“Shh.” Jason touches a finger to my mouth, then removes it, leans in, and replaces it with his mouth, gliding his lips over mine.
I blink in surprise, then lean into the kiss, softening against him. He licks the seam of my lips and I part, letting him in. At the touch of his tongue to mine, I forget everything but the warmth and feel of him, the butterflies in my stomach, and the excitement suddenly racing through my veins. Desire replaces my earlier fear and I lose myself in his thorough, devouring kiss.
He raises a hand to my hair, tangling his palm in my ponytail, using the pull to tug my head to the side so he can deepen our connection. I can’t remember the last time I had a long, leisurely,arousingkiss that seemingly has no end. I let everything go but the pure enjoyment of being so close to this man I’ve wanted for so long.
The long nights of sleeping in a room near his, wondering if he slides naked beneath the sheets, of running into him in the family room in his boxer briefs, his state of arousal upon looking at me clear, finally catches up with me. I brace my hands on his cheeks and kiss him for all I’m worth, dropping my walls and my guard for this one moment in time. When he finally releases my kiss-swollen lips, I’m dazed.
“Good,” he says in a desire-laden voice. “You’re relaxed now.”
I narrow my gaze. “Is that why you kissed me? Because I was worked up and frightened?”
His eyes darken. “I kissed you because I’ve been wanting to do that for days. But the end result? Yeah, that’s what I was aiming for. Ready to go home?” He slides his fingers into mine, and I curl my fingers around his bigger hand.
“Ready.”
“Then let’s go.”
I glance away from his potent stare, my gaze coming to rest on the bulge in his pants. The erection he can’t hide.
I slide my tongue over my lips, well aware of the pulsing deep inside my core.
“Don’t look at me like that or I’ll take you right here in my office. With my partners next door,” he says in a gruff voice that wreaks havoc on my senses.
And I know that I’m so aroused, I just might let him. So I grab my purse and rush out the door.
***
Faith
After arriving backat the apartment, we order in Italian food, eat, discuss his issues at the club, and never mention the kiss. It doesn’t matter that Jason’s lips on mine are at the forefront ofmy mind, or that I want to take things further; he is back to being the perfect gentleman. It is as if he used the kiss to jerk me back to reality and ground me in sensations other than fear, but he isn’t going to act on the arousal he inspired now.
Unsure of what to do, I’m taken off guard when he says he’ll clean up and instructs me to turn in and get a good night’s sleep. Since he seems to need the time alone, I nod and stride out, struggling with my conflicting desires: the need to keep a distance from Jason so it is easy to walk away when this is over and the yearning I feel for Jason Dare.
I wash up and undress, changing into a pair of my soft shorts and camisole. I crawl into bed, hating to admit that Jason is right and I am exhausted…
I awake to hands around my neck, my brother’s face in front of mine, his breath fetid. “You know what I want, Faith.”
I cough, but the sound strangles in my throat. How does he expect me to answer him if he is choking me to death? “Colton.”
“The money. It’s half mine and I want it.”
I shake my head.Mom left it to me, I think, knowing better than to waste my breath. Precious air I’m not getting. “Can’t breathe.” Spots dance in front of my eyes, fear spiraling inside me.
He loosens his grip enough for me to draw in a painful breath. “Get me my money. I’ll be back, and next time I expect you to give me what’s mine.”
I wake up choking, unable to breathe until I realize it is just a dream. A real dream, but a nightmare that isn’t happening now. I’m safe. I blow out a breath and lift my hair off my neck. It isn’t the first time I’ve had this nightmare and it won’t be the last. Most nights I go into the living area and work on my business plans, knowing sleep will be impossible after the nightmare, but tonight there is another option on my mind.
I need comfort, and I want a pair of strong arms around me to reassure me everything will be okay. Jason’s arms. More than solace, though, I desire him more than any man I’ve ever met. And he admitted to wanting me.
I understand he has demons and past hurt and pain he hasn’t yet come to terms with. He doesn’t want a relationship, doesn’t want the happily ever after I dream of having one day when I’m free of Colton. I don’t want to be alone forever, even if I don’t allow myself to think of having friends and people in my life again now.
So I know the score. I won’t be going into whatever this is with Jason with stars in my eyes, thinking I can change him. We are two consenting adults who desire each other. When my brother is behind bars, we’ll go our separate ways. End of story.
But we havenow.
Drawing a deep breath for courage, I make my decision and walk out of my room and turn to go into his. I open the door, glad when it doesn’t squeak, shut it behind me, and tiptoe quietly up to the bed. Then I have a silent debate with myself once more. Clothes on? Or clothes off?
There is nothing stopping me except my lack of courage, so I draw another long breath and slip off my shorts and panties, then pull my shirt over my head. There. I’m naked, and before I can change my mind, I climb onto the bed and slide up behind him, finding him as nude as I am. Drawing a deep breath, I wrap my arms around his waist.
