Focus on the positive.
Their growing relationship was one hell of a positive. Not just physically—though the passion between them was hot. He liked the way she made him feel. Maggie was good company; he was able to relax with her, have fun. She was the only one outside of his parents and the Jelineks who could make him laugh at himself.
More than that, he admired and respected her. She was a good person. A good friend. A good mother.
A good woman.
It would take time for her to overcome her past completely, but she was worth the wait. Besides, he wasn’t free of his own ghosts.
Maggie walked back into the kitchen and handed him a little white bottle, then poured him a glass of water. “Take the maximum dose while I get out some plates.”
“Thanks.” He swallowed four pills. “The pizza will be here shortly.”
“Good. You’ll feel better when you’ve eaten.”
He pulled her onto his lap. “I’ll feel better when I’ve had a proper hello.”
She leaned forward to kiss the tip of his nose. “Hello.”
“That’s not a proper hello.” He tilted her back, cradling her in his arms, and covered her mouth with his.
Desire slid through his veins as easily as a blade on fresh ice. His body reacted instantly. The aches from last night’s game fled his muscles, leaving fiery heat in their place.
Damn, he wanted her naked.
He needed to be buried deep inside her, almost more than he needed his next breath.
He wanted to lose himself in her until none of their problems mattered. Until nothing mattered but bringing them both to satisfaction.
Her hands moved restlessly over his body. She wanted this as much as he did.
Wanted him.
Triumphant, he pulled her closer, caressing her through her sweater. It wasn’t enough. He wanted to sample her delicious curves.
The sweater had to go. And her jeans.
And whatever lay beneath.
His shirt fell open, thanks to Maggie’s nimble fingers. Her fingertips traced his collarbone to the hollow at the base of his neck, then dipped lower to stroke his chest.
His hand slid beneath her sweater, encountering only soft, smooth, bare skin. His fingers trailed over her flat stomach. She moaned softly, urging him on, but he lingered only a moment before heading toward the curve of her breasts.
He needed to taste her, every inch of her. He ached to trail his mouth, his tongue, over every mound and valley.
The chair tilted precariously and Maggie grabbed his shoulders. Jake planted his feet on the floor, righting them. The moment passed. They remained wrapped in each other’s arms, pulse rates slowing, passion cooling.
The doorbell rang.
Jake swore.
Maggie chuckled softly.
“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” He set her aside gently and hurried to the door, buttoning his shirt as he went.
Thankfully, the delivery guy wasn’t chatty, handing over the pies with barely a grunt. Jake rushed back to the kitchen, tossed the two boxes onto the table, dropped into his chair and settled Maggie back onto his lap. “Now, where were we?”
“Your dinner will get cold.” She buried her face against his neck.
“It’ll be the only cold thing in this kitchen.”
“You have no idea,” she murmured huskily, before nipping her way down the corded muscle in his neck.
His pulse jerked as she swiped her tongue delicately across the sensitive hollow behind his collarbone. The banked fire within him flared back to life and roared through his veins.
He caught her chin in his hand, gently turning and tilting her face until her lips were a breath away from his.
She closed the gap. Damn, she was one hell of a kisser.
Flames of desire licked along every nerve in his body until the endings sizzled.
Suddenly, he knew if they continued like this, for even a moment longer, there would be no stopping.
Gently he pulled his mouth away from hers.
Maggie gave a little mewl of protest, which he soothed with a brush of his lips.
Their ragged breathing sounded loud in the silent kitchen.
He had to know how she felt. “Maggie?”
She lifted her gaze, looking him square in the eye.
He stumbled over his words, unsure how to say what he wanted.
Laying a finger across his lips, she silenced him. “I’m ready.”
“You are?” His heart contracted.
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes. No. I mean...” What the hell did he mean? “I’m not just talking about kissing, though that’s uh...great.” Damn. He’d never had a problem getting his words out before.
Maybe because it hadn’t mattered so much before.
Satisfaction curved her lips. “Oh?”
“I want you to be sure. No pressure.”
She shifted on his lap, rekindling his straining erection. “Thank you for being patient. For being prepared to give me more time. I know it seems a sudden about-face, but I did a lot of thinking while you were away. I’m ready.”