Page 59 of Teach Me
He growled, leaning down to take her mouth in a hungry kiss. When he pulled back, they were both panting. His forehead met hers as he said, “Jesus, Jess, your mouth is lethal.”
She couldn’t decide if the words or his wrung-out tone boosted her confidence more. “I love you,” she said, her voice rough with emotion and use.
“Damn, baby.” Conlan jerked her out of the water, her bare, wet breasts meeting his chest with a slap. Brown eyes met gray, and the devastating emotion they shared shook her hard.
“I think I need to return that favor,” Con said hoarsely. He hoisted her over his shoulder, ignoring her protest, and strode toward the house like the water was on fire. Jess caught a last glimpse of her bikini top on the shore before it was forgotten in the frantic need Conlan’s hands and mouth ignited.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“So how’s Christina?” Conlan asked as Jess wandered into the living room. They’d been holed up at the lake all week, and though in many ways it had felt a bit like a honeymoon, Jess figured she hadn’t hidden how antsy she was getting very well when Conlan suggested she give her best friend a call. Jess had showed her gratitude thoroughly—her body still tingled at the memory of just how thoroughly—before taking him up on his suggestion.
A bubble of happiness and relief welled in her chest, making her smile. “Great. No more spotting.” She plopped down on the couch on the opposite end from Conlan, stretching her legs out between them. “The doctor’s keeping her on bed rest for a little longer, but things are looking good. The baby’s heartbeat is strong.”
“Good.” Grabbing her ankle—it still surprised her how comfortable he was touching her, and how comfortable she was with his touch—Conlan gave it a yank. “Lie down with me.”
“That’s what you said earlier. You remember what happened then.”
“Yes, I do,” he said, so much male satisfaction in the words they practically oozed testosterone.
Jess snuggled down next to him anyway, her feet against his chest, his feet resting on the arm of the couch behind her head. The thin T-shirt covering Conlan’s torso had ridden up, revealing that silky treasure trail leading into his jeans that she just couldn’t resist. She turned on her side and slid her fingers through the thin line of hair.
“Stop that!” Conlan swatted ineffectually at her hand.
She tickled him. “What? Mr. Ready and Waiting wants me to stop?”
“That’s what my limp dick says.”
“Conlan!” A surprised laugh escaped her. He threw a little smile toward her end of the couch as he lifted an arm, thick biceps beautifully showcased, to cover his eyes. The posture might’ve looked as limp as he claimed his dick was, his breathing slow and easy and even, but somehow she doubted it. He didn’t drift into sleep, just lay there, and as Jess watched him, her mouth went dry.
This was too easy, too much like really living together. She shouldn’t get used to it, but looking at him like this, she just couldn’t help it. He was perfect. Mostly.
“Too limp for dinner?” she teased.
Conlan snorted. “Hey, I provided the orgasms. You’re on your own with dinner.”
Jess couldn’t help cracking up. Several minutes passed before she finally managed to stop clutching her sides and gasping for air. “Seriously, though—”
Con’s arm lifted, allowing his incredulous stare to meet hers. “I’m one hundred percent dead serious, baby. I’m not twenty-one anymore. I didn’t know I had it in me.” He dropped his arm back over his face. “There’s definitely no more ‘it’ left. I’m wrecked.”
“Really?” She sat up, intent on showing him exactly how not wrecked he was, when a hard rap echoed through the great room.
Conlan was up and on full alert before the sound died away. “Stay here.”
The tinnycrunchof a key being inserted into the lock relaxed Con’s shoulders. He continued to walk across the room, but the tension that had filled him a moment ago was gone. Just as he reached the front door, it opened and Jack strolled into the house. He reached across and keyed in the code for the alarm without blinking. The two men do the bro-hug thing before returning to the living room. Jess sat where she was and waited for the heart-stopping burst of adrenaline to fade.
“What did you do, park down the road and walk just to see if I would notice?”
“You didn’t, did you? Figured I’d catch you with your pants down.”
Conlan sputtered. “Just for that you can get—”
“I brought dinner.” Jack strode past the couch toward the kitchen, throwing a wink Jess’s way, two brown paper bags hanging from one hand.
Conlan rejoined Jess on the sofa, shaking his head. “Bring me a Coke,” he called after Jack, then, glancing at her with an upturned brow and receiving a nod, he added, “Two Cokes.”
“Get your ass up and get in here, you whiner,” Jack yelled from the kitchen. Conlan grumbled but disappeared into the other room to help his friend.
They were settled in the living room with full plates of fajitas and cold sodas in minutes. The sound of popping metal tops and sizzling fizz took over the room. Jack tilted his head back and drank, and Jess stared a bit blindly at the sexy stretch of neck and shoulders, unsurprised that, though Jack was gorgeous, she didn’t react to him beyond a certain abstract appreciation. Only Conlan seemed to stir the heat within her.
