How to Fail at Flirting(20)

“It was intentional.” He curled his fingers with mine again as he’d done all night, his thumb tracing over my palm. “I’m glad I’m not just another in a string of men you’ve taken to fake proctology appointments.”

“I promise, you were my first.”

He pulled my hand to his lips. My breath hitched as he dropped a kiss on my knuckles. “I’m honored to hold that distinction.”

Jake squeezed my hand again, eyes still locked on mine.

“Are you staring at me to avoid seeing how high up we are?”

His gaze warmed me from inside out and made me nervous at the same time.

“Yes.” He trailed the pad of his thumb over my lower lip, then against my cheekbone. “That and . . .” He lowered his lips to mine, slowly, his fingers curling around my neck. The view, the night sky, and the people below became background noise.

In the back of my mind, I counted the moments like the dance steps. One, two, three. But when his soft tongue nudged at my lips, I stopped counting. The force of the kiss took my breath, but I didn’t want it back. When we pulled apart, he stared at me, a heat in his gaze that made me feel powerful.

“Damn,” he said quietly, still holding my head.

“Damn,” I repeated. I wanted to be kissed like that again, like I was something special, something wanted, like I was . . . someone.





Nine





My hands shook at my sides, and I tried to control my nerves, but my pulse quickened as I once again watched Jake open the door to his room. This time he didn’t fumble with the key card, and once the door closed, our eyes met for a moment, a taut undercurrent of want passing between us.

I opened my mouth to say something, to make a joke, but gasped instead as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him.

His mouth closed over mine, unyielding, as he held my face to his. Fingers dug into my hair, and a moan fell from my mouth as he pressed his lips to the side of my chin and down the column of my throat. The nice guy, my quirky nerd, had been replaced with this dominant, hungry man, and I liked it.

Placing my palm on his hard chest, I felt his heart racing. Glad I’m not the only one.

My hands explored downward over his flat stomach. The ridges of his abs were like magnets for my fingers through the smooth fabric of his shirt, and I traced the muscles down to his belt, letting my fingers grip the leather.

Jake sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled me onto his lap, dotting kisses along my cheek and down my jawline, gently cupping my neck in his broad hand. “Your skin is so soft,” he murmured into my shoulder, lightly nipping, then kissing.

We stayed like that, oscillating between frenzied tongues and sweet kisses, soft strokes and firm grips. I fell into that moment, and there was just his mouth and his hands and our bodies. The night before had been hot, but the memory was blurry, the edges soft from the alcohol. Sitting with him on the bed, I was aware of every touch.

His fingers trailed up my spine, and he twisted, dipping me toward the bed, giggling as I fell backward. His tongue peeked out from between his lips, and he dragged a fingertip from my knee with painfully slow deliberation toward my hip bone.

My giggle faded, and we lay on the bed, wrapped in each other. “Hi,” I murmured.

“Hi.” He moved one palm to my hip, and our eyes locked.

“No cheesy lines now?”

He shook his head and cupped my ass, massaging and stroking. “I can’t think of anything besides touching you.” His fingers fluttered closer to where I wanted him, to where I hadn’t welcomed anyone in so long.

“Good. You cheddar not stop,” I murmured on a fluttery exhale.

He smiled against my neck as his fingers brushed over the wet panel of my panties. I inched my thighs apart, and my breath caught in my throat as he traced along my seam through the fabric.

“You want this?” he asked, voice husky. He continued to trace long lines back and forth. Electricity arced through me as I rocked my pelvis toward his fingers.

“Yes,” I croaked, my breaths coming in sharp, short bursts. No man had ever asked me if I wanted this, and I liked it. “It’s been a long time, but yes.”

“The Ferris wheel was worth it.” He ran his palm over my stomach and down my hips, then back up my skirt, his warm palm trailing over my thighs. “To kiss you,” he rasped. He slid into my panties, his long fingers stroking and his thumb teasing me with the lightest pressure. “To feel you.”

I arched, back bowing off the bed at his touch. I want this. I want this. I want this.

“So perfect,” he breathed out again, pressing his lips along my collarbone, then to my breast, sucking gently on a hard nipple through my thin shirt. His fingers continued to tease, and his lips left me frazzled with pent-up anticipation. I pulled my tank top over my head, anxious to remove the barrier. Jake didn’t miss a beat, immediately pushing the cups of my bra down and taking me into his mouth. Watching his lips on me was mesmerizing.

I inhaled sharply. The sensation floored me. Part of me needed everything, every touch all at once, before he pulled away. I reached to push down my underwear, but he caught my hand, then dragged the lacy fabric down my legs himself, his movements slow and deliberate. I couldn’t take my eyes off his hand traveling down my leg.

After tossing the fabric aside, he dotted kisses on each of my breasts, sweet little pecks before he returned his hand to between my legs. His finger inched inside me, moving in and out slowly before pressing deeper, searching. He crooked his finger, and I cried out, tipping my head back as he stroked against the sensitive spot.