Worth the Wait

chapter 12


Jared cursed himself a thousand times as he and Tasha walked along the pier in Waterfront Park. He couldn’t believe he’d told her they didn’t have to sleep together until Sunday. He was really acting like a punk. The minute he’d seen her standing in the bedroom he’d wanted her, but her racing heart and stiff body had gotten to him. He knew she wanted him too, but he didn’t want to rush her first time. Still, the amount of lust coursing through him was playing havoc with his patience.

He could have easily overcome her anxiety — the way her body melted when he kissed her neck told him that — but he wanted her to come to him, the same way she had at the park and in her house before they left: without hesitancy. But to give her until Sunday to relax and come to him was a bit much.

He walked behind her on purpose. His eyes followed the soft sway of her hips beneath her dress. He would have a serious case of blue balls if she wasn’t ready until Sunday. There weren’t any panty lines visible beneath her dress. His erection had doubled in size when he’d felt her bare breast earlier. Did she just slip out of the shower and into that dress? All he had to do was slide it up and glide himself right into her wetness.

Jared groaned and she turned to face him with a frown. “Are you okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Then why are you groaning?”

“Just thinking about something I need to do for my product line. We’re trying to get my line at the Farmers Market and I forgot to update the superintendent.” He lied easily. One good thing about being a player was he could come up with quick excuses. He ignored the twist in his stomach at the thought of playing Tasha. That wasn’t what he was trying to do with her.

She smiled and walked over to lean on the rail overlooking the river. “That’s one of the things I like about you. You’ve always pursued your dream with tenacity. Even way back when I first met you and you were just starting out as a personal trainer, you pushed your services and your fitness ideas with such enthusiasm.”

Jared rubbed his jaw as he walked to stand beside her at the rail. “You make me sound like some hustler.”

“Not like that. I just mean I could tell you really believed in yourself and what you were offering. Plus you care about your clients. You never were just another muscle head leading people from machine to machine. You want them to succeed. I knew you would be successful one day. I just didn’t realize how successful.”

He turned to look at the harbor. “I’m doing okay.”

“Okay?” she said with a laugh. “You have an infomercial.”

“Sales ad,” he quipped.

She rolled her eyes. “Infomercial, and from what I hear it rivals the top selling workouts in sales and intensity. You recently launched your product in two large retailers, and you own a huge production facility. And let’s not forget the gym franchise.”

“It’s only a few dozen gyms.”

She playfully hit his shoulder. “Will you stop being modest, it doesn’t suit you, Casanova. On the real, I’m proud of what you’ve done. It’s a testament to you and your skills.”

As Jared looked at Tasha’s upturned face there was a tightening near his heart. He’d had women praise his workouts, looks, and dick size, but never his skills outside of the gym or bedroom — two of his best rooms if anyone were to ask. Until that moment, he hadn’t believed her when she said she’d picked him because she respected what he did. He’d assumed she was like the other women he knew that wanted him in their bed.

The sunlight brought out red highlights in her curly hair and he couldn’t resist the urge to play with a tendril that blew softly in the breeze.

He leaned down and softly kissed her. “Thank you,” he said.

She blushed but didn’t pull away. “You’re welcome.”

He ran his hand across her cheek and studied her face. He may have given her until Sunday to say “let’s get it on” but that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to speed her along. And right now, the only thing he wanted to do was kiss her until she insisted they forget food and go back to his condo.

“Let’s get something to eat,” he told her, but didn’t remove his hand from her face.

“Then let’s go back to your place.”

“Are you sure?”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him again. “Yes.”

To hell with food, was Jared’s immediate thought. He could always order something afterwards. Calm down, man. At least now you know you won’t have to wait until Sunday.

“How about we get something quick?” he said.

“What do you want to eat?”

“You.” It was an automatic response.

She blinked a few times before lowering her eyes. “That won’t fill you up.”

He stepped close. “We’ll both be satisfied once I’m done.”

Tasha turned to lean on the rail. The wind blew the hair away from her face and the humid smell of the river drifted over them. “I doubt it. I don’t see what the fuss is about. It’s messy for men and uncomfortable for women. The entire act is overrated.”

