Page 125 of The Making of Marnie Jones

Now he had her attention. “Make me warm, Jake. Please.”

“Lie back.” He whispered the plea in her ear.

With the barest hesitation, she eased herself onto her back.

Taking his time, he fanned her hair across the pillow. “Like in my fantasies.”

His fantasies?I like the sound of that. Where she expected him to start with the buttons near her breasts, he surprised her by releasing the bottom three. To her infinite relief, he didn't make a comment about her plain cotton underwear.

Instead, he pulled back the edges of the shirt, baring her stomach. He placed his lips near her navel and blew a warm breath across her skin. “Warmer?”

Not waiting for an answer, he splayed his hand on her expanse of exposed skin. Slowly he moved his hand in a circular motion, starting small at the center of her belly and gradually increasing the circumference. Soon his hand grazed near the underside of her breast on one side and the waistband of her underwear on the other.

He gazed up at her. “That'sa tummy rub.”

She chuckled.Props for ingenuity.

He released the final two buttons. Still maintaining the eye contact, he asked for permission.

Emboldened, she pushed herself up and quickly shed the shirt before she lost her nerve. She allowed him to guide her back down to the bed and let pleasure wash over her when he spread her hair out again.

With great gentleness, he slid up so he lay flush with her without any physical contact. He tilted her chin and swept in for a kiss.

Within moments, desire arced through her.

As his tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, his hand slipped down her arm. He grazed her side before he cupped her breast.

Instinctively she arched, pressing against his palm.

He moved to nip her jawline and down her neck.

She opened her eyes to watch in rapt fascination as his mouth latched on to her nipple. A strange sensation snaked through her body. Her eyes closed, and she gave herself up to the feelings.

Fire.

Electricity.

Desire.

She was fine right up until his hands moved to the waistband of her underwear. Within an instant, the relaxation fled, and the sense of icy dread froze her.

He stopped, and quickly gathered her into his arms, trying to warm her with his body heat.

“I'm sorry.” Her voice quivered. She blinked rapidly to stem the emotion threatening to burst forth.

He ran his hands up and down her back. He murmured soothing words into her ear.

“I wanted to, Jake, I really did.”

“I know you did, sweetheart.” He continued to hold her until her shivering ebbed. “Let me tuck you into bed.”

It took some maneuvering, but he coaxed her into her pajamas and into bed. He was about to scoop up his shirt when she finally spoke.

“Please don't go.”

Her entreaty stopped him.

“Could you hold me?”

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