Chapter Six
Jillian
Hutch didn’t say muchon the walk back to my house. He kept my hand clasped tightly in his as if he was afraid I might disappear or maybe that I might even change my mind, but I liked it. I loved how protective Hutch was, how strong he was, and that even though he was scared, he had finally showed me his true feelings.
Now that the holiday was finally here, the streets of Ocean View were packed with more people, so it took a little longer to get home. We weaved our way through the crowds before we finally started down our street. As our houses came into view, Hutch tugged me closer.
“I know you probably need to get home, but can I show you something?” He sounded nervous, eliciting a smile from me.
“I don’t have to get home anytime soon.” My mother trusted Jo and me now that we had graduated high school. Not to mention she thought I was at Bella’s party. “What did you want to show me?” I squeezed Hutch’s hand as he tried to let go of mine.
“It’s in my apartment.”
“Hutch Kelly, are you trying to have your way with me?” I saw the look of shock on his face and immediately regretted saying that. “You know I’m kidding, right?” I tried to appease him. “It’s called flirting.”
He chewed nervously on his bottom lip before he brought his free hand up to grip the back of his neck. I noticed he tended to do this when he was nervous or upset. “Yes, I know,” Hutch answered.
“So, what did you want to show me?” What happened to the guy on the beach that kissed me until my bathing suit was damp with need. Now it felt like Hutch was disappearing on me again.
Hutch led me across the street to his house, up the stairs to his apartment where he stopped to turn around to face me. “I hope you don’t mind the mess.” He flashed a quick smile before he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
I followed him inside, thinking I was going to find the place in disarray, but I couldn’t find anything out of place. Not a stray piece of clothing, a beer bottle, or an empty dish. Okay, maybe there was a beer can on the counter that shouldn’t be, but that was it. “Mess?” I teased as Hutch toed off his shoes. “You’re such a slob.” I started to walk around, but he stopped.
“Do you, uh, mind taking off your shoes? I worry about sand and stuff getting inside.” He gave me a sheepish look.
I shook my head, removing my flip-flops to leave them by his sneakers. “Hutch, this place is amazing.” I moved around the small studio apartment. “How long have you been living here?” I liked the open concept. The small kitchen, the oversized couch, and the giant television. I let my eyes move over the slate blue walls until they the landed on the king-sized bed in the back of the apartment. “You do know that this place is anything but messy, right?” I turned to find Hutch staring up at the ceiling with his jaw set in stone. “Hutch? Honey, are you alright?” I took a step toward him, thinking he might be having one of his panic attacks only to have him drop his gaze in my direction.
“I shouldn’t have invited you here.”
Shame mingled in my throat. Was I reading him all wrong? “I should get going anyway.” I started to turn around, but not before Hutch was on me and had me pinned against the kitchen counter.
“I don’t want you to leave.” His voice came out utterly raspy with desire. “I’m just...afraid of what might happen if you don’t.” Hutch skated his hand up my arm, over my shoulder, and around my back before he dug his fingers into my skin as he pressed his body against mine.
I felt his body heat seep into mine. “Are you going to hurt me?” My voice shook with fear and desire. I glanced up to find his brown eyes darkened with lust.
“What? No, that’s not what I meant,” Hutch insisted.
I placed the palms of my hands against his chest before I slid them up and behind his neck so I could hook them together. “Then what? What are you afraid of, Hutch?” I whispered.
He swallowed, and I watched the way his Adam’s apple bobbed against his throat. “There are things, things you don’t know about me, Jills, and I would hate for you to think less of me when you found out.” He dropped his forehead against mine, hiding those gorgeous orbs behind his closed lids.
“I could never.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Prove me wrong.”
Hutch gripped my waist as he lifted me up onto the counter. “There are plenty of things I want to tell you, but that isn’t one of them.” His lips were on mine before I could say anything, and I immediately melted.
I wanted this. The kiss, the man, and everything he was doing right now. The way Hutch took control, how he let his tongue roll over my lips before finally slipping it inside my mouth to dance with mine, was oh-so sexy. His hands roamed my hips then made their way up my stomach and over my already hard nipples, where he grazed over them, making me arch my back and moan softly. Wetness beaded between my legs, causing me to wrap them around Hutch’s waist and tug him closer.
