Seaside Sunsets(26)

“I bought you something today.” She slid the mood ring off her thumb and held it out to Jamie.

“A ring? What exactly are you proposing?” He arched a brow.

“That we see what you’re feeling. See how it’s purply right now? It’s a mood ring. This color means I’m amorous, sensual. Mischievous. Put it on. Let’s see what you are.” She watched him slide it on as they danced. “We only have to worry if it turns black.”

“What’s black?”

“Intense nothingness. A black hole. Angst so deep you can’t push your way out of it.”

“I can tell you what I’m feeling without a ring.” He pressed his hips to hers, and the feel of his arousal sent another thrill through her. The ring turned dark blue.

“Ooh, you’re love-struck. Deeply relaxed,” she whispered.

He pulled her close. “I am not deeply relaxed. Intensely turned on, hard as a rock, but not relaxed.” His voice was low and deep, and it pulled her under his spell again as he lowered his lips to hers and took her in another brain-numbing kiss.

The song ended, and Jenna waved everyone over to one of the bonfires, where Pete handed out sticks and marshmallows. Jamie leaned down and kissed Jessica passionately, pressing her body to his, stroking her tongue as if he were making love to her mouth. She came away breathless, momentarily unable to think, much less walk.

“Damn, I love how your body reacts to me,” Jamie whispered in her ear.

“My legs are jelly,” she admitted.

“Too bad I can’t lay you down right here and make your whole body feel that way.”

Oh Lord. Every nerve in her body was on fire. She was already damp between her legs, and they’d only just arrived at the beach. How was she supposed to make it through the evening without falling to pieces? Everything he said, every brush of his cheek, every glimpse of his sexy smile, made her insides quiver. With her body aching for him, now that she knew what it felt like to be naked in his arms, to be as close as two people could possibly be, she could barely clear her mind enough to think of anything else. The ocean breeze, the music, Jamie…it was all so romantic. The perfect night to hang out with friends and relax, and there she was, wanting to tear off his clothes and play him like an electric guitar, wild and uninhibited, then slowly, memorizing the feel of every inch of him.

She shook her head to clear the dirty thoughts and realized Jamie had been watching her the whole time. He pressed his cheek to hers again and whispered, “I love that look in your eyes. It makes me want to take you right here.”

Oh God, yes. She clutched his waist.

“Want me to cook you a marshmallow to take your mind off of what we really want to be doing?” he asked.

Marshmallow, yes, that’s good. Marshmallows have nothing to do with sex. That should help get her mind out of the gutter. She’d never had a dirty mind before, and as surprising and new as it all was, she didn’t fight it. She reveled in it, wondering what was happening to her.

She looked up at Jamie. You’re happening to me. “Sure. A marshmallow sounds great.” They joined the others by the fire.

“Petey’s making mine golden brown,” Jenna explained. “Not golden, not brown, golden brown. Which reminds me…” She ran her fingers through her dark hair, then reached into her pocket, pulled out a plastic tiara, and settled it on her head.

“And your marshmallow has arrived, princess.” Pete held the marshmallow up for Jenna to inspect.

Jenna lifted her chin as she assessed the marshmallow with a scrutinizing gaze. She slid it from the stick with a wide smile.

“Perfect! Thank you!”

Pete leaned down and kissed her lips, then smiled at Jamie. “Gotta treat her as she deserves.”

Jenna stared adoringly up at Pete.

“Oh my God. That’s too cute. How long have you been together?” Jessica asked.

“In my mind? Six years, but in real life? A year,” Jenna explained.

Bella, Caden, Leanna, and Kurt joined them as Jenna was talking.

Pete wrapped his arms around Jenna from behind. “Guys can be thick-headed, or so I’m told.” He slid his eyes to Tony, still dancing with the brunette.

“Not all guys. Caden and Kurt knew what they wanted and went for it.” Bella leaned against Caden’s side.

“Hey! Are you dissing my man?” Jenna put up her fists and pretended to box with Bella.

“Put those puppies away, Jen, or I’ll unorganize your closet,” Bella teased.

Jenna dropped her hands and looked up at Pete. “I tried to defend you.”

“That’s my girl.” He kissed her again.

Bella draped an arm over Jessica’s shoulder and looked at Jamie as he crouched by the fire. “At least Jamie’s not thick,” Bella said with a smile.

