“I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much or had such fun watching a child hide broccoli before.” In the corner, Josh sulked. “Thanks for having me.”
She got hugs and kisses goodbye, a more than friendly greeting she hadn’t expected, yet the inclusion felt wonderful. Even Josh took time out from his punishment to hug her goodbye.
Walking with Jack back to her house, they didn’t speak, enjoying the crisp night air. His hand grasped hers and held on, and they continued in companionable silence.
Once on her porch, he stopped her. “Can I come in?”
“I think it’s time we talked, don’t you?”
His smile took her off balance. He hadn’t seemed to want to discuss the past before. Or had she been wrong? “Sure. I have a few things to tell you.”
Once inside though, he kissed her before she could speak. When they parted, they were both breathing hard.
“God. I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”
“Me too,” Ann admitted on a sigh and stroked his cheek. “I thought you were still mad at me though.”
“Mad? Why? Because you went out on a date with some dickhead teacher—a guy you see every day—whenwe’rean item?”
“We’re not an item…yet.” She didn’t sound convincing, even to herself. His smug grin made her want to slap him. Then hug him.
“I rented a house today.”
She lost all train of thought. “What?”
“Yeah. That cute blue house on Shield? The one with the big tree in front? I’m renting it for a few months until I figure out where I’m moving.”
“Oh.” She tried to digest that.
“With Dan and Julie back, I know they need their own space. Besides, living with my slob of a brother is more than I can handle.”
She smiled. “That bad, huh?”
“If you think dirty socks are gross, they’re just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve tripped on more shoes, seen more dirty underwear, wet towels on the floor, and—”
She interrupted his tirade with another kiss. This one she led, and she showed him how much she cared without saying a word. This way she wouldn’t have to put herself on the line and risk rejection by admitting how she felt out loud.
Jack slowly took over the embrace until she clung to him. “Angel, I want you. Right now. Just you and me and your bed.”
She walked back with him to the bedroom, dropping clothes as they went. They moved onto her bed, bared to each other and entwined. He thrust inside her, moving faster and deeper while she held on and enjoyed being the center of his world. Jack could make her feel so special and precious at times like this. He kissed her, touched her, watched her and never broke eye contact as he made love to her. Each thrust seemed to go deeper, as if he were melding into her.
Sappy, and far too much emotion to handle as he continued to lead her into an orgasm which shattered her. He came moments after she did—no condom, just him and her, naked and exposed.
Since their bet last Friday, something had changed between them. It wasn’t just about having sex without protection. Or the lack of inhibitions between them. Ann felt closer to him than she ever had before. It scared her, because she couldn’t bring herself to commit to a relationship.
She’d gone and been stupid, she admitted. She was falling for him all over again. Bad enough he rocked her world, but his generosity of spirit and love for his family rounded out the ideal partner she’d always wanted. Then to see his little neatness quirks, his irritation with his brother and jealousy with her “date” showed the very human side of him. A flawless man, no matter how handsome, would bore her. Jack was far from perfect, but he was also the only one she imagined by her side when she thought about the future.
Catching her breath while he kissed her and finished inside her, she watched him, committing each gesture and touch to memory.
“You’re so sweet,” he said and rolled them to their sides, hugging her. He remained inside her, softening, yet still connected. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Don’t yet.”Don’t ever.“Just lay with me.”
He kissed her and smiled against her lips. “Now that’s one order from a bossy lady I’ll take.”
She tried not to laugh. “I’m not bossy. That’s your mother. You don’t have us confused, do you?”
“I just had incredible, mind-blowing sex with you. Never mention my M-O-M in conjunction with my cock, okay?”
