Page 47 of Love Out Loud

“Perfect,” she whispered as he stood up. His body was absolutely perfect. Not bulky or bulging with extra muscles, but lean and strong, like a runner. Efficient… Her eyes drifted lower… And no doubt effective.

“I was thinking the same thing about you,” he said, untying her sneaker. “Perfect.”

She felt her face heat in a blush. One-on-one with someone she knew or trusted was comfortable for her most of the time, but compliments, no matter the source, still made her twitchy.

“Oh, you can dish it but not take it,” he teased with a smile. “Look at you.” He gestured with a hand before untying her other shoe. “Incredible.”

She covered her face as another blush burned it up.

He leaned over the bed, pulled her hands away from her face, and kissed her gently. “You said you were happy with your appearance. I’mreallyhappy with it. You seem uncomfortable. Do you want me to stop complimenting you?”

Never had a person been so in tune to her feelings. It was as if her well-being mattered even more to him than his own pleasure. She was certain if she even hinted that she was uncomfortable, he’d stop whatever it was immediately. The thing was, she liked his compliments. She liked him. Everything about him.

“Don’t stop,” she said, with reference to both the compliments and the removal of her clothes. She untied the bow at the top of her sweatpants, then met his eyes. “Don’t stop.”

The relief on his face was clear as he grabbed the bottom of her pant legs and pulled them off, then ran a finger over the lace at the top of her panties. “So pretty,” he said. “Like you.”

This time when she blushed, she didn’t cover her face.

He smiled. “Better.” He crawled onto the bed next to her and kissed her, his fingers skimming her from her neck to her belly button and back up again. She made ammmmsound as her body roared to life at his touch.

“Even better,” he said, fingers drifting lower, brushing over her folds, then parting them. He deepened the kiss and increased the pressure of his touch, dipping his fingers under the lace and running them over her slickness.

She could feel his erection pressing against her thigh, hot and hard. When she touched it, he hissed in a breath. After a few gentle strokes, he relaxed and matched her rhythm with his own touch, making her heart hammer and her body crave more. She gasped when his thumb settled over her most sensitive spot, his pressure and tempo perfect.

She was going to come like this. Muscles tightening, she couldn’t concentrate on stroking him and instead grabbed fistfuls of the sheet. “Don’t stop,” she gasped.

With a playful grin, he said, “You’re repeating yourself. You already said that.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not funny.”

“No?” His fingers stilled.

She almost screamed, then took a deep breath and said, “Okay, okay. I take it back.” Slowly, his fingers began to stroke her again. “Youarefunny.” The pressure increased. “Hilarious.” He had resumed the prior tempo, causing jolts of fire to shoot from where he touched her to all other parts of her body. “You,” she said, gasping between words as the pressure built, “are the funniest”—another gasp—“person I’ve ever met.”

She thought she heard him laugh, but the blood pounding in her ears drowned out everything as her climax rolled through her in wave after scorching wave.

For a long time, she lay in silence as he remained perfectly still, hand still cupping her between her legs, his erection throbbing against her thigh.

“You back down to Earth yet?” he whispered.

“Almost.” She opened her eyelids enough to peek over at him. He was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, and he was in her bed. She was determined to bring him as much pleasure as he’d given her. “I’m back down to Earth. Are you ready for liftoff?”

“Always.”

She grinned and rolled on her side to face him. “Let’s commence countdown, shall we?” She sat up. “T-minus ten…nine…”

…

Jake couldn’t believe his good fortune. He’d known there was humor under that shy demeanor, but he’d had no idea she’d be playful in bed. And her body. Jesus. Her ass in jeans was hot, but out of them, it was phenomenal. He reached over her to give it a squeeze, and she grinned.

“Eight…” she continued, rising to her knees. She searched the bed, no doubt for the condom. “Seven…”

He almost laughed out loud when she tore it open with her teeth as she slurred “Six…” So much unexpected from this woman. He reached over and tweaked one of her pink nipples, and she made a squeaking sound, then shook a finger at him.

“Nope. None of that. You don’t mess with command central when countdown has started. You just lie there and prepare for liftoff.”

This time, he did laugh out loud.

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