Chapter 13

I buzzed up Jay and awaited his arrival at the door. I hiked up the strapless fuchsia dress one last time. It would be a struggle to not keep pulling at it during dinner but I would have to force myself.

The noise of the elevator door opening carried down the hall, and Jay’s footsteps rushed over the carpet. I didn’t wait for him to knock, and I opened the door.

“Hi, beautiful,” Jay said, his eyes roaming over me.

He was wearing another pair of jeans that clung to his thighs. I couldn’t wait for him to turn around to get a look at his ass in them. On top he wore a buttoned dress shirt that stretched tight over his muscles.

Jay held out a bouquet of sunflowers. Our fingers brushed as I accepted them from him, the touch rousing. Attached to the bottom of the bouquet was a DVD of The Clock. My heart paused when I saw it. I couldn’t believe he even remembered that conversation.

“I hope you still have a DVD player.”

“Thank you, I love them, both the flowers and the movie. I haven’t watched it in ages,” I said, and went up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

As I leaned into him, he planted his hand on my hip, sending electricity through me. We stayed still like that for a moment before I moved aside to let him into my condo.

“I thought we could watch it tonight.”

“That’s a great idea. I’ll put these in some water,” I said, waving the sunflowers and walking to the kitchen area.

“It smells wonderful in here,” he said.

“I hope you like lasagna.”

“Love it. See you’ve still got the jeans on the wall.”

“Of course, they stay there until the day I can wear them.”

Jay laughed. “Here, I also brought bubbles.” He held out a foil-topped bottle.

“Ah, you didn’t have to do that. It’s too much.”

“No, it isn’t.” He pulled off the foil and the little wire cage. With expertise, he pushed his thumbs against the cork and it popped.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any Champagne glasses.”

“That doesn’t matter. Regular wine glasses will do.”

I pulled some out of the cupboard, and he poured us each a glass.

“Thanks,” I said as he passed me one.

“A toast… to a wonderful dinner with,” Jay paused, his eyes boring into me, “the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of dining with.”

A lump formed in my throat at his words. And I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was being sincere. I clinked my glass to his, wishing I could find some kind words to say back to him.

Instead, I set down my glass and kissed him.

His lips were wet with Champagne, and fizzled on my lips. He pulled me tight against his body while our mouths explored each other. My heart thudded in my chest, not quite believing the only thing that had kept me going through my hellish week was actually finally happening.

I pressed myself a little harder against him, squeezing out all the air between us. The exposed skin on my shoulders zinged underneath the pressure of his fingertips. I urged him to take a few steps backwards until he was standing beside the sofa. Thank goodness for a small condo. I took another step, sending him toppling backwards onto the sofa, and me with him.

“Whoa,” he blurted as he tumbled but he found my lips again to continue our kiss.

In our tumble, my breasts popped out of my dress and partially out of my strapless bra. But Jay didn’t seem to notice. Or if he did, he didn’t react. Instead his hands caressed my exposed back, then ran over my dress and stopped on my behind.

I let out a soft moan of approval as his hand lingered on me and pressed into my cheeks. His hardened cock dug into me. With incredible restraint, I refrained from reaching down and grabbing it.

With me on top of him, he craned his head to nuzzle my neck, trailing kisses to my shoulders. I reached up and ran my fingers through his luxurious hair. Without warning, he hoisted me up so that my breast was on his lips, making me gasp.

His wet tongue lapped at my breast, working its way closer and closer to my nipple, still hidden in my bra. He reached the edge of my bra and pulled it down with his teeth.

The oven timer bleeped. Again and again. I cursed it.

“You need to get that,” Jay said.

“No, just ignore it.” But it wasn’t going to stop until I pushed the button.

He pushed me off him and he sat up. “You’ve worked hard on it, you don’t want it to burn.”

“Trust me, it’s not hard to make. It’s lasagna, the worst that will happen is it browns a little on top.”

The high-pitched beeping continued.

Jay stood, “Get it.”

I walked to the oven, wondering how he had managed to order me to do something. Before I knew it, he was alongside me, holding the plates while I cut two pieces from the pan.

We sat opposite each other at my little two-seater table. At least he seemed to be enjoying my cooking. And hungry. He looked hungry. Maybe that was why he inhaled my mediocre lasagna. Maybe that was why he stopped our activities on the sofa when the timer went off.

“I have a confession to make,” he said.

I pulled the forkful of food away from my mouth to listen. “What?”

“I… um… I don’t know how to say this.”

My skin prickled and my brow creased. This was weird. Definitely weird.

He continued. “I stopped earlier,” he gestured to the sofa, “because I didn’t want to do anything until you knew the truth.”

I set down my fork. “What are you talking about?”

He swallowed and shuffled in his seat. “I wanted you to know how much I care about you. More than care. I’m really,” he paused, “into you, and I thought it was important for you to know before we, you know.”

Shit. Now I felt like a scummy scumbag. Should I tell him I didn’t want a serious relationship? Especially when I was about thirty minutes away from having my bare skin pressed up against his?

I smiled and picked up my fork. “You had me scared there for a minute. I thought you were going to tell me you’re not who I think you are.”

He smiled back, his lips tight together. He didn’t say anything else, but picked up his fork and continued to eat. The remainder of our meal was quiet, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how I had to tell Jay I wasn’t looking for anything serious.