My throat goes dry as I watch him peruse my body and lick his lips. His fists are clenched at his sides like he has to hold himself back.
“I think you should wear my clothes more often.”
“Practicing your fake-boyfriend lines again?” I laugh awkwardly.
“I’m serious.” He sounds like he means it as he steps closer. Eventually he is right in front of me, and I can feel the heat radiating off of his body.
I crane my neck a bit so I can look into his eyes. “Jake.”
“Eliana.”
“What are we doing?”
“What do you want us to be doing?” He braces himself against the doorframe, his arms caging me in.
“I don’t know.” It’s a lie. We both know it is.
“I think you do. I think you’re just too scared to say it. Too scared to let yourself take what you want.”
I lift my chin higher in defiance. “I’m not scared.”
“Then prove it,” he challenges, his eyes fixated on my lips. “Tell me what you want. Tell me all the things going on in that brilliant head of yours.”
“I don’t want to pretend to be your girlfriend anymore,” I confess.
He takes a minute to compose himself. “And why’s that?”
“Because it’s messing with my head.”
“Well, that makes two of us.” He tucks a strand of hairbehind my ear as I stand there frozen in place. I try not to show my disappointment as he pulls his hand away.
“What areyouthinking?” I ask, needing to shift the attention off me.
“I’m thinking of how I can convince you to let me keep you.”
A flutter of hope fills my heart, but I can’t bring myself to believe him, “What game are you playing Keeley?”
“No games. Just truths. I want you, Ellie. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone. And I don’t mean I want you just for tonight. I wantus.I want you to be mine. Really and trulymine.”
My eyes search his face, looking for a hint of that classic Jake teasing. But all I see is sincerity. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
I give him a small nod before tugging on the collar of his shirt, bringing his head down, and locking our lips together.
Chapter 30
Jake
Iwrap my hands around Eliana’s waist and deepen the kiss, relishing the way she melts into me. I feel my cock twitch in my jeans as she parts her lips, allowing me to taste her. Her grip on my collar tightens as I hoist her up, wrapping her legs around my waist. I break our kiss to trail kisses up and down her neck as I walk us back toward my bed.
Eliana settles onto my lap. I trace idle circles on her exposed thighs as she slowly strips my sweater off her body. With the fabric tossed aside she moves her arms so they’re covering her stomach, a sheepish look on her face. I’d chalk the look up to first time jitters but something about the way she kept biting her lip and avoiding my gaze told me there was more going on.Maybe she didn’t want to do this?My cock protests at that idea, but if that was the case I’d stop things right here. I move my hands off of her body, and instead take her hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head, schooling the expression on her face. “ I’m just having a little insecurity moment. I’ll get over it.” She leans down to kiss me, but I pull back. If we were going to dothis, I wanted her to feel comfortable and be present. Not worrying about a dozen different things in her head.
“Can I do something to help?”
“No. It’s just...” Her gaze travels down to her arms which are still partially hiding her soft stomach. “I don’t exactly have a six-pack going on so…” She relents, moving her arms to her sides so I can finally take her all in.
