Page 3 of Embrace
I shrugged, even though I knew the answer was yes. There wasn’t a single ounce of me that wanted to make Jake jealous. I also sensed that he was assessing whether I was considering looking elsewhere for companionship.
“The mystery still abounds,” I said.
He nodded with certainty. “He was trying to pick you up.”
“Well, in any case, I’m in no shape to start a new relationship.”
“You’re in a relationship with me.”
We stared at each other again. Jake was still testing me. We both knew that being related would prevent us from moving forward as lovers. And I hated the fact that I wanted to do something like take his hand in mine or gently kiss his lips. However, it was apparent by how far we were sitting from each other that keeping our distance was the more responsible choice.
Jake coughed into his fist to clear his throat. “Why were you in Tampa anyway?” he asked.
I massaged the tension in my neck thinking about the last twenty hours. “The medical examiner’s office in Tampa got in touch with my aunt and asked her to identify my mother’s body.” Thinking about it all made me weary again, so I sighed. “This morning, we learned that the dead woman wasn’t my mom. But she had my mother’s identification and a locket that belonged to her.”
“Oh,” he whispered with a nod. “Do you know where your mother is?”
I shook my head. “My aunt is going to hire a private investigator.”
“I see,” he said.
“I also learned my grandparents are still alive, but they’re the very religious type who denounced and abandoned my mother and aunt, all because they didn’t conform to their belief system.” I was angry by the time I got to the end of that.
“You learned a lot on your short trip,” he said.
“Yes.” I looked deep into his eyes. “I also think it’s best that I take that surgical fellowship in Boston.”
His frown was so intense that he appeared as if he had just chugged a bottle of vinegar.
“That’s your prerogative.” His voice cracked as he readjusted in his seat. “Our hospital hasn’t made you a counteroffer yet?”
I shook my head softly, already missing him so much. “I don’t think they could if they wanted to. They don’t have the budget.”
“I see,” he said, eyes narrowed to slits. Then he grunted thoughtfully.
* * *
Jake kept touching me,and I wished he would stop. For instance, when the car pulled in front of my building, Jake rolled down the window separating the front from the back and told Kirk that he would let me out. He opened the door for me, and when we got out of the car, he gently put his hand on my waist as he slammed it shut. After he retrieved my suitcase from the trunk, we walked into the building, and he touched me on the waist again as he gave me space to enter first, then again before we stepped into the elevator. I didn’t allow myself to think about all the making out we could’ve done on our way up to the third floor. I still longed for his touch, and it drove me crazy.
My residency ended in just over a month, so I wouldn’t have to be around him much longer. However, I shouldn’t have been so attracted to someone who could have been my long-lost brother. Thinking about how it felt sensual every time we kissed as well as all the mind-blowing sex we’d had was making me sick to my stomach.
But goodness gracious, he smells so good. And his stout cock that never fails to stimulate the hot spots in my pussy… I’m going to miss his sexual skills.
“Do you have the key?” he asked as we reached the door to my apartment.
I jumped, startled. “Huh?”
“The key,” he restated.
My skin felt flushed as I dug into the bottom of my purse while concluding Jake wasn’t the only man in the world who knew how to give a girl a real intravaginal orgasm. Once I had the set in my hands, I absentmindedly held them out for him to take. “Here you go.” I sounded winded.
Our fingers touched as he took them. My eyebrows fluttered as I skipped a breath. I hated that I showed him how his nearness made me feel. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice as he turned away from me to stick the key into the lock. After he opened the door, he gave a lot of space for me to pass, and I appreciated his doing that.
I stopped in my tracks once I stepped inside. My apartment looked as if a tornado had hit it. Shit was everywhere, and I felt embarrassed that Jake saw my place looking like that.
“Excuse the mess,” I said and started walking around, picking up plastic baggies that I packed my toiletries in, socks to wear on the airplane, and other knickknacks that I had cast aside after deciding to leave them at home.
Jake held up a hand. “It’s okay. I’ve already been here.”
