Page 28 of I'll Carry You

Their mouths collided again, this time without tenuous hesitation. Her tongue darted into his mouth, stroking against his as the sexual tension between them built, simmering to a hot boil as his hands moved up to cup her full breasts. Her bra was lacy—and in the way.

He was determined to be cool and detached. If she was here for sex, that was what she would get and nothing more. Then he could go on with his life.

Jason tugged at her top, then slipped it over her head. She wore a lacy black bra over perfect breasts. No doubt she’d worn lingerie for her date.

“What’s the name of the idiot who broke up with you tonight?”

She gave him an odd look. “Brad. Why?”

“I need to find him and thank him.” He reached behind her. As he deftly unhooked her bra, his palms replaced the lace fabric, and he slid his hands over the fullness of her breasts, her nipples hardening at his touch. She moaned lightly into his mouth as she unbuttoned his shirt.

A shrill ringtone made them both flinch.Not mine.

Jen pulled her face away from his, blinking as the phone’s ring brought her back to reality. She was breathless, her face a soft pink. “I should get that,” she whispered, dropping a full, luscious kiss on his mouth as she slinked away.

He had never hated a phone more. He was going to kill whoever was dragging this gorgeous, topless woman away from him.

She dug through her purse for her phone and pulled it out. Cursing under her breath, she turned it on. “Hey, Mom.” Her frown deepened, and she turned from him, covering her breasts with her arm. “Well, can you put him on?”

He stood and stared into the flames, setting his hand against the stone façade of the fireplace.

“Hey, buddy.” Jen’s voice dropped to a soft, singsong tone. “You okay?” She listened for a few beats. “No, I know, buddy, come on. You’re with Mom-Mom. She’ll snuggle you.”

Colby.His nephew.

He rubbed his eyes. What the fuck was he doing?

Shit.

Money aside, this whole situation was quickly spiraling out of control. Jen might be all right with having sex with him, but she didn’t know who he was.

As her quiet coaxing on the phone ended, he straightened. A soft rustle came from behind him, and he turned to find her slipping back into her bra. “I have to go.”

As much as he wanted her, his relief at her words felt like guilt coursing through his gut. “Okay.”

She didn’t meet his eyes as she grabbed her top. “My son has night terrors. Normally, he doesn’t spend two nights away from me. But my mom kept him last night because he was excited to spend some time with his cousins. This means tonight, he’s just not really having it. He started thrashing, and my parents woke him up, and now he’s inconsolable.”

“Yeah, it’s never good to wake up a kid with night terrors.” At her questioning look, he stammered, “My younger brother used to get them.” Especially after their father’s death.

His younger brother, the father of her child. He was glad for the dark, feeling the blood draining from his face. In fact, Colby had probably inherited it from Kevin.

“I don’t think I ever had them, so my parents didn’t know what to do.” She grabbed her coat. “I’m so sorry.” She took a few steps toward him, then paused as though unsure of how to handle the situation.

It wasn’t like they could pick up where they’d left things. Her lips twisted regretfully. “I had fun, though. Sorry to leave you like this.”

He gave her a practiced smile, trying to act more gallant than he felt. “Maybe we’ll do it again sometime. Let me call you a car?”

Again sometime?So much for being gallant.

What the hell was he even saying?

“Hey, for what it’s worth, I had more fun tonight than I’ve had in a long time. And this evening really didn’t start like that.”

He fumbled for an answer.More fun than in a long time?She didn’t want to be pitied, but, God, something about the way she said that made him feel worse. He’d flirted with her and shared a few kisses.

But if he was honest, he’d had fun, too. And the strange tug of regret he felt at her leaving wasn’t something he wanted to feel.

The time spent waiting for the car was almost torture. He wanted to pull her back into his arms, kiss her until she refused to go without finishing what they’d started.

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