The silence, filled with the pulse of blood beating in my ears, doesn’t last long. The shock of what I’ve just done is a physical, pulsing thing.
Joey stands abruptly, and his body slams against me, pressing the backs of my thighs into the hard kitchen table. His hand, still under my dress, is wedged between us. “Doesn’t Brandon do it for you?” Joey growls, his eyes hot. “Or is he as careless of your needs as he was with your back?” His breath is warm as it washes over my cheeks and smells of spearmint gum.
“Brandon does it for me just fine,” I lie, but the words feel thick on my tongue. My heart is pounding with adrenaline.
He arcs an eyebrow. “Really?”
I feel his fingers twitch along the edge of my panties, and warmth pools. Nope. Nothing as simple as warmth. I ache. I throb. I want to shift sideways so his fingers can reach me. Not good. So not good. What the hell am I doing? God, and the smell of him. His body smells faintly of laundry soap and summer heat. I’m dying. Incinerating. Melting away.
“Yes. Really.” I’m hard pressed to make any sense right now.
He smirks. “Right.”
His fingers twitch again, and I realize he’s doing it on purpose. He’s deliberately letting me feel him almost touch me.
Playing.
“Step away from me, Joseph.”
“Why, Jazz? I thought you wanted me to soothe this ache.”
“Turns out, I’m getting that ache soothed by far more accomplished candidates. Thanks for reminding me. Now, step away.”
His eyes narrow on mine. He doesn’t believe me. His gaze slides to my mouth. His pupils almost cover the blue of his eyes.
We’re sharing breath. And mine is heavy.
His mouth is inches away, and I want it so bad. I want to remember the taste of him. The way his lips molded to mine perfectly, his teeth grazing my skin, his tongue hot as it slipped inside.
Then his fingers move and they’re on me. “Jesus Christ,” he says as his fingers make contact with my underwear, and we both realize how wet I am.
I shudder out a moan of surprise and relief. I’m shaking. I want to stop him. I’m embarrassed my arousal has been found out so easily.
Then he slips easily beneath the material and finds me, and it’s like I’m pulled under a wave of lust. The giving in to it is a sweet rush. I whimper.
Joey’s breath is rough, labored, almost a groan as he creates room between us and starts to move his fingers, slipping easily over my slick skin.
I started this. I don’t want it. But I do. Panting out air in rhythm to his fingers, I mindlessly press against his hand, my legs widening. Seeking more like I’m starving.
His mouth is closer but not touching. His fingers are moving faster.
I thrust my hips forward on a whimper.
“Shit,” he rasps and a finger slips inside me.
A loud cry rips out of my throat and reverberates around the kitchen. It’s like an alarm bell. What the hell am I doing? My hands are on his chest, and I push with everything I have.
Joey stumbles back.
I’m cold in the wake of his heat. Icy, and trembling. Desperately trying to find a semblance of mental armor before he sees how he almost laid me bare.
Our gazes clash together. Both of us are breathing hard.
His chest is heaving beneath the blue of his button down that’s molded to him.
I can’t tell what’s going through his head.
He looks angry. Shocked, but angry. I should be the one angry. Yes, I called him on his flirtation. More than called him on it. But he took the challenge. Why?
A noise sounds, and I hear Keri Ann coming down the stairs.
Joseph rakes a hand through his hair as we stare at each other.
“What the hell was that?” I whisper fiercely.
“What you wanted apparently.”
“What I—?” I glance toward the still empty doorway then back at him. I have only seconds. “That’s rich. You touched me.”
“You started it,” he says and winces at his words.
“Started what?” asks Keri Ann as she walks in with the scent of hot steam and strawberry shampoo. “Never mind,” she adds, taking one look back and forth between us.
I’m sure I’m flushed, sunburn not withstanding. But surely the air is still heavy with leftover sexual tension. Certainly feels that way to me. And a whole lot of frustration.
She heads to the cupboard and grabs three plates and some paper towel. “Pizza’s on the way, and I just queued up three new releases to choose from.”
I smooth my sundress and tie my hair up into a bun with the elastic on my wrist. “Great.” I smile brightly and vow not to catch Joey’s eye for the rest of the evening. “Let’s see what our options are.”
I can’t believe what just happened. Jesus, we didn’t even kiss.
Joey retrieves his duffel where it’s still lying on the floor. “Going up to grab a shower,” he says, his voice slightly off pitch. He walks out of the room.
The sound of his heavy footsteps fade up the stairs.