“Dinner was amazing,” I sighed, slouching in my chair. My stomach was perfectly satisfied.
Jake sat across from me, relaxed in his seat. He grinned at my stature. “Wasn’t sure how well it’d turn out. I don’t typically cook for anyone else but myself.” He gestured to the cat lounging along the railing of the deck with the tilt of his head. “Shepley won’t touch anything I give him unless it’s fresh from a can.”
“Someone’s spoiled and picky,” I smiled at the cat. “Whatever he doesn’t eat, I will.”
Jake laughed, glancing at our empty plates. “I’m pretty good on a grill, hope you don’t mind eating a lot of meat.” His eyes glimmered with humor, and I flushed, avoiding his gaze.
“Your mind went to the gutter again, didn’t it?”
“Doesn’t it always?” I smiled, throwing him my own wink.
He studied me, his brows relaxed with an impish grin settled across his lips. “What are you thinking right now?”
Finishing my wine in one long swig, I stood from my seat, only sending him a smirk. Without answering him, I collected our plates, batting my eyelashes in his direction. I was on my third glass of wine, and for a girl who hadn’t touched alcohol in over a year, the effects were coming in full blast.
My skin was warm and tingly, my mind was free and opened, and in my buzzed haze, Jake Cooper was sexy as hell.
He followed me inside and into the kitchen. “That naughty, huh?” He prodded, bringing in the platter where the leftover burgers and veggies sat.
I giggled, still refraining from answering him. I flipped on the faucet, running the water until it was warm. Jake was next to me, reaching for the dish soap. “I can do this.”
I nudged him with my elbow. “Don’t be silly. You cooked, I’ll clean.”
“How about, I help,” he offered, gently placing his hand on my lower back when he passed by me to get Tupperware for the leftovers. I loved the slight contact, secretly wishing he’d come back to me. The simple touches we had before dinner had me craving physical interaction with him.
“You’re feeling that wine, aren’t you?” He chuckled, dumping the food into a bowl and covering it.
“Maybe,” I snickered, rinsing off the plates and putting them in the dishwasher. Jake watched me, his fun loving smile turning into a scowl.
“Let me load it.”
I furrowed my brows at him. “Really, it’s not a big deal.”
He skidded passed me, moving one of the dishes into the opposite side of the dishwasher.
I raised a brow at him while he rearranged the silverware. “Wow, I should have seen that coming.”
Without looking at me, he continued to load after I rinsed. “Seen what?”
I pressed my lips together to stop from laughing. “That you’re a touch OCD.”
He loaded the last utensil, his brows pinching together. “I’m not OCD.”
Crossing my arms, I glanced at the dishwasher. He followed my gaze. “What? They wash better that way.”
“I’m not denying that,” making a show of checking out his house, I brought my attention back to him. “Your house is spotless, Jake. Same as your car.”
He scowled at me. “So…?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “So… you’re OCD. There’s nothing wrong with that. You might kick me out for being a slob with my things.”
Standing from his crouch by the dishwasher, he filled it with soap and closed the door. “Nah, I won’t kick you out. I guess I do keep things in good order.”
Turning to the island counter where my nearly empty wine glass sat, I rested my hands on the marble surface. “There’s nothing wrong with keeping your home the way you want. Hopefully I won’t drive you crazy by being here.”
Coming up on my tiptoes, I leaned across the counter to reach my phone. I was too lazy to walk around to the other side. Why he had such a big countertop was beyond me, especially when he lived alone with only his cat.
Just as I got a hold of it, I felt Jake’s presence behind me, his hands on the edge of the counter on either side of my hips. I slowly straightened upright from reaching for my phone. The hot air that expelled from his nostrils brushed my bare shoulder.
“You might drive me crazy if this is your everyday attire,” he murmured against the length of my neck.
I swallowed, the chemistry that sizzled between us was sucking up all of the air in the room. “I know, I’m a bit dressed down.”
