Page 31 of Inevitable Love
His entire body strains against mine, muscles firming, becoming more intense as he changes the angle and takes the kiss deeper, pressing me harder against the car door.
This kiss is a clash of teeth, the smashing of lips, and the hot, slick slide of tongues. It’s one of hot breaths expelled on wet cheeks, of low moans and answering growls. I never want it to end. I want to wrap my legs around him. Completely consume him and never let this kiss end.
The sound of hydraulic brakes releasing pierces the moment, and Jackson relents, taking the kiss from hot and hard to soft nips and nibbles. And when he finally releases his hold on me and breaks away, we are both panting.
His forehead lands on mine as his thumb caresses the back of my head. His chest heaves against mine, his strong arms still wrapped around me, almost like he’s cradling me.
“Jesus.” It’s a breath against my tender, swollen lips.
From far away, the drone of the fire engine revs, and it begins rolling forward. Jackson’s head pops up, and he flinches like he’s just realizing where we are. The hand cupping my head disappears, and those fingers that weretangled in my hair slice into his as he takes a step back. I stumble at the loss of him and look away from the bay, afraid someone saw us. A touch mortified that Jackson suddenly acts like he’s second-guessing the last two minutes. It’s the morning after the reception all over again.
“Fuck,” he mutters.
Oh god. What if he regrets what just happened?
“Are you cursing actually kissing me? Or are you cursing about the fact someone may have seen us?”
Piercing blue eyes dart to mine as a whole host of emotions crosses his face, finally settling on concern. “Definitely the latter. Are you okay? I shouldn’t have?—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I warn. “Whatever you’re about to confess or apologize for, just stop while you’re ahead. You can’t take a girl’s mouth like you just took mine and then apologize.”
Those glittering eyes darken as he watches my mouth, then he steps back into me. Claiming my mouth again.
This kiss isn’t as heady or passion fueled, but it’s all the more intoxicating because this kiss is intentional. This is Jackson making a statement.
I should stop this.Weshould stop.
We are out in the open, in front of his coworkers, for god’s sake. Kissing like we can’t keep our hands off each other. Like we do this all the time. Like we are more than friends. Like there’s not another heart on the line. Like we wouldn’t lose everything if this whatever-we-are relationship falls apart.
“I swear to god, if I weren’t on duty, I would take you to bed and show you all the ways I’m not sorry for kissing you. I should’ve done it sooner. Should’ve taken my shot when I first realized how much I like you. How much I care about you. How muchI want you.”
He says this out loud. On a sunny day in the parking lot of his fire station, while he’s on duty. Just days after we decided that, for his sister’s sake, we can’t allow our connection to be anything more.
My stupid heart is ready to roll over and give him anything he wants.
“Jax.” The longing I feel whispers out on his name. I want him too, but… “We can’t do this. We promised.”
His forehead drops to mine, his hands cupping my cheeks again. “Here’s what I know. I was on that call not two hours ago, and I thought I was going to die?—”
“I knew you’d be in the thick of it. Rushing in to be a hero.” My stomach churns. Somehow, knowing he risked his life and having confirmation of it are vastly different.
His thumb grazes my chin, and he watches me with an intensity I’ve never felt from him. “It was a calculated risk. But something happened to me while I was in there. And all I could think was that I was going to die, and I’d never kissed you. And in that moment, it was the greatest regret of my life.”
Everything about his admission rings with sincerity. From his tender touch to the way he’s watching me. This is full access to the inner workings of this man.
I rub my hand down his arm, thrilling over the stark contrast of the soft material of his T-shirt to the heat of his skin, running my fingers over his inked forearm and farther down. The pulse at his wrist pounds under my fingertips.
“Did you just realize your own mortality, Jax?”
He swallows. “Yeah.”
“Hey, you guys want burgers now?” The female medic, Kate, stands in the bay door, holding a tray in one hand and a spatula in the other.
Jackson’s head whips to her, just as startled as I am atthe intrusion of a voice besides ours. “When the hell did you get stuff for burgers?”
She shrugs. “We stopped on the way back.”
He looks back at me and takes my hand. “Stay?”
