Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Sophie
I glanced in my rearview mirror for at least the tenth time during the five-minute drive,
unable to hold back my smile as Jamie’s headlights followed me through the quiet streets. I really didn’t think I’d ever see him again, but since he’s here, I might as well take advantage of the situation.
We both pulled into the hotel lot and he parked right next to me.
Grabbing my tote bag from the passenger seat, I got out of my car just as Jamie stepped down from his truck. As we walked side-by-side across the lot, I admired the exterior of the historic building, especially the giant clock at the top. Inside the main entrance, we were greeted by the mosaic tile floor and Tiffany stained-glass ceiling of the grand lobby.
“I love this building.”
“It is pretty amazing,” he said, as we approached the elevator.
“Have you had a chance to look around?”
“Elliott and I checked it out earlier.”
“Isn’t the detail amazing?” He nodded. “I love the tile murals that show scenes along the
original railroad’s lines.”
“They definitely don’t build them like this anymore.”
The elevator arrived and we stepped inside. My heart pounded as the small space filled with a sense of anticipation. He pressed the button for the fourth floor, and as the doors closed, the magnetic pull between us intensified. I stole a glance at Jamie and found him looking at me, his gaze mirroring my emotions.
As we reached the fourth floor, the doors opened, and he stepped aside for me to exit the elevator ahead of him. Halfway down the hallway, he pointed toward the next door on the right side.
“This is me.” Jamie opened the door. “Lead the way.”
I stepped inside and looked around the room as I shrugged my sweater off and draped it over the desk chair. I turned to tell him that I’ve never been in one of these rooms before but stopped when I saw the look of raw hunger on his face.
We locked eyes, a charged silence lingering for what felt like an eternity. The pull intensified as he closed the distance between us. With every step he took, my heartbeat quickened, a wild rhythm echoing in my chest. When he stood directly in front of me, I tilted my head back to keep eye contact.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said.
“I was nervous.” He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and continued, “I wasn't sure how you'd react.”
There are a few things I could say to that, but right now, I just want to rekindle the connection we shared in Brooklyn. I curled my fingers through the belt loops of his jeans, pulling him closer until the tips of our shoes touched.
“I’m really glad you’re here.”
Pushing up onto my tiptoes, I pressed my mouth against his, a quick kiss to punctuate my words. Before my heels touched the floor, he wrapped his hands around my elbows and lifted me until we were nose to nose.
“I’m glad I’m here, too.”
Jamie brushed his lips against mine, once, twice, three times, then the chemistry took over. Our kiss went from zero to a blazing inferno in a split second, its intensity making me dizzy. I curled my fingers into his hair, both to steady myself and pull him closer.
His warm hands slipped under my shirt and skimmed my waist. Goosebumps trailed his calloused fingers as they slid along my spine to unhook my bra. A low moan vibrated through my chest as he reached around and cupped each breast, molding them to his palms.
Jamie released my mouth and pulled back just far enough to drag my shirt and bra off and toss them to the floor. He placed his hands on my breasts again, but this time, he circled his thumbs around my nipples.
I let out a sound that was more a mewl than a moan and dropped my head back. My boobs have always been super sensitive, and he touches them just right.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, he alternately pinched and flicked his thumbs against my nipples. My legs wobbled and I grabbed his biceps, holding on so I didn’t melt to the floor.
“Mmm, that feels so good.”
Each word came out more breathless than the previous until the last one just faded away.
I met his gaze and saw the wicked glint in his eyes a second before he tugged and rolled the stiff peaks he’d created. The sensation zinged down to my clit and my hips jerked forward. When he pressed his erection against me, I nearly came on the spot. Sucking in a sharp breath, I froze.
Jamie immediately stopped.
“Did I hurt you?”
“Just the opposite.” I shook my head. “It felt really good.”
He flashed a sexy smile that promised all kinds of yummy things.
“Well then, I’m sorry I stopped.”
Moving his hands to my ass, he pulled me flush against him, and pressed his mouth against mine. We devoured each other, our tongues stroking, tasting, savoring, and I gave into the hunger I’d kept at bay since I first saw him at the studio.
Without breaking the kiss, he shifted his arms, tightened them around my waist, and lifted me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on as he walked across the room. When he set me down, the back of my thighs rested against the bed.
Ripping his mouth from mine, Jamie sucked in a sharp breath. He moved his hands to my hips and pressed me down onto the soft mattress. With his gaze locked on mine, he pulled off my shoes, one at a time, then dropped them to the floor where they landed with a dull thud. He removed my socks, then tugged off my leggings.
Jamie’s eyes shifted down to take a lazy tour of my body, his brow raised.
“You’ve been commando this whole time?”
I nodded.
“The leggings are more comfortable without underwear.”
Resting his knee on the bed next to me, he leaned down to nip at my navel then rested his chin on my stomach and looked up at me.
“Good thing I didn’t know that sooner. It was hard enough keeping my hands off you all night.”
