He was also dressed in a tight t-shirt and the dark cotton clung to his sculpted abs and chest. A few tattoos had peeked out of the short sleeves of his shirt, which made me wonder what else covered his body.
They were gorgeous. All three of them looked like they’d stepped out of some woman’s fantasy and by the looks from the women in the cafe, I was positive that I wasn’t the only one who thought so. But it had been Jack who had drawn my gaze back to him again and again. Jack that had my mouth go dry as I tried to ignore the thrum of anticipation. The other two may have been nice eye candy, but it was Jack that I ached to touch.
Needing a distraction, I’d gone along with Liam’s peace offering and let him lead me to the river for the picnic, which we’d planned, but I’d felt like our conversation was strained. In the end I couldn’t wait to get back to the house so I could hide in my room for a while.
I’d lounged on my bed thinking of Jack. To me, Jack seemed like a decent guy, more so than his idiot brother. I was starting to have second thoughts about acting as Liam’s girlfriend.
Since we’d arrived he’d been acting all cocky when we were around others, apart from his parents, then he would be the ‘well behaved’ son. Seeing those two sides of him bothered me more than I wanted to think about. It had only been a day so hopefully he’d calmed down a bit; at least I hoped he had.
I was sitting on the back porch with my first coffee of the day watching the sunrise. It was so quiet at this time, and it probably would be for another couple of hours.
Callie and I would sit on the porch at her house to watch the morning arrive. It truly was the most beautiful time of day. Back in Texas we'd go back to bed for a few hours afterwards, but I didn't think I'd be able to sleep with my thoughts so full of Jack.
"Thalia."
Jack made me jump when he said my name; I met his gaze. I was so in trouble. He looked as though he'd just climbed out of the shower with his hair still damp. His jeans were only half fastened and the long sleeved t-shirt he had on fitted him like a glove in a pale green color. He was...wow.
Finally, I found my tongue. "I didn't know anyone else would be up yet." I hoped I wasn't blushing.
"Couldn't sleep," he grumbled.
He took a gulp of his coffee then walked towards me, looking damn hot. "Move over."
I should go to my room, I chided myself but instead, I moved over so he could sit beside me on the small porch swing. Once he was sitting, there wasn't an inch between our thighs.
It took all my will power not to squirm to try and ease the ache between my legs. My breasts felt swollen and ached for his touch. Jack was so close, all I had to do was lean over slightly and they'd be against his arm. I ignored him and carried on watching the sun.
"Thalia, please look at me."
"I can't," I whispered, shaking my head.
He sighed and put his coffee on the floor then stood moving to sit on the coffee table in front of me. "This thing between us isn't going to just disappear."
"There isn't anything between us," I quickly replied, my gaze darting away from his face as I tried to avoid looking at him.
He reached out and took hold of my hand. I felt like I'd been hit with a bolt of electricity and my gaze flew back to his face; my eyes widened in shock.
I couldn’t hide my reaction.
"Tell me now there isn't anything between us."
Holding his gaze I didn’t want to move, but I knew I couldn't stay out here with him. Standing up, he stood with me. "I need to go. This is wrong. I shouldn't feel like this when I'm with you. We only met forty-eight hours ago."
I turned to leave, but he grasped my arm, his fingers digging into my skin, but it didn’t hurt.
"Don't go. Please, just sit out here with me."
How could I resist him? Could we get away with sitting out here together without anyone catching us?
"I feel it too, Thalia. I know what my future holds, but for once, I want something for me that doesn't involve my family. I want something that’s just for me, and what I want right now is to be with you."
I melted. There were no other words for what he did to me.
Sitting back on the swing, he sat with me and slid his arm around my shoulders causing shivers to run through me.
If this was the only chance I would ever have of being close to this guy, I was going to enjoy it. Give myself a memory I could cherish forever.
Before I could change my mind, I leaned in and snuggled into him, sliding my hand over his stomach, which quivered and let it rest on his chest. After a brief pause, he wrapped his other arm around me and held me tight, as I curled my feet under me.
I sighed and closed my eyes. Heaven.
Chapter 21
Jack
––––––––
Holding her tight, I used my other hand and laced my fingers with Thalia’s on my chest as we both snuggled on the porch swing. She felt real good against me, as though she’d been made for me. Like she’d said, we’d only met less than two days ago, but I felt like I’d known her for a lot longer.