Love In Secrets (Love Distilled #3) - Scarlett Cole Page 0,37

positively charming.”

“Well, I already know you know how to take care of that yourself.”

Cassie gasped and pushed at his chest. “Jake. How long were you listening to me that day?”

“Long enough.” He held up his hands in the universal sign of surrender. “I thought I heard something, walked out of the bathroom into the corridor, and heard more.”

She could feel heat rising in her cheeks.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I love the idea you did that. Sexual confidence and agency are hot as fuck.”

Cassie placed her hands on his chest. “Fine. Maybe I’ll hover around and can catch you masturbating some time.”

“Should have stayed in the bathroom if you wanted to see that.”

“I knew it. I imagined that was what . . .”

Jake stood. “You imagined what?”

Cassie shook her head and stepped out of Jake’s reach. “Nothing.”

“Hang on, let me fill in the blanks for you. You got out of the shower, saw me pretty much naked with a boner, felt this thing going on between us, and went to your bedroom and got off while thinking of me doing exactly the same thing in the shower. Am I right?”

“Can we go back to the kissing part?”

“Cass,” he warned.

“Yes, fine. I imagined you getting off in the shower.”

Jake grinned and stood, wrapping her in his arms. “Good. Because I imagined what it would be like to back you up against the shower wall, drop to my knees, and kiss and suck my way south of that strip of hair you’ve got going on down there. And I imagined what it would feel like against my tongue to lick the rivulets of water running over those pretty pink nipples of yours. I spent a lot of time thinking about how good it would feel if you sucked my dick. And I came to thoughts of ejaculating all over your breasts which, Cass, if I may say, are pretty fucking spectacular.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Somehow, she’d always thought of Jake as simply being Em’s younger brother. But the person in front of her was a sexually confidant man who had the power to render her speechless.

“Tell me again why we aren’t doing that right now.”

“Let me woo you a little first. It’ll be worth it. Anticipation, stolen touches and kisses. Lots of kisses.” He kissed the top of her head and she snuggled her head against his chest.

“You better bring your A game, Jake.”

“You’ll have to teach me if it isn’t up to your New York standards.”

They stood there for a moment longer, swaying to music that wasn’t playing. It should have felt awkward to hold Jake like this, and it was a million miles away from the way he’d hugged her at the airport the week before.

“Alright,” Jake said, finally. “You had a long day. Let me walk you home.”

Cassie laughed as he led her to the spare room. “Thanks for a . . . wonderfully confusing evening.”

“You’re welcome.” Jake paused at the bedroom door. “So, I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow?”

“You know we’re going to see each other at breakfast.”

“I know.”

“Yes, I’ll be ready at eight.”

“Good. Oh, and one more thing.” Jake pushed her against the wall, his hands cupping her face as he took her lips.

And God, if she didn’t melt into him like molten metal . . . all heat and fire.

There was nothing soft or gentle. It was a kiss filled with sexual promise. His body held her to the wall, her breasts were crushed to his chest, his erection pressed against her stomach.

Cassie returned the kiss with all she had. Every part of her combusted with need as she wrapped her arms around him, digging her nails into his shoulders.

Jake kissed her once more on the lips, then another where her pulse beat against her neck. He sniffed her hair and groaned.

“Fuck, you smell good. Good night, Cass.” He pushed off the wall and nudged her door open.

Cassie slipped inside, her lips tender, her cheeks raw from his stubble.

He walked away toward his bedroom, those broad shoulders she’d clung to taunting her.

“Good night, Jake,” she whispered.

8

Jake wandered down the ward toward Chris’s room. Now he was out of the ICU, it was easier to visit him than before, and seeing he’d agreed to pick Cassie up on his way home, he figured he might as well stop by and see how he was doing.

“Wait a minute. Why does Cassie need paying at all?” Marianne’s voice carried out to the hallway, all nasally and high pitched.