Page 66 of The House on Blueberry Lane

He lifted a brow. “You will?”

“Yes. Another bridal shower. This time it’s Ruthie’s.”

“Will this be your first time returning to Phoenix since leaving?”

“No. I was there for Ruthie and Todd’s engagement party during New Year’s.”

So that’s where she’d gone. Jaye had rushed back to Catalina Cove right after Christmas, hoping to see her at the cove’s New Year’s ball he’d attended as Reid Lacroix’s guest, only to discover she wasn’t there. At the time, he hadn’t moved into the house on Blueberry Lane and was staying at Shelby by the Sea.

They continued working on the chairs and when the sun began to set, she removed her gloves and took off her safety glasses. “That’s it for me today. I’m going home to relax before taking a shower.”

Was she telling him that as a way of an invitation to join her in the shower? The thought made his lower extremities throb. He removed his safety glasses and gloves as well. “I think I’ll call it a day myself. With your help, I accomplished a lot.”

“Are you sure I wasn’t in the way?”

“I’m positive. You did a good job sanding those chairs.”

“Need my assistance in putting things away?”

“Thanks, that would be appreciated since I’m in need of a shower myself.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.” Then in what he thought was a soft ultra-sexy voice, she said, “Would you like to join me taking mine?”

He pulled her close to him to wrap his arms around her shoulders. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

“And if I can be so bold to say, I’d like to try out your shower, Jaye. I’m sure there’s another old T-shirt of yours I can wear borrow.”

“And if not, you can certainly wear nothing at all.”

IT DIDN’T TAKE them long to put things away and head toward the house. Walking beside Jaye, Velvet struggled for control. More than once she had watched him work. His concentration had been focused on what he was doing while hers had been focused on him.

“We’re going jogging together in the morning, right?” He moved aside for her to go up the porch steps ahead of him.

“I guess so, just as long as you know I’m still only doing one lap.”

He leaned in and whispered, “I’ll take any number of laps you’ll give me.”

He opened the door to his house and, after closing it behind them, he swept her into his arms. “I can walk up the stairs, you know.”

“I know, but there’s something about carrying you anywhere that makes it special.”

She wished he would have thought that way when they’d been together before. She didn’t want to think about that time, especially not now, and reached up and placed her arms around his neck to bring his mouth down to hers. The moment their tongues began tangling, all the desires and needs that he had taken care of last night had apparently replenished over the past few hours, as sensations rushed through her body.

When she felt them moving, she broke off the kiss. Halfway up the stairs, she suddenly said, “Stop, Jaye.”

He stopped and looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t make it to the shower.” She lowered her hands to unbutton his shirt. Understanding her need, he set her feet on the steps and began undressing her. Everything was happening so fast that she wasn’t sure who was undressing whom until they were both naked.

Lifting her hips, he used their discarded clothing as a cushion for her against the wooden stairs. Before she could tell him that wasn’t necessary, he kneeled between her thighs, slipped her legs over his shoulders, and buried his head there.

“Jaye!”

The moment she felt his tongue inside her, she fought hard not to come apart and grabbed hold of the railing as a multitude of sensations raced through her. Although no other man had ever done this to her before him, she was certain nobody could do this like Jaye. He knew just where his tongue needed to be to provide her with the ultimate satisfaction.

She screamed his name when intense pleasure took her over, thinking it was a good thing their neighbors were not in shouting, or screaming, range. He moved his mouth away, lowered her legs and then covered her with his body. Placing a tight grip on her thighs, he quickly thrust inside her and began riding her hard. Over and over again. They came together.

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