Chapter 2
His kiss was urgent, raw, and primal in nature. The handsome, seemingly easygoing doctor had a wild side, passionate even. With his mouth on Kinley’s, hands roaming her body, it was all she could do to stay standing. Her knees were weak, and her body hummed in a way she didn’t recall experiencing before. Jace spun her around, pinning her to the wall, breaking their kiss so his mouth could explore.
“I…I’ve never done something like this…before,” Kinley panted.
Jace’s body stiffened as it pressed against hers, and he stopped. Raising his head, Jace looked at her, and said, “Neither have I. I…just…I don’t know. God, I didn’t think this through. Are you…you know…okay with this?”
There he was — the cute, all-American guy next door Kinley met just moments before…in a bar. She didn’t care. She’d led her life on the up and up, always the good girl — it was time to live a little. After what Kinley had been through, she deserved it. Giving in to temptation, she placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled him in for another earth-quaking kiss — her way of saying yes, hell yes.
Happy with her answer, Jace returned to pleasuring her — taking his own pleasure while he was at it. Trailing kisses down Kinley’s neck, past her collarbone, he slid the straps to her tank top and bra down her arms, exposing her breasts. If his expression didn’t convey his appreciation for the sight before him, the hard length pressing against her stomach did. Lord have mercy.
Feasting on Kinley’s breasts, while his hands roamed under her skirt, it took all she had to keep it together. Jace’s hands were magic, and his mouth heaven, a drug she could easily find herself addicted to. Kinley let out a throaty moan when his hands raked across her bare, thong-clad ass while his mouth assaulted her breasts.
The tension was high, the heat smoldering. Grabbing at his waist, Kinley quickly undid Jace’s belt and pants, helping them fall just below his hips, freeing his excitement as she did. Impressive — it was the only word that could describe his offering. Fucking impressive. He was virile, ready, and damn happy to see her.
Before she could grab his more-than-handful, Jace had her panties torn and Kinley wrapped around his waist, her back hard against the wall, sliding his length against her. She would be weak in the knees at the feel of him against her greedy heated mound had he not already been holding her. Jace teased her with his tongue, while teasing her with other things, generating a hunger in her she hadn’t experienced before. For the first time in her life, she felt needy, full of heated passion like no other, and aching for his next move.
Eyes locked with hers, through heavy breathing, Jace paused and raised his eyebrows. Without a single word spoken, his noble gesture was his way of asking permission before taking more and doing something that couldn’t be undone. A testament to his kindness and thoughtfulness, really, that spoke to Kinley’s heart, if she was being honest. But the throbbing length between her legs reminded her this had nothing to do with her heart, and everything to do with a night of hot, steamy sex.
Kinley’s answer was simple as she tilted her hips forward, finding what she wanted, and taking him in. The sound Jace released was deep, guttural, and entirely too hot. It seemed Kinley had answered him just right. And if Jace felt even half of what she did, Kinley completely understood where that emotional roar came from.
They moved in sync, a perfect melodic harmony of physical pleasure that felt equally emotional. How a stranger could provoke the emotional pull was something neither could explain, nor did they want to explore it. This was about throwing caution to the wind, stepping outside their proverbial box, and exploring a purely physical need…like doing each other a favor — it was a hookup.
“God, you’re beautiful,” Jace panted.
He said the right things and did the right things too. Their movement was exhilarating, both so lost in each other, the rest of the world didn’t seem to matter. Kinley’s pleasure was so intense as her ecstasy built, she literally thought she heard bells ringing. She would have laughed at that idea if not for the hot man between her legs distracting her with a sensation she already found addicting.
Just as they shared an intoxicating ending, and Jace collapsed against Kinley to hold her against the wall they had been using for leverage, the couple was quickly drawn from their blissful fervor at the sounds of gasps. Kinley had heard bells ringing — the bell on the front door to be exact. They weren’t alone.
Seth Spangler and Molly Sexton stood, jaws dropped in shock.
Jace turned his back to their company, shielding Kinley while he adjusted his pants, tucking away the evidence of their evening, then turned to face them, Kinley still carefully hidden behind him. Seth’s back was to them, offering privacy, while Molly had her sights set on the stars, staring through one of the skylights.
“Sorry,” Seth said in a near stutter. “Uh, didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Is there anything I can, uh, help you…with?” Kinley said with a cringe realizing how that sounded given what Seth and Molly just walked in on and the fact that she was still standing half naked behind Jace.
A nervous laugh escaped the good doctor. “Sorry, you seem to have caught us in a…compromising state.”
“Uh, yeah the lights were on, and, uh…we were worried,” Seth replied, squeezing his eyelids together, trying to find the words to explain their way out of why they were really there.
Molly jumped in trying to save Seth with his few words all while staring at the ceiling, afraid to look down. “Yeah, we thought maybe something was — wrong! Maybe something was wrong because it’s so late and all…then the lights...”
Pleased with her answer, she gave a smile, shock rolling over her as she caught herself looking back at the partially clothed couple and their disheveled appearance. Molly stiffened and quickly returned her stare to the ceiling.
“Nope, no…problem here,” Jace said with a sheepish grin and awkward chuckle again.
Seth quickly reached around Molly, gently turning her around, so she could relax her neck and exit without any more embarrassment, and they said their goodbye. “We’ll be on our way then, sorry for the…interruption. We’ll lock the door on the way out!”
