Chapter 13
PENELOPE
I have to keep reminding myself that I’m sitting in a penthouse apartment with a starting NFL player, because being with Jameson is easy.
There’s nothing extra about him. And even when I embarrass myself, he doesn’t make me feel small or dumb.
Hearing him call me Pip, giving me a nickname, makes me feel loved. Already.
“You’ll definitely need to teach me the basics.
My besties make me watch games with them every Sunday, but really, I just go for the beer and wings.
” I laugh as his eyes get wide and his smile shines.
“I’ll never pass up food. They pay, and in turn, I just deal with them screaming at the television. ”
“Do I want to know who their team is? I mean, being that you guys are locals, it’d be a death sentence if you didn’t cheer for the Warriors.”
“Oh, no, they’re definitely die-hards for the Warriors. Like everyone else in this town.”
“So, how did you dodge it?”
Shrugging. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not very coordinated. So sports in high school were out. Gym was torture, and I wanted as far away from it as possible.” Pausing. “No offense.”
“None taken. I get it. It’s not for everyone.”
“So I dove headfirst into my studies and worked my way up to teaching collegiately. I love it.”
“I bet you’re a real distraction for those college boys.”
I roll my eyes. “Hardly.”
“You’ve been my favorite distraction.” His voice is low and sultry, and at his words, I feel all the air sucked from the room.
Our eyes connect, and, just like his hand on mine at the coffee shop, the attraction is undeniable.
The pull is real. And this isn’t a love story in a movie.
It’s real life, and I’m falling hard. Right here. Right now.
Leaning in towards him, he meets me halfway, and once his lips touch mine, I’m done for.
We’re not tentative like how new lovers would be.
We’re not shy, holding back because we’re afraid.
We’re just together as if we’ve always been.
He places his hand on my neck, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he deepens the kiss.
His tongue sweeps over mine, and he tastes sweet, like the wine we’ve been drinking. My body is warm, and I want more. I want to be closer to him. Lost in his kiss, I move my arm to hold his bicep, but in true Penelope fashion, I knock over my glass, and wine goes everywhere.
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry!” I try to stand, but Jameson jumps up first.
“Leave it,” he growls out. His eyes are wild as he literally lifts me from the chair by my waist. My arms and legs wrap around him instinctively, and we’re face to face.
“Is this okay?”
“More than okay.”
We kiss again, frantically this time, as he walks with me hanging from him like a koala, and into the living room.
He pauses by the couch as I kiss down his neck. “Not here. Bedroom,” I breathe out. And thank God he’s carrying me because I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stand, and the last thing I want to do is break a leg and end this right now.
He pulls back from me, and our eyes meet. “Penelope. Are you sure? This wasn’t my plan for tonight, I promise.”
Smiling. “Maybe it was my plan?” I respond to him in a questioning tone. He laughs at my indecision. “Okay, not really, but I thought it sounded good.”
“What did I tell you? Never say something you think I want to hear, but never hold back, either.”
“Then take me to the bedroom, Jameson,” I say with absolute certainty.
We grow serious. He leans in and kisses me once more as I slide down his body, and he steadies me on my feet. He grabs my hand and nods his head down the hall.
“Come on.”
I give him a soft smile, squeeze his hand, and follow him to his room.
I should feel nervous. I should question what I’m doing right now. But I don’t. Because it feels right. It feels like acceptance. It feels like I’ve always known him, and he’s not going to hurt me.