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Bailey settled onto the couch, while Jonathan flipped through a shelf of DVDs and VHS tapes. “Does the VCR even still work?” he asked.
“Yup. Guy in town keeps—kept—it running for her. I don’t guarantee the tapes are still any good though.”
He held up a copy of Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. “That’s assuming they ever were.”
“She bought that for you.” Bailey had enjoyed pretty much the entire day—talking, delving into the past, touching on the present. It made her wonder why she couldn’t meet a guy like Jonathan.
He shelved the tape and continued through the stack. “I’m not claiming my taste was perfect, as a kid, but it was better than most people’s.” Teasing filled his words.
“Is that Speed 2 I see up there, next to Spice Girls?”
They finished going through the attic a few hours ago and agreed they’d tackle his old room tomorrow. After seeing how much he chose to discard, she hated the thought he might throw out most of the toys and models lining the shelves, but it was his stuff. His choice.
He brushed his fingers over the spines of the tapes. “Okay—so I had my questionable moments. I’d still watch either one of them again... but not without a lot more whiskey on hand.” He reached the DVDs, and grabbed one of the first in the row. “Now this is a classic.”
Heat flooded her cheeks when she saw the cover to American Pie, not because it was racy, but because it was one of the movies they snuck into, the summer he ran away, and at the meek age of fourteen, she’d never seen anything so raunchy. Unlike the VHS tapes, DVDs were only out for a few years before Jonathan’s last trip here.
“I can’t believe Nana owned something like that.” She managed to keep her voice even.
“This one’s all mine. I left it here because my parents were furious when they found out I’d seen it, and watching it again was the perfect rebellion.”
Thunder roared, accompanied by a sharp bolt of light, and the house went dark. “I think a higher power’s punishing you for your bold disobedience.”
“Let Him. Or Her.” Jonathan’s voice was closer than she expected, and his heat brushed her back. He draped his arms over her shoulders. “Won’t stop me from watching it.”
She pulled away with reluctance. “Technically, that’s exactly what it will do. Not that I’m complaining. Candles and flashlights are in the pantry.”
“You don’t want to see it?” Jonathan slipped his hand into hers. His bandage was rough against her palm, and the contact was pleasant. They felt their way toward the kitchen.
Her fingertips grazed the cool wood of the pantry door, and she slid it open. “It’s not a mixed-company movie.” She grasped the flashlight, and mouthed a thank you when it flipped on without hesitation. She trained the light on the candles, while Jonathan fetched a handful, and then they returned to the living room.
“You didn’t complain the first time we saw it.” He placed four candles around the room, lighting them as he went.
She flicked off the flashlight, and the flames cast long, dancing shadows along the walls. Despite the noise slamming into the house, the room got a cozy, almost surreal feeling. She sat on the couch again. “I didn’t know what I was walking into. I was humiliated that day, for your information.”
“And laughing your butt off. I remember.” He took the spot next to her, close enough his leg rested against hers. “Besides, I’m pretty sure—nope, I’m positive—you were the one telling me last night about how you spend your free time in Atlanta.”
Of course he’d bring that up. “That’s different.”
“How?”
Because you’re not there. “It just is.”
He nestled a finger under her chin and forced her head up. In the dim light, his eyes were so dark they looked black. She could sink into that gaze.
He licked his lips. “You didn’t have a problem with the company last night.” His words, smooth and confident, slid under her skin. “Riding my cock. Digging your nails into my arms. How could watching a stranger fuck a pie be more intimate?” His expression shifted to mischievous in an instant.
Her mind scrambled to keep up, but her insides weren’t having it. The shared moment in the shower filled her thoughts and sang in her nerves, teasing her with whispers of his skilled fingers roaming her body. She cleared her throat. “We can’t watch anything now, so it doesn’t matter.”
“There’s more to it. Isn’t there? You’ve got stories from band camp you kept to yourself.”
“I never went to band camp. My fourth grade teacher wouldn’t let me play the recorder, because I was out of tune. Those things can’t even be tuned, you know.”
He dragged his thumb along her jaw so lightly she wasn’t sure she felt it. “But you do have stories you’ve never told me.”
Some of them from the wicked thoughts she had after she watched American Pie. “Nope. I draw the line at sharing any level of detail about how I did or didn’t explore my body as a teenager.”
“I don’t want details.” He drew a finger up her arm, then along her neck, coaxing. “Simply names. Who were you thinking about when you did it?”
She raised her brows. “Celebrities. You.” The moment she said it, she wanted to take it back. Or did she?
“This is much better than a movie.”
She couldn’t argue. “I’m not going to be the only one spilling my secrets. You have to share too.”
“I didn’t agree to that.” He drew a light touch over patches of bare skin—the edge of her ear, the tips of her fingers, the back of her neck. Each new caress teased a little more.
“It’s only fair. And don’t tell me life’s not fair.”
“That night we kissed on the Fourth. The last time I saw you? I replayed that moment over and over again after I left.” His voice dropped an octave, and some of the playfulness faded from his face. “Not only the fight we had, though whenever I had a bad day, that was another mistake from my past that haunted me. I mean the kiss. No woman in college could ever compete with that memory.”
The confession stole her breath and fuzzed her thoughts. It wasn’t the words, but the way he said them. “Really?” That was intelligent.
“Cross my heart. Last night though, you were better.”
