She shook her head.
“You’ve never pleasured yourself?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Never even considered it.”
If I had your body, I’d never stop touching it. “But you were so open with me. You knew just what to do, how to act.” He’d never met anyone like her, so pure and honest. So openly loving.
She shifted so they were nose to nose. “That’s because it wasn’t an act. I finally allowed myself to let go of what I’d been taught about how to act and of right and wrong. You know, they didn’t cover proper orgasm etiquette at Juilliard.” She laughed, a sweet, sensuous laugh that he wanted to always remember. “I just let myself feel, accepted what you had to give, and I gave what I wanted to share.”
He drew her body against him, wanting to take care of her and show her all the ways she deserved to be loved and cherished.
“Was it okay for you?” she asked just above a whisper.
He leaned back and met her gaze. “Being with you before we made love was never just okay. You make me think and feel and want in ways I never have before. I’ve never felt closer to anyone in my life.”
And I doubt I ever will.
Chapter Nine
AFTER MAKING LOVE again and finally eating those bagels, they spent the day with Vera and the others down by the pool. Jamie, Caden, Kurt, and Tony sat at one of the round tables, playing poker beneath an umbrella. Bella brought a radio, tuned to a top forties station. Jessica, Bella, Jenna, and Amy were lying in the sun on lounge chairs. Leanna was still at the flea market, and Vera was reading beneath an umbrella close to the girls.
Jamie’s head was still spinning from making love to Jessica earlier in the day. He couldn’t get over how trusting she was. Not that he couldn’t be trusted. He was a trustworthy guy, but with Jessica he had nearly zero control. She barely knew him. He could have been a jerk. Maybe he was one. How would he know? Would a jerk have continued making love to her when he realized he was only the second man she’d ever been with? He couldn’t have stopped if his life had depended on it. She had a crazy hold over his emotions, and it became stronger with every second they were together. He’d been a breath away from asking her to shower with him, and he’d forced himself to back off, because he knew if he saw all those naked, luscious curves glistening wet beneath the shower spray, the memory of how good she felt would be too fresh. He’d go back for more without thinking. Instead, he’d rinsed off alone, smelling her scent all around him in the small bathroom.
“Dude, you going to stare at her all day, or are you going to make a move?” Tony arched a brow.
Double entendre noted, Jamie gave him one right back. “Can’t beat an ace in the hole.”
“Unless you’re wielding a longer sword,” Kurt added with a smirk. “Come on, boys, put away your Mr. Happy’s and play your cards.”
Jamie set down four aces. “I was talking about my cards.” And thinking about Jess.
“Son of a gun.” Tony tossed down his cards. “I thought you were day dreaming.”
Caden laid his cards facedown. “You guys are too hot for me today. I’ve got to pick up Evan at TGG. Anyone need anything in town?”
“Condoms, Jamie?” Tony asked. “They sell ’em small.”
“Yeah, that’s why I can’t buy them at the same places as you.” Jamie clasped his hands behind his head and relaxed back in his chair. “They don’t carry triple XL.”
Kurt shook his head. He threw his cards on the table and leaned closer to the others. “I think Tony’s jealous.”
“Pfft. I’ve got women coming out my butt.” Tony ran his hand along his muscular pecs.
“That’s the problem.” Caden rose to his feet. “They’re not supposed to be coming out of anywhere, especially your butt. I’ll see you guys later.”
Kurt pushed out from the table. “Hold up. I’ll walk with you. I have to get some writing done.”
Jamie’s phone rang. He watched Jessica walk over to the pool steps and stick her toe in the water. She held on to the metal railing and stepped down onto the first stair, looking beyond sexy in her pink bathing suit. His phone rang again.
“Get your phone, bud.” Tony pushed the ringing phone closer to Jamie.
He answered the call from Mark, but his attention was focused on Tony as he joined Jessica on the steps of the pool. Tony’s dirty-blond hair had sun-kissed streaks of lighter blond. His muscles glistened in the sun, and Jamie knew the way he was leaning against the concrete edge of the pool, his palms flat, elbows behind him, was a purposeful pose to pump up his enormous biceps. Bastard.