Her eyes went dark. “Bed.”
He carried her to the car and settled her into the passenger seat. He loved taking care of her. Jamie climbed into the driver’s seat and leaned over for another kiss. Bed. Bed. Bed. He started the car and set one hand on her thigh as he drove. He tried to pay attention to the road, but his eyes darted toward Jessica.
“Home,” she whispered.
Less than five minutes later they were unlocking the door to her apartment. Jessica fumbled with the keys as Jamie kissed the back of her neck, his hands exploring her taut stomach.
She turned in his arms and held her hands up by her head, surrendering herself to him again. “I can’t unlock…”
He settled his mouth on the curve of her neck.
“Unlock the door,” she whispered.
He pressed his hips to hers and held her wrists against the door.
“I think it’ll be a little embarrassing if everyone comes home and finds us like this right here on your deck.” Just the thought had his body twitching.
She strained against his hold, craned her neck, trying to kiss him. He lowered his mouth, leaving a sliver of air between them.
“Jamie…” she said with pleading eyes. “Open. The. Door.”
He slid her wrists closer together against the smooth wood and held them both in one hand.
“Now you’re just getting demanding.” He smiled up at her as he kissed her.
“Please open the door? You’re killing me.”
His heart sank, and he released her wrists. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry, babe.” He cupped her cheek, and she leaned forward and kissed him.
“No, silly. You’re killing me in a good way.” She handed him the keys, then wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her cheek to his chest.
He blew out a relieved sigh.
“We need a safe word.” He fumbled with the keys.
“Safe word? Like to make you stop?”
Jamie closed the door behind them and tossed the keys on the table. He wrapped his arms around her waist and touched his forehead to hers.
“Yeah. You know, so I know I won’t hurt you.”
She furrowed her brow, obviously thinking it over. “What if I hurt you?”
He laughed. “I somehow doubt that’s going to happen.”
“What if I tie you up and it’s too tight? Or I do something you don’t like?” She pressed both hands against his chest and smiled playfully up at him.
“Tie me up? I thought you’d only been with one other guy.”
“Two. You, remember?” She slipped off her flip-flops and tossed her long hair over her shoulder.
“And you want to tie me up?” Jamie arched a brow.
“No. Not now.” Her cheeks pinked up and she turned away.
He turned her by the shoulders and drew her closer to him. “You can tie me up, tie me down, or ride me to heaven and back, Jess. You don’t need to be embarrassed.”
She placed her hands softly on his chest again in what he’d come to think of as her spot. “I don’t know what I’ll want to do, but if I need a safe word, then I want you to have one, too.”
“So this is all about being fair?” The side of his mouth quirked up. “Okay, how about the word red?”
“Red?”
“Red.”
She slid her hands beneath his shirt and pushed it up to his armpits. She pressed her lips to his abs and trailed kisses up to his pecs, making every nerve stand on end.
“Then if I say green, does that mean go?” she asked.
He pulled her dress over her head and the air rushed from his lungs.
“Green. Green. Green,” she whispered.
MUCH LATER, JESSICA lay on her side, spooned against Jamie’s chest, listening to the even cadence of his breathing. As promised, he’d made love to her slowly and sensuously, and after a brief reprieve, he’d made love to her hard, fast, and every way in between. She looked at the chair by the bedroom door, where Jamie’s jeans were hanging over the armrest, his shirt spread across the back. She could get used to falling asleep in his arms, but she knew that until she made a final decision about her career, that was a dangerous thought. He had a business to run and a grandmother to care for. She’d have to travel, and there was no way she’d ask him to give up his time with Vera. It was easy to play house on vacation. She wasn’t so sure it would be as easy back home when she was bunned, busy, and working crazy hours.
She thought about how good it had felt to play her cello with Vera and the accolades Vera had rained on her afterward. She’d even asked her to play with her quartet Thursday night. And I forgot to mention it to Jamie. She’d even forgotten about checking her cell phone for the call from the new owner of the baseball. She wrapped her hand over Jamie’s, and in his sleep he hugged her closer to him. Before she’d come to the Cape, her life was regimented, her schedule dictated by playing the cello, and now she knew exactly what she’d been missing. Now she knew Jamie.