Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(136)

Jack sensed her tensing up as they started through the park, and he drew her hand out of her pocket. Their hands swung loose between them as a breeze whipped her hair off her shoulders and around her face. As they made it to the giant circle leading up to the arch, Lexi laughed and tried to wrangle her hair back into place.

They stopped in front of the colossal marble statue that was a model replica of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The lights had already flickered on, illuminating the great construction. Lexi and Jack passed through the arch, giggling about the similarities between it and the arch at their alma mater. Students weren’t allowed to pass under the arch on campus, or they would risk never graduating.

Jack circled them back around to face the front where two sculptures of George Washington stood tall and proud. Lexi had passed through here so many times, but standing here with Jack felt like it was the first time she was appreciating it.

“This might be my favorite place in the city,” Jack said.

“Why?” Lexi asked, scrunching up her nose. She liked the arch, but there were so many amazing places in the city. She didn’t think she could pick one.

“Because I’m standing here with you.”

Lexi wrapped her arms around his neck. “Jack Howard, when did you become such a sweetheart?”

She lightly brushed her cold nose against his as he grabbed her around the middle. It felt absolutely blissful to be out in public, standing around with Jack like this. They had hidden and fought their affection for so long, and now that she didn’t have to hold back any longer, she felt it bursting out of her at every corner.

“Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold,” he joked, dropping his mouth to hers.

“Oh yes, wouldn’t want to hurt your jerk reputation.”

“You’re killing me, love,” he said against her mouth.

“You like it.”

“I love everything about you.”

Lexi ducked her head into his shoulder. “Sure know how to make a girl blush.”

“You bet I do,” he said huskily into her ear.

She smiled seductively while grabbing on to the collar of his gray coat and pulling him toward the street. “Tonight.”

“That’s so long from now.”

“So impatient.”

“I’ve waited forever for you, Lex,” he said, stopping them in their tracks and taking her face lightly in his hands. “I’ll always be impatient. I want you all the time. I want you right now.”

Lexi swooned at his words and felt her knees giving out as she stared up into baby-blue eyes. God, she loved this man.

“A bit cold out to take me right here,” she said with a wink.

“Don’t tempt me,” he growled.

“I’ll always be your temptation.”

Jack smiled that heart-stopping smile, and in that moment, Lexi knew she would follow him anywhere. Sex in the park wasn’t sounding like that bad of an option with that expression on his face telling her that it would be worth her time. It always was.

“We…have to get to Chyna’s,” Lexi murmured, trying to keep them on track.

“You’re really going to make me wait? What if I just pick you up and take you now?” he demanded, walking her backward into the ever-darkening park.

“I wouldn’t stop you,” she said with her own smirk.

“Fuck, how am I supposed to control myself when you look at me like that?”

“You aren’t?”

“How much time do we have?” Jack asked, already walking down a side path.

Lexi had walked on it a few times, and she knew it was far enough off the beaten path that they likely wouldn’t be disturbed. Her heart raced ahead of her with the anticipation of what was to come.

“Not enough,” she whispered.

But she didn’t care. Chyna would forgive her, right?

“Oh well.” Jack glanced around and shrugged.

It was already pretty dark back here. It wasn’t likely anyone would stumble across them.

“This will have to do,” he said.

His hands tangled into her hair, pulling her mouth up to his, as he pressed her back against the base of a large tree. Their kisses were heated and intensified with only the few short minutes of buildup. It was always like this every time—more heated, more passionate, more feverish. They couldn’t get enough of each other. They couldn’t stop, and it was beautiful that they didn’t have to.

Lexi dug her fingers into the fabric of his dark sweater before moving her cold hands underneath the material to run along his bare stomach. He jumped at the temperature difference, but he didn’t stop kissing her. He grabbed one of her legs covered by a thin layer of black tights and brought it up around his waist as he let his other hand find the hem of her skirt. She teasingly ran her hand softly along the waistline of his pants.

“Fuck,” he groaned.

His hand slid up the bottom of her skirt, and her back arched to feel him touch her. He chuckled at her need as he ran his hand slowly up her inner thigh. Her body was pulsing, and she was ready to just rip off her tights and let him take her. She needed to feel him, to feel the rush of their bodies connecting.

Jack’s thumb found her clit through the material, and he circled around it until she thought she might combust. A moan escaped her lips, and she latched on to his belt buckle, willing him closer. The moan must have been too loud because Jack covered her mouth again with his lips, and he pressed his rapidly growing erection against her. She whimpered through the kisses as their bodies moved together, desperate to take him. Her hand fumbled to undo his belt buckle. She finally yanked it apart, unbuttoned his pants, and slid the zipper to the bottom. Her hand found his thickness through his jeans, and she ran down the length.