Page 84 of A Very Merry Mistake

Moments later, Jake returns with two drinks the color of honey. He hands me one. “Careful with this. Might make ya take off your clothes.” He gives Bella the stink-eye. “She nearly got us kicked out last time because of it.”

“It was hot as hell in here,” she protests. “I was literally sweating. It wasn’t the drink.” She snickers and then shrugs. “Or maybe it was. I had three of them.”

Jake nods. “See? Gotta be careful who you bring out these days.”

I take a sip, and it tastes like liquid honey on ice. It’s sweet and causes my tastebuds to come alive. “It’s…delicious.”

“And that’s why it’s dangerous,” Wendy warns with a little elbow nudge.

While Jake warned me to take it slow, I finish it within five minutes. My head is slightly swimming, but I like that my nerves are calm. Jake notices that I’ve finished, and he lifts his brows.

“May I have another, please?” I bat my eyelashes at him, and he slurps up the rest of his.

“Sure,” he tells me. When he returns, he’s carrying my drink and two glasses of water.

“Always so responsible.” I give him a thank-you but dive into the moonshine first. When the glass is empty, my cheeks are hot, and I smile.

“Want to dance?” Jake asks me when the music slows and the lights in the room lower.

“I suck at it,” I admit. “Even after all of the ballroom dancing lessons.”

He laughs. “Adding another shitty hobby to that ridiculous list of yours.”

Taking my hand, he interlocks his fingers with mine and leads me to the middle of the room. “I’m a very good teacher.”

“I’ll try.” I look up into his sparkling green eyes as he places his hand on my hip, resting his palms slightly above my ass. I’m his, and everyone in this place knows it.

I put my arms around his neck, and we rest our foreheads together. “I don’t want this night to end,” I admit.

“I’m glad you’re havin’ a good time.”

“Are you?” I ask, hoping this isn’t boring.

“The best, but that’s always the case when you’re around. You’re happiness, Claire.”

I laugh. “There are many people who’d disagree with you. I think you’re sunshine and just bring out the best in me.”

“I can live with that.”

Right now, I want to feel his lips against mine. It’s a want so deep that it nearly overpowers me.

I want him to claim me on this dance floor so no one has any doubt in their mind who I belong to. Public displays of affection aren’t something I ever want, but with him, it’s different. I’m not embarrassed, and it never feels forced. “Please kiss me,” I whisper, swallowing hard, craving his taste so damn bad it nearly hurts.

Jake continues swaying to the music, licks his plump lips, then crashes them against mine. Our tongues twist and twirl together, and I run my fingers through his hair with a moan. I need this man like I need air. It’s almost as if nothing in my life made sense until he entered it, and I want to revel in that.

His firm hand grabs my ass, and he pushes me against him. He’s rock fucking hard, and I know he wants me as much as I want him. When we pull apart, we’re breathless, and stare into each other’s eyes.

He leans in and whispers in my ear, “You wanna get out of here?”

“Yes,” I say, allowing my desires to overtake me. “Should you tell everyone bye?”

He shakes his head, grabs my hand, and leads me outside.

The chilly night air has me shivering, and Jake takes off his jacket and gives it to me. We pick up the pace to the truck, and once inside, he cranks it and turns the heat on high.

“I can’t wait until we’re home. I need you. Right now.” I scoot to the middle of the seat, and as soon as I’m close enough to him, our lips smash together. He’s still hard as I undo his pants, pushing them down.

He growls, giving me permission.

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