Page 77 of Bookworm and the Beast
In one quick move, Jack sat up and grabbed the beach towel beside him, throwing it over my back to shield me.
“Fuck,” he swore on a frustrated exhale as he yanked his trunks back into position and shot a murderous glare toward the kids horsing around in the surf.
They were pretty far out there. It was doubtful they’d even seen us, but regardless, the sex-on-the-beach party was over.
“Ireallyneed to buy a private island,” Jack growled.
I laughed, still glowing all over from the amazing O he’d given me, though I was sorely disappointed not to be able to return the favor.
“Yes, you should absolutely get right on that.”
His gaze swung back around to meet mine. The fire in his eyes nearly incinerated me. “I’d rather be onyou.”
Blowing out a long breath, he said, “But obviously this isn’t the best place for it. I need you in my bed, completely naked, where I can take my time, spread you out andreallyhave a picnic.”
I nearly choked on thin air, and all the skin on my body went crimson with heat, the place between my thighs perking up and growing warm all over again.
“Jack…”
“I’m serious.” He leaned over and nuzzled my cheek, pressing soft kisses in a line toward my ear. His breathing was still accelerated, poor guy.
“The problem is... if I take you to my bed, I won’t be able to leave it,” he murmured, “Maybe ever. And Ihaveto finish my book.”
“Thatisa problem,” I whispered breathlessly.
The thought of Jack finishing his book killed the mood for me a little. I’d be happy for him of course, but I’d be sad for me. Our arrangement would be over. I’d have to leave him.
His mouth moved to my lips, and he whispered against them. “I don’t want you to go home next week.”
Yes!Wait, had I said that out loud? No, I’d only shouted it on the inside. My outward response was a dazedhmmmmagainst his lips as his tongue delved inside in a gentle exploration of my mouth that was more suited to public spaces.
I also threw some silent curses at our fellow beachgoers. Hearing that Jack wasn’t ready for this thing between us to end made me want to rip his pants open and finish what I’d started.
The Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation wouldn’t mind, would they? We could be a tourist attraction. Like sea turtles.
Come see the mating ritual of the Manhattan bookworm and the billionaire beast.
When Jack eventually ended the kiss and drew back enough for me to see his eyes, there was something new in them.
Decisiveness? Trust? I wasn’t sure, but I liked the look of it.
It was as if some sort of wall between us had crumbled. It might have been transparent, but it had been there. Now it wasn’t.
“I don’t want to go home either,” I told him honestly. “But I have to, eventually.”
“Do you?” He slipped a hand beneath my hair and began massaging my nape in the most sensual way.
“The more time we spend together, the stronger I feel this was all somehow meant to be, that it was no accident you were assigned to interview me and then ended up getting yourself sentenced to solitary confinement with me,” he said. “I guess what I’m getting at is… when all this is over, when the book’s turned in… I’d like to keep seeing you. I want to take you out somewhere, on a real date. To the Cliffhouse in Eastport Bay or anywhere you want in New York. Paris. London. Your choice.”
My head was spinning from the extravagant array of potential date locations he’d named—not to mention the extraordinary things he’d said before that.
“What are you saying, Jack? You want to date me?”
He chuckled. “Yes, Bonnie. Now that we’ve lived together, I think it’s time we started dating.”
My racing heart struggled to catch up to the abrupt change in our relationship status. I loved the idea of continuing to see Jack—in fact, the idea ofnotseeing him set my heart racing in a completely different, completely bad direction.
But I wasn’t sure what the reality of dating him would look like.
