“Thank you,” I murmur, rolling my hips so his thigh rubs against my core. “I want to move past the case. I want to get back to my old life where I enjoy sex, well...sex that doesn’t involvethat.Because, truthfully, it’s made me feel like a bad psychologist. Like I don’t know if I can trust my own judgment anymore.”
He shifts immediately. Pulling me up by my arms as if I weighed nothing, sitting me on his lap, straddling his still rock-hard erection. I guess I know what Jonesy likes. It makes me feel both better and worse knowing we might be into the same things. Better because I don’t feel like such a terrible person, worse because the more time I spend with him, the more I want us to work through everything. Our compatibility inthe bedroom would be a game-changer. Sex is important to me; it’s something I love—or loved. I know it would mean everything with him, and that opens me up to getting my heart broken again.
“Listen to me. You are KatiefuckingMurphy. Top of her class. Beat me in every single pop quiz, every essay, every exam, because you’re a badass. You were made for this job because that fucked-up little brain of yours is perfect. Do you hear me? Don’t let that monster destroy your life. He’s taken too many already.” His scrunched brow and the hard line of his lips pressing together tell me he’s serious. He means what he’s saying. He doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with me at all. Hell, maybe there’s just something wrong with both of us because I still feel the throb of his cock against my clit.
I made a promise to myself that I would never give Jacob Jones any power over me again.
I would never let him kiss me.
I would never let him destroy me the way he had when we were in college.
I’m a goddamn liar.
Before I can think too hard about it, I press my lips against his, and despite a brief pause of no doubt, shock, we start to vie for control. His fingers tug at my nape, mine scraping down his chest. Our tongues battle for dominance against the clash of teeth and the escaping throaty whimpers. He bites the plump of my lower lip,and I yank his head back by his hair. We separate long enough to take a couple of deep breaths, our eyes never leaving each other. Where does this leave us? Where exactly do we go from here?
I fight the urge to put up my defenses immediately. To reject him first this time. We’ve only kissed once before, and he didn’t speak to me for a year afterward. I’d kissed him first then, and I’d kissed him first now. Would the outcome be the same?
“You gonna run away like a scared little boy again?” I hiss as he pinches my hips.
He smirks. “Thatmouth, Katie. I’m gonna fill it so full, you’re gonna choke on your words.”
“I bet you only fuck missionary.”
He smirks again, his eyes dipping to my lips. “Only so we can keep arguing, princess.”
I scoff until he pushes his hard length against my center, a gasp escaping my throat.
“I’m not running this time, Katie.You are.You get a twenty-second head start.”
My heart skips a beat until adrenaline starts coursing through my veins. Is he serious? “Wh...what?”
“Eighteen seconds.”
I scramble off him and watch as he leans back lazily into my couch, palming his erection through his pants.
Fuck. Me. Sideways.
He’s so hot.
Undeniably . . . unbelievably . . . unacceptablyhot.
And he’s going to fulfill the fantasy I just laid out for him.
“Fifteen seconds, princess. Or we can do it right here if you prefer?” His grin is maniacal, and I seriously consider taking him up on the offer.
But this is what I’ve been dreaming about for a year. Finally...I might be able to take that leap off the edge. I just can’t believe I have to put my faith in Jacob Jones to get me there.
It’s decided. Like my body even gave me a choice. I run from the room, flipping off all the light switches as I go until we’re in total darkness.
Chapter Sixteen
Jonesy
The room descends into complete darkness, the mood shifting as I sit up straight on the couch. Am I going to do this? I mean, I know my answer. Unequivocally yes. Katie Murphy, my dream girl, my nightmare girl, wrapped into one delicious prey-sized snack where I have full permission to bite. Hard. Of course I’m not going to say no. I just hope I can make it upstairs without blowing my load just from thinking about getting her off. I’ve had a fifteen-year hard-on for this girl. Fifteen years of just imagining what she’d be like when I finally take her.
I know the responsibility that I have. We should have discussed it more, but we’re past that now. Now I need to give her what she needs because she trusts me. And I’m not going to betray that trust. The fact that I even have the opportunity to provide this for her has pride swelling in my chest.
Her light steps patter quickly up the stairs. And as I count to ten, I rise up, looking for myboots so she’ll hear me coming. I put them on slowly, taking my time to let her anticipation build. I’m not quiet. I make my presence known. The stairs aren’t carpeted. Just bare floorboards still in the process of being renovated, which makes it easier to make my steps loud, letting the thud of my heel echo up the stairwell.
