Page 32 of Forbidden Kisses
Her pretty pink lips rounded and she dropped the wooden spoon she’d been holding. Rushing to pick it up, her skirt slid up on her thighs. Teasing her was good foreplay. Watching her cook was good foreplay, too.
Jack finished buttering the bread and then carried the metal cookie sheet over to the stove. He laid the tray down and moved Grace over by her waist. “Excuse me, sweetheart. Don’t want you to get burned.” He opened the oven and slid the tray in, then turned and faced Grace. “Ten minutes till we eat.”
Her throat constricted as she swallowed. She was definitely feeling the buzz between them as much as he was.
Jack wrapped his arms around her waist. “If I kiss you now, I might ruin dinner. And that would be a shame.”
Her head tipped back to look up at him. “It would. I’ve worked pretty hard on my specialty dish.”
“Hard.” He nodded, unable to help the smile on his face.
She laughed, punching a soft fist into his chest. “I should’ve waited to cook until later.”
“Are you saying you can’t wait for me?” he asked playfully.
She pressed her body against him. He was sure she could feel exactly how much he wanted her.
“I’m known for my self-control. I’m eating first.” His eyes fell on her mouth. “Besides, I like watching you squirm. I might eat nice and slow tonight.”
Her eyebrows lowered. “You’re serious?”
“Always.” He stepped away, because while he had his fair share of control, he had a breaking point. He was going to savor tonight, though. After the other night, he’d thought he’d never get another chance with Grace. He was teetering on a fine line, knowing that she could push him away again at any moment. Her walls could come back up bigger and stronger. Life had done that to her. And part of that had been his family’s doing.
The timer for the oven beeped. Jack turned and grabbed an oven mitt, shifting uncomfortably against the swell in his jeans. This was going to be the longest dinner of his life.
—
“You’re going to eat every last bite, aren’t you?” Grace sat back in her chair and watched Jack fork the last few noodles left on his dish into his mouth.
“It’s that good,” he said. “I might need a nap afterward, though.”
Her lips pressed together until he grinned. “You’re joking.”
“I’m joking.” He slid his dish to the side. Then he stared at her, his gaze grazing over her like a slow, seductive touch. “I’m done. Now I’m ready for dessert.” He held up a hand. “And before you ask,youare my dessert.”
Her back straightened as heat zipped through her, settling low in her belly. He stood and offered her his hand. “Shall we?”
Butterflies swam inside her. This wasn’t their first time together, but she was suddenly all kinds of nervous. What if the second time didn’t live up to the first? What if she did something wrong?
All her worries were silenced as Jack pulled her in his arms and kissed her mindless. Then her body took over, writhing against his, hungry for his touch again. She needed to feel his skin flush with hers. Her hand lowered to the mound at the center of his pants. “How did you sit there so patiently during dinner?”
“Years of practice growing up with you down the hall,” he growled, lifting her shirt over her head and sprinkling kisses up her neck. She moaned in pleasure, pushing him toward her bed. She wanted to straddle him and feel that hardness inside her. Dinner had been torture for her as well.
Jack sat on the bed, reached up, and unclasped her bra, lowering his gaze to her breasts. She froze for a moment, watching him as he took her in. Something about the way he looked at her made her feel gorgeous. He traced the skin around her nipple, making shivers rumble through her. Then he dipped his head and took one breast into his mouth. There was nothing hurried in his actions even though she could feel the urgency of his erection. His tongue flicked against her sensitive skin.
Grace pulled her lower lip between her teeth and bit down. “It was hard for me living with you down the hall, too,” she whispered, breathless.
His eyes opened and flicked up to meet hers before moving to the other breast. “Yeah?”
“Um-hmm.”
“Tell me about it.”
“What?” Grace could barely focus with Jack’s teeth brushing against her.
“I want to hear how much you wanted me.”
“You already know, Jack. I’ve always wanted you.” She’d wanted more than his body, though, and that’s what terrified her.
