Page 21 of Scoring Truth
“I bet you’re a real distraction for those college boys.”
I roll my eyes. “Hardly.”
“You’ve beenmyfavorite distraction.” His voice is low and sultry, and at his words, I feel all the air sucked from the room. Our eyes connect, and, just like his hand on mine at the coffee shop, the attraction is undeniable. The pull is real. And this isn’t a love story in a movie. It’s real life, and I’m falling hard. Right here. Right now.
Leaning in towards him, he meets me halfway, and once his lips touch mine, I’m done for. We’re not tentative like how new lovers would be. We’re not shy, holding back because we’re afraid. We’re just together as if we’ve always been. He places his hand on my neck, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he deepens the kiss.
His tongue sweeps over mine, and he tastes sweet, like the wine we’ve been drinking. My body is warm, and I want more. I want to be closer to him. Lost in his kiss, I move my arm to hold his bicep, but in true Penelope fashion, I knock over my glass, and wine goes everywhere.
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry!” I try to stand, but Jameson jumps up first.
“Leave it,” he growls out. His eyes are wild as he literally lifts me from the chair by my waist. My arms and legs wrap around him instinctively, and we’re face to face.
“Is this okay?”
“More than okay.”
We kiss again, frantically this time, as he walks with me hanging from him like a koala, and into the living room.
He pauses by the couch as I kiss down his neck. “Not here. Bedroom,” I breathe out. And thank God he’s carrying me because I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to stand, and the last thing I want to do is break a leg and end this right now.
He pulls back from me, and our eyes meet. “Penelope. Are you sure? This wasn’t my plan for tonight, I promise.”
Smiling. “Maybe it was my plan?” I respond to him in a questioning tone. He laughs at my indecision. “Okay, not really, but I thought it sounded good.”
“What did I tell you? Never say something you think I want to hear, but never hold back, either.”
“Then take me to the bedroom, Jameson,” I say with absolute certainty.
We grow serious. He leans in and kisses me once more as I slide down his body, and he steadies me on my feet. He grabs my hand and nods his head down the hall.
“Come on.”
I give him a soft smile, squeeze his hand, and follow him to his room.
I should feel nervous. I should question what I’m doing right now. But I don’t. Because it feels right. It feels like acceptance. It feels like I’ve always known him, and he’s not going to hurt me.
14
JAMESON
This scene should be a red flag for me. As a famous football player, I’m constantly warned about women coming into my home. I’m warned about women coming onto me, getting physical too fast. I’m warned about all the ways someone wants to take advantage of me because of my paycheck or my name.
Penelope? She likesme. And yes, it’s fast, and yes, how we met is questionable, but there’s something about her. I feel safe. She’s what I’ve been looking for. And maybe at a later time, I’ll question how her friends set her up on the site instead of just a blind date. But I’m done with the blind dates. They’re awful. And it’s not any different from meeting someone online.
I won’t fault her or her friends, but I won’t miss this opportunity to see where this can go because I want to seemore of her. I want to learn more about her in every aspect. And right now?
I really want to learn about her body. This body has captivated me from day one.
She takes my hand and walks with me down the hall. I push open the door to my room and step aside, letting her enter first. I want her to know everything that’s about to happen will be on her terms.
“This room is gorgeous, Jameson.” She walks in and spins around in a circle, taking in the space.
“Thank you. It’s my sanctuary.” The one wall is lined with only windows looking out over the city. At night, the lights twinkle and create an intimate atmosphere. There are no lights needed because the city and skyline light it up. There’s a fireplace with a big screen television hanging above it and a chaise lounge in the corner. Opposite that is a California King bed with a navy blue spread. Glass doors enter the connecting bathroom, showing off an oversized tub that looks out through windows into the city. A shower big enough for five sits opposite the tub with a wood wall splitting the room.
Penelope moves slowly to the bed, and I follow behind her. She drags her hand over the duvet, and I imagine her fingers running over me. I stand behind her, pressing my front to her back and gripping her hips. Leaning down, I nuzzle her neck, and she leans back, exposing more skin. Running my hands from her hips to her stomach and upwards, she extends her arms into the air. I stand to my full height, turning her to face me. With her arms still in the air, I lift the hem of her tank and pull it up over her head, dropping it to the floor.
My breath catches at the sight of her. She’sglorious in a black lace bra, staring back at me, without any look of hesitation. She’s just basking in my eyesight, my touch.
