Page 23 of Something that Could Last

“Wow,” I breathe before I can stop myself. “This bathroom is amazing! It looks like something out of a magazine.” I glance around the room, taking it all in. The double sinks, massive shower, and the coolest bathtub I've ever seen. “I'd never leave this room if I were you.” Jacob chuckles and turns to lead me back to the bedroom. I fight the urge to crawl in the tub and turn on the water.

“Do you want to grab a drink? Or are you ready to get in the hot tub?” Jacob asks when we step back into the hallway.

No, I want to take a bubble bath and I want you to join me.“A drink would be nice.” It might help me relax a little. I’m a ball of nervous excitement right now.

We make our way to the kitchen where Jacob pulls a bottle of wine from the small fridge nestled under the island. “A glass of wine?” He asks, holding up the bottle

“Sure.” I'm kind of surprised he keeps any here. He and Luke don't seem like the type to sit around and sip wine. Maybe he wanted to be prepared in case I agreed to come home with him. Or... maybe I'm not the first girl he's brought back here. He hasn't been in town long enough to have hooked up with anybody else yet, right? I push that thought out of my mind, hoping it's not a possibility. I need to take Tiff's advice and just relax and have fun.

Jacob pours me a glass of wine, red this time, and hands it to me before grabbing a beer for himself. I take a tentative sip as he pops the top off his bottle. It's not quite as good as the Moscato from the restaurant, but it's pretty tasty.

“So,” Jacob begins, leaning against the counter across from me. “Tell me more about yourself.” He takes a long drag of his beer and sets it down before placing both hands on the countertop behind him.

“What do you wanna know?” I ask as I lean back against the kitchen island.

He smiles at me and my insides turn to Jell-O. His smile is so sexy, so alluring. “Everything,” he replies.

I wrack my brain for something to tell him that doesn't involve my family. I don't want him to ask about my mother. That’s a wall I built very high and for good reason. “Well, let's see,” I begin.I need to keep this light. Don't want to scare him away.“My birthday is April seventeenth. I love white chocolate. My favorite color is lavender.” I pause, trying to think of something else to avoid talking about anything too deep. “And I'm a runner.”

“A runner?”

“Yeah. I mean, I used to run cross country and track back in high school. Now, I just run to stay in shape. Plus, I find that it’s a great stress reliever.”

His eyebrows furrow slightly and I wonder what I said to cause that look, but it passes quickly. “I know what you mean about the stress relief,” he admits. “I don't mind running, but I prefer weight lifting, CrossFit, stuff like that.”

No kidding. I bet he’s ripped underneath that shirt. Suddenly, all I can think about is ripping his shirt off, buttons flying in all directions, and revealing his sculpted torso. I finally snap out of it and realize I'm staring at his chest like a hungry lioness stalking her next meal. I pull my eyes up to meet his and see them burning with desire. He knows I was just mentally undressing him. I look away and sip my wine, face flushed with embarrassment.

I peer back up at him and meet his gaze. “So, what about you?” I ask. “I've told you about me. Now I wanna know something about you.” I'm trying to shift the focus away from me, but I reallydowant to know more about him.

He pushes off the counter and steps towards me, nearly closing the gap between us. “I'm twenty-three and an engineering major. I played basketball in high school.” He moves in closer and places his hands on the island counter behind me, effectively caging me in. “And my favorite color,” he pauses and leans in close, his lips just a whisper from mine, “is green,” he finishes, staring deeply into my eyes. I reach up and brush my mouth against his, surprising us both. I back away, but don't get very far. In a split second, I’m pulled against his chest with one of his hands pressed into my lower back and the other cupping the back of my neck as he crushes his lips to mine.

I pull him even closer as he slides his tongue into my willing mouth. I nip lightly at his lower lip and his appreciative groan makes my lower belly clench. I squeeze my thighs together to quell the throbbing need burning inside me. He releases my neck and wraps both arms around me. I run my hands up his hard biceps, resting them on his shoulders as he continues to kiss me until I'm breathless.

His hands slide down to cup my bottom, squeezing as he lifts me in the air before placing me on the island countertop. I gasp as cold granite hits the backs of my thighs, but the discomfort is quickly forgotten when his mouth covers mine and he moves to stand between my legs. He leans down to trail hot kisses down my shoulder as he tugs on the lacy sleeve of my dress. It slides down my arm, exposing more of my skin for his exploration. He kisses his way up my neck, cupping my other cheek, and I tilt my head back to give him easier access to my heated flesh. He works his way back to my mouth and devours it in a searing kiss.

Jacob's hands are all over me and I’m so turned on I can barely think. He consumes my every thought and everything else fades away. A small moan escapes my lips when he cups my breast and brushes his thumb over the tender bud. A ripple of pleasure shoots through my center and I arch my back, spreading my legs further apart, letting him in. He grabs my hips and slides me closer, pressing his erection against my throbbing core. I nearly whimper when he pulls back and breaks contact. But he grabs my hand and places it on his hardened length, groaning into my mouth when I squeeze.

I let go and push my fingers into his hair, guiding his lips to my neck. He obliges and leans down to suck and nibble my over-sensitized skin. His right hand caresses my leg and he pushes my dress farther up my thighs. I nearly come undone when he brushes the edge of my panties, hooking two of his fingers just inside the seam. I know he must be able to tell how wet I am just from that brief contact. I want more. I want him to touch me again, to move my panties aside and use those long fingers to bring me to the brink before sending me over the edge.

Jacob completely overwhelms my senses, making me forget that we’re not alone in this house. When I hear someone clear their throat behind me, I jump and try to pull away from him. He removes his lips from my skin and his hand from between my legs but doesn’t release me. He looks down at me with a reassuring grin, coaxing me to relax. I don't think he wants me to be embarrassed by our little display, but I can't help it. We've been caught, and I’m mortified. We are just as bad as Tiff and Luke. I can tell by the tight set of his jaw that he isn't happy about being interrupted, but he's not embarrassed like I am, nor is he ashamed of what happened.

I crane my neck around to see Luke and Tiff behind me. Tiff's brows are furrowed with a look of concern, but Luke's knowing smirk causes my cheeks to redden and heat rises into my face. He knows exactly what we were doing. How long did they stand there and watch before making their presence known?

“Um, we were just heading out to the hot tub. Thought we'd check and see if y'all wanted to join us,” Tiff says cautiously.

For the first time since turning to look at them, I notice Tiff is wearing a black bikini and Luke has on navy blue board shorts with large white hibiscus flowers on them. They are both holding towels and Tiff has her cinched bag in hand as well.

I turn back to Jacob and he peers down at me with those panty-dropping blue eyes. “What do ya say? Wanna get in the hot tub?”

“Sure,” I agree, even though what we really need is a cold shower.

He gives me a sultry smile. “Okay,” he responds, wrapping his arms around me. “We'll be out in a minute,” he informs our friends.

“I'll just set your bathing suit on the table here,” Tiff answers.

I relax when I hear their retreating footsteps. At the sound of the balcony doors opening and closing, I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Sorry about that,” Jacob offers, pressing his forehead against mine. His eyes are shut tightly and he looks as though he’s struggling with something. “I just couldn't help myself. You look so beautiful and I had to taste your lips again. It's all I've been able to think about.” At this, he pulls back and opens his eyes to look down at me, and my heart hammers against my chest. If he keeps talking to me like that, we may never make it to the hot tub. He bends down and brushes his lips gently against mine. “You ready?”

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