Page 12 of Loving Jake

“I’m not saying you didn’t work hard or that you don’t deserve to celebrate your efforts.” He paused to push a strand of hair behind his ear. “I’m saying that I was worried. For the last three weeks, you’ve only come home once past six o’clock. Even then, you called to let me know you would be an hour late. Tonight, you’re seven hours late, and I don’t hear a word from you. I called you no less than three times and sent you a text?—"

“I said I’m sorry, Jake,” she interjected. “What more do you want me to say? I would have responded, but my phone battery died, and I forgot my charger. Heather, one of the models, invited us to an impromptu party out in the Bay on her yacht. Before I knew it, it was after midnight, and the party broke up. I came straight home.”

“I suppose I should be grateful for that ingenious thought; otherwise I may have waited up for you all night.” He planted a hand on each of his hips and continued to watch her with narrowed eyes and tightly clenched jaw.

“Jake. I said I’m sorry twice now. I promise, I won’t do it again. However, Iama grown woman, and you sound just like my father.” She knew that when she had time to think about his reaction, his concern would thrill her, but she was exhausted and wanted only to go to bed. She had been up at the crack of dawn, out the door, and at the studio by six a.m., preparing for another twelve-hour day, followed by the wrap up party.

Kimberly dared to look him in the eyes, and the heat of his gaze burned right through her. The clouds must have shifted, because she noticed that the moonlight now beamed through the kitchen window, casting a glow over the kitchen, and emphasizing the disappointment reflected in his eyes and etched on his face. She had screwed up tonight, and Jake’s expression confirmed it. Her behavior was nothing above that of someone who was selfish and self-centered.

“That’s what Carly said,” he mumbled.

“What did you say?” Her eyes grew wide, and she clenched her hands into small fists at her sides.

“I, ah, called your sister tonight?—"

“You what?” she screeched, her voice echoing throughout the kitchen.

“Kim, I had no idea where you were, and I was worried,” he defended. “It was getting late, and I thought you may have stopped by Carly’s. Maybe it was one of your niece’s birthdays or something, and you thought you had mentioned it to me? I don’t know.” He ran his fingers swiftly through his hair. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes staring over her head at the wall, and she assumed it was to avoid her blazing glare.

Her mouth gaped open as she stared back at him. “I can’t believe you called Carly,” she groaned out loud, and her shoulders slumped. “My life as I know it is over, Jake.” She covered her face with her hands as she shook her head in disbelief.

“I realize that calling Carly this evening wasn’t the brightest idea I’ve ever laid claim to, but you are sisters. Don’t you speak to each other regularly? Don’t sisters visit each other or drop in unexpectedly? Obviously not,” he muttered. “Nor do they inform family members of their current houseguests.”

She dropped her hands to her sides and raised her head up to look at him. “What?”

“Carly was surprised to learn that I had been staying with you, Kim. Why is that?” he asked, the irritation in his voice ringing loud and clear in her ears.

“Jake,” she began in an exasperated voice, “Carly is an incurable matchmaker. She’s bound to, no, she will definitely read far more into your staying here than there is. Not to mention, she’ll blabber it to anyone who will listen and thentake credit for it.” Silently, she added, even worse, she will blame me when you move out without a backward glance in my direction. Her life was officially a disaster. Jake was mad at her, and Carly was probably posting invites for her and Jake’s couple shower on Facebook, but Kimberly couldn’t even get him to think of her as more than a friend. All she did was go out for one night with co-workers; that’s it. Just one lousy night.

She glanced at Jake, and to her surprise, his expression transformed from one of disappointment to one of… could it be… desire? Her lips parted, and a jolt of awareness shot over her skin like scalding water. The irritation she had seen in his eyes and that had pulsed from the clenching of his jaw was replaced with an expression she’d only noticed once on his face, and that was the first time she had visited his grandfather with him. Could the intensity reflected in eyes actually be desire? She took a quick, shallow breath.

Jake took a step forward. “Would that really be so bad?” He bent his head precariously close to hers. He rose a challenging eyebrow, daring her to respond.

“That Carly would blabber and take credit?” she stammered, her smile awkward in her nervousness. She stared at the wall behind his shoulder, afraid that if she looked into his eyes again, she would discover something other than desire staring back at her, and she wanted to dream for just a few more moments.

Jake stood a few inches from her. One small step, and she would practically be in his arms, her breasts pressed snugly against his chest. She felt her pulse quickening as she yearned to run her hands through his hair, now loose and tucked behind his ears, the tips of the golden strands brushing against his shoulders. Hesitantly, she turned her head and looked in his eyes, and she discovered the desire was still there, glowing from his eyes. She swallowed anxiously. What was going on with him? Oneminute, he looked at her with disappointment, and the next, he undressed her with his eyes. A tremble coursed along her spine, and her lips slowly parted.

“I was referring to something going on between us, Kim.”

It took only mere seconds before he lowered his head to hers, pressing his warm, caressing lips against her own. His large hands encircled her waist, bringing her flush against his hard body. Gradually, he coaxed her mouth open, his tongue eager in its exploration, and she responded with equal enthusiasm. His hands traveled over her back, eventually gliding across her breasts. Her nipples hardened with desire, and she pressed them against the palms of his hands.

A deep moan escaped from her as she moved further into his embrace. The evidence of his arousal pressed against her pelvis, and waves of desire spiraled through her. While his lips continued to devour her, his hands glided upward, burying themselves in her hair. Slowly, his lips left hers to explore the skin on her neck, and she groaned out loud.

Her heart pounded, and a tremble coursed through her. Hesitantly, her hands roamed over his broad shoulders, then upward, combing through his tawny strands of hair. She ran her nails along the back of his neck, delighting in his growl of pleasure. He felt good, so good.

He eased his hands out of her hair and slid them once again across her breasts, where they lingered only for a moment before reaching her waist. With one swift motion, he lifted her up and set her on top of the kitchen counter. Her eyes widened, but she held on tight with her hands clasped behind his neck. Moving his body quickly between her legs, any questions she had about his intentions were answered when he pulled the tail of her blouse from her jeans.

One by one, he unbuttoned her blouse with deft fingers until it gaped open. He bent his head to her waist, hislips following hotly in the path of his hands. His hands caressed the skin on her back as his tongue slid sensuously across her stomach and rib bones. Her breath came in shallow gasps as he snapped open the front of her lacy bra.

He lifted his head and gazed at her with eyes laced heavily with passion, and she smiled, hoping to reassure him that he required no further approval for his actions. He returned her smile with a wicked one of his own before he bent his head and took one rosy peak between his lips. He sucked wildly, his tongue moving back and forth over the aroused tip as his hips moved in a slow, rhythmic motion against the apex of her thighs. She wanted him inside her more than she had ever wanted anything else in her life.

Kimberly’s breath came out in ragged pants, as the onslaught of his lips on her breast drove her nearly over the edge. She braced her hands on the top of the counter for support, arching herself closer to him. She circled her long, jean-clad legs around his back, and his throbbing arousal ground into her. She was on fire, her entire being ready to burst into flames.

Jake released her swollen nipple from his lips, and she panted in anticipation of where his mouth might travel next. His tongue traced her collarbone and neck with a series of hot circular motions before finding her mouth once again. She parted her lips gladly. His lips continued to torment her as he picked her off the counter and slid her down his hard body. Gently, he slid her blouse off, and allowed it to cascade to the floor, at their feet.

He lowered his mouth to ravish her other breast with equal care, his hands making haste with the buttons of her jeans, when a distinctive scratching noise filtered throughout the kitchen.

“Damn,” he swore under his breath.

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