Listen to Me

I kiss his palm again, then nod. “I’d like for you to stay.”

He inhales sharply before leading me to the passenger side of his car. The ride to my place is quiet, the sexual tension hanging thick around us. Now I’m getting nervous. Having sex on the spur of the moment is one thing, but when it’s premeditated, well . . . that’s daunting.

I haven’t showered since this morning and I’ve been working all day. I can’t smell great. What if he wants to go downtown? Oh God, maybe I should tell him to wait for me while I shower.

And reshave my legs, because I shaved them yesterday and I was too lazy to do it this morning.

Maybe this is a bad idea.

“Stop it,” he mutters and kisses my hand.

“Stop what?”

“Overthinking.”

I frown at him. “Are you a mind reader?”

“I don’t have to be, sweetness. You’re thinking so hard over there, there’s practically smoke coming out of your ears.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” I reply primly. “And being a thinker isn’t a bad thing.”

“No, it’s not. Except when you start second-guessing yourself, and you have no reason to.”

“I didn’t shave my legs,” I admit, ashamed. I bury my face in my hands, embarrassed.

“Oh no. Well, this can’t happen then.” Sarcasm drips off of every word as he parks, gets out of the car, and opens my door, pulling me out next to him. “Look at me.”

I giggle at my own ridiculousness as I peek at him from behind my hands.

“I don’t give a fuck when the last time you shaved your legs was,” he says, cupping my face in his hands and staring at me with eyes on fire. “If I don’t get you under me, quickly, I’m going to die of sexual frustration.”

“Oh, well that’s a relief,” I reply, and walk ahead of him to my condo.

“What is?”

I can feel his eyes on my ass.

“Are you watching my behind?” I ask without looking at him.

“Of course I am.”

I smirk and unlock my door, then turn to him. “Here’s your chance to kiss me and leave me all hot and bothered again.”

His lips twitch as he leans into me, his forearm braced on the door over my head. “What’s a relief, Addison?”

“That I’m not the only one sexually frustrated.” My voice is a shaky whisper as I stare at his lips just inches from mine.

He leans in and brushes those lips over my forehead. “Are you frustrated?”

I hum and close my eyes, soaking him in. He opens the door and leads me inside, then closes and locks the door behind us, perfectly calm.

There is no frazzled rushing. No clinging to each other and knocking things over in a race to the bedroom.

Instead, his face is perfectly calm as he turns to me and slowly moves forward, urging me to back up, walking with him through my living room. I grip the hem of his T-shirt in my hands and urge it up, until he finally takes matters into his own hands, whipping it over his head in that way men do with one hand that is so damn sexy.

And my first live glimpse of Jake shirtless is something to freaking write home about. Dear sweet Jesus, the smooth skin. The light spattering of hair.

The long, sinewy muscles that flex in his arms and chest.

God blessed him with maybe the best set of abs I’ve ever seen. And he has that sexier than hell V in his hips, leading down into his low-riding jeans.

Jeans that barely hide the root of his cock.

I’m salivating.

“You’re good for my ego, sweetheart,” he murmurs, catching my attention.

“You’re—” I swallow hard, unable to finish the sentence.

“My thoughts exactly,” he replies with that cocky grin back in place. I’m surprised to discover that we’re already in my bedroom. Jake leans down and flicks the bedside lamp on, then turns to me, but rather than pull my clothes off, he tugs me into his arms and hugs me tight, rocking us back and forth. His bare skin under my hands is incredible.

I can’t stop touching him. My hands are everywhere, roaming over his back, his arms, then up over his shoulders and into his hair.

Finally, he pushes his hands under my top and pulls it up over my head, dropping it to the floor. His eyes narrow and darken as he takes in the makeshift bra that holds the girls up.

But rather than try to remove it, he makes quick work of my slacks and shoes, leaving me in just my underwear.

I reach out to help him out of his jeans, but he stops me with a quick shake of the head.

“Wait.”

“You’re behind.” I cock a brow and reach for him again, but he stops me.

“What are we waiting for?” I rest my hands on my hips and tip my head to the side. “If you leave now, I’ll dismember you.”

“Wild horses couldn’t drag me out of here,” he replies softly, his eyes roaming up and down my body. “Jesus, Addison, you are so fucking beautiful.”

Everything in me softens. His voice is rough. He looks . . . devastated.

“Are you okay?” I step to him and cup his face in my hands. “Jake?”

He brushes his knuckles down my cheek, then his thumb across my lower lip. He tips his forehead down to rest on mine.

“Admit it,” he whispers. “You can’t resist me.”

There he is.

“I can resist anything,” I reply with a laugh. “But you’re very tempting.”

“Just tempting? I’m going for irresistible here.”

“You’re close,” I reply and reach for his jeans again. He doesn’t resist me this time. He shuffles out of them, and stands before me naked.