Page 38 of Long Story Short

Jake chuckled but his eyes flashed with equal desire. ‘Hmm. I think that’s a very good idea.’

25

I had an irrational feeling that everyone in the Waldorf lobby knew that Jake and I were planning some sort of afternoon delight as we climbed out of the taxi and walked through our hotel. Jake’s hand brushed mine and I looked across at him, and we exchanged a shy smile. My heart thumped inside my chest. It had been three years since a man had seen me naked. Three years since I had done anything more than kiss a man. Three years since I had been touched…

‘You seem to be thinking really hard,’ Jake said as we waited for a lift to take us up to our floor.

‘It’s hard to switch my brain off sometimes,’ I confessed.

‘I have that problem too,’ Jake replied as the lift doors opened and we stepped in there together, and were suddenly alone again. ‘I always thought it was part of the reason I became a writer. I have a brain that loves to overthink, which is great for letting my imagination flow and come up with ideas for my books, but not so great when it comes to worrying about my own life.’

‘That makes sense,’ I said, liking the fact he had opened up about that. ‘My overthinking has no creative benefit though. I think mine is mostly worrying what other people think of me, and being desperate to do my best. Maybe I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I always end up feeling like I’m coming short in some way.’

‘I hope you’re not worrying about that right now,’ he said, looking at me. ‘Because kissing you has been incredible so whatever else we do, there is no chance it won’t be just as good.’

I smiled. His words did relax me a little bit. ‘It’s just been a while for me, as you know…’ I trailed off, biting my lip. The lift reached our floor and we stepped out and walked to our side-by-side rooms. Nerves swirled in my stomach as we hovered outside.

‘I meant what I said: we do whatever you’re comfortable with,’ Jake reassured me. ‘I just want to be close to you.’

‘Me too.’ I reached for my key card and opened up my room, feeling like I might be a tiny bit more comfortable surrounded by my things. It seemed naughty to be thinking of using a hotel bed for anything other than a nap in the afternoon. I didn’t think I’d ever be what could be described as naughty before but then I looked at Jake as I held the door open for us and I knew I’d never been with anyone like him before. It made me want to be a little bit naughty.

I closed the door behind us and took a breath.

‘I’m sorry, it’s a bit messy,’ I said as we moved through into the area where the bed was. My things were strewn everywhere. I’d never been particularity good at getting ready in an organised way. ‘I bet you’re a neat freak,’ I added, knowing by the grin he flashed me that I was completely correct.

‘Some of that is a procrastination thing, though – if I’m not motivated to write, I clean and if I’m stressed, I organise so…’ He held out his hand to me. I stepped over to him and took it, entwining my fingers with his. He brought our hands up to his lips and kissed the back of mine. ‘You don’t need to apologise about the room; I’m only looking at you.’

‘We are so different,’ I said, my skin instantly warming at his touch.

‘Not when it comes to important things.’ Jake let go of my hand and slipped an arm around my waist. My body instantly curved itself around his like we were two connecting puzzle pieces. ‘Trust, loyalty, love…’

‘Work ethic.’

Jake grinned. ‘When you told me off about that bloody article, I had never wanted a woman more.’

‘Maybe I need to tell you off more then.’ I was only half-joking.

‘I hate letting you down. I’m sorry that I couldn’t do what you wanted at the reader session.’

‘I’d be lying if I didn’t want to know everything about you,’ I confessed, wishing he would unpeel his layers for me. But I also knew this was early days, and I was expecting a lot when all we had done was kiss.

‘I want to know you too,’ Jake whispered.

Lifting my face to meet his, our lips came together like they had always been meant to. Kissing Jake got better each time as we fell into a rhythm, learning the ways we both liked to kiss and touch as we got more relaxed with one another. When our tongues met, I hooked my arms around his neck and he pulled me towards him by the waist so our chests touched. I wondered if he could feel how fast my heart was beating through our clothes. Then he reached up and rested his hand on the side of my neck, applying that little bit of pressure to my throat that made my desire turn up several notches.

‘Jake,’ I pleaded with him then.

‘Too much?’ he asked, starting to remove his hand.

‘No,’ I said quickly. ‘I want more.’

He flashed a smile at me before he kissed me again. Then he dropped his lips to kiss down my neck and to my collarbone. He traced the sweetheart neckline of my dress with his lips, kissing me on that delicate, bare skin there so gently, he left goose bumps in his wake. His hands moved to my shoulders, caressing me. ‘I do love your dresses but…’

‘But what?’ I murmured as he spoke through kisses.

Jake stopped and met my eyes. ‘I’d love to take this one off.’

I giggled. ‘I’d love you to take it off.’ I held my arms up and Jake’s breathed hitched as he reached for the fabric and lifted it over my head. I was thankful I’d put on a matching set of underwear today.

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