“Why didn’t you?” She knew why, but she wanted to see how he explained it.
Jonny held her tighter. “Because I pretty much would’ve pissed all over you to claim my territory. I mean that in a metaphorical sense. And Jake.”
“Jake’s worked it out.”
She felt him freeze, still holding her and heard him inhale deeply.
“He’s not freaked out.” It was a dead statement, meaningless. Jake rarely freaked out, especially since he’d had his minor meltdown over Scott and Keren when they got together.
“I didn’t think he would.” His arms released her, letting her stand back so she could see his expression, try to read it.
“I’m not sure who lost the bet.”
Jonny shook his head and backed her towards the bed. “I don’t think either of us did. Let’s see which of us lets it slip first.”
He still wanted to carry on, but his suggestion didn’t warm her.
“What about just being open about it?” She wanted to take the words back as soon as they left her mouth.
He sat down on the bed, guiding her to sit on his lap, his hands on her skin. “Because the moment Charlie knows, things change. They love you and love having you around. If they know you and I are more than friends they’ll start to see you as being more. That’s a big step for them, me and you.”
“You need more time?”
He nodded. “Jake will keep it to himself, even if he speaks to me. But I think you need more time too. I can’t go into a relationship that the kids know about that might end soon. Like you said, I need to set an example of how you treat someone and what a good relationship looks like. I can’t give them a short one that’s a disaster.”
Rayah slid her hands around his back, feeling muscle and sinew, the smoothness of his skin. “I get it. I do. We need to forget about tonight.”
“I disagree. I don’t think we need to forget. Just consider.”
His skin was warm beneath her lips as she pressed them against him. This was Jonny: steady, considered, planned – except in bed when he was controlled in his wildness and right now she needed him.
Gentle fingers stroked through her hair. She inhaled deeply, the scent of his aftershave still lingering on his skin. His shudder told her everything about the effect she was having, giving her the confidence to take some of the control that he usually possessed.
“Ray.”
Her name was a whisper through the quiet room as she moved position to straddle him, gently pushing him back to the bed and straddling his hips. His erection was hard and swollen through his boxer briefs and she itched to be able to rub herself against it.
“Put your hands above your head.”
She was surprised when he obeyed, stretching out to clench the pillows. His eyes didn’t leave her, as if he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her face.
She pulled his underwear down swiftly, his cock hardening even more as her hand brushed against it.
“I want to see you naked.” His words were still quiet, as if he was afraid he’d disturb the moment.
“Let me decide when that happens.”
It wasn’t the sheer lust and desire right now; it was something different. Need filled her but rushing this wasn’t an option. There was something sacred about the moment, the urge to make it last driving her. This wouldn’t be the last time, she knew that, but there was something different about it. That precipice again. Standing on that ledge and looking down, not sure what the landing would be like, whether she’d be able to get up again after the fall.
Rayah moved back up his body to his lips, kissing him, keeping that control. His wrists were under her hands. Moving her wouldn’t have been a problem, but he didn’t resist, simply responding instead to her kiss.
The tight material of her dress had travelled up around her hips, exposing her underwear. She pressed between her legs against his cock and felt him shift under her, her clit becoming swollen.
Releasing his hands, she reached for her dress and pulled it over her head, leaving just her bra and panties. His eyes seemed to feast on her, taking in the swell of her breasts and flat plain of her stomach.
“I want to see you. I always want to fucking see you. You have no idea what you do to me.”
Rayah laughed, pressing her centre against his cock harder. “I can tell what I do to you.”
