The rest of the movie passed in a blur. Rose couldn’t focus on anything except the lingering feeling of Jake’s lips against hers, the strength of his arms around her. She tried to watch the movie instead of him, but her gaze drifted over to him more than once.
Jake was stretched out from the corner of the L-shape of the couch, his legs out in front of him. Daisy curled up next to his feet, head on his leg. Jake tucked an arm behind his head, which caused his shirt to ride up a bit and that same bit of bare skin was visible again. Rose spent half the movie focused on that tantalizing spot of Jake’s body. The other half of the movie she spent in a daydream about the kiss they shared in the kitchen.
Rose’s body remembered his touch. Oh yes, the moment his lips covered hers, her body woke up and wanted more. Memories of them tangled together and exploring each other would not leave Rose alone. They’d been each other’s first everything and had spent hours together learning what gave the other pleasure.
She’d never shared such an intense physical connection with anyone else, and nobody else had shown such a dedicated focus on her body and her pleasure.
Rose startled as the movie ended and Jake stood. He called Daisy to go outside again.
“One more time, pretty girl.” He patted her belly and nudged her to get up. Rose struggled not to laugh at Daisy’s complete reluctance to move.
Jake turned his gaze on Rose. “Glad you’re enjoying the show.”
Rose stretched her legs out and grinned. “Oh, I’m enjoying quite a bit tonight.”
Jake’s eyes darkened, and his grin turned wicked. Heat trailed through Rose’s body and settled low in her belly.
Jake put one arm on the arm of the couch and leaned down. He nuzzled his face against her hair but pulled back. “Just wait till I get back inside.” His voice was low and gruff, and Rose couldn’t come up with a response.
Daisy chose that moment to hop off the couch and trudge after Jake.
Rose didn’t want to wait, but she also didn’t want to get caught up in the physical attraction that clearly had not dissipated with time. If anything, Rose wanted him more now, to feel his body moving with hers, to explore each other as adults rather than awkward almost-twenty-year-olds.
For the first time since before she was with Henry, Rose wanted. For years, she’d written off the level of attraction she shared with Jake as a fluke of first love. She convinced herself it wouldn’t have lasted even if she and Jake had stayed together.
Denial was a powerful mindfuck, if ever there was one.
Still, caution and taking things slow would be the wiser choice. Jake may not want the same things out of life, and there was no better person in town more qualified than Rose to understand the importance of shared goals, values, and attraction.
A few minutes later, Daisy bounded in and jumped on the opposite side of the couch, stretching herself across three cushions. “Making yourself at home already, huh?”
Daisy let out a huff but didn’t move.
“It’s a good thing you’re sweet, Daisy, or I think taking up that much space was punishment for making you go outside in the snow again.” Jake came around the couch into view.
Rose saw the opportunity and before she could second-guess herself, said, “You could sit here next to me, keep me warm during the next movie. As long as you don’t bite.”
It was an effort to keep her breathing steady with Jake so close as he lowered himself to the spot next to her.
“I only bite when asked, as I’m sure you remember.” He draped his arm across the back of the couch behind her.
Rose remembered. One summer she’d had to find a swimsuit with a skirt bottom and wear longer sundresses because of the hickeys Jake enjoyed leaving at the tops of her inner thighs. “You’re mine and I’m yours, and these are secret reminders that I’ve claimed you, Rose.”
She burned at the memory and ached to have him between her legs again, to have another secret mark of his claim on her instead of the invisible one on her heart.
The idea of it was ludicrous of course. Earlier in the kitchen was an anomaly, a moment of weakness for both of them. A moment of physical attraction didn’t mean there would be room for more, even if Rose wanted it.
Jake chose a movie that Rose once again couldn’t focus on, not with him playing with her hair. It was such a soft moment that Rose wondered if he remembered how much she loved for someone to brush and play with her hair.
But the excitement of the day caught up to her and it was difficult to keep her eyes open. Rose nodded off once or twice before Jake pulled her against him, and in the hazy spot right before she fell asleep Rose could have sworn Jake whispered something that sounded like “I want to keep you.”