He gently tugs my hand, pulling me away from his truck and toward his house, causing my forehead to crinkle in confusion. “Did you forget something?”
“You could say that,” he replies, walking to his front porch and taking a deep breath before opening the door.
That’s when I see it, and I’m rendered utterly speechless.
He’s transformed his living room into a magical forest. Twinkle lights and navy tulle cover the ceiling, potted trees of various shapes and sizes line every wall, countless floral arrangements of roses in a variety of colors blanket the floor, and a gorgeous picnic is set up in the middle. There’s not a single piece of furniture in the room. Every square inch is occupied by this breathtaking display. And he’s done it all for me. Forus.
Tears start to pool in the corner of my eyes, and I’m overwhelmed with emotion. This is beyond any expectation I could’ve ever had. “I don’t know what to say,” I murmur, holding his hand tightly to center me and remind me this is really happening.
He turns me to face him, his arms wrapping around my waist. “Do you like it?” he asks, biting his lower lip. “I thought it would give us a chance to talk and touch freely without constantly worrying about prying eyes.”
“I…I love it, Jake,” I whisper, awestruck, barely able to get the words out. So incredibly grateful to be here, in this moment, with him. To share tonight with him. “I’m never going to forget this.”
“Me neither, Kate,” he agrees, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Why don’t you take a seat while I bring in our first course?”
I nod silently and make my way across the living room, memorizing every detail. Not wanting to forget a single thing from tonight. I kick off my shoes and sit on the cozy pile of blankets, taking out my phone to snap a quick picture as Jakewalks in, carrying a tray of food in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
“Let me guess. Taking a photo for Chelsi?” he asks with a huge grin and a sparkle in his eyes as he carefully places the tray on the blanket and sits next to me.
“I’m sure I’ll send her a couple later, but these are mainly for me.”
“We should get a picture of us,” he says, opening his palm for me to hand him my phone. He opens the camera, places his arm around me, and takes a series of selfies. The first few are of us smiling until he says something hilarious, causing me to burst out laughing while he snaps more photos of us. Then, he surprises me once again by kissing me while taking more photos. By the time he’s done, my camera roll is filled with over thirty pictures. A snapshot from the beginning of our very first date.
We spend the next few hours eating my absolute favorite foods of pasta, cheese, and mini cheesecakes while we chat about everything. He talks about his current work project and how it’s been a struggle for months until the past few weeks, mentioning how he believes the thought of a future with me has unlocked his creativity. He tells me about the idiosyncrasies of the people he spends most of his time with: Jason, Anna, and Max, and how each of them has threatened to show up in Southmount at some point in the past couple of months. I share the latest on what my team is doing and how this one account could change the trajectory of my entire career. We dance around the topic of how we’ll see each other when our real lives are seven hours apart, each of us committing to figuring it out without necessarily knowing how to yet. Normally, this uncertainty would make me anxious and spiral, assuming worst-case scenarios, but not this time. I have an unexplainable sense of peace about it. Believing it’s all going to work out somehow as long as I follow my heart.
After I finish the last of the wine in my glass, I lick my lips and watch Jake’s eyes follow the movement of my tongue. He moves rapidly, gently grabbing the back of my head and pulling me into a deep, passionate kiss. Sparks of electricity spread from my lips throughout my body, setting me on fire with desire. His mouth parts, and our tongues tangle in a desperate kiss, like we’ve been starving for each other for years. Like it was always meant to be.
“Fuck, Kate,” he murmurs into my mouth, threading his hand through my hair. “I’ve been dying to kiss you like that all night.” He presses his forehead to mine, exhaling deeply.
We sit in silence for a couple of minutes before I stand and reach out my hand. His eyes squint, eyebrows arching, as he tries to discern what I’m thinking. I decide to make it extremely clear.
Leave no doubt in his mind how I want tonight to end.
I pull him toward me, leaving barely any space between us. I slowly move my mouth to the side of his face, my breath hot on his skin as his becomes more labored, and his heart pounds. I brush my lips against his ear and whisper, “Take me to bed, Jake. Fuck me. Please.”
forty-seven
He grabs my hand,leading me into his room—one I’ve been in hundreds of times, always as a friend, never like this. It’s completely dark until he flicks on the bedside lamp, casting a soft glow around the room and illuminating us. The air is charged, both of us eagerly waiting for what happens next. Ready to take this step together.
I sit on the edge of his queen-sized bed as he watches with unbridled passion in his eyes, shutting the door and stalking toward me, never losing eye contact. My body lights up at the thought of his hands on me, craving his touch in a way I never knew possible.Is this what real sexual attraction feels like?
Once he reaches the bed, he leans over me, wrapping his body around mine. I lean back on my elbows. His warm breath elicits goosebumps along my neck and arms. “I think I’ve been waiting a lifetime for tonight. Foryou,” he whispers, placing a soft kiss below my ear before dragging his lips down one side of my neck and up the other. “I’m going to make you come so many times tonight, Kate. So much that you’ll forget your name and only remember mine. Because you’ll be screaming it. All. Night. Long.”
Holy fucking shit. Heat pulses in my core at the mere thought of what he’s suggesting. I inhale sharply, keeping my eyes locked on his.
He nibbles on my ear, and I whimper uncontrollably, tilting my head to give him better access. “Do you want to wake up in my bed, hoarse from screaming my name?”
“Yes,” I pant, arching my back as he runs the tip of his tongue down my neck and along my collarbone. “More,” I beg, needing his hands on me and fewer clothes separating us.
He descends on my mouth, our tongues dancing as his hands roam under my sweater. Taunting me with the graze of his fingertips, enjoying me squirming underneath.
Two can play this game.
I grab a fistful of his sweater, pulling him closer and letting my fingers run along the outline of his muscles, as he tenses with every touch. I reach for the hem of his shirt, purposefully slipping my fingertips under the top of his jeans, teasing him with the promise of more. I pull his shirt up the length of his chest and over his head, exposing his chiseled abs. Unwilling to wait any longer, I quickly follow and remove my shirt.
He unclasps my bra, removing it without breaking our kiss. My nipples perk in the cool air as I wrap my legs around his waist, grinding my core against his hard length.
Jake groans. The sound fuels the desire between my thighs. I grab his waistband and unbutton his jeans. I’m about to use my hands and legs to push his pants down, when his mouth moves to my breast, and my brain short-circuits.
