Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,61

running,” I said, seriously. “Besides, my legs are tired,” I joked.

Jared chuckled and the bed shook with the motion, which sent me giggling.

“Stop laughing, we’re never going to go to sleep,” his voice rumbled.

“I’m trying,” another giggle escaped.

After a few minutes, all was quiet, so I assumed Jared had fallen asleep. When he spoke, it nearly sent me flying through the roof in fright.

“Katy, I’ve noticed something,” he said.

I put a hand to my chest to still my beating heart. “What?” I asked, breathlessly. Darn him for scaring me like that.

“You… you let me touch you… a little, but you haven’t touched me.”

“Huh?” I rolled over onto my side to face him and he did the same.

“In the hospital, you let me touch you but you never touched me back, even in the club, I was the one that reached for you, and earlier, I was doing all the touching.”

I swallowed. “You’re way too observant to be a man.”

He chuckled. “Trust me, I’m a man.”

“I’ll trust you, ‘cause I’m not about to go exploring,” I said with a smile.

He laughed, but then got serious again. “Seriously, Katy, why won’t you touch me?”

I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Would you like to touch me?” those soulful brown eyes threatened to engulf me.

“I- I- don’t know,” I stuttered.

He pushed the blankets back, exposing his smooth, naked chest.

Oh sweet baby Jesus, no man should ever be that ripped. His body was a complete work of art and even I couldn’t help drooling over it.

“It’s okay, Katy,” he said, soothingly. “Remember you’re in control of this. I won’t move and I won’t touch you. This is just you touching me. Okay?”

I nodded and sat up, pushing my hair back, over my shoulders so that it would hopefully stay out of the way.

“You’re in control,” he reminded me.

I nodded.

Slowly, I reached out, touching his arm.

He shivered when I touched him and a smile curved my lips.

His skin was hot, making my hands seem cold, and looked dark next to my lighter tone.

I traced the freckles on his arm, the veins, and then went down to his hands. They were large; the nails round and even, his skin was smooth. Gosh, even his hands were perfect.

My fingers glided back up, to his shoulders, his collarbone, up his neck, and settled on his stubbled chin.

His eyes closed and low moan escaped his throat. I snatched my hand away.

“Don’t stop,” his eyes opened, they were a light brown, almost caramel. “It feels good.”

I reached out again, even more hesitant than the first time.

My index finger connected with his full, bottom lip. He was very still, his breathing the only movement.

I traced the downward curve of his bottom lip, before moving to the top and giving it the same treatment.

My finger glided down his lips and settled on the indent in his chin. I longed to kiss that dimple, but I knew it was too soon, I wasn’t ready. I let my finger drop from his angular chin, down to his chest, where it glided over the dips and ridges of his stomach. I refused to go any lower than his belly button. That was uncharted territory I wasn’t about to go exploring in.

I let my fingers fall from his stomach and found that I was breathing like someone that had just run a marathon. Not attractive at all, but that was the affect Jared had on me.

Jared shivered at the absence of my touch and turned to look at me.

“I never knew that just letting someone touch me, or touching them, could feel so damn good, without doing anything else,” his voice was husky.

“There was a lot I didn’t know before I met you,” I reached over, unable to resist rubbing the dark stubble on his chin, one last time.

“I’m more than happy to teach you,” he placed a light, barely-there, kiss on the palm of my hand. At my shocked expression, he grinned. “Slowly, Katy. We’ll take things slowly.”

~***~

An incessant ringing woke me up.

I cracked my eyes open and saw Jared doing the same. “Is that your phone?” he asked, his voice groggy.

“Oh, crap,” I said, practically falling out of the bed in my haste. My ribs groaned in protest and I winced.

“Where is it?” Jared asked, yawning. “I can get it for you.”

“No, no, I’ve already got it,” I pulled it out of my purse. It had stopped ringing now and I saw that I had about fifty text messages from Rollo and the one missed call.