Before I could comment, he moved down and pressed my thighs apart with his broad shoulders. My breath caught as he stroked his tongue up my center and circled slowly around my clit.
This. I’ve missed this.
Curling my fingers into the bedspread, I held on as he licked and nipped and sucked until I teetered on the edge. As he slid two fingers inside me, I arched toward him, my breath coming in shallow pants.
He finger fucked me and my insides clenched as he licked my clit in the same mind-blowing rhythm. My senses swirled as every touch, every sensation concentrated in that magic spot and I teetered on the edge, my breath coming in short pants. He curled his fingers and stroked faster, sucked harder.
That did it.
Waves of pleasure burst through my entire body and I let out a long, low moan. He stayed with me, his tempo changing from hot and desperate to sweet and soothing until the last flutter left my body.
Jamie removed his fingers and pressed a gentle kiss on my hip, then straightened. His hard cock bobbed against his stomach as he bent down, grabbed his jeans, and removed a foil packet from his wallet.
I watched as he ripped it open and rolled the condom down his impressive length. Once he finished, his hot gaze met mine over the expanse of my body.
“You are so beautiful.”
His voice cracked on the last word and I blinked away the moisture that gathered in my eyes. I’m not sure why his words touched me so much, but they did. Before I could get lost in sentiment, Jamie’s mouth curled up into a wicked smile as he wrapped his hands around my ankles and pulled me toward him.
“Ack!”
My screech morphed into a laugh that mingled with his and echoed through the room. But that faded when he rested my ass against the edge of the bed, spread my thighs, and plunged inside. He closed his eyes and stilled. After a few heartbeats, he opened them again and moved slowly, in and out.
He increased the pace then shifted forward, resting his elbows on either side of my head. I wrapped my legs around his hips, holding him tight as he pumped in and out.
“You feel so fucking good,” he said, his voice a mere rasp in my ear.
I groaned in response and dug my fingers into his muscular ass. He took my mouth in a frenzied kiss as he thrust faster and faster, giving us both what we needed.
Releasing my mouth, he straightened and sucked in a deep breath. Without missing a beat, he curled his hands around my hips, and pulled me up against him. The change of angle allowed him to plunge deeper and hit that spot.
“I’m close,” I panted. “So close.”
Apparently close wasn’t good enough for Jamie. He slipped his thumb through my slick folds and circled my clit, then gave it a little pinch.
I let out a long, hoarse moan as I came for the second time in less than five minutes. Some part of my brain registered the fact that Jamie let out his own shout just before he collapsed on top of me.
Jamie
I knocked on Elliott’s door and waited. Just as I was about to knock again, the door opened a crack.
“Why are you waking me up at the ass crack of dawn?”
“It’s nine o’clock,” I said. “And since you opted out of breakfast, here are the keys to the truck in case you want to go somewhere before I get back.”
He opened the door wider and held his hand out.
“Thanks,” he said around a huge yawn.
“Just don’t fuck up my truck.”
“I’d never,” he said then added with a smirk, “And don’t you fuck up with Sophie.”
Before I could comment on that, the woman in question stepped out of my room.
“All’s quiet on the home front, so I’m yours.” She looked at Elliott. “Are you joining us?”
He shook his head.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I plan on lounging in this amazing bed until five minutes prior to our late checkout.”
“That’s two o’clock, right?” I asked.
“Correct.”
“I’m sure we’ll be back before then.”
“No rush. If you two want to hang out longer than that, I’ll give Anjannette a call,” he said. “She asked about getting together if we don’t have to rush out of town.”
I doubt Sophie plans on spending more than five hours with me today, but we’ll see what happens.
“I’ll let you know where we’re at.”
“Sounds good.” Elliott stepped back into the room and before he closed the door added, “Have fun, kids.”
After Sophie grabbed her bag from the room, we headed down to her SUV. Once we settled inside, she turned on the engine and looked over at me, a big smile on her face.
“First stop, the Glider Diner.”
“ First stop?”
“It seems we have a few hours. I can give you a little tour of Scranton, starting with an amazing breakfast.”
“Sounds great.”
Five minutes later, I opened the door to the diner and stepped aside so Sophie could enter ahead of me. As I followed her in, my mouth watered at the mingled aroma of freshly brewed coffee, bacon, and pancakes.
We slid into a booth across from each other and a waitress approached immediately and placed menus on the table.
“Coffee?” she asked.
“Please,” Sophie said, and I nodded.
After filling our mugs, she said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes for your order.”
While I looked at the menu, Sophie added cream and sugar to her coffee and stirred. I drink mine black, so I just need to wait for it to cool off a bit. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way many times over.
Sophie picked up her mug, blew on the coffee, and took a sip.
“What’s good here?” I asked.
She set the mug on the table and wrapped her hands around it.
“Honestly, it’s all good. It just depends on what you’re in the mood for.”
“What are you getting?”
“Steak and eggs.” She flashed a sexy smirk. “For some reason, I’m starving this morning.”
“That sounds good.” I returned her smile. “I’m pretty hungry, too.”
