“About what?” a cold and angry voice cut through the air behind us.
We spun around to find Jackson and James standing there, both glaring daggers at us. James’s intent was dark with jealousy as he stormed over, grabbing my arm and yanking me to his side.
“Hey!” I protested, but my words were cut off when his mouth crashed onto mine, the kiss possessive and alive with a hunger which left me breathless.
“Wanna go back to my loft?” he murmured, his lips barely lifting from the kiss, his eyes now shining with desire.
“Uh-huh,” I mumbled, utterly unraveled and unable to form a coherent response.
James’s grip on my arm was firm but gentle as he guided me away from Sean, whose expression wavered between confusion and concern.
Jackson kept staring at Sean, who called out, “I guess that’s my cue to step back. Enjoy yer evening!”
James didn’t respond, his focus entirely on me. He led me toward the exit, his steps quick and purposeful. As we reached the door, James pulled me close again, his breath warm against my ear. “I missed you,” he said, his voice softer now, laced with vulnerability.
I looked up at him, seeing the raw honesty etched in his features. “I missed you too.”
He smiled faintly and pressed his forehead against mine for a brief, tender moment before opening the door. “Let’s get out of here.”
We stepped into the cool night air, and I glanced back one last time at the bar before stepping through James’s portal.
Once we were inside his loft, James closed the door behind us, his hands lingering on the handle for a moment before turning to face me.
He took a step toward me, his gaze intense. “I’ve missed you so much,” he said, his voice filled with longing. He reached out,his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek, sending a shiver cascading down my spine.
Damn it. I was angry with him, wasn’t I? For ignoring me the whole week without reason?
But when he touched me like that, it was hard to remember. I leaned into his embrace, closing my eyes as his warmth enveloped me. “I’ve been thinking about you too,” I admitted.
He slowly traced the line of my jaw with his fingertips, his caress feather-light but electrifying. His lips followed, brushing softly against my skin, planting delicate kisses that made my breath catch. Each kiss was tender, exploring the contours of my face with a reverence that made my heart race.
All thoughts of fighting with him instantly gone.
James’s hands moved to my shoulders, gently sliding down my arms to my wrists. He took my hands in his, their warmth contrasting with the coolness of the night air that clung to my skin. He guided me toward the couch, his grip both reassuring and passionate.
As we sat down, James positioned himself behind me, his body pressed closely against mine. He wrapped his arms around me, his fingers splaying across my stomach in a comforting embrace. His breath was warm on the back of my neck, each exhale sending a soothing, tickling sensation across my skin.
I nestled into his embrace, loving the steady rhythm of his breathing against my back. He began to kiss the nape of my neck, his lips brushing in slow, deliberate movements that made my skin tingle. His hands roamed softly, tracing patterns across my stomach and sides, creating a sensation of closeness and intimacy.
My mind drifted back to James’s reaction to Sean. I tilted my head slightly and whispered, “Were you jealous?”
His hands paused in their gentle stroking along my arms. “When?”
I giggled softly. “Just now, with Sean.”
He sighed deeply, his breath warm against my skin. “When you’re with another man, even a good guy like Sean, I seem to…struggle with it.”
I sat up a straight, and brushed my nose over his. “You know you have nothing to worry about, right? You’re the only man I love.”
His expression softened, and he gave me a smile so warm it made my heart clench. I relaxed back into his arms, back into the comfort of his touch as he traced his fingers over the scars on my arm.
“Sean seems like a good guy, though,” I ventured, as I tried to keep the mood light.
James nodded slightly. “He is. I think you’ll like him even more when you get to know him a bit better,” he said, a rare hint of warmth in his voice.
“Really?” I smiled. A flutter of happiness surged at the thought of James finally connecting with someone outside his usual circle. “Why?”
James continued tracing lazy circles on my scarred arm. “Well, for starters, he drinks more Scotch than the both of us combined.”
