Cassie didn’t mean to break the mood of happy moments between them, but she couldn’t go on without speaking the truth, and Jordan knew deep down she was right. She had a point. Yes, Jordan and Cassie could recall the old times they shared together, but they were now leading separate lives away from each other.
Making the next few batches of cookies was spent in silence, with the only sounds coming from the kitchen being the KitchenAid making noise, the sound of the oven going off, or the rolling pins on the cutting board. You could’ve heard a pin drop otherwise.
Jordan and Cassie would occasionally bump into each other in passing, but even standing inside the same traditional-style kitchen, you’d think they didn’t even know each other. How astonishing to see the mood change so quickly. Cassie blew a stray piece of hair out of her eyes as she used the cuff of her shirt to dab at her forehead.
Jordan took the opportunity to look over at her, finally making eye contact with her for the first time since she’d stated the changes in each of their lives.
Cassie felt herself blush slightly. Why was he looking at her like that? Did she do something wrong?
“What?” she asked him, splaying her hands in the air. “Do I have something on my face?” Her right hand automatically went to her to brush off whatever he was staring at. He was making her feel self-conscious, and she didn’t like the feeling one bit.
“Well, actually, you’ve got some flour on your face.”
Cassie dabbed at her cheekbone. “Did I get it?”
Jordan wiped his flour-covered hands on the red and white striped dish towel sitting on the counter, then before Cassie knew what he was doing, his finger was softly grazing at the spot of flour on her left cheek. Cassie couldn’t help but lean in toward his touch. His fingers felt good against the smoothness of her skin—like old times.
Shit! There she went again.
Stop tormenting yourself, Cassie, she thought to herself. No matter how good it feels to be touched by him again, you can’t give into the handsome man standing in front of you. He’s not worth all the heartbreak he put you through.
“There,” Jordan lowered his voice to an almost-whisper, “I got it for you.” His eyes never once left Cassie’s angelic face.
“Thanks,” she finally mustered together. Even though the flour was gone from her cheek, Cassie could still feel his fingers gently grazing against her cheekbone, and she had to admit, it felt good to feel his touch on her skin again. So good, she didn’t want him to stop. She remembered how she used to feel every time he touched her this way when they were dating. She’d always been vulnerable to his touch.
All her emotions came rushing straight back to her. Feelings she wasn’t expecting or hoping to feel for him again were suddenly present all over again. She didn’t know if she had the courage to turn him away right now, and even if she did, did she really want to? Maybe Gabby could be right this time; there was a first for everything. Maybe all she needed was one last time of physically being with Jordan to get these feelings completely out of her system. Then she would know for sure if her feelings were the real deal or just nostalgia over the good times they had once shared.
Cassie went weak in the knees, like she might topple over at any given moment. Would he catch her if she did?
Her hand reached out to grip the countertop as Jordan ran his fingers down her neck and shoulder, sending shivers down her spine. They shouldn’t be doing this; they couldn’t be doing this, but she also didn’t want it to stop.
Jordan leaned in closer until his lips were brushing against Cassie’s in the most delicate way, and softly and tenderly, their mouths joined together in a kiss.
Cassie's eyes fluttered shut, and she had the urge to sweep her hands through his short hair. Before she knew what she was doing, she was looping her arms around his neck, pulling their bodies even closer together.
She hadn’t been kissed like this in a very long time, and it felt wonderful to be touched this way again—with Jordan. She knew she was getting caught up in the moment, but at this point, she didn’t care. Cassie liked the way his hands caressed her body, turning her on in places she hadn’t experienced pleasure in a very long time. She wanted to feel like her body was alive, and that was how Jordan was making her feel. Cassie was his for tonight, and that was something she did not want to change.
“Mm,” he murmured into her ear as his penetrating kisses trailed along her neck. “You haven’t changed since the last time we did this.”
Cassie shook her hair free from the elastic band keeping her it in place so that it cascaded out around her shoulders and down her back. “Ssh,” she said to him, “don’t talk. Just kiss me.”