Embarrassment filled her, but she pushed it aside. This wasn’t a conversation she was backing down from. Like yesterday, boldness pushed her to be direct with Jonathan—a hint of regret she couldn’t quite grasp and would rather ignore in favor of this moment. “I’ve had a little more practice.”
“Me too”—he stood, pulled her to her feet, and grabbed a nearby candle—“and I think we should introduce my old bed to how much more experienced we are. Give the springs a work out that’s more than a solo act.”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind watching your solo act.” She followed him up the stairs.
They reached the room, and he turned to face her. “That only works if we’re still sharing.” He tugged her inside and stopped short of the bed, then set the candle on the dresser. Long shadows danced along the wall. “Since we’re doing this whole I’ll show you mine if you’ll show me yours.”
“That’s not quite what was going on.” Heat flooded her skin, scorching her from head to toe. The thinly veiled suggestion tantalized and terrified her.
“It’s an evolving process. We’ll run out of spoken secrets sooner or later. If we make the next logical step before that happens, problem solved.”
Speaking of steps...her mind was already skipping ahead several, taunting her with images. She didn’t know which excited her more—the idea of showing off for him or him being turned on by it. An old insecurity lay on top of it all, adding a layer of bitterness to the fantasy. Any response stalled in her throat.
He trailed his gaze over her face. “Unless you’re usually a turn the lights off and do it naked type of gal.”
“Kind of. Yeah.”
“Does that mean you hate the idea?” He hovered his hand millimeters from her face, close enough for her to feel without him making contact.
She couldn’t vocalize her concerns. “No. But...”
He cupped her cheek. “You weren’t shy before.”
“I didn’t let myself think about it.” Even though she lost the weight years ago, the doubt still lingered. Now was a horrid time for Danny’s voice to echo in her head, which she suspected was why it did. This was an entirely different beast from picking up a stranger in a club. As much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, Jonathan’s opinion meant the world to her.
“Then stop thinking now.” He moved his hands to the bottom of her T-shirt. “I’ll help.” He peeled the top off, then grasped her hands as he looked her over. “Gorgeous.”
The compliment and unwavering attention drilled inside, chasing away some of her hesitation, but not all. She hugged herself, unsure what to do next.
“Don’t be that way.” He loosened her arms again and stepped closer. Dropping his mouth to her ear, he whispered, “I want to see what you like. The way you caress yourself. The places you touch when you’re alone with your thoughts. You show me yours; I’ll show you mine.”
He put distance between them but never stopped watching her. She forced boldness through her veins, letting her screaming pulse carry it, and unclasped her bra. It dropped to the ground, and the chill clashed with her scorched skin. “What now?”
“Up to you. For the number of times I fantasized about you... the reality is much better.” His voice was heavy, a tone rapidly becoming her favorite.
She pushed the rest of her clothing to the ground. Her nipples were tight, and need throbbed between her legs. How was this such a turn-on? She’d worry about the why later. She preferred to focus on the now. She grabbed the chair from next to the desk and took a seat.
If she were alone... she’d hide under the covers and get things over with quickly.
That wasn’t quite true. She imagined more, and now was her chance to make it real. When she dragged her thumbs over her nipples, he groaned.
That made this easier. Dampness grew between her legs. She pinched harder, rolling and squeezing. The touch made her gasp. She was tempted to fall into her own mind, but the sound of a zipper kept her in the room.
Jonathan undid his jeans and worked his cock free, gaze never leaving her. Her heart hammered in her chest. This was way hotter than she expected. She glided one hand down her stomach, still massaging her breast with the other. It never felt this good when she was alone.
She slid her fingers easily between her folds.
“God.” Jonathan moaned. “Spread your legs. I want to see.”
She complied, stroking along her slit, keeping away from her core, not wanting the experience to end too quickly.
“You made the most delicious sounds last night.” Jonathan’s voice was strained. “I want to hear them again. Those gasps and cries when you come.”
She dipped two fingers inside her, thrusting and grinding against her hand. It wasn’t enough. She moved back to her clit, and bucked against her touch when she nudged the swollen nub.
His grunts added to her urgency. She rubbed, as climax built inside. Edging. Getting closer. She pressed in, until orgasm spilled inside, tearing from her throat and making her body shudder.
“Jesus, Ale.” His groan drew her attention again. He stroked his shaft, still watching her.
Inspiration struck, and she slid from the chair to kneel in front of him. “Want help?” She looked up at him through her lashes.
Not waiting for an answer, she trailed her tongue over the head of his cock, licking away a drop of precum. She took his length in her mouth. He was warm and hard, jerking against her, tangling his fingers in her hair to guide the pace.
His thrusting grew faster, and she licked along his skin. His groans shifted to frantic, seconds before a warm, salty squirt hit the back of her throat. She kept sucking until he wrenched from her touch, then she pulled away gently and met his gaze again.
He pulled her into his lap and kissed her deeply, not seeming to mind that his taste lingered on her lips. He broke away and pressed his forehead to hers. “So incredible,” he said breathlessly.
Thunder clapped, and for a moment the entire room filled with the flash of lightning. Seconds later, the scramble of claws on hardwood drew closer, and a white flash of fur shot across the floor and under the dresser. The candle on top wobbled, then toppled onto the quilt draped over the rack next to it.
The blanket caught fire and sent flame shooting toward the ceiling and smoke billowing through the room. “Shit.” Jonathan was on his feet in an instant.