“Wishing what?” My words came out more like a moan as I pressed into the erection straining beneath the rough fabric of hisjeans.
“Wishing I was spending tonight with you and not a bunch ofdudes.”
His fingers dipped lower, sending twinges of heat throughout my body and forcing a shuddering gasp frommylips.
“Stop,” I protested, pushing him back, and feeling the immediate cooling of the air between us. My body still inflamed, I quaked a little at the lack of physical contact and slapped his shoulder in frustration. “Don’t promise me a service you can’tprovide.”
He reached for me again, but I shied away. Attempting to ward him off, I held my hands out in front of me, but Jake performed some wickedly cool crossover move, hooking his arm around my waist and pulling me in again. Our eyes met in a fiery display just as our lips made contact and his mouth crushed into mine. We stayed in the tight embrace for longer than was appropriate in a public place, and when we finally broke apart, I was a quivering mass of sexualenergy.
“Just something to remember me by tonight,” hewhispered.
“Me? I won’t be the one with a naked stripper’s ass gyrating inmylap.”
“Nor will I, Iassureyou.”
“You say that now, but what happens when they get a little alcoholintoyou?”
“Casey,” he said, playfully mocking my words. “I promise, you are the only woman I’ll ever allow to rub her ass alloverme. ”
I couldn’t stop the smile that traveled across my lips. He was just so damn hot with that confident swagger of his. And truthfully, I wasn’t concerned. Jake had never given me a reason to doubt him, so I didn’t. Taking his long, agile fingers gently in mine, I led him to the end of the hall and stopped in front of a large picturewindow.
Jake, his carnal bravado tempered, placed his hands on my hips. “So, this isit,huh?”
“I guess it is,” I answered, staring into his eyes and falling for him all over again. “I really am going to miss youtonight.”
“Tell me again why we can’t spend ittogether?”
“You know why, Jake. The groom can’t see the bride before the wedding because… well, I actually don’t know why, but it’s tradition, and youwillcooperate.”
“I’m not saying I won’t. I’m just saying it’sstupid.”
“Your objection is dulynoted.”
Jake playfully dipped his head into my neck, the scratchy stubble of his unshaven face tickling my skin and sending shivers racing down my spine. I leaned back, touching the sides of his face and setting a gentle kiss to his lips. “If you’re a good boy at your bachelor party, I promise you a wedding night toremember.”
“I’malwaysgood.”
“Says the rock star.” I grinned. “Okay, so here’s a thought. Just because we can’t see each other doesn’t mean we can’t talk on the phone,youknow?”
“For phone sex?” he asked,perkingup.
“No, Jake. No more sex until we’re married. Surely you can waitoneday.”
Jake’s brows angled as if he were perplexed by something. “Why would we be talking on the phone, then? I don’tgetit.”
“Um… just totalk,duh.”
Opening his eyes wide, Jake laughed and pulled away. “Oh, hell no. You can’t have it both ways. If we’re not sharing a bed, I sure as hell don’t want you yapping in my ear allnight.”
Gasping in mock annoyance, I smacked him in the chest. “I can’t believe I’m marrying such aheathen.”
“Your choice,” Jake stated matter-of-factly. “Say the word and we’ll callitoff.”
His words rang in my ears as I tried to make sense of their meaning. After the expression I’d seen in the mirror earlier, even teasing about such things played into my fears. “Why would yousaythat?”
Jake instantly backtracked. “I was justkidding.”
“Well, it wasn’tfunny.”
