Or maybe it wasn’t relief. Maybe it was something else.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Lines creased her forehead, and she bit her lip. But before she could say anything that would take away from that kiss, somehow make it less, he lifted the fork again.
“Is this what you’re looking for?”
Selena laughed, and the wrinkle on her brow disappeared. He fed her the cake, and she let out a little sigh of pleasure. His heart thudded in his chest as he watched her. What the hell was he getting himself into?
“You win,” she said, swallowing the bite. “This is so much better than cocktail sausages.”
The rain splattered in gusts across the tall windows, obscuring the sand and the water. Not a good night to be driving, even sober. But it was getting harder and harder to imagine a scenario that wouldn’t bring him to his knees before he walked out her door. He was so aware of every move she made, every nervous fidget of her hand, every time she bit her lip. Was she thinking about where this night would go, too?
Selena set down her fork. “I think we should…”
She paused. What was coming next? All sorts of endings to that sentence raced through his head.
I think we should take off our clothes.
I think we should see if sex between us is as good as it used to be.
Chapter Nine
“I think we should do a shot of Wild Turkey.”
Selena bit back her smile as Jace let out a bark of laughter.
“That’s not where I thought you were going with that sentence,” he said.
Selena lifted her eyebrows in challenge. “Is that a yes or a no?”
She headed for the glassware cabinet before he caught her blush. He was just as perceptive as always. That wasn’t what she had meant to ask. She was about to say they should give that kiss one more try. Knowing full well that it wouldn’t stop at a kiss. Instead she chickened out and opted for reinforcements of the alcoholic variety. Not too much, just enough to keep her mind off the past, to keep her focus on the way it felt to be with Jace right now.
“A shot of Wild Turkey, and then I want a tour of your house,” he said.
She nodded and brought over two low tumblers, and Jace twisted off the cap of another little bottle. He poured a finger’s worth of whiskey in each. Raising his glass, he waggled his eyebrows at her. “To holiday pleasures.”
“Are you coming on to me, Jace?”
He shrugged, and the corners of his mouth quirked up. “You want me to?”
Her cheeks flushed as she flashed to the kind of holiday pleasures she could have with Jace. “I still haven’t decided.”
Jace threw back the whiskey and set the glass onto the island counter. “Your turn.”
Selena took a sip of hers, and Jace shook his head.
“Nope. The whole thing. Your idea, by the way.”
She tipped her head back and let the liquid burn a trail down her throat, swallowing the last bit with a cough. Jace raised his hand for a high-five, his eyes filled with delight, and she slapped it.
“I’m glad I’m here to witness this.” He took her glass and set it aside. His hand slipped around her waist. “Now let’s take a tour of your house.”
Her heart thumped hard in her chest, and the whiskey was making her a little giddy. Or maybe it wasn’t the whiskey. Jace’s hand stayed on her hip as they wandered into the living room. It was the same way he’d always used to touch her, just a reminder that he was there. But as they passed her couch, his arm snagged around her waist, and he pulled her down on the plush pillows, onto his lap. She laughed and wriggled, but he held on tight, so Selena relaxed against him. She took a deep breath, catching his warm, outdoor scent, and sighed.
“I like this couch,” he said, and his deep chuckle sent warm bolts of pleasure through her. He patted the pillows, testing them. “Big enough to sleep on. Or do other things.”
She smiled and shrugged. He shifted so he was facing her, his dark eyes intense.
“You never tried?”
