7
Ibarely had time to register the stroking of his fingertips against my skin before Jayce pressed his lips to mine.
I inhaled a sharp breath and held it, frozen in shock. He seemed to pause, as if waiting for me to protest or pull back. I didn’t. I just waited, anticipating his next move, not wanting to ruin this moment, not wanting to wake up from this dream.
Jayce’s lips were soft but firm, pressing against mine incessantly, not hesitant at all. He smelled like leather and earth, a musky masculine scent that drove a spike of heat through my body.
He licked the inside of my upper lip, seeking entrance to my mouth. I gave it to him, his tongue slipping in and exploring the wet heat. I moaned at the touch of his tongue to mine and clutched at him, fingers scrambling for purchase on his bare front. My hands slid down his chest, feeling the shifting of every firm muscle. His skin burned under my fingers, reflecting the heat growing inside me at his scorching kiss.
Jayce tangled his hand in the hair at the back of my neck and tilted my head to get a better angle. I succumbed to it, going limp and letting him take me however he wanted. He bit my bottom lip, teeth nipping lightly, the sharp sting breaking me out of my haze. My breathing stuttered, and I almost pulled back. What were we doing? What was he doing to me?
He laid one hand on my thigh, caressing and squeezing before moving it upward, and all intent to flee rushed out of me. I couldn’t pull away from him, from his touch, not even if the building burned down and fell into rubble around us.
He explored the shape of my hip and the curve of my waist before continuing onward to my chest. He curled one large hand around my ribcage and stroked the side of my breast with his thumb. My breath hitched as he found a nipple through my shirt and thin cotton bra. He circled it slowly until the nub was raised into a sharp peak, visible through my blouse. I let loose a sharp gasp into his mouth. He let go of my hair to repeat the process on the other side, rubbing and stroking until I was breathless with need.
Jayce finally released my mouth, but continued kissing my cheeks, behind my ear, the curve of my jaw, and, finally, my throat. The barest hint of his stubble scratched my skin and I relished the sensation, savoring the roughness.
He pressed his lips against my racing pulse. His lips seemed to curve up into a smile, and I knew he could feel my rapid heartbeat. He flicked his tongue out to taste, and I couldn’t stop the moan that escaped.
He silenced the noise with another blistering kiss, tugging me closer with one arm. My breasts pressed against his chest and our legs tangled together. He gripped me tight around the waist, shifting me up and over until my knees were on either side of his thighs, straddling him. He continued kissing me the whole time, crushing my lips with the intensity of it.
I sighed out another small sound of pleasure as the palm of his hand drifted from the small of my back to the swell of my ass. He cupped me, lifting me to press my body close up against the zipper of his pants. My skirt rucked up around my waist and I could feel the hardness of him through my thin cotton panties. I throbbed with need, wanting to feel him against my bare skin, soft and iron-hard at the same time. I shifted my hips and bucked against him, pushing up harder against his front. He gripped my hips on either side, pressing me down onto him. I rocked my hips back and forth, wanting more, wanting to rub myself all over him like a cat in heat.
Jayce let out a growl into my mouth before tearing himself away. He placed his hands on my shoulders and held me at arm’s length.
“I’m sorry,” he rasped out, breathing hard.
“I’m not complaining.” I continued to grind my hips against his.
He stifled a groan and leaned forward, resting his forehead against my neck. I pulled back, worried, trying to see the expression on his face, but he ducked his head away from me.
“What’s wrong?” I wrapped my arms around his wide shoulders. Instead of continuing the embrace, Jayce lifted me up and off his lap. I made a small sound of disappointment, not wanting to let him go, not wanting the moment to end yet. He settled me beside him on the cold, hard concrete steps, tugging my skirt back into place for me.
“I shouldn’t have done that.” He put his head in both hands, mimicking the same position I’d first found him in.
I stared at the back of his head. My heart was still racing. My lips were still stinging. There was a fire burning within me that I couldn’t extinguish—not without Jayce to help me. I wanted to pull him back down to meet my lips again.
Cold seeped through my skirt, chilling my thighs and helping to cool me down. I started to shiver, bereft of Jayce’s touch, of his body heat. I slowly came down from that fog of desire. Now that I was free from the feel of his hands and the taste of his mouth, I could think clearly again.
Jayce was right. We shouldn’t have done that.
“If the fans found out, they would freak,” he muttered, addressing the floor, head cradled in his hands. “They’re so possessive. Every time there’s a rumor that we’re dating someone, the girl gets terrorized.”
I thought back to the year before and slumped down, letting my limbs fall limply onto the concrete stairs, arms at my sides, legs splayed out in front of me. “I remember when rumors started about Kell kissing one of the make-up girls. Fans went crazy. They figured out where she lived and sent her hate mail and bomb threats for months. We can’t have a repeat of that. Not now, when your tour is just getting started, when you’re ramping up for your album release.”
“I don’t want you to be a target of their hate. It wouldn’t be fair to you.” Jayce exhaled slowly, collecting himself. “This can’t happen again. I promise I’ll be strictly professional from now on.”
I wanted to tell him I didn’t want it to be strictly professional between us, but I knew better. As much as I hated it, I knew he was right.
“I like you, Ailey. The more I get to know you in person, the more I like you. But more importantly, I respect you. I respect your work. I don’t want you to think I’m just some rock star looking to hook up with a groupie.”
A thrill of delight worked its way through my body and I suppressed a smile. Jayce liked me. Hadn’t he said he liked me online before he’d even met me?
“That’s why this will never happen again.”
Despite myself, my chest clenched with hurt. Now that I’d gotten a taste of Jayce, I didn’t want to give him up. I wanted to peel back the layers, wanted to discover who he really was when he wasn’t on stage. I wanted to bask in his touch and see what pleasure he could bring me.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“No need to apologize. I understand.” I flashed him a smile, hoping I was able to mask the sadness washing over me.
Jayce was right. This couldn’t be good for either of us.
No matter how right it felt.
