I sneak another peek at him, and while he’s looking back at the road, I can see understanding in his expression. “I’m guessing it’s been a while for you, huh?”
Nodding, I admit, “A long time. A long, long time.”
“Well, you’re not getting graded on this assignment,” he assures me. “And we don’t have to do anything but have a drink.”
A sigh escapes me, my body’s way of saying just calm down. “I know. But…”
The silence is heavy as I go super shy all of a sudden.
“But what?” Jett prompts.
“It’s just… it’s hard to explain. Being a parent—especially a mom, no offense to dads—especially a single parent, you put yourself last. Everything else is put ahead of your own wants and needs. So, I’m rationalizing that I’m finally taking something for myself, and that’s good. I deserve it. But at the same time, the thing I’ve chosen to take—”
“Which would be me?” he interrupts with a grin.
I nod with another giggle. “That would be you, and a casual type of fling… well, it’s just awkward. I’ve chosen to do something totally out of my comfort zone and I’m out of practice and what if I’m awful—”
Jett takes my hand and squeezes it, the move so sudden my words cut off. “You can’t be out of practice,” he assures me. “It’s like riding a bike. And if you are out of practice, I’ll give you plenty of opportunities to practice. It won’t be a hardship on me.”
The snort comes again, and it sounds awful, but I also feel the tension seep out of my body along with it.
“It will be fine,” he says, giving my hand a squeeze before releasing it. He does this as he slows down and turns on his signal to pull into a parking garage beneath a building that can’t be more than ten stories tall. I assume it’s his condo building, as evidenced by the numerous outdoor balconies I see studded up the side of it.
Jett navigates the parking garage, moving up one level and taking a spot marked “Reserved” by the elevator. I’m guessing he paid a premium for it.
After he shuts off the engine, he undoes his seatbelt and turns to open his door. I know he’s going to come around to open mine, and my nerves fire back up again. He’s gone, the interior silent after he shuts his door, and my palms start sweating as he rounds the back of the vehicle. I undo my seatbelt and he opens my door, holding a hand out. I take it, clutching my purse in the other.
Jett steadies me as I swing my legs out of his vehicle, plant them on the concrete floor and make a command decision. Dropping my purse, I bring my hand to his chest, curl my fingers into his shirt and give it a tiny tug to get his attention.
I have it.
His eyes laser onto mine, his hand covering mine as his breath goes still in his chest.
“I’d like to know if I remember how to kiss,” I whisper, needing anything to dispel my doubts about this evening.
Just a kiss to tell me if this attraction is real, if my desire to have physical intimacy is real.
More than anything, I need to know if he wants me back.
Time goes still and his eyes stay locked on mine. I can’t read a damn thing on his face and I’m starting to think perhaps this bold move might be a turnoff.
I even start to take a step back, but I’m startled when his hand releases mine and shoots to the back of my neck to hold me in place. No man has ever held me this way. Tight, without pain, but the message is clear. I’m not moving anywhere unless he lets me.
A tingle moves up my spine, and it’s most definitely not fear.
It’s excitement.
I look into Jett’s eyes and how can such a cool blue look so warm and intense?
Then he’s reeling me in, using the slightest pressure on the back of my neck to pull me forward. I don’t resist, going to my tiptoes because while I’m average height for a woman, he’s so much taller.
There’s a flash of something in Jett’s eyes… not triumph, but perhaps satisfaction.
His mouth is on me as he pushes me back into the car door. Both hands to my face, he moves his body into mine and the heat and strength of him seeps right into me. There’s no hesitation as his tongue moves into my mouth and mine is there to meet it.
Something raw and almost painful rumbles up out of my chest—a sound of animal need I haven’t ever felt. Jett reacts, groans into my mouth, and wraps an arm around my lower back to press my hips against his.
And, oh wow. The hard length of him against me causes my legs to tremble and warmth to gather between my legs. I tear my mouth away, for sure knowing exactly what I want tonight, and it isn’t a drink to set the mood.
I want Jett now.
He must know it because he mutters in a guttural voice, “Let’s go.”
He leans over, nabs my purse, and takes my hand, dragging me to the elevator. It comes blessedly fast and when we are inside, he presses the button for the top floor—number eleven.
Half expecting him to kiss me again on the ride up, I’m strangely touched when instead, he pulls me into his side and wraps an arm around my waist.
The elevator door opens, and with gentle guidance, Jett propels me out. We cut left, walking to the end of the hall, bypassing doors to the left and right, and move straight to the end, indicating it’s a corner unit.
Rather than pull his keys out to unlock the door, he spins me around and then his mouth is back on me. I moan as Jett’s hands come to my hips to hold me in place as he presses his hard length against me again.
And he grinds.
The friction is almost too much for me to bear because it’s been so damn long, and I forgot what it’s like to have a man want me in this way. Lust sweeps through me, and I need him to know I want him in the same way.
I manage to snake a hand in between us, palm his erection, and squeeze it through the denim. Jett groans into my mouth and flexes his hips into my hand, demanding I do it again.
And I do. I grip him hard, stroke him through the material as Jett brings his mouth to my neck. Grazing his teeth there, I shiver as his lips move up to my ear. “Got those condoms ready?”
I manage to make some sound of assent.
“Good,” he growls before biting my ear lobe. “Not sure we’re going to make it to the bed.”
My head is spinning at the implication.
Sex here in the hallway?
I know deep down I should object to that, but damn if I don’t want it. That super dirty fantasy is stopped in its tracks when Jett gently removes my hand from the front of his pants and digs down into his pocket to pull out his keys.
Efficiently, he opens the door, pulls me inside, and quickly enters a code into the alarm to quiet the beeping. It’s almost enough time for my skin to cool, but then Jett’s arms are around me and he’s lowering me right onto the thick white carpet just past the parquet foyer. I vaguely notice a coffee table to my left and an l-shaped couch only a few feet from that.
And yet… he couldn’t wait to make it those few steps and I’m on the floor with Jett on top of me.
His blue eyes lock on mine for a brief moment before slowly moving to my lips, as if he’s considering where to start. He must decide that’s a good place because he’s kissing me again, and I now realize he was barely kissing me at all down in the parking garage.