Grace held up a hand. “Jake. I know I’m new at this, but isn’t the benefit of you going back to the woman’s place that you don’t have to play host?”
He ran a hand through his hair looking sheepish. “I just don’t want you to be nervous. And I want to give you time to think about it so you won’t regret it later.”
She slowly moved toward him, settling her hands on his waist. Seriously, did the man not have any fat? Where was his pooch? The love handles? The early signs of a beer belly?
“I’m not nervous,” she said, looking up into his eyes. “And I’m not going to regret this.”
Well, I might. But it’ll be worth it.
She went up on her toes, pressing her mouth to his before saying softly, “I want you.”
He sucked in a breath, his hands roughly framing her face.
“Grace.” His voice was raspy.
“Jake.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“About what?”
His arms banded around her back, lifting her off her feet as his mouth fused with hers and he walked backward into the bedroom. Kicking the door closed behind him until it was just them in darkness other than the city lights outside Grace’s window.
She took a deep breath, about to ask if they could go slow, but then his hands were in her hair, his mouth on hers, and slow was the last thing she wanted. Jake’s teeth nipped at her lower lip and Grace gasped.
Oh. So this is what he’d wanted to warn her about.
Grace had expected someone with Jake’s experience to have her out of her panties in about five seconds flat, but the man took his time. She lost track of the number of times he switched the angles of their kiss, exploring every corner of her mouth, every sensitive spot of her lips, until she was grasping frantically at his shirt.
“More.”
“You sure?” he asked, his breath hot against her mouth.
“Quit asking me stupid questions.”
She felt him smile against her mouth before his lips moved across her cheek, his tongue playfully flicking the spot just below her ear until he was dragging warm lips and tongue down her throat. He found a spot just below the string of her halter top w
here her neck met her shoulder, and as he sucked, Grace moaned.
Jake pulled back slightly, his eyes holding hers, and he lifted a hand to undo the tie around her neck. His fingers were gentle as he undid the knot, and belatedly Grace realized that there was no sexy way to remove a clingy halter top.
Really, Julie? This was your best advice?
But then Jake’s hands slid under the top, skimming up and down her spine, and Grace forgot all about her friend. Since easing the thing over her head would be slightly less awkward than shimmying it down her body, she lifted her arms.
He removed it with ease, his eyes hungrily taking in a nearly topless Grace before he ran a finger along the top of her green strapless bra.
“This matches your eyes,” he said softly.
Her eyes fluttered shut as the tips of his fingers trailed over her softly. His fingers undid the back clasp without even the slightest fumble, and he tossed the bra aside before sitting on the bed and pulling her toward him until she was standing between his legs. Grace kept waiting for the surge of embarrassment at the realization that he was entirely clothed and she was half naked.
But instead she felt want, low and urgent.
His hands came up to cup her breasts, his touch gentle and sure, and they locked eyes as his thumbs found her nipples, rubbing her in idle motions, until she jerked toward him. “Jake.”
He wrapped his warm mouth around her nipple, his mouth working her as his fingers quickly removed her belt and unbuttoned her jeans.
Grace’s eyes flew wide when he pulled her jeans and panties down just enough for his fingers to find her wetness, one finger sliding into her as his thumb made wicked patterns against her clit. She was on the edge in a matter of seconds. Embarrassed, she tried to push him away, but he merely sucked harder and rubbed a little faster.