We stop walking next to the bed and Latson wraps me in his arms. He runs his fingers up and down my back and asks, “Are you sure?”
I want to tell him my freaking blood is on fire, of course I’m sure. Rather than do that, I reach between us and pull at the bottom of his shirt. “I want to see you,” I whisper. Without question, he reaches for the back of his collar and pulls the shirt over his head. He crumples it in his hands and tosses it on the floor as I stand there and stare.
Good lord.
I go for his abs first. There’s no other choice when there are so many of them. I set my hands flat on his stomach, then run them over his defined muscles. I feel his breathing catch as I take my time tracing them before moving higher on his chest. His skin is so smooth I start to worry about my own. Pushing the thought aside, I step closer and start to follow my fingers with my tongue. Yep. I literally lick him.
He groans and grabs hold of my waist, pulling at my dress and lifting my skirt. “How does this thing come off?” he murmurs as he tries to figure it out.
I stop treating him like an ice cream cone and move back. I step out of my shoes before reaching behind my neck. “It’s pretty simple.” I smile.
He smiles back, but doesn’t let me continue. He turns me around and then gathers my hair in one hand. I feel the tie on my dress loosen, then watch as the top half falls away. Suddenly, his mouth is on me, devouring the nape of my neck and traveling down across my shoulder. His touch feels warmer than before as he gently grips my hair and pulls, tilting my head in the opposite direction of his lips. His free hand sends a shiver down my spine as it slides around my middle, just grazing the bottom of my breasts. I think he realizes they’re free, because it takes only a second for his hand to find one and consume it.
It’s not long before my dress is gone and I’m lying on the bed. He stands over me, his feet still planted on the floor, and his eyes rake over my body as his hands skim every part. My nerves jump into overdrive when he gets to my pink bikinis and stops. He threads his thumbs under them at my hips, pauses to kiss around my belly, and then slides them slowly down my legs. When they’re off, he stands and spins them around one finger. “I think I’ve seen these before.”
I’m confused. “What? How?”
He grins and lets my underwear fly off his finger. “I believe you called it Stripper Therapy.”
Oh my God. He’s right. I didn’t even realize I put on the same pair. Wait. “You remember what I was wearing?”
He leans halfway over me and lifts my legs, running his hands down the back of them. “Every detail of that performance is burned into my mind.”
Everything inside me tenses. My eyes fall on his jeans and I set my feet against the front of them, curling my toes over the waistband. “Why are you still dressed?”
He undoes the button, and I help him shove them off with my feet. When he’s standing there in his boxer briefs, I have a flashback to dinner. My glasses fantasy can totally come true. When he rids himself of his Calvin’s, I make a mental note to make that fantasy come true. This man is gorgeous.
I push myself sideways, further into the center of the bed and toward the pillows.
“Where are you going?” He grabs my ankle and pulls me back.
“Not far. I just –” Sweet mother! His hand slides between my legs causing my back to arch and my hips to jump. As my limbs go limp and my mind clouds over, I’ve never been so happy that he picked up a guitar and mastered it than I am right now. All rational thought leaves my mind as his movements bring sensations that build and build until my body lets go and hums.
When I come down from the high, my eyes flutter open to see him backing away. Now it’s my turn to murmur. “Where are you going?”
He kisses me and smiles. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”
When he leaves, I want to complain about being cold without him near, but I can’t. The view I get when he walks away is priceless. Shoulders: strong. Back: toned. Waist: tapered. Ass: perfect. I bite my lip to suppress a grin. I can’t wait to get my hands on every inch of him.
Latson makes it to the doorway and reaches inside to flip the light switch. He enters the bathroom and stands there, butt naked, and starts to rummage through the medicine cabinet. I think I know what he’s looking for, so I slide myself up toward the head of the bed.
When he turns off the light and returns to me, he wastes no time covering my body with his. He plants kisses along my chin and down my neck, and I zero in on his shoulder with my lips. As my hands explore his back, he leans up on his elbows and holds a condom between his fingertips. “Sorry. I don’t keep these handy anymore.”
I tilt my head. “There’s one in your hand right now.”
“I meant in a convenient location. It’s been …” He looks down and then back at me. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had anyone in my bed.”
“Are you blushing?” I tease.
He shakes his head and gives me his lopsided dimple smile.
“You are blushing!” I grin. “Give me this thing.” I steal the plastic from him. As I tear it open, he brings his hands to the sides of my face and gently pushes my hair behind my ears.
“Jen.” His eyes focus on mine. “I don’t know what this is.”
“It’s sex,” I laugh.
His eyes grow intense. “Hell, yes.” He flexes his hips against mine, giving me a taste of what’s to come. My laughter fades into a moan.
“God. I love that sound,” he breathes. “What I meant is I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
Speechless, I get lost in his gaze, in his burning expression and beautiful eyes.
“I don’t know what that means, but I want to find out,” he says. He runs his thumb over my lower lip. “Are you okay with that? Jumping into the unknown?”
I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. I lift my head, plant a slow kiss on his lips, and then whisper against them.
“Geronimo.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sunlight warms my face and I open one eye. I take in the room around me and wonder what time it is. I should probably get back to Pete’s in case he comes home. The last thing I need is a lecture on what he would perceive as the walk of shame.
I bury my head into a pillow at the thought. Closing my eye, I allow myself a few more minutes of peace. I have no idea what will happen once I get out of this bed. Under the sheets, everything makes sense. My naked back is pressed to Latson’s chest, and his arm is draped over my side. My muscles are blissfully sore, and I feel warm and wanted. I’m me and he’s him, and we’re two people that really like one another. I don’t regret what happened.
However, outside of the blankets, he’s my boss and my brother’s friend. I didn’t think about that last night. I was wrapped up in doing what made me happy, caught in the whirlwind that is Latson. I got lost in his kisses and touches and words. Do I want it to continue? Yes. But I’m pretty sure I’ll need to quit my job for that to happen. When I do, my brother will know something big went down. I hope it won’t create a problem for Latson, especially with Pete.
The thought of a potential shit storm makes me groan into the pillow. I curse my over-analytical mind. Leave it to reality to crush my high. Forget it, I think. Relax. Remember your rule.
Latson’s arm tightens around me, and he finds the crook of my neck with his lips. He gives me a sleepy kiss. “Why are you making strange noises?”
“I’m sorry I woke you.” I roll on my back and look at him. He couldn’t be more adorable if he tried. His hair is sticking up in all directions, probably from me pulling on it, and his eyes are tired. “I was thinking about my rule.”
“What rule?” He frowns. “Please tell me it doesn’t pertain to guys you sleep with.”
I smile. “It does and it doesn’t.”