Jessica bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from saying, Yes, he is. Thick and long, and oh so good. “No. He seems to know exactly what I’m thinking all the time.”

“You kicked ass on your cello tonight,” Bella said. “You should play professionally.”

“That’s what I’m trying to decide this summer. If I should continue to play with my orchestra, or if I want to back off for a while. Maybe teach music to children or something similar.” She hadn’t really considered anything beyond making a decision about the orchestra yet, but the idea of teaching kids was appealing. She hoped one day to have a family, and she loved children. She imagined it would be fulfilling to bring children and music together in a fun way, rather than the high-pressure tutoring sessions she’d endured.

“Come on, babe. Let’s dance so I have an excuse to have your body against me.” Caden pulled Bella to his side.

“You never need an excuse.” Bella laughed and waved as they walked down the beach arm in arm toward the band.

“Wait for us!” Leanna grabbed Kurt’s hand and they followed Caden and Bella.

Jessica tucked the idea of teaching away for later consideration. There was so much love in this group of friends. She felt as though she’d left Boston and been plunked down on a whole new planet. She sat beside Jamie by the fire.

“Hey there.” He pulled the marshmallow he was roasting off the stick and fed it to her.

She bit part of it off, then guided the rest into his mouth and tried not to laugh when the sticky marshmallow stuck to his fingers. He shook his fingers up and down.

“I think it’s stuck for life,” he joked.

She swallowed the piece she was eating and captured his hand in hers. Their eyes met. He knew what she was about to do. She saw it in the darkening of his eyes, felt it in the tension in his hand. She had no idea that following her heart would take her down such a dirty trail, but follow she did as she drew his finger into her mouth and rolled her tongue over the sugary sweetness, sucking until all that was left was the taste of him. She held his gaze as he drew his finger slowly out of her mouth. Jamie was breathing hard. His hand came around the back of her neck, hard and hot against her skin, and their lips came together in a hungry kiss that had her mind sprinting down the dirty trail again. She was one stroke of the tongue away from climbing onto his lap, wondering if they could unzip his pants and make love beneath her dress with no one knowing. She pawed at his shoulders, his chest, and—Oh God—a moan slipped from her lungs into his. Surely everyone around them was thinking they were going to rip each other’s clothes off any second—because man, oh man, did she want to.

She forced herself to tear her lips from his. A quick scan of the beach told her that nobody cared that she was wet and he was probably hard as a freaking rock, or that she’d been ready to make a spectacle of both of them.

“Let’s get out of here.” It wasn’t a question. Jamie pulled her to her feet and crossed the sand like he was on a mission. “We’re taking off!” he yelled over the music in their friends’ general direction. Then with one arm around Jessica’s back, her take-charge boyfriend led her toward the dunes.





Chapter Twelve


JAMIE WAS HOT, hard, and hornier than a bunny on Viagra. The image of Jessica sucking his finger with that seductive look in her eyes that did him in every time played over and over in his mind. They were halfway to the dunes—the parking lot was three minutes away. Four, tops. And there was no way he was going to make it. He had to feel her against him. They were shrouded in darkness, far away from the band and the lights. He swept Jessica into his arms and cupped her perfect ass. Her eyes were at half-mast, full of desire and the same well of emotion he’d seen earlier. Jesus, he was so far gone, he couldn’t ignore his feelings for her if his life depended on it. He forced himself to slow down. After how aggressively he’d taken her the first time, he wanted to cherish every inch of her, show her how good she could feel with tenderness instead of heady need. He ran his thumb over her lower lip and heard the breath leave her lungs.

“Jess.” He breathed deeply, reminding himself to be sweet and tender, and forcing his greediness away. He lowered his mouth, a whisper away from hers, so they were breathing the same air. He had to taste her, to feel the woman who had seared herself into his heart so fast. He dragged his tongue along the swell of her lower lip, and she inhaled a jagged breath. A seductive, intoxicating sound that nearly brought him to his knees. He grazed her lips with his, kissed her softly, resisting the urge to deepen the kiss. His hands slid lower on her ass, and he felt her heat through the silky fabric of her panties. His tongue slid over hers, to the smooth enamel and jagged ridges of her teeth. Her jaw dropped open and she melted against him, giving herself over to him as she’d done from their very first kiss. Allowing him to lick the insides of her lips, the creases and corners, as he memorized every dip and curve of her sweet mouth.