“Cancel that date, Brooke.”
She stared at me. “Why?”
“You are not going on that date.” My voice was almost a growl.
“Why?” she repeated. I swallowed, searching for the right words at the same time I tried to make sense of things in my mind. Fuck it, I was just going to go with my gut.
“I’m going to tell you a few things. Just listen until the end, okay?”
“O-okay.”
I had a burning desire to kiss Brooke until she begged for more and let that do all the talking for me.
“I love being with you, Brooke. I thought I could be just your friend, but I want more. I want you. All of you.”
I rested one palm against the kitchen door, just next to her shoulder. I needed to touch her more than I’d ever needed anything else. She looked from my hand to my shoulder, licking her lips. On instinct, I moved closer.
“Oh. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you won’t go out with that guy.” As soon as I said it, I realized that I needed to hear more than that. “Say you want me.”
“Jace—”
I moved my hand from the door to her waist, unable to not touch her anymore. She sucked in a shaky breath, resting both hands on my chest, and for a split second, I thought she was going to push me away. But then she moved one hand, resting a finger on the top button of my shirt before slipping it through the crack in the fabric.
That slight touch of her fingertip on my bare skin was my undoing. I’d never turned so hard so fast. I kissed her the next second. She instantly surrendered, parting her lips for me. She wanted me, all right. She wanted me bad.
I sucked gently on her tongue, exploring that sweet, delicious mouth. But I needed more than her mouth. I needed to touch her. I skimmed my hands from her waist down to her legs, groaning against her mouth when I reached the bare skin of her thighs. It was smooth and inviting. I pressed her against me, and she whimpered when she felt how hard I was. She parted her legs slightly, accommodating me, and I had to stop the kiss to avoid losing all rational thought. I wasn’t looking for a quick lay.
“Why are you stopping?” she murmured. I smiled at the red hue around her lips.
I traced the contour of her mouth with my fingers. “Your lips are gorgeous.”
I couldn’t wait to taste her again, so I claimed her mouth. Her arms went around my neck.
I pulled her bottom lip between mine before capturing her entire mouth. My hands were roaming, exploring, touching every bit of skin I could find, and then demanding even more. I pinned her against the first wall I found, and then my hands were everywhere. Kneading her ass, touching her outer thighs, and then her inner thighs. I stopped short of touching her panties, but then she rolled her hips forward, silently begging for my touch. How could I not oblige her? I willed myself to slow down and talk first.
But I was so hard that I could barely think. I tore my mouth from hers, and she buried her face in my neck. I lost my train of thoughts when she feathered her lips on my neck. She parted her mouth, licking the spot she’d kissed before, just below my Adam’s apple, and I was done for. I cupped the back of her head and growled, “Bedroom. Now.”
I felt her knees buckle a little at my command, but I steadied her with a strong grip around her waist. My dick twitched as I realized taking commands from me turned her on.
She whirled around, leading me to the bedroom, stopping in front of the bed. I pushed her hair to one side, placing a kiss at the top of her spine. I hooked an arm around her middle, pressing her ass against my erection.
She whimpered. Taking half a step back, I wedged a hand between her thighs and spoke against her back. “Open them.”
She gave me access. I touched two fingers over the dampened fabric, and she buckled, leaning forward.
“Oh, fuck. Jace!” Her voice was shaking.
The only light in the room was from the sun coming up outside, and when I laid her on the bed, it shone on her thighs. I wanted to see her naked, but I didn’t have the patience to take off her dress. Not now. But I had enough patience to simply watch her for one second as I propped one knee on the bed, taking in the rise and fall of her chest, her slightly parted lips.
Her hands were crossed on top of her stomach, and she was fiddling with her thumbs. My girl was nervous.
“Lift your dress up higher, Brooke.”
She immediately reached to the fabric, pulling it upward a few inches.
“Higher.”