Page 40 of Promise Not To Fall

Liam seems like a nice guy—talkative and can at least hold a conversation. That’s more than I can say for Wesley at times. I learn that Liam’s from Los Angles and here on business. He manages a few hotels, and they’re thinking of expanding locations here. He buys me a drink too. Jake tosses his money back at him and then walks away after handing me the drink.

“Well, I’ve gotta meet some friends. You wanna come with me?” Liam asks, as he’s leaving, hope shining in his eyes.

I glance at Jake, he’s not even paying attention, but I decide against it. I don’t know what Jake’s deal is, but something about Liam makes me uncomfortable—not that I don’t trust him, he seems nice enough, but I want to stay here with Jake.

The same woman who’d spat out her drink leaves around the same time, and strangely enough, Jake’s mood improves.

I’m holding my phone in my hand when he approaches.

“Did you just check your phone for a Facebook request from that dude?” Jake asks, motioning to Liam as he walks away. He watches him disappear, his irritation evident.

“I didn’t tell him my last name.” I snort, rolling my eyes. “Shut up and make me a drink.” I’m actually looking to see if any of my potential clients have sent any e-mails. None have. But I only have Revel left, and I doubt he even knows how to use a computer, let alone send an e-mail. “I was checking my e-mail, but my fucking phone doesn’t work that well here. I don’t even know why I’m checking it. Technically, I don’t have a job.”

Jake smiles, grabbing bottles, and then sets a rock glass in front of me. “All the more reason to drink.”

When he hands me another drink—my second of the night—I chuckle, taking a sip. So yummy. He makes the perfect blend of sweet and strong. “It’s a good thing I was born with a good liver, because a lesser woman would probably be dead by now. At least I know I won’t be kidnapped and gutted for my liver to be sold on the black-market either.”

Jake laughs, his hands resting on the bar. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’ve seen some heavy drinkers come through here.”

“Well, fuck. How much did they drink? Because I’m positive I drank more than my own body weight last night.”

“Sounds about right.” He smiles, giving my body a once-over. “I had a good hold on your body last night.”

A familiar heat spreads over my cheeks. “That you did, Island Boy. That you did.”

There’s a familiar spark between the two of us, and hours pass before I know it. The night plays out similar to last night. Tonight though, I’m a little more relaxed and attempt to not drink as heavily. I’m pacing myself, because if by chance last night happens again, I want to remember every little detail.

Unfortunately for me, for the second night in a row, and because of Jake and his need to just keep serving me, I drink my body weight in alcohol, and afterward we find ourselves walking along the beach.

“This seems familiar,” I tease, laughing and trying to keep myself from falling this time.

“That it does,” he agrees, bumping his shoulder to mine.

“You don’t have any regulars you need to get back to?” It’s a sneaky way of throwing it out there and seeing what he might say.

He lifts a brow, and his eyes respond for him, though I can’t tell you what the answer is. A smile plays at his lips, but he doesn’t answer, and I don’t press.

The night’s familiar, and yet it’s anything but familiar. This time it’s slower. There’s the same intensity, sure, but I think the two of us are trying to make it last a little longer in fear this might end too soon.

Jake takes his time removing my dress and his shorts, his eyes never leaving mine. “Did you come back to the bar just for this?” he asks, his lids heavy with desire.

My heart leaps in my chest, my breathing spiking. He read me pretty well, didn’t he?

“Yes and no,” I admit, wrapping my arms around his neck, skin to skin. The heat of his body warms mine, followed by his lips on my shoulder, then my neck.

Sliding his kiss over my skin, he draws back and stares at me, searching my eyes. “I’m okay with that.” He chuckles against my lips.

Bringing me to the bed, we fall forward against the mattress. Within a minute, he’s filling me, his kisses and touches eagerly coasting over my body.

I pull back to look at him, my fingers tracing his lips. He bites my finger. “Did you want me to come back?” I have to know. Normally I’m not much for small talk during sex. I think if you’re talking during sex about anything other than “fuck me harder” or “grab me here” and “no, you can’t stick it up my ass,” then you’re clearly not enjoying the sex and you need to find someone who talks less.

Jake captures my lips, sucking in my bottom lip and then biting down with just the right amount of pressure to make me wince, but not enough I want to knock him upside the head. His eyes darken intensely. “Yeah, I wanted you to.”

Thank God for his answer. Anything else would have made the increased intimacy we’re sharing tonight seem forced.

Jake thrusts in and out of me with such force my head snaps back against the headboard, his hips bucking forward. His lips mixed with his hot breath fan over me, killing me slowly, sweetly, as he fills me again and again. Our sounds fill the room and I’m so wet, and he’s so thick, our bodies straining to get closer. It’s not enough. I want closer.

Hovering above me, he has his left hand supporting him on the headboard, the same one my head keeps hitting, his knuckles white as he grips it. The view I have of his muscles is amazing. It’s evident he does more than mix up fancy drinks. Boy works out for sure.

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