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Jen smacked the back of Brayden’s head, a gesture all of the adults here probably wanted to do. “Not if you close your hand into a fist, you idiot.”
“If Derrick here hadn’t acted as fast as he did, you could’ve lost your hand,” Charlotte said, her face pale. She turned to me. “Thank you.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet. I’d reacted on instinct and now that my brain had finally caught up to what’d happened, I was shaken. If I’d been only a few seconds slower, or if I hadn’t been answering a question that had me looking away from Jessica…I didn’t even want to think about what could’ve happened.
The next few minutes were a blur as the adrenaline faded from my system. An embarrassed and annoyed Brayden mumbled a thank you before Don took him into the house to call his parents. People expressed admiration and gratitude for my quick thinking and bravery, and I managed to smile if not say a few words in return.
“Come on. Let’s get some food and find a place for the fireworks.” Jessica’s soft voice brought me back to myself and her hand taking mine grounded me.
I followed her back to the tables of food and helped her load a couple plates that I carried while she grabbed drinks and a blanket. We ended up on the other side of the yard by a tree near the tall privacy fence.
She glanced at me as she spread the blanket on the grass, a slightly shy smile on her face. “This is my tree. I’ve sat here every year for the fireworks since I was fifteen.”
After she sat down, I handed her the plates. “I’m going to see what else there is to drink.”
“Don’t like the beer?” Her lips twitched as she held up the bottle she’d picked up along with a refill of her cocktail.
Straight-faced, I said, “I figure I should stay sober since I’m driving you home in a few hours.”
She laughed. “Okay, you stick with that story.”
Her laugh caught me and held me mesmerized. I wanted to stroke my hands over her face and tangle them in her hair every time she laughed like that, cover her mouth with mine and claim every inch of it.
“Derrick…” Her breath caught.
“What?” I reached down and stroked her full bottom lip, my dick starting to pulse when her eyes darkened.
“You keep looking at me like that, and I…”
“You what?” I asked when she didn’t continue.
“I don’t know.” Shaking her head, she reached for her cup and took a sip. “I just don’t know, but you make it very, very hard to think straight.”
Taking a chance, I leaned down and kissed her, tasting the spice and sweetness of her drink on her mouth and under that, her.
“It’s about time. You’ve been making it hard for me to think straight since I met you.”
* * *
“Why don’tyou go up a block?” Jessica said when I slowed to the space in front of her building where I usually stopped when picking her up or dropping her off.
“Why?”
She licked her lips, then looked at me. “Because you can park there all night.”
Her eyes met mine only briefly before darting away, but there was no mistaking the meaning in her words.
“Will Jami be okay with that?” I asked, twisting a loose curl around my finger. I was aware her friend couldn’t stand me, and I wasn’t certain I blamed her entirely. “Maybe we should—”
“Jami went back home to Jersey for the weekend.” She tentatively stroked her thumb over my lower lip before sliding her fingers along my jaw. “I’ve got the place to myself. And…”
She hesitated, but I made myself stay quiet. As much as I wanted to pull her closer, steal that mouth, suck on her lower lip, and pull her hair free, so it spilled around her shoulders, I stayed quiet. I wanted – no, Ineeded– to hear what she had to say.
“If I’m honest,” she said finally. “I’m physically attracted to you. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you…and I don’t see myself going through the next fourteen months without ending up in your bed.” Her breasts rose and fell as she drew in a rough breath. “But the first time…I want it to be at my place, under my control. I don’t want to do anything kinky.”
“That’s fine.” The words came out like grit and sand, my throat so tight it was a wonder I could speak at all. “You don’t need to feel compelled to do anything you’re not ready for.”
Her smile was shaky and nervous. I couldn’t resist kissing her this time.