Wrecked(24)

“Really. And I like having your name on me.”

“That didn’t take long.”

“No, it didn’t.” His lips met mine gently.

“You have really good lips.”

“So do you.” He ran a finger over my bottom lip and then the top. It was another touch that sent a thrill through me unexpectedly. I loved how Jake touched all of me. “I still don’t know what my favorite part of you is.”

I continued exploring his chest. “I know what mine is. Well, there’s a tie.”

He moved to lie on his side. “What parts?”

“Your eyes and your hands.”

“Is there an explanation that goes along with that?” Adjusting the strap again, he kissed my shoulder before moving his lips in a line to my neck.

“Although, right now your lips might be winning.”

He laughed. “Why my eyes?”

“They’re so expressive. They tell me everything you’re thinking and feeling.” I reached out to stroke his cheek again. “At least, I think they do.”

“If they’re telling you how crazy I am about you and how much I want you, then you’re right.”

“They are.”

“Why my hands?” He ran a hand over my chest above my breasts, slowly edging closer to the top of my dress.

“They’re so strong, and they always know where they need to be.”

He chuckled. “I get the strong part, but I don’t know if my hands have a mind of their own.”

“Then I guess my favorite part of you, is just you.”

“That’s my answer for my favorite part. I can’t pick just one. I love your eyes.” He kissed my eyelid. I moaned. It felt incredible.

“I love your lips.” He kissed me gently. “I love your hair.” He ran his fingers through it again. “I love your neck.” He kissed it softly, moving down toward my chest.

“I love your breasts, but you have to expect that one.” He slipped two fingers right underneath the top of my dress so that they brushed against the skin exposed by my bra.

“I love your legs.” He used his other hand to run up one leg, and I hoped he wouldn’t stop at my knee. He didn’t.

“Your stomach.” He slipped his hand under my dress and stroked my stomach.

“I love your hands, especially when they’re on me.” He moved one of his hands so he could put my hand on his chest.

“I love every single part of you. It’s like you were tailor made to be mine.” He paused and a slight smile crossed his lips. “Although that makes me sound kind of possessive again, huh?”

“No. Just sweet.”

“Good.” The hand underneath my dress moved down to my panties. He slipped a finger underneath the elastic. “I need to see and touch every inch of you.”

“Out here?” I leaned up on my elbows to see over the side of the boat. We were surrounded by nothing but water and darkness. It was silent, with just a faint breeze further cooling down the evening.

“Who’s going to see?”

“People. You don’t own this bay.” It might have been quiet, but that could change at any moment.

“All right.” He moved away, and I felt his absence everywhere.

“Would this help?” He returned with another blanket and draped it over us.

“Yes, that helps.” I wanted the coverage as well as some warmth.

“Good.” He didn’t waste any time before pulling my dress over my head.

I reached out and unbuttoned his shorts.

“I’m glad to see you want to get into my pants as much as I want to get into yours.”

“I’m not wearing pants.”

“No, no you’re not.” He grinned. “So are my eyes, hands, and lips the only parts of me you like?” He shifted out of his shorts, and we were left just in our underwear.

“No. Not at all.”

“What other parts?” He kissed my neck again.

“I love your chest.” I reached to touch it. “Your hair, your arms. I love your arms, especially being in them.”

He moved to cradle me in his arms. “I’m pretty sure you belong there.”

“I’m more than pretty sure.”

He smiled. “I love this confidence, Em.”

“You bring out that side in me.”

“I’m glad.” He reached around and unclasped my bra. I wasn’t expecting it, nor was I expecting his mouth to claim my right breast so quickly. “Are there any other parts you like?”

“Can I just show you instead?”

“Showing is always an option.”

I reached into his boxer shorts, determined to show him the confidence we’d just discussed.

He groaned. “I’m glad you like that part.”

“Like my breasts, I think it was expected.”

“There’s nothing wrong with expected.” He grabbed my hand to move it away. “But I also want this to last.”

He moved his mouth to my left breast and let his hand glide down my stomach. He didn’t stop at my panties, pushing them off quickly. He moved his mouth. “Now I get to see all of you.” He ducked his head under the blanket.

I laughed. “It’s kind of dark, isn’t it?”

“I can see with more than my eyes.”

One of his hands slid between my legs, while he returned his lips to mine.

I pushed his lips away. “Jake Mathews, you’re going to be the end of me.”

“The only thing I’m the end of is your dating history. I’m the last one, because I’m never letting you go.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“It’s nice when two people can agree.”

I couldn’t respond. The only thing coming out of my mouth was a moan.

He looked me right in the eye. “I love you, Emily.”

The words surprised me. We’d talked about loving each other’s bodies, but this was different. Even surprised, I knew how to answer. “I love you, Jake.”

“Yeah? Good.” He reached for his shorts and pulled out his wallet. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw him going for a condom.

“I’m guessing you’re on birth control, but you can never be too safe, right?”

I nodded.

He smiled before positioning himself over me. “It looks like I didn’t have to wait too long.”

“Thank god.”

He laughed before doing exactly what he’d promised a few weeks before—reminding me of what I’d been missing.

I’d never experienced anything like it. We moved together perfectly as I watched the stars above us. I’d never get enough of Jake, and I hoped he’d never get enough of me.





Chapter Twenty


Jake





I didn’t miss alcohol when I was with Emily. I didn’t miss the taste, I didn’t miss the way it dulled my senses. I didn’t need it. Nothing tasted better than her, and the last thing I wanted was my senses dulled. I wanted to feel, see, and experience everything about her. And I don’t just mean with sex. The sex was great—incredible, but it was so much more than that. I had the team and my friends, but I lived for the time I got to spend with her and Noah. If I was being honest with myself, I was falling for him too.

“You have to let me take him trick or treating. You can’t deprive him of the joys of Halloween just because you have to work.” I took a bite of my pizza, enjoying our usual Sunday night tradition. In the beginning, we only saw each other once or twice a week, but before long it became a whole weekend thing. We only had Friday night games, so I’d go back to her place afterward. I always stayed through Monday morning. I was right about my father loving Emily, so he had no issues with me getting in late those days. I owed my friends and family big time for driving me to Wilmington so often, but it was worth it. With my limited license, I could drive to work and school if I didn’t want to walk. At least I didn’t have to get Molly involved in that anymore.

“He’s not even two years old. He doesn’t know what trick or treating is.” Emily ate Noah’s crust. She refused to waste it.

“Okay, so I want to go trick or treating too.”

She laughed. “Now the truth comes out.”

“I won’t take him out long, just in my parents’ neighborhood.”

“It sounds great in theory, but by the time I get there Noah already needs to be in bed.”

“You can both stay over. Or if you want a break, just let me keep him for the night.”

“Where’s he going to sleep? He’s in a bed, but he needs a rail.”

I smiled. I’d been meaning to keep it a secret, but I decided to let the cat out of the bag. “I set up one of those toddler beds in my extra bedroom—you know the one that looks like a race car. I thought it might be nice if you guys could start staying over with me sometimes…” Staying at her place was fine, but I wanted her in my bed too.

“You set up a room for Noah?” Her eyes widened in surprise. I hoped it was the good kind.

“Yeah. I mean we’ve been together two months now, it makes sense.”

“You make it sound like two years.”

I didn’t like the way she avoided my eyes when she said it. “What’s that supposed to mean? Two months is a record for me.”

“Please tell me that’s a joke.”