Part 17 (1/2)
”Keeping the score even. I see.” She nuzzled his neck, kissing her way up to his ear lobe. Jennifer sucked on the small drop of flesh.
The gentle rooting sounds drove him crazy. The skin on his neck pebbled, the good feeling shooting down his ribs. She nibbled the lobe, her teeth clamping down ever so tenderly and pulling. He inhaled fast, one hand driving into the blanket covered foam they laid on. They were sandwiched between the foam and blanket on the bottom with a light blanket on top. She was beautiful in a dress last night, a hot woman in shorts today, and enticing in her jeans at near midnight. Jennifer released his earlobe with agonizing, d.i.c.k-hardening slowness.
He palmed her a.s.s and gave it squeeze. ”Keep that up and I'll have to take you home soon.”
”Why?” she whispered in his ear. ”You could take my jeans off and have your way with me right here.”
His d.i.c.k roused against his b.u.t.ton fly. Here. In the back of his truck on a quiet hilltop. The land belonged to Sean's brother and was open for AJ to trespa.s.s, but this was a get to know you better night. He was going to do this right. The road to ruin was getting in Jennifer's pants too early.
”Sorry,” he rumbled into her hair. ”Our clothes stay on tonight.”
”What? Is this one of your dating rules?”
”It's my rule for you. We're going take our time and get to know each other.”
She growled against neck. ”You lying beside me, looking better than a body has a right to, and you're not going to touch me?”
His head tipped back, low laughter rumbling out of him. Blondie got testier and testier with each pa.s.sing minute. She pushed up on one elbow, her hair draping his arm. Crickets chirped. The sky was a million stars scattered on black.
She peered into his face. ”You're serious.”
”I am.”
”Why?”
”Balance.” He pushed up on his elbow, facing her. ”As much as I love touching you, if that's all I do, that's all we'll be. Two bodies getting it on. I want to know you here.” He traced one finger on her hairline above her forehead. ”And here.” His finger trailed lightly over her cheek, her chin before dropping to her heart.
He'd said the L word again. It slipped out. Jennifer was preoccupied with putting her hand over his and pressing his flesh against hers. The upper swell of her t.i.t was a plush semi-circle.
”Are you wearing a push-up bra?”
”Yes.” She pushed his hand until he cupped her completely. ”It's black mesh.”
”Sheer. Like a nineteen fifties pin up bra.”
”You like that?”
His fingers closed around her fullness. ”Yeah.”
”See, AJ. We're getting to know each other. Our likes and what not.”
Her nipple poked the center of his palm. ”You are hungry for touch aren't you?”
The corners of her mouth wilted. Her head leaned on her own shoulder as if the weight of what was going on between them consumed her too.
”I'm hungry for you, AJ.” Her voice was fragile and knowing all at once. ”I've had a few men approach me with offers to relieve me from the loneliness of widowhood.”
The crooked twist of her lips told him what she thought of those men. His heart swelled. By their ongoing track record, she'd chosen him above all others. Him. The man from the rough side of Hidden Valley's tracks.
He traced her bottom lip. ”I'll relieve you of whatever you want-” She groaned, her eyes pinching as if antic.i.p.ation was painful. ”-soon. Trust me.”
”I do, AJ.” She flopped on her back beside him, staring at the skies. ”That you aren't rus.h.i.+ng makes me want to rush even more.”
”Sure. A contradiction that makes perfect sense.” He grinned. Testier and testier.
”So, what's your favorite movie?” she asked grudgingly.
”Anything with Clint Eastwood.”
Her eyes slanted a split second at him. ”I really liked Bridges of Madison County. It's one of my go to chick flick movies.” Jennifer's profile relaxed. ”Okay. How old are you?”
”Twenty-eight.”
”Great. I'm the older woman robbing the cradle.”
”How old are you?”
”I'll be thirty-one in November.”
He stayed up on one elbow, his other hand sliding onto her stomach. Her stomach muscles clenched under his palm. ”Three years difference. Hardly robbing the cradle.”
”It's the first time I've been older...” She grimaced on the last word, not finis.h.i.+ng her sentence.
Jennifer had a history too. An acid burn hit his mid-section. He couldn't change what had been, but he could work mighty hard to change what would be. She kept talking, asking questions of him and giving him answers to her own questions. His hand skimmed her ribs with agonizing slowness.
”I'm being efficient,” she said, laughing when he touched a ticklish spot. ”Asking the questions for both of us and giving my answers before you ask anything of me. It saves time...all in the name of balance.”
He was in no hurry, tracing up and down her ribs under her left breast. His hand moved under her black cotton s.h.i.+rt as Jennifer peppered him with questions and answer time. He smiled down at her animated face. She acted as if this was a matter of getting a minimum amount of information out of the way, and once the quotient was met, fun and games would ensue. No dice. Not tonight. This was purely exploratory to get into her mind and her heart.
But his Neanderthal wasn't entirely shut out. Not with Jennifer's little breathy quips and her sweet wiggles beside him. When his fingers ran into her underwire bra, her lips froze mid-word in a tender O.
She swallowed delicately, her brown eyes searching him. Need and affection s.h.i.+ned in her eyes. Her mouth stalled as if any words went away when she swallowed. He pushed her sweater up over her rack, and he was the one at a loss for words. The view was even better than what she said.
A black mesh pin up bra hugged two full white t.i.ts. A black seam went up the center of each cup from the underwire, ending on her nipple. He traced the thin black seam.
”A pin up girl bra. You're killing me.” His head buzzed and his nostrils flared. He was on Jennifer overload, her flowering scent and perfect pin up girl t.i.ts killing him.
”I remembered what you said last night bout my underwear. I figured you like mesh lingerie. So I wore this for you.”
His b.a.l.l.s hurt so good. It was a gift. He wouldn't ask what she had on the bottom half.
”If you want, I can take my bra off and-”
”No.” The word about shot out of him.
He took a deep breath and eased up. Tweaking her nipple and seeing Jennifer squirm gratified him. His d.i.c.k got no satisfaction, but he did. Control was the better part of him. It'd gotten him through years of sc.r.a.ping by at McMillan's. It'd get him through this journey with Jennifer.