Straight Up Love (The Boys of Jackson Harbor #2)(73)

Then today was my last day at Windsor Prep. My drama kids cried and so did I, but I reminded them that we’ll see each other all summer while they help with the children’s theater.

Colton’s right about my fear of change. I’ve always been that way, and now it’s no different. Jake encouraged me to take the interview for the Seaside position, even if we don’t know where the move will leave us. He wants me to make an informed decision, and I just want an excuse to rule out anything that takes me away from him.

Jake’s hand finds mine, and I hold my breath as he slowly threads our fingers together and strokes the back of my knuckles with his thumb.

I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for us to make love—which is crazy, because if someone had asked me a few weeks ago, I would have lied and said I wasn’t interested in sleeping with Jake at all. Now, all he has to do is walk into a room and I’m warm from my cheeks all the way down to my toes, aware of my body in a way I haven’t been in a long time—maybe ever. I hadn’t even realized I’d stopped thinking of myself sexually, but I had, and now I’m a bit obsessed. I think about it all the time—his hands, his mouth, how it will feel the first time he’s inside me.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours?” he asks.

“I’m wondering if you’re ever going to do more than kiss me,” I say, gathering every bit of my bravery. “If you ever plan to finish what you started at the hotel.”

He releases my hand and turns to stand with a leg on either side of mine. He leans over me, his hands against the side of the house. “I promise I’m going to finish what I started.” His gaze sweeps over my face before he slowly lowers his mouth. I draw in a breath as his lips sweep across mine. God, it’s good.

Every cell in my body seems to expand at his touch. It’s like flowers blooming or the sun rising or butterflies breaking free from their cocoons—he does that to me all over.

One hand slides under my shirt and up my side. “But if you’re wondering if I’m going to do it here,” he says, his thumb stroking the underside of my breast, “the answer is no. I can’t. There are too many ears around, and the first time I’m inside you, I’m going to make you come so hard you can’t help but scream.”

My breath catches and my back arches, my body desperate for more of his touch. “What if I’m not a screamer?”

His lips quirk. “We’ll see . . .”

“What if I disappoint you?” I mean it to sound like a joke, a reference to the idea of me screaming when I’ve never screamed during sex in my life. But instead, the words sound a little shaky. A little too vulnerable. A little too insecure. I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint him in so many ways, and I think we both know it.

“You couldn’t possibly.”

“That night was an anomaly for me. Usually . . .” I swallow. “Usually it’s not so easy.”

“It was pretty easy when I was rubbing you through your jeans.” His lips quirk. “Not that I’m complaining. It was hot as hell.”

My cheeks heat at the memory. “But sometimes I just can’t,” I whisper.

“You let me worry about that, okay?” He shakes his head slowly. “All that matters is that you’re enjoying yourself—orgasm or no orgasm, there’s no possible way you could disappoint me.” He cups my breasts, his thumb stroking across my bra and catching my hard nipple. I bite my bottom lip to catch my moan, and he smiles. “And anyway, I haven’t decided what I want to do yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Considering how long I’ve wanted to get inside you . . .” His gaze drops to my mouth. “How many times I’ve fantasized about having you in my bed. . . I want to make sure the first time is as amazing for you as it is for me. So I can’t decide if I want you under me—your knees pulled up around my waist, so you can feel me deep inside you—or if I want you to ride me.” He pinches my nipple. “Then I could suck on these perfect breasts while you got yourself off on my cock.”

My breath catches, and I press into his hands. “I like your mouth on my breasts.”

“I noticed. But then I’ve thought about taking you from behind—God knows I’m going to make sure that happens eventually—with your ass in my hands as I drive deep and make you stroke your clit for me. It’ll be fucking amazing to take you like that.”

His words are the light to a fuse that races across my skin and sets every nerve ending on fire. Yes, please. I want everything. All of it.

“But not the first time. The first time, I want to see your face. I want to watch all the pleasure wash over you and see what you look like when you come.”

I lean forward, pressing my face into his chest, and groan.

“I’ve been trying to go slowly,” he whispers, “but it’s the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done. I want you so badly.”

“Then take me.” Do I sound as desperate as I feel? His words have me twisted in knots. Every muscle from my shoulders to down between my legs is tight with longing.

“I will. And that’s a promise.” He takes my hand and leads me away from the house. “Come on a walk with me?”

I nod and intertwine my fingers with his as we wander through the darkness.