Page 17 of Embers of You (Amity #1)

Sutton

We ride in a comfortable silence back to my house.

Jameson has a nice truck, and of course even the way he drives is incredibly sexy.

One handed, with it draped over the wheel at his wrist. His other arm is resting between us, and I stare at the veins that lead up to his hands which look like they’re callused from hard work.

Sitting here, my eyes don’t leave his arm, as though I’m trying to will him to move it over to me. "What would it feel like to have his hands on me? To have him reach over and rest his large hand on my thigh. Would he rub his thumb absentmindedly? Or grip me possessively?"

I have so many questions, but I shake my head knowing I’m likely not going to find out the answer to any of them. Mostly because I messed up the possibility of anything happening when I ran away after that almost kiss we had.

Dropping my head back against the seat, I close my eyes and revel in how much of an idiot I am. Now, even the possibility of friendship is out the window. I’m sure he’ll avoid me for the foreseeable future after this awkward evening.

“You’re thinking really loudly over there.” Jameson’s tone is full of humor. “Might as well tell me what it’s about.”

I roll my head to the side to look at him again. “If I’m thinking so loud then you should already know what it’s about.”

He smirks. “You would think. The problem, it’s like your thoughts are screaming, but it’s like this shrill high pitch noise that I’m not able to understand.”

“Are you calling my voice shrill?” I gasp.

“No, of course not. Your voice is perfect. Your thinking voice on the other hand….”

I slap his arm lightly as he laughs, and then I feel the weight of his hand on my thigh, resting it there. Not in a possessive way. Not rubbing it up and down. It’s just there, and it’s even better than I thought it would be. It feels… right.

We get to my house too soon, and suddenly, my nerves are back. Especially when Jameson cuts the engine. Does he expect to be invited in? Does he think we’re going to sleep together? I’m not prepared to sleep with him tonight. I shouldn’t sleep with him anyway.

“Thank you for the ride, and this.” I lift up the toy.

“I’ll walk you to your door. Have to make sure you get in safe.”

I look over to my house, all of twenty feet to my front door. “I think I’ll be fine.”

“It’ll make me feel better,” he insists.

I go to open my door, but he rushes out of his and finishes opening mine for me before I’m able to step out. I can’t help the way my heart swoons at every little thing this man does. It may be cliché to be impressed by him opening the door, but it must be that way for a reason because it works.

We walk up to my door, and I hesitate before unlocking it, turning to face him. “See, safe and sound.”

“Not until you’re inside.”

I sigh, turning toward the door, unlocking and opening it. I step just inside the threshold and look at him with a pointed look. “What about now?”

“Better. Goodnight, Sutton.” He smiles that blinding smile that has me seconds away from grabbing his shirt and yanking him inside with me.

“Goodnight, Jameson,” I say softly.

He lingers for a moment longer and I open my mouth to invite him inside, but he turns and walks back to his car instead. I watch him walk around the truck, giving me one last glance before climbing inside. He rolls down the passenger window, calling out, “Goodnight.”

I wave, and he doesn’t drive away. I shut the door, pressing my back to it, and slide down onto the floor where I’m immediately greeted by Bennet in my face.

“Am I making a mistake?” I ask him as he sits right next to me, his fluffy fur grazing my skin and soft eyes looking at me. I want to believe that he’s telling me I’m crazy and I should go back to avoiding Jameson, but I know that’s not the case. He likes Jameson, and I think I do too.

My head drops back, thumping against the wood so hard it almost sounds like a knock, but I know it’s not. I sigh, and then there really is a knock. I furrow my brow, looking at Bennet, silently asking him who could be at the door.

Standing up, I turn to answer it, and my jaw drops when I see Jameson standing there. Before I’m able to ask what he’s doing here, he closes the distance between us, cups my face, and drops our foreheads against each other.

My heart is racing, I feel like I can’t breathe or move. I think I reach up to grab onto his flannel, but I also feel like I’m having an out of body experience at the anticipation or wondering if I’m hallucinating.

“I couldn’t go home without knowing what it feels like,” he rasps.

Somehow, I’m able to squeak out, “What?”

Instead of answering, he crashes his lips onto mine, and any other thought I have melts away. I grip his shirt even tighter, trying to pull him against me even more. He’s so tall I have to lift up on my toes trying to deepen the kiss.

His hands slide to the back of my head, tangling in my hair as his tongue teases the seam of my lips and I open, letting him in easily. I feel like I’m about to float away and the only thing keeping me grounded is the fact that his hands are on me.

I hardly notice when I let out a soft moan as his tongue slides along mine.

He swallows the sound, and I melt into him even more.

We almost kissed earlier, but now I’m glad we didn’t because I don’t want to stop, and that may have been really awkward for everyone if we made out on the Ferris wheel.

It would have been even more awkward if I’d climbed on his lap and ripped his clothes off, since I’m dangerously close to doing that right now.

My hands slide up his chest, wrapping around to the nape of his neck as our lips slide against each other, tongues teasing and I’m completely lost in him. I’m seconds away from dragging him inside and jumping him.

He lets out a low groan, and it makes my knees buckle.

I feel like I may actually collapse, but the thing about Jameson is that I know he would catch me.

I may just be getting to know him, but I know that no matter what, the man pressing up against me, currently making me stupid with his intoxicating kiss, would always catch me if I fall.

The problem is if I fall too far I don’t know if anyone would be able to catch me. Not even him.

Pushing my fears away I continue to melt even deeper into this kiss while he ravages my mouth with his. He’s soft and gentle, but with the way his teeth scrape my bottom lip I can sense that may not always be the case. And that only makes me crave him even more.

Before I’m able to push things any further, he’s pulling back, and as soon as his lips leave mine I miss them. The thought has the panic surging again.

“Goodnight, Sutton,” he rasps, rubbing his thumbs along my cheeks.

“Goodnight, Jameson,” I breathe out.

He presses another quick kiss to my lips, and I fight the urge to chase his mouth for more. I don’t. Instead, I watch him walk out my front door and back to his truck. Before he gets in, he turns back in my direction.

“Make sure you snuggle with that bear I won you.” He smiles widely.

I roll my eyes. “You can take him with you to snuggle, I have Bennet.”

“Then I guess you can cuddle both of them.”

I shake my head with a huff. He climbs into his truck and waits for me to close the door before driving away. This time, I know he’s not coming back for the night.

Too bad, because I find myself wishing he would as I get ready for the night. Especially when I get into bed, bringing the teddy bear with me. I think about what it may be like if it was him in my bed.