Page 42 of A Lonely Road
“You are so fucking hot, I might just lose my mind.”
Jake hooked a finger in the front of the flimsy underwear and tugged me toward him. With one hand tangled in my hair, he kissed me until the fire burning inside of us both became all-encompassing. He tossed aside his own jeans and boxers, then swept me into his arms before I could protest—though I doubted I would have, not when he was looking at me like that.
Like I was the only thing in the world he wanted.
The laughter that bubbled from my lips made him smile with a different kind of warmth, softer and more tender, then he laid me on the bed and I turned my attention toward showing him just how I felt about his presence in my life. Before this trip was over, I wanted to be sure he understood.
And I was certain we’d both enjoy the process along the way.
ThoughIknewJakehad intended our little getaway primarily to take my mind off of recent events, it turned into something even more precious. Now that I’d told him about what happened with my mother, the murmured conversations we shared while snuggled in bed became deeper and more personal.
For the first time, I told him about the places I’d lived, the choices I’d made to avoid getting close to anyone, the aching sense of loss that had colored my final years of college.
Through it all, he stroked my hair or my skin, pressed kisses to the top of my head, made it clear he understood how big a deal it was that I was opening up. When I told him about my time with Audrey and Jamal, however, I felt his lips curve against my bare shoulder.
“You know, my sister and Casey both commented on you being bi, but I didn’t want to push it by asking. I know straight guys can be idiots about that stuff—believe me, the two of them have told me that a hundred times.”
I laughed. “I might have forgiven your faux pas,” I teased, “or I might have made you do penance by providing orgasms. I don’t know how Sam even guessed. I hadn’t said anything remotely sexual about literally anyone.”
“She’s got a knack for reading people,” he replied with a shrug. “Small town, you know how it is.”
At that, I laughed. “Nosy neighbors, lightning speed gossip? If I didn’t know before, I do now.”
With his fingers sifting lightly through my hair, he asked, “Were you trying to avoid me, when you first moved in? You wouldn’t even let me jump your car for you.”
“Like the devil. Fat lot of good it did me,” I muttered.
Jake grinned. “Must be my animal magnetism. You obviously can’t keep your hands off me. Sorry if I ruined your solitary plans for Spruce Hill.”
I propped myself up on one elbow and narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you object to my hands on you, Jake Lincoln?”
“Hell no. Your hands are perfect. Beautiful. Clever. Torturous. Absolutely mind-blowingly amazing.”
“Then I guess it worked out well for both of us, didn’t it?” I drawled.
Quiet laughter rumbled in his chest when I dipped my head to kiss him, but that shift remained.
Our final morning at the inn was spent in much the same way as the rest of the trip: in bed, naked, tangled up in each other’s arms. Now that Jake knew pretty much everything about my background, I felt a hundred pounds lighter. It was humbling to realize just how bogged down I'd been by those secrets and half-truths. Jake, true to his word, really wasn’t one to pry, but his calm acceptance gave me the confidence to finally stop hiding from my past.
“Should we be packing?” I asked, though I had no inclination to get out of bed.
As we lay there, Jake traced lazy swirls over my shoulder blades in a way that made it hard for me to keep my eyes open. My face was pressed into his chest and my lips brushed his skin as I spoke. I grinned when he fidgeted, then he playfully pinched my hip in retaliation and I yelped when he rolled us so he was smiling down at me, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“We’ve barely worn any clothes,” he pointed out helpfully, “so most of it’s still packed. Besides, I have a better idea.”
I feigned a yawn, then burst out laughing when he blew a raspberry right between my breasts. “What is this grand idea you have?”
“Oh, I think I’d like to make love to you one more time before we go. Nice and easy, so don’t go demanding I speed up, hmm?”
His lips trailed along my sternum, settling against my throat as I sighed softly and tipped my head back to give him room to explore. After a slow trek upward, his mouth paused at my ear while his hands stroked slowly down the length of my body. Every nerve ending stood at rapt attention, waiting for his command.
“Slow and gentle,” he murmured. “The way I imagined our first time would be.”
“That’s what you imagined?” I asked, the question punctuated with a gasp. I was already arching against him, responding as he knew I would to both his touch and his low, seductive words. He’d learned that lesson well in our time together.
“Oh, yes. You were so nervous every time I touched your hand—you’ll have to forgive me for not expecting that things would be quite so explosive between us, at least not at first. So today, I’m taking my sweet time. Not that I’m complaining about the other,” he added casually, even as I wondered how on earth he could continue talking, especially since I felt his growing hardness pressing snugly into my hip, “but every time I touch you, I feel like I’m going to burst into flames.”
He glanced up at my face just in time to see me cock an amused brow at his little speech, then he captured my nipple in his mouth and my head dropped back against the pillow.
