“And you could live with that?”
“I don’t know, but you keep sending me flowers and chocolate and I know I’m not going to be able to resist you forever, cause I really want to give in already. I don’t have experience at this kind of thing, but I think you’re probably really good at sex, Linc.”
I do laugh then, and I do it while picking her up and carrying her inside—mostly because my neighbors are all listening to Jodie, and I’ve had enough of providing them entertainment.
“What are you doing?” she cries.
“I’m taking you inside and then I’m going to strip you down and remind you of how good in bed I really am.”
“Oh, okay,” she says, sounding perfectly calm.
I kick the door closed behind us, shaking my head, wondering if I’m ever going to figure out Jodie Jones, and I’m pretty sure the answer is no.
15
Linc
“Wow,” she whispers.
“What?” I ask, looking down at her.
“It doesn’t even look like the same place,” she says as she takes in my apartment. I stop and look around.
“I wanted to show you I was worth a second chance,” I tell her, studying her face.
“By cleaning your apartment?” she asks, reaching up to slide her fingers through my hair.
“By showing you I’m not just a giant kid. I’m the man you met that first night, Jodie. I may not have realized you were a woman searching for forever and I’m going to be honest with you here and it might hurt a little…”
“Okay,” she whispers, her body tightening slightly in my arms.
“If I had known you were that kind of woman, I may have avoided you.”
“Oh,” she says softly, and fuck me I can hear the hurt in her voice.
“Not because I didn’t want you, but because I just didn’t see myself ready to settle down.”
“I understand,” she says, avoiding my eyes.
I reach down and put my fingers under her chin and pull her gaze back to me. “The thing is, Jodie, that despite what it might have looked like, I knew even then you were special.”
“Linc, you don’t have to say that. It’s okay, honest.”
“It’s the truth. I missed you. I changed after that night. I haven’t touched another woman since I had you, Jodie. I don’t want anyone else. I haven’t even looked at anyone else.”
“Linc…”
“I wouldn’t change that either, Jodie. You have to know that. Right here with you in my arms is where I want to be.”
“I like your apartment, Linc,” she says, blushing.
“You haven’t seen the best part yet.” I grin at her and she bites down on her bottom lip and watches me closely.
“What’s the best part?” she asks.
“The new bed,” I answer, as I take her into the newly partitioned off “room”.
“You made a bedroom,” she laughs, as I stand her back on the floor. We face one another, and I love the happiness I see on her face.
“I wanted you on a real bed, Jodie—on my bed.”
“You did?”
“God, yes.”
“Well, I’m here… What now?”
“Undress for me, Jodie.”
She licks her lips and I swear I think I can see her heart beating against her chest. Her nervousness fills the air around us.
“It’s been a long time…” she says.
“Too damn long,” I admit. “You’re safe with me, Jodie. You give me time and I’ll prove that to you.”
“It’s not that. I feel safe… I’m just… nervous.”
“How about we take turns?” I suggest, kissing her lightly on the lips, unable to keep from it.
“Take turns?”
“You take one item off and I’ll take one off.”
“Oh… Okay, I think I can do that,” she says. “But uh…Can you go first?”
I take a half step away from her and kick off my flip flops. She nods and does the same, making me grin. I unbutton my pants and stare at her. She does the same. We continue our little game until we’re standing in front of each other and she’s in her underwear and I’m in my boxers.
“I think this is where I take over,” I tell her gently. She lets out an audible breath and nods her head in agreement.
“I think I’d like that.” I move my hands over her shoulders and down her arms, letting her get used to the feel of my touch. “I forgot how good your touch feels,” she breathes.
“I haven’t forgotten how good you feel. I think about you too much.”
“I like that,” she murmurs, but the words end on a gasp as I drag my fingers against her taunt nipple. Even through the fabric of her bra I can feel how they pebble even harder against my touch.
“God you’re perfection, Jodie girl,” I praise, taking her mouth in a kiss. I want to distract her as I finish undressing her, because she’s more skittish now than she was our first night together. I coax her tongue to follow mine, kissing her while unlatching her bra. I tease her nipples once I free her breasts, kissing her both to distract her and because I don’t want to give up her lips. She tastes like honey and sugar—so sweet my dick aches.
“Linc,” she gasps as I bend down to run my tongue around the darkened flesh of her nipple.
Fuck, I’d forgotten how beautiful her tits are. They fill my hand and are a rosy pink that glistens when I suck on them. I can’t remember anything quite so beautiful. Then again, I can’t remember anything since Jodie. She snuck up on me and now she’s like a slow burning fire inside of me—a spark that can spread into a wildfire with just a touch. I know feeding it will just get me more addicted to her, but I don’t even give a fuck. I want her.
I need her.
I blow across her wet nipples and watch as they respond. Jodie’s fingers bite into my biceps and I smile at the hint of pain she causes. She’s a wildcat and she keeps it hidden, but God do I remember how she gave herself over to me and let that side of her free. I’ve been dreaming about it constantly.
“Linc,” she whimpers.
“Get on the bed, Jodie,” I order, my voice heavier, threaded with hunger.
The tip of her sweet, little pink tongue comes out to moisten her lips, tempting me. She swallows and I watch the way the delicate muscles of her neck move. I ache to run my teeth against them, and scrape her delicate skin, before nibbling and marking her. A mark to show everyone that she’s mine and this time I’m not letting her go.
She backs away from me, her gaze centered on me the entire time. When the back of her legs push against the mattress, she puts her hands on it and slides up on it, her eyes still locked on me. It’s one of the most erotic things I’ve ever seen. Seeing the need that is written plainly on her face, and knowing it’s all directed at me, makes my heart squeeze tight in my chest.
She props herself up on her elbows and I grin as I get on the bed. I hover over her body, bringing my mouth back to her breasts. Jodie’s hands go to my hair, pulling on it, demanding I continue, but also letting me know she wants more. I suck one of her taunt nipples in my mouth, teasing it with my tongue. I release it gently, our gazes locked.