But the whole point of coming here was to push myself out of my comfort zone, right?And if I asked him to my room, I’d be making big progress.
‘Unless…’Come on, Halle, you can do it.‘You want to come back to my room?’ I swallowed the lump of concrete in my throat.
‘Sure,’ Jake’s eyes widened, ‘but only ifyou’resure?’
‘I am,’ I said, hoping that I would be by the time we got there.
‘Okay.’
Jake followed me down the path and as I reached into my bag to get my keycard, my hand trembled.I couldn’t believe I was about to do this.
I opened the door and we stepped inside.
‘Nice room,’ Jake said.
‘Isn’t it the same as yours?’
‘The layout is different.’
‘Cool,’ I said, standing awkwardly in front of him.‘Shall we sit on the bed?Should I take my clothes off?Sorry, I haven’t done this in a while.’
‘Let’s just sit and talk.’ Jake took my hand and sat down at the edge of the mattress.‘I can tell you’re tense.We don’t have to do anything, okay?’
‘Okay.’ My shoulders loosened.
I was surprised.I thought that as soon as we got in my room our clothes would go flying in the air, like in a sexy film scene.
And given Jake’s reputation, I assumed that by now he’d be shoving me up against the wall and whipping out his dick.But I should’ve realised by now that the Jake I’d read about in the media wasn’t the Jake I’d gotten to know and like a lot this past week.
‘If it helps, it’s been a while for me too,’ Jake said.
My eyes flew so far out of my sockets they could’ve landed on the moon.
‘Really?’ My brows furrowed.‘What do you classify as “a while” though.A week?’
‘Very funny.’ Jake rolled his eyes.‘No.I haven’t been keeping count, but if I had to guess it’d be over a year.’
My jaw dropped.That did surprise me.
‘Oh,’ I said.‘Well, I win.It’s been… let’s just say a lot longer than that.’
‘That surprises me,’ he said, still holding my hand.‘I thought a woman like you would be inundated with offers.’
‘Yeah.Sometimes I can’t leave the house because the queue of men begging to get in my knickers is so long,’ I deadpanned.‘And let’s not even talk about Valentine’s Day.I have to hire my own depot and delivery team to cope with the mountain of cards, flowers and chocolates I get sent.’
‘Well, I’d happily queue up for you.I don’t believe in the whole Valentine’s Day BS – I think that if you love someone, you should make them feel special every day.But if you like flowers and chocolates, that could be arranged.You’re special, Halle.You deserve the world.And don’t let anyone tell you different.’
I stared at Jake, stunned at his words.I knew from the look in his eyes that he meant what he said.It wasn’t just rubbish to get his wicked way with me.
And weirdly, knowing that he’d be happy just to get up and leave the room without fucking me if I asked him to made me want him even more.
‘Kiss me,’ I said, edging closer.
‘Sure?’
‘Yes.’
Jake leant forward and before I even had a chance to catch my breath, his lips collided with mine.
