With that, he gives Eli a wink, slips a hand to the middle of my back, and leads me out of The Devil’s Court.
Once we’re out in the quiet streets, where the air is fresh and the night dark, I look up at him with curiosity. “Mulli?”
“Mulligrubs, my dog.”
That unexpected piece of information makes me smile broadly. “Oh, you have a dog?”
“Yeah. Had her since she was a pup. She’s mean-looking, but really, she’s a softie inside.”
The evident fondness in his voice has me grinning even harder. “That reminds me of someone.”
“Do you mean me?”
I nod. “You look like a bloodthirsty gang member, yet you’ve been nothing but kind and patient with me.”
“Hmm… I suppose I could be considered a softie. Although, soft isn’t the adjective I’d use whenever you’re around.”
The salacious joke makes me laugh, and I fight the urge to look down and confirm what he’s implying. I’m still chuckling when he urgently lowers to claim my lips. The intoxicating graze of his tongue in my mouth sends my heart racing, and I clasp a hand on his neck to save my balance, my knees buckling.
Only a week has passed since we last saw each other, and I missed this terribly. So much so that I considered dropping everything on Wednesday and taking him up on his offer to meet.
There’s something empowering about the way he holds me, about how he craves me. His towering height and muscular broadness should make me feel small and delicate, but it’s the opposite. I feel mighty and strong in his hold, like I could take on the world and conquer it. When his large hands pull me in closer, plastering me to him, I’m convinced of it.
“Do you-do you live far?” I breathe out, ripping myself away from the kiss.
“Too fucking far,” he mumbles, tracing a burning line down my neck with his soft lips.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He gives the base of my throat a long and hungry kiss, making everything in me palpitate. Then he gestures to his left with his chin. “Two blocks that way.”
I quench the laughter that tries to climb up my throat. “Terribly far indeed. Maybe we should get on with it right here, in the middle of the street.”
His chuckle ripples across my collarbone in a gentle caress. “Don’t tempt me, red.” After one last kiss on my heated skin, he straightens up with a groan. “Let’s go.”
My heart expands when he intertwines his tattooed fingers with mine before pulling me alongside him. “Oh, before I forget. I have a late brunch tomorrow morning,” I explain as we make our way to his place.
“We should be done by then,” he says with a cocky smirk, squeezing my hand gently. “I’m glad you came.”
“I didn’t plan on it, but I’m glad I did too.”
“The temptation was hard to resist, was it?”
I give him a side glance, struggling to contain a shy smile. “You have to stop fishing for compliments, Jake. It’s very insecure of you.”
“Well, that’s what you do to me.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you, Miss Kensington. You intimidate me.”
I reflect on his words for a few silent seconds, wondering how that’s even possible. He’s the most intimidating man I’ve ever met, and I’m… Well, I’m great at my job, and I know people fear me in that field. But on an intimacy level, I’m not much, am I? It’s a fact that I’m boring, even.
We pass by the wide entrance of what seems to be a tattoo parlor set in an old warehouse. A few paces later, Jake stops us before a large door. “This is it,” he states, releasing my hand and robbing my palm of his warmth.
“Very far indeed,” I muse, watching as he pulls a set of keys out of his pocket.
Moments later, he holds the door open and invites me in. My body wakes as soon as we enter the dark hallway, and the lights flickering on aren’t enough to tame the wild desires growing within me. We’re minutes from having sex again, and I’m absurdly excited about it. I can’t wait to revel in his magnificent body once more, to drown in pleasure, to bask in the rawness of passion…
