Taking a bite, her browclearing in surprise. “It’s sweet.”
“Can I have ataste?” At her nod, he captured her wrist, the skin between herglove and her sleeve warm under his fingers. Bringing the cake tohis mouth, he slowly took a bite, his gaze locked withhers.
Eyes darkening, her lipsparted as she drew in a faltering breath. Licking his lips, hesavoured the sweetness of the pastry even as he knew it would behalf as goddamn sweet as her. Her gaze followed the movement andsomething hesitant crossed her features, barely there but itwasthere.
Abruptly, nervesassaulted him and with them, doubt. What was he doing, thinking hecould teach her anything? He might have some experience, but he wasnow responsible for how she would regard it all from this momenton. How did he even know if he were good enough? If he knew enoughto make it good for her? He ain’t never been with someone whodidn’t know what they were doing, and it could be he would leadthem both to disaster. “Have you been kissed?” he askedabruptly.
“I—My uncleused to kiss my cheek.”
“By a man.”Jake cleared his throat. “A suitor.”
Hope’s cheeks lookedflushed, but it could just be the colour from the lamps.“Twice.”
“Twice,” herepeated. Goddamn nerves. She’daskedfor this. She wantedit. He wanted it. He would make it as good as he could and fuck hisgoddamn nerves.
His fingers were stillabout her wrist. With a slight tug, he drew her closer. She lookedup at him, a question in her eyes but as he leaned down, sherealised the answer and she reached up as his lips brushedhers.
Fire jolted through him.Surprise held him still a moment, that such a small caress couldcause such an intense reaction. Eyes closed, she stretched up tohim, pressing her lips to his once more. The simple kiss consumedhim, and he wanted to bring her closer still, to conquer her mouthand claim her with his tongue, but she’d only been kissed twicebefore and he would not frighten her. Instead, he would kiss herslow and sweet, his tongue gentle on the seam of her lips, adelicate tasting rather than the plunder he craved.
Her hands curled aroundthe lapels of his jacket, crushing the fabric as her fingerstightened. He kept himself under ruthless control, kissing heragain and again as she whimpered softly, each sound driving himfurther to the edge.
Finally, with a sigh, shepulled back and she glanced up at him. His gaze drifted to thefreckle beside her eye, the one he had yet to taste. Gently, helowered his mouth and brushed the small blemish, and it were sweetand salty and tasted of Hope.
Tilting her head, shesmoothed the lapels of his jacket and, suppressing a groan, he kepthis groin angled away from her as she petted him over and over, hertouch light and soft. Eventually, she gave him a small smile andturned back to the lanterns.
So released, he expelleda shaky breath.Hewere shaken, is what he was. He knew hefelt for her, but he didn’t know how deep it ran. Could be this wasa mistake.
He glanced at her. Shewatched those around them avidly, the faintest of smiles curvingher lips as if she were happy. She glanced at him and that smallsmile intensified. As ifhehad made her happy.
Taking her hand, he lacedtheir fingers. She squeezed, and in her touch he read so manythings, things he could be reading wrong but damn it, he wanted tobelieve and here, where colour exploded around them, he damn wellwas going to.
A grin tugging at him, heturned to steer them back to the hotel.
Ahead, in the middle ofthe parted crowd, was Pearl La Monte.
Jake’s step faltered. Thecoloured light fell on Pearl’s red hair, the thick tresses riotinglike flame along her back. Her green eyes sparked, the luminescencepainting her creamy skin. Her dress was flamboyant, a deepjewel-like blue that shimmered and shined with a low neck and anipped in waist. She was laughing, holding a festival cake as anoffering to the man at her side.
Forever ago, he’d thoughtto court Pearl La Monte, to woo her to his side and his bed. He’dbeen rebuffed in pretty fine fashion by the lady herself, andperhaps he’d not taken it as well as he could have. Her beau at thetime had objected strenuously, a big blond man named—
Christ. The man at herside was Ethan Garrett.
Unease filled his gut.Ever since he’d known they were to ride to Ironwood, he’d quitehandily managed to avoid thinking about Pearl and her beau, and hisrole in their life almost a decade ago.
“What is it?”Hope’s brows were drawn.
He shook himself.“Nothing. Just saw someone I used to know.”
“Really? Youknow people here?”
“Not really.Not well.” Christ, he didn’t want to introduce Hope to Pearl andGarrett. They weren’t more than acquaintances, and besides whichthe period in which he’d known them were a time he’d rather forget.He had been an arrogant prick when he were younger, and he didn’tneed the reminder or to have to explain his previous poor behaviourto Hope.
He saw the moment Garrettspied him over the top of Pearl’s head. The stoic expression turnedsour, and now it was absent, Jake realised there had been pleasurelaced beneath the stoicism.
Garrett’s eyes bore intoJake. Pearl, noticing Garett’s distraction, turned. Conflictingemotions warred on her face before she settled on a warm smile. Sheleaned to Garrett to speak briefly and then started toward him andHope.
“Mr Wade,good evening. It has been quite some time since you visitedIronwood.”
“It has, butit is delightful to see you again, Miss Pearl. And you, Garrett,”he added.
