She took his face in her hands. “I don’t want you to stop. Please.”
His eyes never left hers when he finally pushed inside and joined their bodies. Her breath hitched, her eyes widened, and he knew the look on her face was something he’d remember for the rest of his life. A touch of pain and so much sweet desire he almost lost it right then. She’d said just once, but hadn’t he already known once would never be enough?
He paused. “Okay?”
“Yes. So okay.”
Her answer was half whisper, half sigh, and he pressed his hips into hers, going deeper until he could go no farther. They stared at each other, looking deeper than he’d ever looked into another person. When she would have moved, he pinned her body to the mattress with his own.
“Please.” Her short nails dug into his shoulders, and she brought her legs higher on his hips, dug her heels into the back of his thighs.
“Another second,” he panted. Sweat trickled down his back. He stretched her arms above her head and linked their fingers, and kissed her, wanting to keep her just like this, wanting it to last forever.
When he finally started to move, it was a perfect slow dance. She moved with him, their bodies molded together, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Please. Please. Please.”
It was her anthem, becoming more and more desperate. So close and so was he.
“Let go, Paige. Just let go.”
She did. Her eyes glazed over and she surrendered to him, crying out her release, and in that moment there was no past, no mistakes, no guilt. Just Paige. And the sound of his name whispered on her lips pushed him over the edge.
Chapter 17
It was a little after seven in the morning when JT went back to the bedroom to check on Sleeping Beauty and found her up and getting dressed. She was facing away from him, her panties already on and in the process of slipping into her blouse. He wanted to strip both of them off. “Hey.”
Her hands stilled, but she didn’t turn. “Want some breakfast?”
“I can’t,” she said, not moving, not turning around. “I’m…um…supposed to be at the diner at eight. I can’t be late. Where’s Casey?”
Her voice was scratchy, her words halting, and he stepped farther into the room. “She’s in the kitchen. Eating pancakes.”
“Thank you.”
Her back was still to him, but he could see the tension in her body, could practically feel it permeating the room.
“Paige. Look at me.”
“I can’t do that either.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t afford to let go any more than I already did.”
She’d taken a leap with him, stepped way off her imaginary line, and now she was scrambling back. She pulled up her shorts, her fingers furiously buttoning the very top button of her blouse, and he wondered if that was a mistake, her obvious nerves, or if she was subconsciously protecting herself.
She finally faced him and took her time meeting his gaze. Looking at her standing there, barefoot in his bedroom, hair tousled, lips berry red and looking well kissed, his heart pounded with each passing second. His skin felt tight, remembering all the ways he’d touched her, how their bodies had come together.
He hadn’t let more than a breath of space between them all night, and he didn’t want this space between them now. All he wanted to do was make love to her again, but she looked defeated, guilt-ridden. All the magic of the night before was gone. The carefree Paige was gone. “Do you regret it?”
Their eyes met and she looked incredibly young, innocent and uncertain. “Do you?”
No. He didn’t regret it. He regretted that she was leaving, that he couldn’t figure out how to say exactly what he was feeling. That a night with him had caused her more stress, had made the weight on her shoulders heavier instead of lighter.
She grabbed her shoes and made a dash for the door.
“Paige, wait. I don’t—”
“I have to go.” She moved to push past him, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Paige.”
“Jake, I have to go. Please.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Casey, honey, get your shoes. We’re late.”
“Look at Boulder! I syruped his nose.”
Paige didn’t look at Boulder before heading out to her car. He stood back while Paige got Casey settled in the back. He wondered about her car, the oil, the tires, suddenly remembering all the things his dad used to do for his mom and sister. He wanted to do that for Paige.
She closed the door and he waved goodbye to Casey, wondering what else he could say to make this better. She was already stressed. Telling her all he felt, all he wanted, would only add to it. “I’ll come by tonight.”
“I have class. And I have to study.”
Shit. “I’m sorry. I promised you—”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I forgot. I was irresponsible.”
Because she’d done something for herself, or because she’d taken a chance with him, or both. He reached for her.