catch my breath. My cheeks are flushed as I bite my lower lip, staring at him with unbridled desire in my eyes.
How can he not see how much I want this?
Want him. It’s been excruciating to take it slow because I let myself care too much about what other people might think rather than listen to my heart.
Trust my judgment. Believe in him and the future he sees for us. That all stops tonight.
He’s my future.
My heart.
The other half of my soul.
And I’m done waiting.
“Ask me,” I whisper, taking a step toward him and eliminating the distance he created between us. I lick my lips slowly, and his eyes follow the movement of my tongue. His gaze emboldens me to take what I want. “Ask me to come inside, Jake.”
“What does this mean, Kate?” He clenches his fists at his side, his eyes searching for the answer in mine. Wanting to know if I’m finally ready to give him the answer he’s spent weeks patiently waiting for.
“I’m yours, Jake. I have been since the moment you kissed me at the lake.”
“Fucking finally!” he exclaims, crashing his lips to mine for a few seconds before grabbing my hand and leading me inside his house.
As soon as the front door shuts, his eyes are on me and full of lust. He angles his body toward me, gently cupping my chin, and peering deep into my eyes as if I’m a precious jewel he finally gets to touch.
My entire body hums with anticipation. I let out a breath, then press my lips to his. Our tongues tangle together in a symphony of passion like we’ve been doing this for years. Like we were meant to do this.
I whimper into him, and it spurs him on. He threads one of his hands through my hair and curls the other around my waist, gently walking me backward until my knees hit the couch.
Slowly, he leans me down until I’m on my back on his couch.
He takes a moment to remove his suit jacket and my heels before joining me.
His body caged over mine, nudging my thighs open to allow one of his legs to settle between them.
The heat intensifies with the closeness of his body, and he’s barely touching me.
Jake rests his forehead against mine. “Hi,” he murmurs.
“Hi. You stopped kissing me.”
“I wanted to give you a minute,” he replies softly. “To make sure this is what you want.”
My heart soars at his words, knowing he’d stop in an instant if I changed my mind. I need him to know I want him as much as he wants me. How all I can think about is having his lips on my skin. His calloused hands caressing my body. “I want this. I want you,” I say confidently.
He sucks in a breath and stares at me for a second, almost like he’s shocked this is happening and waiting to check I’m not going to change my mind.
“Kiss me,” I murmur. “Please.”
His eyes are ablaze as he crashes his lips to mine. I run my fingers through his wavy hair, desperate to eliminate even the smallest amount of space between us. The heat from earlier was nothing compared to now.
He groans into my mouth as our tongues tangle. One hand grasps my cheek while the other skims my side, eliciting a tingle that goes straight to my core.
Tonight is changing everything.
For me.
For him.
For us.
When he slides his palm up the skirt of my chiffon dress, I moan and arch my back. He moves his mouth from my lips to nipping at my neck, my skin instantly heating wherever he touches. Practically begging for more. Hoping he never stops.
Desperate to touch him, I tug at his shirt until it’s loose enough to slide my hands underneath. I run my palms up and down the sculpted abs I didn’t know he had. A spark lights inside me, excited to explore how he looks, feels, and tastes.
Slowly, his lips trail from the base of my neck to my collarbone.
He takes his other hand and follows the V-shape of my dress, dangerously close to my breasts.
Teasing me with his fingertips until I whimper at his mercy.
How can this man wring these sounds out of me from only a few kisses and light touches?
I can’t imagine what he’ll be able to do once his hands and mouth are on other parts of my body.
I stiffen slightly at the thought that pops into my head out of nowhere—how inexperienced I am compared to Jake.
He’s been with countless women. Probably some on this very couch when he was in high school.
And I… I’ve been with one man. What if I can’t give him the same pleasure he’s able to bring to me?
Jake drags the tip of his tongue up my neck before pulling away and gazing into my eyes. “Are you okay?” He slowly caresses my face with genuine concern etched across his. “Do you want me to stop?”
“I’m okay.” I raise my head and lightly kiss him. “I don’t want you to stop.”
“What’s bothering you? I can practically see the wheels turning in your head, Kate. I don’t want us to keep any secrets from each other. Tell me what’s on your mind.” He lightly strokes my cheek with the back of his hand. “Please.”
“I’m not…I’m not as experienced as you at all of this,” I whisper, barely loud enough for him to hear, as if that might make the statement somehow less embarrassing. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.” I cover my face with my hands, unable to see his reaction.
“Oh, sweetheart. You could never disappoint me,” he says on an exhale, prying my hands away from my face and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Nothing and no one can hold a candle to what I’ll experience with you…because it’s you. And you are my everything.”
I gasp softly. Did he just call me sweetheart? His everything?
“You’re incredibly beautiful, Kate. There have been so many times you’ve taken my breath away over the past month.” His lips lightly brush against mine. “Where I’ve wanted to kiss you. Touch you. Make you mine.”
“I am yours, Jake. For as long as you’ll have me.”
“Forever, Kate. I want forever with you.” He takes my lips in an intense kiss, one that sends molten lava to my center.
He continues to deepen the kiss as I moan into his mouth, unable to control the sounds coming out of me.
One hand slides under my dress, higher and higher until his thumb grazes over my hip, unable to go any farther because of the tight-fitting bodice.
His other hand sketches the outline of my collarbone, slowly tracing the V-neck as he did before, only this time, he runs a fingertip under the fabric, softly stroking the top of my breasts, causing my breath to hitch.
Holy fucking shit. I’m going to explode.
My body is a stick of dynamite, and he’s about to light the fuse with a single touch.
How is any of this possible? I’ve never felt like this before.
I want more of it. More of him. I can tell he’s being respectful, not wanting to push things too fast, but I can’t wait any longer.
Deciding to be brave, I start unbuttoning his shirt as surprise flickers in his eyes.
I drag my hands slowly down his chest as I undo each button.
Once his shirt is open, I dip my fingertips along the top of his pants.
Just enough to give him a taste of the teasing he’s been doing to me all evening.
Then he growls into my mouth, and I damn near liquefy.