He blew out air when he laughed under his breath, tickling my ear. His lips grazed the shell when he spoke. “As in lack of clothing? Yes.”
“Jake,” I whispered, tilting my head slightly to the side. I wanted his lips to caress me with more than just words. My fingers gripped the edges of my phone, the other daring to cover his hand.
Taking his hand from the counter, he wrapped it around my stomach, stepping forward so his front meshed with my back. “If you want me to stop, you’ll have to say the word, Cora.”
Sucking on my bottom lip, I pushed to my tiptoes, wanting the stubble of his jaw to graze against my neck. He nuzzled the sensitive skin.
Taking a sharp inhale, I grabbed his hand, lacing our fingers together, pinning his hand to the island counter. Finally, his lips pressed against the pulse point of my neck. A million tingles spread throughout my body.
My breathing increased, releasing the grip I had on my phone to find the back of his neck.
The touch of my hands urged him to continue, his mouth grazing high up my neck. “You taste so good,” he murmured into my skin, planting a wet kiss below my jaw. It sent jolts of pleasure straight to the apex of my thighs. His hand splayed across my stomach, snugly holding me in place. My head tipped back, resting against his shoulder while he continued to worship my neck, kissing and sucking. It’d been so long since I’d had such intimate contact.
Removing his hand from the countertop, he kept mine laced with his, bringing both our hands to my chin, gently tilting my head backward. His hat was still tipped on his head, shadowing his lust filled eyes. “I don’t want to stop kissing you,” he whispered, stroking my jaw with his thumb.
Releasing his hand from mine, I turned to face him, both his hands finding my lower back, one slipping underneath my tank top. The skin on skin felt incredible.
Both my hands ran up the back of his neck, massaging into his hair and taking off his hat, tossing it next to my phone. He held my gaze, patiently waiting for me to make the next move. His eyes held wonder and hope, but also remained stubborn. He wouldn’t push me into doing something I wasn’t ready for.
Fluttering my eyelashes, I inched upward, applying pressure to the back of his head, hinting to him to meet me halfway. He caught on in an instant, slamming his mouth against mine.
I groaned, spreading my lips and running my tongue along the seam of his mouth, eager to kiss him with reckless abandonment. He opened up willingly, mingling his tongue with mine.
His palms crept up my spine at a delicious pace, keeping me crammed to his chest. My hands were wild in his hair, clasping the thick locks that were always hidden underneath his hat.
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” he breathed between kisses, gently grabbing my thighs and lifting me on the kitchen island next to my phone. He didn’t need to bend down now, giving our mouths a new angle to explore. Both his hands hugged me to my shoulder blades, one palm slipping underneath my bra.
I dipped my head back, loving being surrounded by him.
The stubble of his jaw scraped down my neck and to my collarbone, his lips worshipping my sensitive skin.
Everything about him was proving perfect. His outgoing and lively spirit, his well-cared for body had the desirable amount of muscle and build, the passion he held for writing and helping others with their craft, all of him turned me on completely.
Now, I knew how he held a woman in his strong hands, kissed without fear or intimidation, and holy hell, did I want the full experience of Jake Cooper.
He ran his nose along my jaw, slowing down his mouth with more tender kisses. It was exquisite. So mind numbingly wonderful, that I never should have opened my eyes and gazed down to the countertop where my phone sat.
Spread across the screen was a text message from the man who destroyed my self-esteem and sense of self-worth. The man I swore I moved on from, and would never have to hear from again. Although his name was deleted from my phone, the number was ingrained into my mind.
My hands stilled in Jake’s hair, a tremor running through my whole body. The lump in my throat grew so thick I thought I’d choke. Sweat beaded on the back of my neck, and not from Jake’s delicate tongue massaging the sensitive pulse point.
My breath went shallow and my chest heaved.
Coming to New Zealand was a mistake.
I know where you are, and I’m fucking pissed.
I’m coming for you, Cora. You’re mine, and you always will be.