Page 83 of Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings 2)

He didn’t respond. He just stopped right in front of me and cocked his eyebrow. Apparently he didn’t believe in my cooking skills. Or else he was thinking about eating something else entirely. I was pretty sure he was looking south of my waist. I gulped.

“Do you know why I liked this dress in the store?” I asked.

He lifted his gaze back to mine.

“It’s the same color as your eyes. You know, I’m not even drunk and I feel like I’m on the top of the world. I haven’t felt this light and free since…God, I don’t know. Since I was a kid?”

He smiled at my comment. “Why are you so nervous? You’re acting like we’ve never been alone before.” He took another step forward. I took a step back and my ass hit the side of the kitchen island.

“I’m not nervous.” I was, but I had no idea why. For some reason tonight felt different between us. Better. Bigger. My heart started beating faster as my eyes wandered to his lips and then the tan skin exposed at his neck. I wondered if it would be salty like it was after he worked, or if he tasted differently when he was all dressed up. Oh fuck. My eyes locked back on his. Tonight felt better and bigger for a reason. God, I’m falling in love with him.

He reached out and ran his fingers from my jaw, down the side of my neck. I shivered under his touch.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said.

“I don’t know…I…” I tried to search his eyes to see if he was feeling as caught up in us as I was. There were a million reasons to keep my mouth shut. Every man in my life before him had treated my heart carelessly. And it was too soon to feel the way I was feeling. But I didn’t want to have secrets from him. “Well, Jaime Jamison.”

He laughed. “That makes it sound like I’m in trouble.”

“No, I’m the one that’s in trouble.”

“Is that so?” He grabbed my waist and lifted me onto the counter. “Have you been a bad girl?” His fingers trailed up the insides of my thighs.

The moment to tell him was gone. He’d taken my words in a completely different direction. And it was too soon. My heart was still learning how to trust again. We needed more time together before I let myself fall for him. Besides, I kind of liked the new direction. Although I really hoped he didn’t try to Thanksgiving turkey my ass. I wasn’t sure it would be able to handle such a thing. “So bad,” I whispered. “Are you going to punish me?” I hooked my hands behind his neck.

He groaned.

I thought for sure he’d be whipping out the rolling pin, but then he kissed me slowly. His hands were gentler than they’d been before as he slid my dress up my thighs. I hadn’t said I was falling for him, but he was acting like I had said it. Maybe he felt it too.

I kissed the side of the neck and was happy that he tasted the same even when he was dressed up. He tasted like summer.

“You’re so gorgeous,” he said as he pushed my thong to the side with his thumb.

I moaned when he touched me where I needed him the most.

“I need you, Mila.” He sounded as desperate as me. Drunk on the moment.

Maybe that was better than him saying he was falling for me. Because it had been a really long time since someone had needed me. And the words felt amazing.

I unbuttoned his shirt and he made short work of his pants. I splayed my hands on his back, drawing him closer.

Yes, him saying he needed me was wonderful. But him thrusting inside of me was better than any words.

He slowly pulled back out and then bit my earlobe as he thrust back in.

God, yes. I tightened my fingers on his shoulders.

He didn’t have to say anything else, because I felt it. I’m falling in love with you too, J.J.

***

“Mila, you were right. This is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”

I laughed. He was just starving. He hadn’t even let me warm it up. I’d pulled it out of the fridge and he’d grabbed a fork and dove in.

“I’m serious. You should do this for a living.”

“Do what? Make lasagnas?”

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