“But your big-ass shoulder is in my gut and I’m probably going to puke all over you,” she said, apparently not impressed by his words.
“No you won’t.”
“Oh. Well, if you say so. For fuck’s sake.” She kept up a steady stream of grumbling the whole way home, but it didn’t bother Ike one bit. Because she was warm and whole and safe in his arms.
Finally, he climbed the steps to the back porch and carried Jess into the kitchen. He secured the door, then slowly lowered her to her feet to stand against the wall behind the door. He braced his hands on either side of her, boxing her in, forcing them close, making her see him, hear him. He ought to walk away, clear his head, get himself under control. But he couldn’t force the distance between them, no matter how much he should.
He bent down, way down, so that his eyes were aligned with hers. “That’s the second time in twenty-four hours that you’ve scared the fuck out of me,” he said, nailing her with a stare.
For a long moment, her expression was filled with uncertainty and confusion, and then her gaze dragged down his face and settled on his lips. She licked her own, and Ike couldn’t help but track the movement and want to warm her body up with his—starting with that sweet, smart little mouth. “I didn’t mean to. Either time,” she said.
He just stared at her, his head too tangled up to articulate all the things he wanted to say—and to figure out which of those he absolutely shouldn’t say. Ever. Because he understood enough about himself to realize that he was this wound up for a reason. He cared about Jess. A lot. And if things were different… But they’re fucking not.
Right.
Suddenly, Jess’s cold hands were on his cheeks. Where her touch was tentative, her eyes were filled with heat…and challenge. “Kiss me,” she whispered as she slowly leaned in.
“Don’t,” he said.
“Why not?” she asked, so close now that her breath caressed his skin.
Yeah, why not? Traitorous brain.
She ghosted her lips over his, mimicking the act of kissing while purposely keeping a hair’s breadth between them. Ike’s blood flashed hot and his cock was instantly rigid in his jeans. “Taste me,” she whispered.
Fuck, he wanted to. He wanted to kiss her and penetrate her and claim her. In any and every way.
Ike forced himself back. The space unleashed an ache inside his chest—but better a little pain now than a lot later. That was a lesson he’d learned over and over. “I need to keep my eyes on the prize, Jessica. And that’s you, safe.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’ll, uh, I’ll get you a towel.”
Chapter 5
What the hell just happened?
Still pinned to the kitchen wall, Jess watched Ike walk away. Twin reactions roared through her—hurt at his rejection, and appreciation for the fact that he wanted to take care of her. At least he hadn’t been as mad at her as she thought he’d be—well, once he understood why she’d left, that was. She probably should’ve thought about what she was doing when she went flying out of the house—not to mention what Ike would think about it. But, damnit, she was her father’s daughter, and there was absolutely no way she could hear someone in need and stand by without helping.
Ike, of all people, had to understand that.
“Here,” he said, returning with a big beige towel.
“Thanks.” She grasped the terry cloth. He didn’t let go of it right away, and it made her look up to his face—where she found his dark eyes absolutely blazing down at her. Jess didn’t think she was imagining the raw need she saw there, especially when she finally dropped her gaze only to find herself staring at a prominent bulge in the front of his jeans.
Holy shit!
Abruptly, Ike turned away and busied himself at the counter.
Dazed with lust and confusion, Jess scrubbed the towel over her face and hair and then wrapped it around her shoulders. The dry warmth of the cloth made her realize how chilly she was in the wet clothes. “I think I’ll take a shower,” she said. “Warm up.”
Ike nodded. “Good. I’ve gotta get the rest of the groceries from the truck.”
As he made for the front door, Jess retreated into the bathroom and quietly closed herself in. For a long moment, she just stood there, back to the cool wood. And then something occurred to her. Ike hadn’t said he didn’t want to kiss her, or even that they shouldn’t. He hadn’t really rejected her, had he?
Or maybe she was reading into her memory of the moment what she wanted to see.
Probably.
Then again, he’d been hard. And he’d looked at her like he wanted to eat her. And she was totally game to be his buffet.
She knocked her head against the door. Twice, for good measure. Because it didn’t matter how much his body reacted if his brain was telling him to stay away.