Page 82 of Burn It Down

I pull my sister away from Jake. “Just as long as you remember he’smine,” I tease. “Now, do you two mind if I have a turn to say hello?”

“By all means,” my dad says. “You two have fun. Dyl, text me when you arrive so I know you made it safely.”

“I will, Dad.” He disappears down the hallway while Cassie lingers. “Do you mind?” I repeat.

“I don’t mind at all. I’m just waiting for you two to kiss. That’s my favorite part,” she says, completely serious.

“Cassie, get outta h—”

Before I can finish, Jake grabs me by the back of the neck and pulls my face to his.

With his mouth a few millimeters from mine, he smiles and says, “The lady wants a show, she gets a show.”

Jake’s kisses melt my brain to mush. I’m left with no option but to hold on for the ride. He sandwiches my bottom lip between his teeth before pulling it into his mouth. After sucking on it for a second, he opens his mouth and sends his tongue in to tangle gently with mine. I swear he’s kissing me like he’s auditioning for a pornographic film.

I can’t help the groan that escapes as he teases me. His hand slides from the back of my neck to the side of my face and his freehand wraps around my waist while I cling to his shirt, holding him in place.

He tilts his head to the opposite side and deepens the kiss, his hand moving back to my hair and gripping me by the roots, signaling his need as he kisses me harder before breaking away, leaving me panting and staring after him.

“I think I just got pregnant.” I forgot Cassie was still here. When I look over at her, she’s standing with her mouth open and a dazed look in her eyes. “You guys should give a masterclass on how to kiss becausemy God.”

Jake laughs and runs his thumb under my bottom lip. “You ready to go?”

I nod, watching in awe as Jake picks up my bag and heads for the Range Rover. “See ya, Cass,” he calls over his shoulder.

“Bye, Jake.” Cassie turns her attention to me, smiling. “Can we keep him?”

“Working on it.”

I hug her goodbye and follow Jake to the SUV where he’s holding my door open.

“You’d better slow down or I’m going to get used to this treatment and you’ll ruin me for all other men,” I tease, trying to dispel the lump in my throat.

He catches my wrist, halting my progress toward the passenger seat, so we’re face to face.

“There had better notbeany other men, Dylan.”Oh, I like Jake’s possessive side.

Seeing anger and jealousy flare in his eyes, I drop the playful attitude. “There aren’t, Jake. There’s only you.”

He nods and releases my wrist, allowing me to climb inside. When he joins me, he starts giving me a tour of the seat warmers and radio controls. I think he’s talking because he’s nervous.

“Hey, Jake?”

“Hmm?”

“I fix this shit fifteen hours a day. It’s probably me that should giveyouthe dashboard rundown.” I smile when he starts to relax.

“You’re right. Sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. You seem nervous. Everything okay?”

He laughs and the movement causes wrinkles to appear in the corners of his eyes —a dead giveaway that the laugh is genuine. “Yeah, I’m just horny as fuck and now I have to drive three hours while I envision pulling that fucking shirt off you with my teeth.”

Knowing my outfit choice worked makes me a ridiculous level of happy. I’m in black jeans and a black t-shirt like usual, but over the t-shirt is a lightweight, black, white, and gray flannel with the sleeves rolled up.

“You never told me where we’re staying tonight,” I remind him, deciding to torture him just a little by ignoring his statement about being turned on. In this moment, I realize it’s truly a testament to how much I trust Jake, seeing as I let him driveandI have no idea where we’re going — other than the city name.

He grins as he merges onto the highway that will take us north.

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