Page 27 of One Drink
Chapter 11
Jake
Dinner conversationwith my parents, for the most part, had been pleasant. Mom’s topic of our working relationship was the worst of it, and all in all, that hadn’t been that bad. But once we were standing outside Stephanie’s apartment, I was back to not knowing how to proceed.
“Do you want to come in for a bit?” she asked as she dug her keys out of her purse.
“I’d love to.” A smile crept across my face. I half expected her to say goodnight, but I was glad she was giving me the chance to spend some more time with her.
I followed her into the kitchen. “Can I get you something to drink? I have a bottle of wine I opened last night.”
“Nah, I don’t need any more alcohol tonight,” I said, leaning against the entryway. Alcohol consumption combined with Stephanie had already proved to be a dangerous mix. However tonight went, I wanted us both to be of clear mind.
“We could turn this evening into a cliché, and I could ask you if you want coffee.” She tossed me a teasing smile, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“How about a glass of water?”
“I can do that.” She grabbed a couple glasses from the cabinet and filled them both with ice and water. When she turned to face me, I caught a hint of sadness in her eyes. I fought the urge to leap towards and wrap my arms around her. I wanted to comfort her, but I hesitated. “I’m sorry, Jake.”
“What for? You don’t have to apologize for anything.”
“Thank you for that, but I disagree. I never should have pushed you away like that.” She took a big gulp of her water and stepped closer to me. “But mostly I’m sorry for being so selfish. I’m disappointed in myself for not considering your career plans more over the past several years.”
“It’s not your fault.” I stepped up to the island bar in her kitchen and sat my glass down. “You didn’t force me to stay.”
“I know, but I also never considered your needs. I got so caught up in what I needed and the fact that I like working with you. You make a great creative director, but that wasn’t fair of me.” She took a step closer and ran her hand down my arm, taking my hand in hers. She looked up and held her eyes on mine. We were so close, I could feel the rise and fall of her chest against me, and it sent goosebumps prickling across my skin.
She slipped her other hand around the back of my neck and nudged me forward. Pressing her lips to mine, her kiss was gentle at first, then she parted my lips with her tongue and intertwined it with mine. Just when I thought a kiss between us couldn’t get any better than the last one, she proved me wrong. She kissed me with uninhibited passion, and it made me desire her even more.
I released her hand and ran my hands up her back until they settled just above her waist. With a slight tug, I pressed her body closer to mine.
She traced a finger along the back of the waistband of my pants and I shivered into our next kiss. My intense reaction to such a simple touch from her emboldened me, and I dropped my hands to her ass and pressed my already hard cock against her thigh. She moaned into my mouth, sending a shock straight to my heart.
“Jesus.” I took a deep breath and tipped my head back. This was what I’d been waiting for. She felt so damn good against me. I was dangerously close to losing control of my senses, and I didn’t want to push her too far too fast.
“Stay with me tonight.” Her words were soft and alluring.
“Are you sure?” I wanted to scream yes, but I had to make sure she was certain before we took this step—that there would be no repeats of our drunken night together.
She ran a finger down my neck before she pressed her hand on my chest. When she fiddled with the buttons on my shirt, my heart pounded like the fast punch of fingers hitting the keys of a typewriter. Whatever happened tonight was up to her, and I hoped like hell she chose to keep going. Everything I ever wanted was on the other side of this moment. Her decision would set the pace and direct how we would break through the tension that kept us apart this past week.
“I’m positive.” She brushed a light kiss across my lips before she squeezed my hand and tugged me down the hall to her bedroom. When she stopped beside her bed and worked open my belt, my breath hitched. The pounding in my ears forced my eyes out of focus, but thank God my hands still worked. I easily found the zipper on the back of her dress and slipped it off her shoulders and onto the floor. My heart beat out an eager rhythm as she unzipped my pants and pushed them down, relieving the pressure that restrained my hard cock.
Placing her hands on my chest again, she quickly unbuttoned my shirt and removed it. We stood inches apart in nothing but our underwear. I leaned forward to kiss her, but she stepped back with a teasing smile. Oblivious to the pain of my hardness, she reached behind her and unclipped her bra. A carnal growl escaped my lips when her generous breasts spilled free from their bondage. In my sober state, it was like seeing them for the first time, and they were fucking perfect. My memories from last Friday were a haze hidden behind my drunken stupor.
“Tell me what you want, Steph.” I needed to hear her say it, to tell me it was okay to touch her and kiss her everywhere.
She dropped down on her bed and lay with her hands above her head. Her nearly naked form spread out before me was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. “I want your hands and your lips to touch every inch of my body and then I want you to make love to me.”
Not a single hint of doubt laced her words, and that was all the encouragement I needed to proceed. I searched for my pants and dug out the condoms I’d slipped in my pocket just in case this moment became reality and tossed them on the edge of the bed. Slowly, I crawled my way up her body until my lips crashed into hers.
The energy that pulsed between us was intense, and it screamed so much more than raw lust. Being fully aware that I was about to make love to the only woman I’d ever loved was deeply empowering. I could only hope that through my love, she’d fully open to me and accept all that I offered her.
I palmed her breast, and her rosy tip stiffened under my touch. I gave her nipple the slightest pinch, eliciting a gasp before I took it into my mouth. I licked and sucked until she wriggled beneath me and sighed my name in the most erotic voice I’d ever heard.
“You taste so damn sweet, Steph.” I murmured, sucking gently on one swollen tip. Her hands found the back of my head and her fingers clenched my hair.
“Please, I don’t want to wait any longer. I need you inside me.” She begged through ragged breaths.