Page 84 of Only This Once
“Nothing’s going to happen. Not while I have you with me.” His eyes were so wide and trusting, even with the pupils stillenlarged. He lifted his head to kiss her again, the caress of his lips causing her to feel way too much for something so soft.
She pressed into his body, lining up just right to create delicious friction. “Be a bit more worried,” she mumbled against his lips before taking over the kiss.
Had she gotten lost in kisses before Jinx? She didn’t think so. Sure, they’d been enjoyable and sexy, but they’d always been a prelude to sex. Not that this kiss was lacking heat. No, the deeper she took it, the more she gave him, the more the euphoria grew inside of her. All she could think of was this man, this moment.
Lips and tongues clung, their breathing turned into rapid pants, and she writhed against the hardness pressed into her. Her body needed more. She wanted to consume him. She gave him more of her weight, her hands buried in his hair, her mouth devouring him, her body rocking over his. Mine, her brain whispered to her. Jinx belonged to her.
No one else could have him while he was with her. That thought made her groan into his mouth, holding him still as she took her fill. He let out the sexiest moan.
She dragged herself away so she could gasp in a breath. “This okay?”
“God, Julia,” he panted, a shiver flowing through his body. “More. I want more.”
She grinned down at him, her spread lips making their next kiss awkward. A laugh flowed out of her, joy ringing in the sound. She tilted his head back and kissed down his jaw to his throat, loving the way her kisses made him shudder. She shifted her thighs wider so his erection fit between her legs. His gasping breath was the sweetest music while her tongue left a wet trail on his skin.
“You didn’t happen to bring a condom, did you?” she asked, dragging her breasts along his chest while she mouthed his Adam’s apple.
Jinx grew still. “N-no.” His tone sounded embarrassed or, worse, ashamed.
She shifted, sucking on his skin a bit before lifting her head. “That’s okay. I should have thought of it.” She took a steadying breath as she stopped her hips from arching into him. “Besides, we’re more than sex, especially now.” She lifted her head so she could look at him better, relieved when some of his tension melted. “We should slow things down, though.” She hovered over his lips again. “Not so much writhing and humping, just a bit more kissing. I really enjoy kissing you, Jinx.”
He was delightfully dazed as his head jerked in a nod against her hands. “Me, too.”
Both of them were smiling as their lips met again.
Chapter 25
Jesse fidgeted near the hospital’s garage entrance. His fingers fiddled with the bottom edge of his dress shirt. Should he have tucked it in? He’d paired it with his jeans, like that night out at the bar, but this time he was wearing a white button-down instead of the blue one Julia liked best. The blue one had been dirty since he’d stayed over at Julia’s more often than not this week and had been neglecting his laundry. Maybe—
Someone called his name, and his head jerked up, even though it couldn’t have been Julia. She would have used his nickname. He waved to the nurse in greeting, but that made her slow down.
He pulled out his phone, relieved when she exited instead of stopping. Only a couple of minutes had passed since he’d last used that prop to look busy. Each time an employee passed, he got more nervous, but Julia had been the one who set their meeting spot.
They’d been dating for a couple of weeks now, and it had been the best weeks of his life. Julia had been right. Not much hadchanged, not really, but there’d been a lightness between them that made everything feel easy. They’d already practically been dating before, but labeling it made the time together seem even more special.
Some nights, they’d snuggle and relax at her apartment, while other nights they’d take turns planning dates. Tonight was a date night, and Jesse had found tickets to an Edgar Allan Poe speakeasy type show that he was excited to surprise her with. The timing would be tight on a work night, which was why she’d suggested they change at work and leave together. Charles had had surgeries at the hospital.
The public aspect of meeting up made him nervous. Julia wasn’t shy about PDA when they were on their dates, but the hospital felt different. Each time an employee there whispered about her, her lips would press together and her tension would increase. He wished he could take away her pain.
He didn’t want to make anything hard on her. When she arrived, maybe it’d be okay just to take her hand? No, he should keep his hands to himself until they got to the Jeep. His racing heart slowed at the decision, letting the stiffness in his shoulders ease.
“Jinx!” Julia called.
He looked up to catch her eyes drifting down his body, her strides quick and purposeful. Her fingers warmed his cheeks when she leaned in and kissed him. It was a quick peck, but his heart turned over in his chest.
He stared into her eyes from so close. “Hi.”
Her lips twitched. “Hi.” Her hands trailed away and dropped to her sides. “Ready to get out of here?”
Another employee gave them the side-eye as they passed, the automatic doors rumbling open.
“Sure,” he agreed, swallowing his wince. Since she’d already kissed him in full sight of anyone who might pass, he had beenabout to take her hand, but he ran it over his hair instead. “I think you’ll like what I have planned tonight.”
“Yeah. I’m sure I will.” Her shoulder bumped his as they turned to walk together. “You always find something interesting to do.” Her voice sounded distracted, and he glanced over to see her head turned toward where the employee was walking away.
Jesse had known it would bother her for them to be seen together. His palms grew damp, and he wiped them against his jeans. Their footsteps echoed in the parking garage. He glanced down at the duffel bag she clutched in her hand. Julia had changed, too. She had on a dark-gray shirt that looked soft to the touch over a pair of black jeans. Her hand between them pressed hard into her thigh.
He resisted the urge to take it by opening the passenger door for her, letting her slide inside, the duffel shoved in at her feet.
