Page 27 of I'll Carry You

Jen was gripping her purse strap as though it were an anchor.

He really needed to hit up a liquor store if he was going to be staying here for much longer. He unzipped his coat and took hers. Setting them on the sofa, he reached for her hand. “Why don’t we sit down?”

She didn’t move from her place. “I’m not very good at this.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”

He came up beside her and set his hands on her hips. “We don’t have to do a single thing you don’t want to do.” Her reluctance now was disappointing but unsurprising. Still, it would take a lot more than a run to get this night out of his system. He’d let himself fantasize about her. That was never a good idea if sex wasn’t really on the table.

She rubbed her arms. “I’ve never slept with a guy I barely know.”

Was she shaking? The idea of it filled him with a mixture of awe and fascination. But he was losing her here. He’d been right about her. She liked romance. No-strings-attached sex was too much to ask from a girl like her.

But it didn’t have to be a mad dash to the bedroom, either. He could give her a little romance if that was what she wanted. He left her side and went to the fireplace, thankful it was gas. With a flip of a switch, it roared to life with awhoosh. Going over to a basket, he grabbed a blanket and set it in front of the fireplace. He sat facing the fireplace, his knees bent in front of him. Looking over his shoulder at her, he said, “Want to sit here and warm up?”

A smile curved her lips, and she came toward him, then sat. She curled her legs to the side. “You’re trying to make me comfortable, aren’t you?”

“Is it working?”

She laughed lightly. “Maybe.” She leaned back on her hands, away from him. “You know, I admit I don’t really know what to make of you. There’s this one side of you that’s stand-offish and kind of a jerk.”

“Ouch.” But he probably deserved that. He couldn’t really deny he’d been that way toward her.

She shrugged. “You and I both know it’s true.”

He gave a slow nod. “But?”

“But there’s another side, too. I mean, I can’t imagine you’re this charming with all the women you hook up with. You’d be leaving a trail of broken hearts and shattered dreams.”

She had a point. “Are you trying to talk me out of this?”

“No.” She bit her lip. “Just trying to figure out why you’re being nice tome.”

That was way more complicated than even he could unpack. Before he could speak, though, she leaned forward, her fingertips against his. As their fingers interlaced, his pulse picked up a notch and he met her gaze.

Why am I being nice to her?

She was beautiful, but she was also dangerous. Just being with her meant risking everything. But the brush of her thumb against his was incredibly alluring.

Maybe a little danger appealed right now.

He scooted closer to her and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why shouldn’t I be nice to you?” His thumb skimmed her jawline.

She shrugged. “Well, the guy I was on a date with tonight told me I basically wasn’t worth the trouble. I don’t even know why I’m telling you.” There was a flash of hurt in her eyes, though, something that needed soothing.

Probably why she’s here.

Her words brought a jolt of anger to him. Some asshole had said that to her? Stranger still was the fact that she felt like she could confide that to him. He didn’t know that he’d done much to deserve her trust. The flames on the fake logs in the fireplace danced like translucent, molten ghosts, stirring up the embers of something he hadn’t felt in a long time. He clenched his jaw, blinking away from the fire.

“Sounds like that man is an idiot.” But he was the wrong person to soothe that hurt, and he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. Still, they were here. He leaned forward, his lips finding his way to hers, and her mouth melted against his, soft and yielding, drawing him deeper toward her. This was an area he felt confident in. He pushed away the nagging thoughts that wanted to snake their way in. Her lips were warm, full against his, less timid than he’d imagined she would be.

Her mouth opened to his as his tongue tasted hers. As her arms tightened around his neck, his hands slid around her back, dipping low on the small of her back and trailing over her thighs. He wanted to feel those thighs around him and taste every square inch of her. As his lips trailed to the curve of her jaw, his hands slipped under her shirt.

“Jason?” She pulled back from him, searching his eyes. Her lips tipped in a smile. “I want to do this. I want to fuck you.”

Holy shit.

Those words coming out of her mouth were the biggest turn-on. Ever.

Apparently, the pretty do-gooder had a wild side.