my body, resting his weight on his forearms. “I seem to remember me doing this to you.” His finger trails across my collarbone, sending tingles everywhere he touches. “I made you shudder under me, making sexy, throaty cries of passion. I seem to remember some begging too.”
I shove his shoulder, my gaze fixed on his chin. “Please don’t make this difficult. We broke up. This is the last time, okay?”
I risk a look at him. His warm hazel eyes, square clean-shaven jaw, his thick corded neck. A fresh rush of desire surprises me. I’m usually done with the lusting part afterward.
He gives me a slow, sexy smile like he knows what I’m thinking. He dips his head, nuzzling into my neck. My hand goes to his chest, intending to push him away, but I can’t seem to find the willpower. Intense desire rockets through me. My legs open under him, a delicious ache deep inside drawing me back, making me greedy for more. His hand slides down my side, over my hip, and to the inside of my thigh. Sparks fire over my skin everywhere he touches.
He kisses me tenderly and then lifts his head to gaze into my eyes. I suddenly want to turn off the light. It’s too intimate, the way he gazes, the tenderness. I reach blindly for the light but can’t make contact.
I push at his shoulders frantically. “This is wrong. We shouldn’t have done this.”
He grabs my wrists and pins them to the mattress. “Be a little naughty.”
My breath comes harder. I hate to admit it, but I’m excited by his grip on me. “We broke up. We should stop, pretend this never happened.”
He slowly lowers his head, never breaking eye contact. His words run hot over my lips. “Not yet.”
His kiss is gentle, his grip on my wrists firm, and I surrender to bliss.
13
Jenna
The next day I zip across the street to the Summerdale library as soon as I close up shop at four. Audrey works until five on Sunday, and I desperately need to confess or I’ll burst. Eli went off to work early this morning, and I went to work shortly afterward in a complete fog. I can’t stop thinking about my night with Eli, and I need to stop because it can never happen again. I need a sympathetic ear, who won’t judge me for letting lust and longing get the better of me.
The library is a modern angular building with gray clapboard siding. The height of 1969 modern, that is. More recently, they added skylights, a large loft space, and a brand-new children’s room on the side that nearly doubled the space. The automatic glass front door slides open as I approach, and I walk in to the brightly lit space. The faint smell of books lingers in the air.
Audrey’s behind the front desk, helping check out books along with one of her part-time workers.
I wave to Audrey, and she smiles and waves back. Her smile drops as Drew appears from the second-story loft, carrying a thick book as he strides to the front desk. He’s normally the definition of badass, a blackbelt running his own dojo and a former Army Ranger, but there’s something about his expression that looks vulnerable. Hmm…I’ve never seen him in the library before.
He waits in Audrey’s line to check out his book. Audrey looks around the older man she’s helping toward Drew. “You can go over to Suzanne,” she says, gesturing him over.
“I’m good here,” he says.
I shift to the edge of the counter, staying far enough away so it’s not obvious I’m eavesdropping.
Audrey’s cheeks are flushed pink as she checks out a large stack of mysteries. Finally, it’s Drew’s turn, and he slides over his thick book without a word. It’s a biography on Eisenhower, probably six hundred pages. Heavy reading.
She stares at the book for a moment before lifting her head. “Do you have a library card?”
“I used to. I can’t find it.”
Audrey nods. “Suzanne will get you set up. I need to—”
“Wait.” He leans across the counter, speaking in a low voice. Dammit. I can’t make out what he’s saying.
Her lips part.
He straightens and looks at her expectantly.
She tucks her long black hair behind her ears. “Sure. Okay.”
“So…”
She smiles tightly. “I’ll see you around, okay?”
His face falls. “Yeah, okay.” He catches my eye before swiftly turning away and walking toward the door.
“You forgot your book!” Audrey calls after him.
He lifts a hand. “Another time.”
He wasn’t here for the book.
Audrey gestures for