Deciding on a quick shower, I reach for the crutches and make my way to my own bathroom. Hopefully the warm water pelting down on me will help ease the tension that my body is wracked with.
I can hope.
Savannah
There’s something erotic about wearing Jace’s briefs against my own naked skin. It’s like he’s caressing me, which is totally wrong, but I can’t get the image of having his hands caressing my heated skin out of my head. I’d certainly love to have him at my mercy while I touched and caressed every inch of him until I knew his body inside and out.
I’m shy by nature, but something tells me that I won’t be with Jace. He has a way of looking at me that makes me crave his touch. I know in my heart that he’d never leave me frustrated, that he’d always make sure I had my pleasure before he took his own. That would be something new to me.
Sighing, I wrap my hair into a smaller towel and put it up on the top of my head, but at least it will get some of the wetness out.
Inhaling, and with a slow exhale, I open the bathroom door and head into the living room.
Jace isn’t in the room, so I look around and spy a bookcase in the corner by a recliner. Hmm, it will be a recliner all right. I know this without a doubt when I realize the TV is strategically placed opposite.
Rolling my eyes at the typical guy layout, I brush my hand against the top of his black, leather sofa and make my way over to check out his books…and photographs. His coffee table, sitting on a black and cream rug, is littered with magazines. Spotting the baby magazine makes me smile. Has he been reading up on babies so that he’ll know what he’s doing with his new niece? God, this man is burrowing deeper and deeper into my heart.
Rubbing my chest, I slowly browse his photographs. There is one of him in his uniform, looking a lot younger—his academy photograph, perhaps? There are one or two of him with another man who I recognize as his brother, Ryder. Just by looking at the photographs, you can see the love that the brothers have for one another. I can’t help grinning at the ones of Jace on the baseball field, in one of which he looks pretty pissed. His hands are on his hips, and his glove thrown at his feet, as he scowls at the person who I’m guessing took the picture.
Hearing a chuckle behind me, I quickly turn and would have landed on my ass if it wasn’t for Jace’s grip on my arm.
“You need to make more noise,” I grumble, but can’t help the smile on my lips.
He’s gorgeous and has changed into a dry shirt and sweats, but it’s his smile that gets me every time. His short hair is damp, telling me he quickly showered.
Sighing, I wish I’d been under the spray of water with him. I certainly would have made sure he’s clean.
“Savannah,” he chokes, unable to hide the heat in his eyes, “you need to stop looking at me like that.” His breathing is uneven, and I know all I’d have to do is take that one step into him and there’d be no turning back.
I can’t do that to us…to Jace…to Richard.
Until my life is back on track, I can’t take that one step that I know would hurt Richard, and probably Jace. Something tells me that when, not if, I’m with Jace, that he won’t ever let me go.
Clearing my throat, I turn back to the bookshelf. “I’m enjoying looking at these.” I smile and point to the one where he looks to be having a tantrum.
He laughs and breaks the tension between us. It’s still there, hovering, but it no longer feels awkward, as though one of us is going to attack the other. Although, I certainly wouldn’t mind being attacked by him.
“Ryder was bugging the shit outta me on that one. I’d turned around and lost hold of the glove, which didn’t help my temperament right then. It was before a big college game, and I used to get stressed before every game,” his grin widens, “which he knew and abused.” He laughs. “He still bugs the shit outta me.”
I smile at the fondness in his voice for his younger brother.
Looking at him from over my shoulder, I point out, “You love him, you rely on him and something tells me if it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be in the place that you’re in today.” I’ve surprised Jace with my assessment so I add, “I’ve seen you both together, there is no way a
nyone wouldn’t realize you’re brothers. It’s nice.”
“God, Savannah.” He closes his eyes and then opens them again. “You’re driving me crazy… Not only are you in my underwear and shirt, but…Oh, hell.” He runs his hand through his short hair, and all I want to do is stand closer and surround myself with the warmth that is radiating from his body.
He steps back, which is when I realize he’s using crutches. Glancing down, he’s taken his prosthesis off. Raising my head, I see the embarrassed blush coating his cheekbones, so I do what I’ve wanted to do since the minute we met, more so tonight, and take those steps to bring me up close and personal to him.
Before he has a chance to move, I wrap my arms around his waist and sigh in pleasure when I rest my head against his chest. Jace pauses, probably with surprise, and then I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders, as his hand tangles in my damp hair now that the towel has been knocked loose.
I feel him relax against me, and savor the feel of him. There isn’t an inch between us, and every hard contour of his chiseled body is felt against my softness—even the bulging hardness against my hip.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t resist gently rubbing against him.
His quick intake of breath has my nipples puckering against Jace, and with a sigh, he pushes me away from him slightly. I stare up into his eyes and I watch him gulp a couple of times before he says, “I want you, Savannah, but I want a lot more than just a quick fuck before sending you on your way to someone else…I don’t share.”
“Neither do I… Can we sit and talk, or do you want to go to bed?” I cringe at the innuendo in my innocent question. “I mean—”