Page 99 of Seasoned
Tyson reined in the fierce urge to grab her into his arms and attack her mouth. Instead, he cupped her cheek in his hand and lowered his lips to hers. He’d intended for it to be a soft peck, but the moment their mouths connected, his brain short-circuited. He heard Jackie’s sharp inhale, reflecting his own surprise at the charge of excitement that zipped through him.
Slipping his arms around her body, he pulled her close—her soft breasts, belly, and thighs smashing against his harder frame. A throbbing ache manifested in his pelvis, and he groaned in frustration because he’d give anything to have this woman horizontal right this moment.
The kiss continued, his mouth pressing harder into hers, the smacking sound filling the night air as they tasted each other. One of her arms slipped around his waist and ran up his back while the other caressed his neck and stroked his bald head. That simple touch spiked heat in his blood, and he prolonged the kiss, nipping at the corner of her mouth and licking the moist insides.
When he finally released her and stepped back, they were both short of breath. Tyson licked his lips, reliving the flavor that he knew he would not forget for a very long time.
“Well…ahem.” Jackie straightened her T-shirt, which his roving hands had pushed up and twisted in the heat of the moment.
Tyson bit his bottom lip. Shaking his head, he said, “I think you better go inside before I forget I’m supposed to be patient.”
She stood there for a few seconds longer, looking like she was about to say something to him—lips parted, eyes wide. Then she abruptly turned to the door and let herself inside. “Thanks again for a lovely day and for making sure I can now comfortably ride a bike.”
“Glad I could help.”
Jackie closed the door and he remained there for a while, chest constricted like a tight fist. Turning, he strolled around the house and climbed into the SUV. Regret was beating at him.
More than ever, he believed she was his future. She was sexy, driven, and their chemistry was still off the charts.
He had to convince her they belonged together.
8
“I’m going to sleep with him.”
Jackie’s announcement was met with an eye roll from Renee.
“We already knew that, sweetie,” Adelaide said. She stood in front of the stove and held out her hand. “Give me that plate, would you?”
Jackie handed over the dish, perturbed by the lack of confidence her friends had in her. It was Sunday afternoon and Adelaide was making omelets for their brunch meal. Jackie had brought large cinnamon rolls smothered in icing, and Renee had shown up with a fruit salad.
“Don’t judge me.”
“I’m not gonna say I told you so, but that didn’t take long.” Renee looked at her wrist, though she wasn’t wearing a watch, and if she was, it wouldn’t tell her how long Jackie had taken before she weakened.
“I don’t want to give in, but he was so nice and so damn sexy during our daytime date. Grr.” Jackie covered her face.
Renee patted her shoulder. “Happens to the best of us. Have you figured out which piece of lingerie you’re going to wear?”
“I’m down to two options,” she answered. If these weren’t her best friends, she’d be embarrassed, but they already knew she had planned out her wardrobe of seduction. It was good to have people in her life who understood her. She had to decide between a black teddy or a red bustier. “Am I crazy?”
Adelaide slid a mushroom, onion, and green pepper omelet onto the plate and handed it to Jackie. “Crazy, no. But I do hope you’re being careful, the same way you told me to be careful about Hector, remember? Do you know for sure that Tyson doesn’t have a woman back in Atlanta?” She led the way to the back patio.
Jackie could only imagine what her friend went through after being married to someone for twenty-five years, having your life intertwined with that person, having children with them, living with them for all that time, and then having all of that severed with the stroke of a pen. She’d missed Tyson terribly and been a wreck afteroneweek.
“No, I don’t know for sure.”
They sat at the table with their meals.
“Tell us everything. How did the two dates go?” Adelaide asked.
“Both times were wonderful.”
She gave a quick synopsis of their activities and ended with the passionate kiss at the front door. She actually blushed from the memory of that encounter. Tyson had her all discombobulated.
“Having him cook dinner for me was nice, and I learned a lot about him, but our second date was my favorite. We had fun, and now I feel comfortable on my bike.” She paused, and leaned toward her friends in earnest. “You know how some men find it hard to have a good conversation? Not him. He’s open and shares his thoughts and feelings. He let me know all about his past, how he married young after his girlfriend at the time got pregnant, because he thought it was the right thing to do. And his screwups. He admits he wasn’t the best father because he wasn’t present in the lives of his children once he and his wife divorced.”
“You really like him. You’re glowing,” Adelaide said.
