The kiss deepened, and Casey moaned, leaning back so Jake could explore her mouth with his tongue. When he brought his big, strong hands up to gently touch her shoulders, she writhed under him, begging for his touch.
A key component of philosophy came back to her in that one perfect moment.
Who needs the future when you can have now?
CHAPTERELEVEN
CASEY
Casey leaned back on the couch, feeling Jake’s hands moving from her shoulders down to her breasts. She loved the feel of his firm touch through the thin fabric of her dress, the way he teased her gently and slowly as if they had all the time in the world.
She looked up and saw his bright blue eyes looking down at her. His gaze was dark in the light from the small lamp, like sapphires in the night. When she saw a flicker of primal need staring back at her, she moaned at the arousal that streaked through her body.
Jake smiled at her reaction, running his fingers gently down her belly to tease her. He raised a questioning eyebrow, and she nodded. She was more than ready for him.
Before lying back, she kissed him softly. It was a quick touch of the lips, but it lingered. When she opened her eyes and looked into his, she saw only savagery in his gaze, as if the man had gone to sleep and let the lion out to play.
She felt a faint chill of fear tracing across her arousal, but it only excited her more. He may be more of a wild cat than a man right now, but he was still in complete control.
She lowered herself further onto the couch, and Jake reached out, running his hand down her chest, caressing her breasts with incredible softness. She writhed just a little, begging him for more. Jake smiled.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
Casey shook her head a little, so aroused that she was beyond speech. It was true that she had her doubts about their relationship, but she could not deny the intensity, the strength of the magnetism between them.
When Jake’s fingers gently pushed the edges of her dress up, Casey lifted her hips so he could pull them up her body. Again, Casey was amazed by his control. He didn’t tear her clothes off and dive on her pussy. He moved with infinite slowness and tugged the dress over her head, savoring the sight of her.
Casey whimpered with need when he tossed the fabric aside and started to move down her body, caressing her thighs, knees, and ankles with great care. She was practically shaking as her arousal grew with every featherlight touch of his strong hands.
She was naked now, except for her underwear. Jake leaned forward as if he was going to take it off. He even trailed his fingers over her hips. Then, with a mischievous grin, he sat back and pulled off his shirt.
Casey gasped as his hard, sculpted body was revealed before her. The low light from the lamp gilded the edges of his muscles and accentuated the shadows over every dip and curve. He rubbed one big hand across his chest, making his bicep bulge, then ran his fingers across his washboard abs.
“You fucking tease,” she muttered.
Jake laughed softly. “I want to take my time and pleasure you properly.”
“Properly?” she asked with a smile. “Is there a handbook?”
“I’ll write one,” he muttered, leaning forward. Casey wrapped her arms around his slender, smooth waist as he settled over her, kissing her softly. She tightened her grip and thrust her hips upwards, pinning him with her knees.
He kissed her even more deeply, heat igniting between them. Casey moaned through the kiss as her tongue tangled with his, fire running through her that could not be denied. She thrashed against him, begging for more.
When he pulled back, Casey made a small, plaintive sound. She knew she was frowning with frustration as her need began to burn hotter and brighter than ever before.
Jake paused, his face only an inch from hers. Again, the fierce glitter in his eyes made her feel like he was barely controlling the lion within.
“I adore you,” he said. His voice was so intense it gave her chills, waves of sensation that crashed against her bones and turned her blood to fire. Casey moaned, shaking her head.
“I want you,” she whispered. The words were soft; so soft she wasn’t even sure if she had said it aloud. He gave no sign that he’d heard, but surely, with his shifter hearing, her voice would have been audible.
She knew that she meant it. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything. Right here and now, those words were true, and to not say it would have been to betray her soul.
Jake slid down, nuzzling against her belly and teasing her through her underwear. As his fingers brushed across her hot pussy a sharp cry burst out of her throat, and she grabbed his head, thrashing wildly, trying to pull his mouth down to her. Jake laughed softly and hooked her panties with his fingers, pulling them down her legs.
The feel of his hands running down her thighs made Casey throb deep inside. She covered her face with her hands and shook her head back and forth. She couldn’t take the anticipation another second.
Jake gripped her thighs and pressed his lips to her clit very gently. Casey moaned a long, drawn-out wail that sounded desperate and full of need. Casey thrashed up and down when his slick tongue lapped gently at the sensitive nub, her hands still over her face as if she wanted to block out the whole world so she could focus on Jake’s touch.