Page 82 of Play For Keeps

A lump forms in my throat as Jake comes and sits down on the bed next to me. What is he thinking? Is he happy she’s back? And what does this mean for us?

Breathe, I tell myself. He told me that he hasn’t thought about her since he met me. But maybe that’s changed now that she’s back.

Birdie spots Jake next to me and asks if she can see him, so I hold out my phone, noticing the way his green eyes soften when he sees her smiling face. “How’s my Birdie-girl?”

“I’m good! Gramma painted my nails pink while Grandpa went to the bakery to get us donuts. I wish you were here to try one. They were the best donuts I’ve ever had.”

“I wish I was too,” he tells her.

“Are you coming to pick me up tomorrow or Mom?”

“We’ll both be there. I can’t wait to see you. I miss you just as much as your mom does.”

“Okay, good. I gotta go. Grandpa says he’s gonna water the garden without me.”

I end the call with a tremble in my hands. I want to look at Jake, to see if I can read anything in his eyes, but I can’t breathe, let alone speak. Suddenly the bedroom feels small. He turns me by my shoulders to face him.

Jake’s expression softens as his hands move to my face, and I will his palms to stay there. “She means nothing to me, Ev. Nothing at all. It’s only you that I want. I’m in love with you.”

I’m in love with you.

I. Am. In. Love. With. You.

My heart thrashes inside my chest then it skips as my skin begins to tingle.

“Say it again, Jake.”

I hold my breath as he gets off the bed and kneels on the floor between my legs, lacing my hands in his. His eyes meet mine. “I’m in love with you, Everly Billings. I love you so damn much.”

My eyes flood with tears. I can’t stop them from falling. Jake wipes them away with his thumb.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he teases.

“I’m happy, Jake.” I sniffle. “These are happy tears.” I untangle our hands, reaching for his face. “I just wasn’t expecting that. My heart is still racing,” I confess, covering my heart with my palm.

“I should probably kiss you.”

“You should… but first…” I murmur, my lips an inch from his. “I am in love with you too.”

Then I crush my lips to his, holding his face in my hands, tears streaming down my face. His tongue slips inside, finding mine as I open for him. And I melt into the kiss. Jake has never kissed me like this before. The kiss is sweet, possessive, demanding and full of lust. I savor every second, wanting a lifetime of his kisses, wanting a lifetime with Jake.

Jake wraps my arms around his neck as he rises to his feet, my legs wrapping around his waist. We don’t break the kiss. Then we’re a mess of busy hands and frantic kisses, stripping each other out of our clothes.

“My God, I love you,” he says, backing me up against the bed until the back of my knees hit the mattress and his strong body is hovering over me, his hard cock trapped between us. “Feel how hard you make me.”

He shifts to his side when my hand wraps around his erection, stroking his length.

“Fuck.” He moans, closing his eyes when my hand roams lower, cupping his balls. “Baby, that feels so good.”

I squeal when he suddenly sits, picking me up and setting me down on his lap. “I want your eyes on me when I fuck you. I want you to see how much I love you.”

I nod, reaching my hands around his neck, my fingers sinking into his soft hair. Then he’s lining his erection up with my wet entrance and thrusting inside of me until I’m fully seated on his lap. His hands roam my skin, finding my breasts and pinching my nipples before rolling the stiff peaks between his thumb and finger.

He fills me so perfectly; I have to force myself to keep my eyes open and locked on his.

“Jake… oh God… baby… harder.”

“I’ve got you, baby. I know what you like.” Jake lies me down on the bed, never letting me go. He kisses me before taking his cock in his hand. I want him. I want him so badly.

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