Page 62 of A Taste of Trouble

Chapter Sixteen

Liv crept out of bed, trying not to disturb Jake, who was fast asleep beside her.

He lay on the bed, chest bare, the sheets tangled around his legs. She still couldn't believe that he was in her condo, in her bed, after an entire weekend. Probably the best weekend of her life. She had grown accustomed to his low snores. She even wondered if she would miss him when he was gone. She still couldn't reconcile the man that was fast asleep in her bed with the man that she thought she had been picking up at the bar. But he had taken the time to make her believe he really was something different. Disclosing his secrets, his passion.

Why did he bother? What if he got bored and bolted, leaving her weak and exposed? Liv had too many plans to risk. Too many years of being alone to overcome. But as she stared at Jake, she knew she was falling for him.

At that realization, Liv did what she did best: she pushed her feelings aside. Today was the day. After renovations and a lot of her money spent to bring the place up to code, Liv would put herself out there and test her ability to run her own business. It was early—too early—but if she wanted to have something fresh to sell, she had to get a move on.

She headed to the shower and turned the faucet to the hottest setting. She was glad for the alone time, time she needed to regroup. When the temperature was just right, she positioned herself under the nozzle, letting the hot water rush over her body. The pressure invigorated and soothed her aching muscles. She wet her hair and washed away her tension.

Liv didn't know how to feel: excited, scared to death, nervous, exhilarated. Maybe all of the above. Her emotions were definitely ruling her right now. She squeezed a dollop of shampoo into her palm, lathering her hair and massaging her temples. While trying to formulate a plan of action for the day, she was surprised by the strong hands making their way around her hips and resting at the crease of her thighs.

“Good morning. This was a good idea.” Jake's voice was groggy, but no less seductive. His presence made blood pump to all of the wrong places. Her core ached and swelled.

“I'm just getting ready.” She tried to squirm out of his embrace. “I have a busy day.”

“It's practically the middle of the night. There'll be lots of time to get things done.” His body pressed against hers. He couldn't hide his interest in a morning sex session—it was thrust against her lower back.

The longer his hands continued to roam over her body, the more likely his needs would win out. Her brain was telling her to get rid of him, but her body…her body was aching for him.

She reached to stop him. “Jake. I need to get ready. There's no time for this.”

“Okay.” He held his hand up in surrender. “At least let me wash you. Relax. Think about what you need to do.” He turned her around to face him. Her breath caught at the sight of his hard, wet body. His cock stiff, pink, perfect.

He leaned her head back under the water, washing away the shampoo. Despite being anxious, Liv softened at his gentle touch. When her hair was rinsed clean, he picked up the loofa and smothered it with body wash.

He started at her neck, circling and stroking her body. Lathering each arm, he paid attention to her hands then circled her breasts, trailing the tips of his fingers over her already swollen nipples. The closer he got to her core, the harder her chest heaved. Her desire became harder to hide. A slight tremble rolled through her body as her mind shifted from cupcakes to his penis, from white boxes with ribbon to his head buried between her legs. There was no way she could focus. The only strategy now running through her mind was how she was going to reinstate the idea of morning sex.

He soaped each leg then rested the puff at the crease of her thigh. She spread her legs.

Jake looked up, catching her gaze with a smirk, curling one side of his lips. “I thought you didn't have time for this?”

“If you're going to wash me, you might as well do it right.”

Jake skimmed the loofa between her legs, reaching behind to wash first her left cheek and then her right. The angle caused his forearm to rub against her clit, putting pressure where she needed it the most. With the simplest touch, he had her begging and aching to have him inside her.

All logic, all semblances of reality, fell away when he was near, leaving her a puddle of desire just waiting to be stirred by his strength and skill. “You make me feel unglued. You make me want you…but I shouldn't.” Making sure she had his attention, she cupped his chin and locked her stare with his. “You do things to my body I've never felt before, and all I can think about is you inside me.” She swallowed hard. “I've never wanted another man as much as I want you.”

He stroked back and forth between her legs, finally letting his two fingers lag behind.

She moaned. His fingers teased and tortured her swollen lips. “I think…” Her hands fisted against the tile and her thigh muscles tensed. “I think I'm still dirty.”

“I think you're right.” He kissed the inside of one thigh. “You're going to

need some special attention.”

“Will you give it to me?” Please give it to me!

“I'm up for the job.” He gripped her knees. He ran his tongue up one thigh then back down the other. “That is…” he nipped at her sensitive skin “…if you want the attention.”

Like the very breath she needed to live, she wanted this man. Wanted his hands on her body, every part of her body. He got her heated up, turned inside out, and she would beg, do anything for release.

“Do you want to be clean, Liv?” Jake slid two fingers inside.

“Yes! Oh, God! Yes!”

Throwing the loofa over his shoulder, Jake took position between her legs.

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