Page 59 of Jake Forever
And Ididwant to touch him.
His hair was dark, and his eyes were darker. His loose, gray T-shirt clung to his broad chest and bulging biceps in a way that defied description.
My gaze dipped lower, skimming his abs. Wordlessly, I drank in the sight of his stomach-muscles, flat and tight, outlined just above the waistband of his faded jeans.
Again, I swallowed, feeling a new kind of wetness, hot and slick, dampen my rain-soaked panties.
I wanted him. I was ready for him, too. And unless I was mistaken, the feeling was mutual.
Looking for confirmation, my gaze drifted lower. And there it was, that delicious bulge, straining against the thick denim fabric. I reached out, wondering if two could play at the zipper game.
But Jake's voice, laced with steel, made me stop in mid-motion. "Promise me."
Startled, I let my hand drop. "What?"
"The picture," he said. "Promise me you'll look. And I mean a good, long look."
I didn't get it. What was he trying to do? Make me evenmoreashamed of what had happened? As if I didn't already feel stupid enough?
This wasn't like him, and I had the distinct feeling that I was missing something.
Struggling to think, I said, "Why? I already saw it. And I'm sorry, okay?"
"Not as sorry as you could've been."
"What doesthatmean?"
His expression darkened. "It means, I want you to know what kind of bullet you dodged, so you don't do that again."
I made a sound of frustration. "I wasn't planning on doing it again. And there were no bullets."
"Uh-huh." His hand was still poised on the zipper. I glanced down, chagrined by the fact that even now, after his maddening interruption, I still wanted him.
And I didn't want to wait.
I recalled his warning that he didn't know who exactly might be at his penthouse. But what about his office? Maybethatwas empty.
Itwasafter business hours, right?
I paused. Who was I kidding? Even if Trey wasn't there, Vince and Bianca would be arriving there soon.
And besides, Jake wasn't going to let everything go so easily. Even now, that much was obvious.
Considering where we were, maybe that was for the best – or at least, that's what I tried to tell myself.
Determined not to make a further fool of myself, I forced a casual shrug. "Okay. Fine."
"Okay what?"
In a monotone, I said, "I promise I'll look at the picture. There. Are you happy now?" I glanced toward the elevator's control panel. "So, can we go?"
The corners of his mouth lifted the barest fraction. "No."
I sighed in frustration. "Why not?"
His gaze dipped to my lips, and when he spoke, his voice became softer, almost a caress. "Is that what you want? To go?"
At something in his look, my pulse quickened. "Uh, yes?"
