Page 93 of From the Moment We Met

Lilly took the sponge from his hands, massaging his back and shoulders, first with her hands and then with her lips. Jacob feared he’d explode from the sheer intimacy.

“Let’s go to bed,” Lilly whispered, turning off the water.

Her body glistened with water droplets, and he admired her form, his breath coming in ragged gasps. She had to be aware of her beauty, but she didn’t flaunt it like the women in Hollywood. She maintained an understated sensuality that Jacob found irresistible.

“Do we have to sleep?”

Her lips tickled his, an impish grin on her face. “I’m sure you can think of ways to keep me awake. You’ve yet to show me your final superpower.”

He carried her to the bed, lowering himself on top of her and capturing her lips with his own. His tongue swept into her mouth as he tried to convey all the feelings coursing through his body. “I love coming home to you. I’m so glad you stayed,” Jacob murmured into Lilly's neck.

“I couldn’t leave after your text message.” Lilly’s giggle resonated in the bedroom, and Jacob smiled.

“I’m glad you’re amused.” Feigning anger, he held her wrists with one hand and began tickling her, eliciting squeals when he found the right spot.

“I give, I give!” Lilly cried as he released her hands and she claimed his mouth again. “I’m glad I’m your biggest weakness.” Her words were a direct quote from his text, but she added her own embellishment. “You’re my biggest weakness as well.” Their lips were almost touching when his phone rang. Lilly rolled her eyes, laughing. “I think the Gods are trying to tell us something.”

“That electronic devices are tools of Satan? At this moment, I agree with them. It’ll stop in a minute.” The phone went quiet as the voicemail picked up, only to start ringing again.

Lilly pushed against his chest. “You should answer it, it might be Janie.”

“It’s not Janie.”

“It might be—she only went home yesterday—and you just returned from being with Victoria…that, and your ringtone is driving me insane!” Lilly shaped her hand into a mock gun and fired.

Jacob groaned as he rolled off her and grabbed his phone. He expected an inane message from Victoria, but it actually was Janie. His heart skipped a beat when he listened to her message.

“Hi Jakey, I know it’s late, but I needed to call. I feel like I’m starting life over again. I wanted to make sure I told the people I love that I love them because second chances are never guaranteed. I hope you realize that, dear brother and I hope you attended Lilly’s fundraiser. I like her, and more than that, you like her; she’s right for you.”

Lilly perched on the bed, her eyes studying him. “It was Janie, wasn’t it?”

Jacob nodded. “She’s fine, getting her feet back under her again.” Jacob considered his sister’s words; her opinion of Lilly echoed his own sentiment. He was getting too involved, or was he? For the first time, the idea of getting serious was a welcome idea.

“It can be hard for patients for the first few months; their bodies recover, but their spirits are forever changed by the experience. It’s a second chance at life, and they want to make sure they’re worthy of that opportunity.”

“Did you overhear her message?”

Lilly smiled. “No, I’ve been a nurse for a long time; I’ve seen how it affects patients. But Janie is already such a sweetheart, I can’t imagine her getting any sweeter.”

He became solemn after his sister’s message. She was right, life moved at warp speed and he didn’t want to miss out on the most important aspects. Namely, he didn’t want to miss out on a future with Lilly.

Lilly seemed to pick up on the change in mood and smiled, patting the bed. “It’s late; you’ll be asleep in five minutes.”

“I have chronic insomnia. I rarely sleep.”

Lilly considered his words as she slid under the covers. “Did you sleep the other night at my house?”

Jacob smiled. “I did.”

“So, do you want to try again? See if it wasn’t a one off?”

Jacob’s eyes warmed as he climbed into bed, pulling her tight against him. “I do.” Lilly turned on her side, and he spooned her, breathing in the scent of her hair, his hand clasping hers. “You feel like home, Lilly.” He kissed her neck softly and closed his eyes, falling asleep within minutes.

∞∞∞

The sun streamed through the curtains as he opened his eyes. Damn, I haven’t slept that well for years. He reached over to the other side of the bed to stroke Lilly’s body, jerking his hand back when it instead touched Victoria’s thigh. His ex-girlfriend lounged against the pillow next to him, a sultry smile on her lips.

Sitting up, he blinked, clearing the fog of sleep. “What the—what are you doing here?”

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