Chapter 14
The second JP’s warm lips touch mine all my senses are ignited. He eases my mouth open, his tongue slowly exploring me, teasing me, tasting me, and sending white-hot heat through every inch of me.
JP kisses me oh-so-slowly in the sexiest kiss I’ve ever known. He winds his hands through my hair, his tongue continuing to match mine. He briefly removes it to suck on my lower lip, and I gasp in pleasure from his unexpected move. Then he opens my mouth again, taking more from me this time.
I’m on fire. His kisses are long and lingering and completely undoing me. He begins to tease me, his tongue taking and pulling back, making me crave more of him. I slide my hands up to his wet hair as my tongue matches his. Everything about this moment is sensual. I move my hands down his wet shoulders to his forearms, those massive forearms that are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, and allow my hands to explore them as we continue to kiss.
I’m hyper aware of so many things: from the beads of water clinging to his body, to the taste of his lips, to the sheer bliss from the way he’s discovering me with his mouth. I’m melting from the way his hands have moved from my hair down my back, holding me as he continues to discover me, his large hands encasing me as he does.
I don’t want him to stop.
“Reese,” he whispers against my lips. “I don’t want to stop this.”
I tighten my grip on his sexy arms and murmur against his full lips, “Then don’t.”
JP responds by kissing me harder. I kiss him back passionately, letting myself go, letting myself take the lead in the kiss, something I’ve never done before.
I never wanted to.
Until now.
I take from him, kissing him and then breaking the kiss to trace his lips with my tongue, torturing him slowly. A gasp escapes his lips, and then I part his mouth, moving my tongue against his.
JP leads me back to the chaise, his mouth moving hard and fast against mine as he lays me backward on it. His body is on top of mine, his arms tightening around me, as we continue to kiss. Our tongues are in sync. Our bodies are wet and wrapped together.
JP slides one hand down my arm, to the curve of my waist, his fingertips now tracing along the strings of my bikini bottom. The sensation of his fingertips sweeping gently across my hips causes a moan of pleasure to escape my mouth. His body is rock hard against mine, and desire is coiling inside of me, growing more intense by the second as he hooks one finger underneath the bikini strap.
If this kiss is upending me, I think, I can’t imagine what sex would be like.
As if JP had that exact same thought, he abruptly breaks the kiss. He pushes himself up to look at me. His eyes are wide and startled. He’s trying to catch his breath, as am I.
I didn’t expect our kiss to turn so heated, so intense, so quickly. It’s like he was made to kiss me, and me alone.
“Reese,” he says softly, brushing my hair behind my ear, “I’m so sorry. Usually, I don’t kiss like that on the first date.”
“I don’t either,” I say, gazing up at him. “I’ve never kissed a man like that on a first date. But this. You. Kissing you. I-I can’t explain it. I didn’t want you to stop. It was the best first kiss ever. Ever. Sexy and amazing. You know how to kiss, and I mean really kiss. You’re the best kisser I’ve ever had. You made me want to kiss you that way back and I did an—”
I realize I have said way too much and abruptly stop.
“I’m rambling,” I say, flustered.
A smile lights up the most handsome face I’ve ever seen.
“You took the words out of my head,” JP says, brushing his fingertips sweetly against my cheekbone. “I intended to kiss you, that was never in doubt, but I didn’t kno—”
He stops speaking.
“What?” I whisper, cupping his face in my hand.
His gaze never wavers from mine. “I didn’t know it would be the best kiss of my life.”
Ooh!
“But I wasn’t restrained like I wanted to be,” JP says, continuing to stroke my hair with his hand. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. That was amazing.”
“I know, but tonight I should have been more in control.”
My heart is swoony from his sweetness.
“JP, I need you to listen to me because this is important.”
JP stares down at me. “Okay.”
“I’m good with your first kiss,” I reassure him. “More than good. It was perfect, and for the record, I kissed you back the same way.”
“Have I told you I kind of like you?” JP whispers.
Then he lowers his head and sweetly brushes his lips against my forehead.
Mmm.
He pushes himself back up to a sitting position, and I follow suit. JP reaches for a towel and gently drapes it around me, and I feel butterflies from the way he takes care of me.
“So, you were feeling me, huh?” he asks.
“I was so feeling you, Batman,” I reply.
Now a huge smile lights up his face.
“Good, because I was certainly feeling you.”
We both laugh.
I’m amazed at all the things I’m experiencing inside after that kiss. Chemistry. Affection. Adoration. Desire. Respect . . .
All because of this incredible man sitting next to me.
“JP?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for being such a good man,” I say softly. “I want you to know that’s a good thing in my world. A very, very good thing.”
JP is quiet for a moment. I know I’ve touched him with my words. I’m letting him know I’m not like the girls in his past, the ones who wanted a project to fix, a bad boy to chase, or fights and drama.
I’ve never wanted that.
I wanted a good man.
As I look at JP, I know that’s exactly what I have.
These thoughts I have about him should terrify me. I shouldn’t be thinking about JP on this level or reacting to him in this way. This isn’t casual, and the way I’m feeling could lead to heartbreak.
But I don’t give a damn about what could happen.
All I care about is this moment.
Which means telling this man how extraordinary he is.
“Thank you,” JP finally says. “I’m glad you’re the one saying these words to me.”
My heart flutters from his words.
“I’ll tell you a million times over if I have to. I’m grateful you are who you are. I feel so lucky to be here tonight with you.”
JP lowers his head and kisses me, slowly, sweetly, nothing like the last kiss, but one showing pure affection for me.
I love it.
He breaks the kiss and smiles at me. “I know I just said it, but I like you, Reese.”
I grin back at him. “I like you too, Jean-Pierre.”
“Do you enjoy saying my given name?” he asks, his eyes dancing at me.
“I confess, I love saying your name. It’s so exotic sounding to my ears.”
“Say it again.”
“Why?” I ask, giggling.
“Because I like hearing you say it.”
“Jean-Pierre.”
JP dips his head down and kisses me, and I feel nothing but pure bliss from his gentle kiss.
He breaks the kiss and tenderly studies me. “Maybe I’ll have to kiss you every time you say it.”
“Jean-Pierre, Jean-Pierre, Jean-Pierre,” I say happily.
JP grins and kisses me again.
I’m more than willing to say his name the rest of the night so I can continue kissing him.
And I intend to do just that.