Page 50 of Slowly, All at Once


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CHAPTER 10

Jacob drove backto the apartment slowly. Every stop sign and red light gave us an opportunity to kiss. He held my hand, and rubbed his fingers across the back of it.

Lust wrapped around us in the darkness of the cab. When Jacob turned into the back parking lot of Brooks Outfitters, and put the truck in park, the rumble of the engine running was the only sound keeping my thoughts from focusing on what we both wanted: each other.

He turned off the engine. It was like a long-awaited exhale. Silence.

Our heads tilted toward each other. He smiled as he lifted my hand, brushing his lips over the back of it. He took a breath and exhaling slowly, as if he was trying to stay in control, he turned my hand over, kissed my palm and then my fingertips before placing my hand gently back in my lap.

Pushing his door open, he ran around the front of the truck, and opened the passenger door for me.

He maneuvered me in front of him, and put his hand at the small of my back, guiding me up the stairs.

His apartment was quiet when we entered. A single lamp gave off a soft glow in the living area.

I stood, waiting.

He stepped past me into the kitchen, and I leaned against the back of the couch. He winced and reached down to rub his ankle.

My palms rested on the soft leather next to my hips.

“Do you want a glass of water?” he asked, a cupboard creaking as he opened it.

“No.”

I followed his movements as he pulled out a white, opaque plastic cup, and filled it with water from the tap.

He watched me as he drank.

Pushing myself off the back of the couch, I went to him.

I took the cup from him, and stepped between his legs as he leaned back against the counter.

Gently, I rested my hands on his chest. “Jacob, are you nervous?”

He dropped his head to the crook of my neck, placing a kiss on the soft skin behind my ear. His breath was warm, his lips cool. He whispered, “I’ve missed us so much, I want this to be perfect.”

I leaned into him. Years of waiting fell away, falling off and leaving us vulnerable. I wrapped my arms around him. “I’ve missed you too. We don’t need to be perfect. We just need to be us.”

“Now that you’re here, our problems seem so much bigger. We can’t hide anymore, Camille.”

I kissed his chin. “We aren’t turning back now.” His chest was so broad and warm, I couldn’t think straight. “We can put Humpty Dumpty back together tomorrow.”

“Camille.” He ran his fingers down my back.

“Shh.” I put my finger to his lips. “Please. Tomorrow.”

He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

“Are you hurting?”

Against my mouth, he murmured, “Too much dancing.”

My arms laced behind his neck, “We should get you horizontal as fast as possible.” I kissed the old scar on his chin where I knew he’d been hit with a kayak paddle.

His laughter was quick. He shook his head. “As the object of your snark for the last few years, I’m glad you’re finally using it for good.”

He tossed me on the bed. I bounced once before he pulled at my boots and threw them across the room.

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