later, ’kay?” I gave Gavin a one-armed hug, then squeezed my way through the crowd toward the door.
Once I stepped outside, I started walking rather than hail a cab. It wasn’t far to my place and I definitely needed the fresh air to clear my head.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jake
I debated for all of ten seconds whether or not I would tell Gavin and Adrian that I was leaving. Since the two of them seemed more interested in their potential conquest for the night, I opted to forego pleasantries and headed out the door without looking back.
Once outside, the cold wind hit me, but after my encounter with Presley, it didn’t faze me. I glanced at the street, noticing there weren’t any cabs pulling away from the curb. I checked the sidewalk to my left, then to my right, and that was when I saw her.
“Presley!” I called after her, heading toward her without waiting for her to acknowledge me.
When she turned around, I could tell she’d been hoping for some alone time, but something told me that she didn’t really want to be alone.
I came to a stop only a few feet away, closing the distance between us slowly. The crackle in the air was back as soon as our eyes met, and everything I’d felt back at the bar returned instantly. I wanted this woman more than I’d ever wanted another one before her.
“You okay?” I managed to ask.
Her eyes met mine briefly, and I noticed a flare of heat, very similar to what I’d seen back at the bar, only hotter this time, more potent. I knew in that moment what was coming and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop it.
Nor did I want to.
She stepped closer, her eyes still locked with mine.
“Outrageously hot guy,” she mumbled.
I frowned. Had I heard her right? “What?”
“Take me to your place,” she said quickly.
“Are—”
“No questions, Jake. Just say okay, and take me to your place.”
No red-blooded man would’ve been able to tell this woman no and I was no exception.
Wrapping my arm around her and pulling her against my side, we made the quick walk back to my condo. I bit my tongue a few times, keeping my questions to myself since it seemed as though she wasn’t in a talkative mood. I should’ve taken that as a sign, but I didn’t. I wanted her too much to think that what might happen between us could potentially screw up whatever friendship we’d established thus far.
Time seemed to blur once we stepped into the elevator.
Presley’s scent overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t refrain from doing what I’d said I wanted to do back at the bar. I backed her up against the wall, cupped her face in my hand, and lowered my head to hers. I allowed my lips to brush hers briefly, sucking in a breath as I did. But I didn’t kiss her, content to simply inhale.
I knew in that moment that what was about to happen between us wasn’t a typical hookup. Not for me, anyway. I wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing at this point, nor could I bring myself to care.
We remained like that, sharing breaths until the elevator chimed, signaling the arrival at my floor. Taking her hand, I pulled her into the hallway, then led her to my door. Once inside, I took her coat, along with mine, and tossed them somewhere in the direction of the sofa.
Everything that happened after that melded into one single moment in time. I backed her against the door, cupped her face in my hands once more, and stared into her eyes, waiting for her to come to her senses, to tell me she’d changed her mind. Only that never happened and the next thing I knew, my mouth was on hers. She was kissing me back, with a passion and urgency I hadn’t felt before. It was as though we couldn’t get enough of each other, couldn’t get where we needed to be fast enough.
Neither of us said a word as she toed off her boots, and I helped her discard her leggings. I would’ve preferred to get her completely naked, but I suddenly didn’t have the patience to deal with it.
Rather than move things to the sofa, I kept her pressed up against the door while she worked the button on my jeans free, then lowered the zipper. With our mouths still fused together and her soft hands releasing my dick, I