As quickly as they had appeared, they were gone, only scuffling feet echoing through the place. At the sound of the bell, both Jace and Kinley burst out in laughter.
“Well…that was awkward,” Jace admitted.
“Thank you…you know…for standing in front of me and…stuff.” Even in the dimly lit room, it was obvious Kinley’s cheeks flushed with color.
Jace tilted his head toward the front of the building. “You don’t think they’ll—”
Knowing where his thoughts were trailing, Kinley quickly interrupted, putting his mind at ease. “No, not at all. They won’t say anything. Especially Molly.”
“Isn’t she the one old lady Evelyn Shirley has her sights on?” Jace asked. “Keeps bashing her on Facebook, right?”
“One and the same! That’s how I know she won’t say a word. She’s been on the ass end of the small-town gossip mill,” Kinley laughed. “She’s newish to town and trying to get herself off Evelyn’s radar. Rumor has it amongst the ladies she and Seth are trying to catch Evelyn at something, so…”
“Yeah, I remember. Molly moved here a few months after I did. You suppose that’s why they were here? Looking for Evelyn?” Jace questioned. “Did they think the busy body was here for a pole dancing lesson?”
Kinley laughed out loud, truly amused by the idea. “You do know who Evelyn is, right? Can you really see her here…in this room…with the…poles?”
Jace shuddered at the wrinkled and droopy thoughts of Evelyn taking a pole for a spin, or doing anything provocative for that matter. “Uh, no…not at all. In fact, with her bunions and arthritis, I’m not sure she could.”
Kinley’s crooked face of obvious disgust earned an amused chuckle from Jace — but the endearing look he gave her indicated something else. “She stops me all over town asking for medical advice. I keep reminding her I only treat the kids and they don’t tend to have bunions.”
“She wants to show you her bunions, huh? Can’t say I blame her.” Though joking, there was a breathiness to Kinley’s tone that wasn’t lost on Jace.
“I’d rather show…someone else.” He pulled Kinley close and helped her straighten her crooked top and skirt before leaning in for a soft, sweet little kiss. “So…”
“So…” Kinley quickly followed.
“What’s next? What do people do after in these…situations?”
Kinley’s eyes locked on his as thoughts of what she would like to do next crossed her mind. She answered as honestly and vaguely as she could. “I don’t know. I’ve never…you know. Done…this.”
“I guess we make our own rules?” Jace questioned. “I really did have a good time. Wow, that sounded…I’m sorry. I really did enjoy your…”
Jace shook his head, planting a palm to his face while she laughed. “I’m really bad at this. Like really, really bad. You’re a nice girl. I’d like to see you again if…”
Bells went off in Kinley’s head like a five-alarm fire. See her again? That would indicate this was a date, or they were planning to date, and that screamed relationship and commitment. No thanks. Kinley couldn’t, and wouldn’t, go there…not even with the good doc. And man was he good.
“Look. You’re great. Really. But I’m not looking for anything. This was just the alcohol, and…blowing off steam.” Kinley was a damn liar. She couldn’t even look at herself, much less him after that boldfaced lie.
“Oh, yeah.” Jace stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I get it. I just wasn’t sure what the protocol is for this…type of thing. I mean, you were great! That was fun — thanks?”
Awkward didn’t even begin to describe the state they were in. They’d all but high-fived each other for a job well done, and the near insults they were tossing one another in an effort to protect their own pride. Kinley nodded toward the hallway, signaling Jace to follow her out. She looked through the tinted front door window to verify the streets were still as bare as they were upon the couple’s heated arrival. No walk of shame for this duo, or was the walk to the door just that? It certainly felt like it, for them both.
Kinley closed the door behind her, locking it before turning and walking right into Jace. “Oh!”
“Sorry. I guess I was a little too close,” he admitted, his arms holding her upright while his stare left goosebumps everywhere his eyes traveled.
“I thought you left. What…uh…what…?”
“I’ll see you home. It’s late. That, in there,” he nodded to the studio, “may not have been very…stoic, but I really am a gentleman and would never leave a pretty lady alone on the street in the middle of the night.”
“So just the ugly ones?” She giggled as he pulled her close.
“The what?” he questioned.
“You said you wouldn’t let a pretty lady walk herself home in the middle of the night, so...just the ugly ones?” Kinley paused, waiting for him to get her joke.
Jace laughed. Kinley’s humor was rearing its head yet again tonight. If she weren’t so guarded, and made it a little easier on him, Jace probably would have a good time getting to know her.
“Very funny…” Jace extended his arm for her to lead the way. “Let me walk you home?”
“You aren’t one of those follow her home and sit outside her house every night kind of guys, are you?” Kinley teased. “I’m not going to find dead birds or creepy photos of myself with you photoshopped in laying on my front step, am I?”
She had no idea why she was stalling or being so playful. She made a deal with herself before she even stepped on the plane back to Pine Valley — no flirting, no dating…no men. Truth be told, if she was in the market for a guy, Jace Detweiler would be her first choice, hands down. But that wasn’t in the cards. Not for her.
“No, never. I prefer injecting chocolates with all kinds of fun things. Doctor, remember?” Jace winked, trying to keep the banter going. “Needles give you more options.”
“I love chocolate…” she said in a near whisper, locked in his gaze.
Jace leaned in, taking a cue from her change in demeanor and humming tone. He gave into temptation and kissed her. Not hard, not raw, not urgent. Just slow, tender, and sweet — she didn’t pull away.
Maybe that meant something. He wondered what, if anything…