The second I’m near him, it’s like my brain hits mute, the noise and unease replaced by something hotter, heavier. It’s reckless, probably stupid, but when Jared’s this close, nothing else seems to matter.
My throat tightens as I cough lightly, struggling to ground myself while my heart won’t let up.
“How about a kiss?” The words feel lighter on my tongue than I expect, but the tension between us is too thick to ignore.
He closes the distance between us, his breath mingling with mine. “A kiss? That’s it?”
I laugh softly, the sound easy and light. “Patience, sweetheart—that’s a virtue.”
Before I can second-guess myself, I press my lips to his. The second our mouths connect, lust surges through me, sharp and all-consuming.
Jared doesn’t hesitate. He deepens the kiss, his hands gripping my waist as he hauls me into his lap like he’s done it a hundred times before. His fingers dig in, holding me there, like he has no intention of letting go. I sink into him, into the taste of him, the feel of him.
“God, you kiss like you mean it,” he growls lowly, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. “You holding out on me?”
I smile, feeling bold. “I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve.” I say, my voice low and teasing.
“Show me,” he challenges, his gaze darkening with desire.
I capture his lips with mine, my hands sliding over his broad shoulders and down the planes of his chest, feeling the firmness beneath his shirt. Every touch feels jolting, the moment stretching endlessly as he responds, his hands exploring my back and pulling me even closer.
With a mischievous tug, I hook my fingers into the band of his sweats, pulling them lower with slow deliberation.
“What do you have up your sleeve, Alli baby?”
“Alli, baby?” I say, my breath catching. “That’s a first.”
“I’m full of surprises.”
“Why don’t you let me surprise you?” I whisper, my lips brushing against his.
He replies with nothing but a smile.
“Just remember,” I tease, “this is your reward.”
I slip off his lap and kneel between his legs, my pulse hammering at the way his deep blue eyes become tinted with pure, unfiltered hunger. Power hums beneath my skin, a heady rush as I slowly pull his boxers down. His breath hitches, his muscles tensing as I drag my fingers along his length.
I tease him early as I begin to stroke him up and down, looking up at him through my lashes, letting the desperation build between us.
“Fuck,” he breathes out.
I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm as I lean forward, trailing featherlike kisses down his thighs, savoring the way his muscles tense beneath my touch.
“I can stop if you want,” I whisper, looking up at him, the corners of my mouth quivering in a smirk.
“Don’t you even think about stopping,” he growls, his fingers threading through my hair, pulling me closer.
With that encouragement, I shift closer. I take him into my mouth, the sensation sending waves of heat through both of us. I let my tongue swirl around him, exploring and relishing the moment. Jared gasps, his body tensing as I take him deeper, the rhythm building with purpose and bliss.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” he rasps, his grip tightening in my hair.
I feel a rush of pride at his words, and I pick up the pace, my mouth working in tandem with the rhythm of his breaths.
“I’m so close,” he groans, his voice taut with strain.
And then, just as I feel him teetering on the edge, I pull back, a wicked smile on my lips. “Not yet.”
He laughs breathlessly. “Seriously?”