“You should be.” She bobbed her eyebrows. “You burned a lot of calories last night.”
Before I could respond, the waitress returned. We placed nearly identical orders, differing only in our choice of toast. Sophie chose wheat and I got rye. After taking our menus, she left again. I rested my forearms against the table and leaned forward.
We’re surrounded by people, so instead of continuing with sexy banter, I steered the conversation in a tamer direction.
“Getting to spend some extra time with you this morning is a nice bonus,” I said. “On the way here, I wasn’t sure I’d get to spend any time with you.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Did you think I’d just ignore you?”
“We left things up in the air and I didn’t know how you’d feel about me crashing your party.”
“You didn’t crash . Just surprised me, that’s all.”
The waitress returned carrying two plates heaping with steak, eggs, home fries, and toast. After setting them down in front of us, she checked if we needed more coffee, then was on her way.
“This looks amazing,” I said.
“Mmmm.”
Sophie nodded as she chewed the potato she’d popped into her mouth.
There’s so much I want to say, so many questions to ask, but that can wait until we’re done eating. I picked up a piece of toast, dipped it into the yolk, and took a big bite.
As I dug into the rest of my meal, I looked around. There’s a dining room off to the right, but we’re sitting in the front, which is a vintage, stainless steel diner. With its chrome details, red booths, and classic counter flanked by worn-in bar stools, the space has a nostalgic feel. And the food is exactly what I’d expect from a place like this. Hearty, flavorful, and delicious. Not to mention plentiful. I’m a big eater and still found myself struggling to clear my plate. I set down my fork and took a sip of coffee.
“So what would you be doing today if you weren’t playing tour guide?”
“Writing maybe. Or reading.” She shrugged. “Trying to talk at least one of the kids into watching a movie or something.”
“How old are they again?”
“Courtney is twenty-one, Bobby is twenty, Emily is eighteen, and Tyler is sixteen.”
“Wow, your house must have been pretty hectic when they were little.”
“It was.” A wistful look crossed her face. “But I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss all that chaos.”
“Do they all still live at home?”
“Bobby goes to Penn State, but the other three do.”
“So it must still be at least a little chaotic.”
“Not really. The house is quiet most of the time, even if they are home. It’s just weird.”
“In what way?”
She sat back in the booth and rested her hands on her stomach.
“Other than Tyler, who still needs me for rides until he gets his license, the other kids are self-sufficient. But I still feel like I need to be around just in case they need me.” She chuckled. “I feel like the girl sitting by the phone waiting for a boy to call most of the time.”
“I imagine that after revolving your life around theirs for so many years, it’s tough to stop.”
“It is,” she said, her words punctuated by a deep, resigned breath. “But I’m taking baby steps. I’m at the pole studio a few nights a week, and the ladies and I go out regularly.”
That’s as good a lead-in as any to bring up the topic that’s been front and center in my mind since yesterday. Hell, since she was in Brooklyn last month.
I’ll admit that before seeing her again, I wondered if I’d exaggerated our connection. But as soon as I saw her, spent time with her, touched her, I knew without a doubt this thing between us is real. And sitting here, in this cozy diner, I know one thing for certain…I don’t want to let her go.
“The last time I saw you, we left things between us up in the air. I was hoping we could figure out how to bring them down to Earth.” I chuckled. “You’re the writer, so I’m sure you’d have a better way to say that, but you know what I mean.”
“I do.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and looked around the diner, seeming unsure. If she’s truly not interested in exploring this thing between us, I’ll step back. I won’t be happy, but I’ll respect her wishes.
“I guess I should have asked if you’re interested in moving this forward first.”
“Jamie, you’re a great guy…”
My stomach twisted as she trailed off. Nothing positive ever follows those words.
“It’s okay.” I reached across the table to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know you have other priorities right now.”
“You didn’t let me finish.” She shook her head and interlaced her fingers with mine. “You’re a great guy who could have any woman he wants. Are you sure you wouldn’t want to spend time with someone who doesn’t have so much baggage?”
“Your family isn’t baggage.”
Moisture shimmered in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to dispel it.
“I just meant someone a little easier.”
“You’re the one I want to spend time with, and I’m hoping you feel the same way about me.”
Sophie’s gaze held mine for several heartbeats and I held my breath, waiting for her to say something. Finally, she responded, “If you’re willing to work with my schedule, I’m definitely open to seeing where this can go.”
The waitress approached before I could say anything. She placed the check in the middle of the table and kept giving me side-eye glances as she picked up our empty plates, probably because I have an insanely huge smile plastered on my face. But I can’t help it.
I grabbed the check when she left. Sophie and I have a lot to talk about, but we don’t need to do that here.
“Ready to go?”
“Sure.”
After paying, we headed back out to her SUV. She started the car and I watched her choose an 80s playlist. The guitar intro of “Nothing But a Good Time” by Poison sounded through the speakers.
Sophie placed her hand on the shifter and looked over at me with a big smile.
“Practice your smile because our first stop is the Dwight Schrute mural for a selfie.”