Pulling me into his embrace, he pressed his lips to my temple. “I’m sorry.”
I snuggled into him, loving the way we were with each other. “It is what it is. I told her I loved her, and that I’d always be there if she needed me. Then, I left.”
We sat quietly for a few minutes. Until my stomach growled.
Sitting up straight, I patted my stomach and laughed. “I’m hungry. And I havenofood.”
He winked. “Luckily, I thought of everything.” Without another word, he ran outside to his truck. Moments later, he came back with a bunch of bags in his hands. “Dinner.”
A couple hours later, we were seated on the floor in front of the fireplace. I’d laid my blanket down and poured us some red wine. Juke hadn’t lied when he’d told me he came prepared. He’d brought reinforcements, groceries for the week. We’d prepared a quick dinner together—spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and a tossed salad.
“Dinner was delicious.” I took a sip of wine. “You really did think of everything.”
He grinned. “I had a feeling the weather wouldn’t cooperate with my plans.”
“What exactly did you have planned?”
He studied me over the rim of his glass. His heated gaze flickered down to my lips before slowly traveling lower. And lower. When his eyes locked on mine again, he said, “I’ll save it for another time.”
I let out a shaky breath. “Question.”
“What is it?”
“So… In your plans, did you envision spending the night?”
The half-smile, half-smirk he blessed me with made my heart race. “Ronnie.” He gripped my thighs and pulled me to him. Leaning down, he brushed his lips over mine. “Do you want me to stay?”
Oh my. I nodded. “But I thought you were old-fashioned,” I blurted out.
He laughed. “I am. I wanted to take you out, wine and dine you. Spoil you.”
“You already do,” I said. “I’ve never had anyone take care of me the way you do.”
“You make me want to take care of you.” He brushed my stomach with his thumb. “Ronnie, if I stay, things won’t be the same tomorrow. I’m not the guy who fucks and flees.”
“Good.”
“This means something to me,” he admitted. “Youmean something to me.”
“I feel the same way.” I smirked. “Juke, today was perfect. Starting with you riding to my rescue, all the way up to this moment. And, hopefully, beyond.” Juke kissed me then. Devoured me really—with his mouth, with his tongue. When he eased back, I pulled him forward and into another kiss. “Thanks for being such a gentleman. But just in case you need to hear this, I’m completely okay with skipping the fancy dinner on the town and getting to the hot sex part.”
“You’re so beautiful.” Juke nuzzled my cheek. “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Oh my God, you’re killing me!” I grumbled, slipping my hand under his shirt. I scraped my fingers over his stomach, enjoying the way his muscles flexed under my touch. “You keep saying things that make me want you more.”
He tugged at the hem of my shirt. “Take this off,” he commanded softly.
Ah, shit. I cheered in my head as I lifted my shirt up and off, tossing it behind me somewhere.
His warm lips traveled over the bridge of my nose, down to my chin, then, my neck. He traced the fabric of my bra with his tongue, pulled it down and scraped one of my nipples with his teeth before sucking it into his mouth. Oh, but he didn’t stop there. He brushed his mouth over my stomach, dipping his tongue in my belly button. I heard the sound of my zipper, but it didn’t register that he was sliding my pants off until I felt his breath on my legs.
His hands were everywhere, but his tongue…Oh God. Masterful. I was helpless to formulate a coherent thought that didn’t involve him. My body was a livewire, ready to blow at any moment.
Juke kissed his way back up my body to my lips. He settled between my thighs and deepened the kiss. I moaned when he brushed his hand over my core. I purred when he slipped one finger—then another—inside my pussy. I trembled when he pressed his thumb to my clit. And I screamed when a delicious orgasm rolled through me.
When I could finally breathe normally again, I opened my eyes. He stared at me, an amused smile on his perfect lips. I tugged at his shirt. “Take this off,” I ordered saucily, tossing his earlier command back at him.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “I think I want you to do it.” He rolled off of me, pulling me on top of him.
