perfect marriage. How could he guess when her closest friends and relatives couldn’t understand even after she’d tried to tell them?
She gazed up at Jake. Even when he was angry, he looked strong, alluring, handsome.
She still wanted him.
And she had to get out of there.
She reached for her bag and stood. “I think that’s enough for one night, don’t you?”
It was only a few steps to the French doors but she didn’t make it. Jake’s manly hands fell upon her shoulders.
“Don’t touch me,” she said, her words weak, her voice a whisper.
His hands slipped down over her upper arms, sending a sizzle up her spine, a charge that shouldn’t be there. She had to fight this.
She turned, flung his hands off and cleared her throat to make sure the words came out right.
“Don’t do this.”
Years of anger and resentment boiled inside her, the molten mass bubbling over read to explode.
Nick’s infidelity. His all encompassing confidence when he was cheating on her. Finding the photos. Seeing the evidence. And the overwhelming feeling that she got what she deserved. It all came tumbling back to her.
Jake’s lips parted as he reached for her. She couldn’t let him touch her. Too dangerous. He took a step back.
How had it come to this?
“Goodbye, Jake.”
She raced out of the door and down the side path. He caught up with her at the foot of the driveway and grabbed her arm.
“You can’t drive in this state,” he said.
She spun around to face him. “What state?”
“Let me drive you home. Or I’ll call a cab for you.”
“No, I’ve calmed down. I’ll drive myself.”
Amazingly enough, she even sounded calm.
Jake looked into her eyes. Could he see her fear and hesitation? Did he know how desperately she wanted him to take her into his arms? Because despite her doubts, despite everything, that was what she wanted.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, pulled her closer and pressed his mouth against hers.
Her lips tingled and a current of feminine desire surged through her body. All logic and rational thought disappeared.
She wanted him with a vengeance and she didn’t want him. Never before had she been so unsure of her desires.
Her voice was little more than a whisper. “You promised you wouldn’t kiss me.”
He slid his hands off her shoulders. “And I kept that promise.”
“You just broke it.”
“It was never meant to be a life long promise.”
She stepped back and found herself leaning against her car, one hand groping against the car as if to check it was solid enough to take her weight.
No longer in control, her legs trembled as she rested against the vehicle. There was nothing left to hold her back.
Jake was like a shadow stepping in sync with her, following her retreating form, his face hovering above hers, his eyes glued to her parted lips. His mouth brushed hers in a kiss so gentle it was barely there.
She should resist. She should push his away. She didn’t.
He peppered her neck with little kisses, and wound his arms more tightly around her waist, lifting her off the ground. She snaked her arms up over his shoulders and around the back of his neck.
The delicate kisses on her throat became more effusive, more vigorous. She gasped for air through her open mouth. His breath was hot and moist as he trailed little kisses up her neck to her waiting lips.
He covered her mouth with his and rolled his tongue against hers. He was relentless. This wasn’t a kiss. It was an assault. A deep moan stuck in her throat but he continued, ravishing her mouth with his, sliding his tongue against hers.
He dipped his head lower and showered her neckline with little kisses while his hand inched upwards over the little ridges of her ribcage. He cupped her breast and massaged the soft flesh.
A current of electricity shot up her spine. Heat pooled low in her belly. His mouth found hers and he kissed her again, more deeply this time.
There was nothing else. Only their kiss, his hand still on her breast.
After a while, he pulled back.
“You don’t have to say anything,“ he said.
She shook her head. “I have to go.”
* * *
Jake watched as she walked around the car, slid into the driver’s seat and drove away without looking back.
He didn’t like watching her leave.
The tail lights of her car disappeared into the distance and around a corner. She wasn’t coming back.
He slumped down onto the curb, his long legs bent, his head in his hands. He’d pleaded