Jared laughed loud enough to draw the attention of a few passersby. “Are you sure you’ve done it before? Or were you only trying to get to me?”

Tasha looked around before whispering. “I’ve done it before. I just didn’t like it.”

“Who was he?”

She shrugged as if it were no big deal. “My high school boyfriend.”

Jared waved his hand dismissively. “That’s the problem. We don’t know what we’re doing in high school. He probably went at it like he was eating an apple.”

“More like a dog lapping water from a bowl,” she said with a shudder.

He chuckled. “Even worse.”

She turned and placed a hand on her hip. “What makes you so good? The act is the same no matter who’s doing it.”

Jared leaned over and lowered his voice. “Because I don’t eat it. I kiss it. I use my tongue, teeth, and lips to taste, kiss, and savor every drop of goodness coming from you.”

The cockiness of male pride filled his chest when her breathing increased. He knew she wanted to know if he could do it better, and he was absolutely certain he could. She licked her lips and his tongue itched to retrace her actions.

She looked at him and he almost lost himself in her honey colored eyes. “You said you only do it with the right people. What makes me right?”

Jared couldn’t answer that question. He hadn’t kissed a woman’s lower lips since a Hollywood writer had decided to give a play-by-play of his technique on her blog six months ago. The blog had caused women to throw themselves at him for over a month, but they were all disappointed. He didn’t like his business in the street and wasn’t going to give another woman fuel.

But ever since Tasha had come to him with her request, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to taste her. He wanted to see her face when he gave her the ultimate lovers’ kiss, and feel her body climax around his tongue. She didn’t need to know how much he craved it — he didn’t understand it himself.

“I want to introduce you to your sexuality. I can’t hold back any of my techniques if I were to do that,” he said.

She frowned and he loved the way her nose crinkled up. “Maybe you shouldn’t do that. I should save something for my husband.”

Jared checked his annoyance at the mention of a non-existent husband. “Number one, you have to know what you like so that you can tell your husband.”

“He’ll know what to do.”

“Men aren’t mind readers, Tasha. You have to say what you like, otherwise he’s going in blind. Just like your high school sweetheart. Number two, you love my kisses and I know you want me to kiss you everywhere.” He ran his hand slowly down her arm. Goose bumps raised on her soft skin, sending his already heated body went into overdrive.

He bit back a smile — her thoughts were back on him.

“I wouldn’t say that I love your kisses,” she said softly.

“Well, I damn sure like yours.” He pulled her close and lowered his lips to hers. He couldn’t get enough of kissing her. He didn’t care that they were on the harbor surrounded by tourists. He’d ignored Monica’s calls offering easy ass ever since Tasha asked him to take her virginity, and he could barely walk straight from the constant arousal. He’d be damned if he got through the weekend without her feeling the same.

His tongue glided back and forth over the fullness of her lower lip until she opened her mouth with a sigh. Wasting no time at all, his tongue slipped past her lips to kiss her fully. He loved every inch of her mouth until she was weak and clinging to him. Thoughts of doing the same to every fold of her lower lips caused his dick to throb and he pressed it against her, letting her feel just how hard she’d made him.

“Get a room,” somebody called out.

Tasha stiffened and tried to pull away but he didn’t let her. Instead, he leisurely ended the kiss, sucking gently on her lower lip before gradually letting it slide between his lips. Her eyes were like molten pools of caramel as she stared up at him. Damn, if they weren’t so exposed he’d hike up her dress and take it right here.

“I think it’s time to stop the torture. Let’s go back to my condo and let me make love to you.” He’d never told a woman he wanted to make love to her. Let’s have sex, do it, or f*ck were common phrases he’d used, but not make love. Yet, that was what he thought of with Tasha. He’d always been a giving sex partner, with women coming back for more, but he wanted to do more than pleasure Tasha’s body. He wanted to worship her body.

“Let’s go.”

He couldn’t stop the cocky grin from spreading his face. He grabbed her hand and nearly sprinted back to his place. There was no need to try and hide his anticipation, she wanted him just as much. He was going to make sure the feel of his body remained with Tasha for the rest of her life.