Page 93 of Heartless

Sharp pain radiated from my big toe to my sleep deprived brain after I’d stubbed it on the leg of the dining table.I grabbed my foot, hopped on the other one, and dropped onto the sofa.I’d been up for at least an hour, but my head was still buzzing from my conversation...no, not conversation.Proposal?Or whatever had happened last night.

Today, I was going to give Jake...to give myself to...Jake and I were going to...

My heart raced.Okay.Deep breath.

I opened the quarters door and didn’t stop to admire the view on my way to the kitchen.

To my delight, Bianca and Camila were seated at the table of the sunny room smelling of sugar, chocolate, and coffee.Camila was facing the archway and Bianca was at the head of the table.Both grinned at me.

“Good morning, Camila.Good morning, Bianca.”

“Good morning, Sia.”

“Good morning, cara.”

They replied at the same time.

I kissed their cheeks.“Thank you for yesterday, it was awesome.”

As I strolled to the coffee machine, Bianca said to my back, “My friends had a blast.They loved you, especially Matt who’s positively smitten with you.”

At the query in her joyful tone, I smiled over my shoulder.“Matt’s very cute.”

I placed a cup on the rounded base of the Bruvi wonder, inserted the B-pod, and pushed on the button.

“Was he a good kisser?”That was Camila.

Matt’s kisses had been tender and building up heat.Jake’s kiss...My lower belly convulsed.“Yes...he was nice.”

The humming whir of the coffee maker started.I needed vanilla cream.I stepped toward the fridge, and a heated shiver snaked down my back while Camila and Bianca took a sudden interest in their hot drinks.My nipples pebbled as I slowly pivoted to watch Jake walk in.

His strong, long, jean-covered legs ate up the distance between us.Trapped in everything that was him, my breath rushed out while the beats of my heart somersaulted.

The baritone of his voice wrapped around me.“Morning, beautiful.”

He was close enough for me to inhale his crispy, woodsy scent.

“Hi, Jake,” I whispered.

His blistering gaze roamed over my now flushed face.When his arm extended toward the coffee machine behind me, I held my breath, but my body had its own agenda and shifted nearer to his.

“...ffee,” I heard.

“Hm?”

“Is your coffee done?”

His hands dove in his pockets, and my gaze tracked them down, dropping to his tented crotch before veering slowly up his body.

Eyeing his mouth, I licked my dry lips.“What?”

“Fuck,” he muttered before stalking out of the kitchen.

I was still gazing at the archway when laughter exploded in the kitchen.Blinking fast, I twisted toward Bianca and Camila.Bianca’s forehead nearly touched the table, and her whole body shook while Camila was slapping her palm on the wooden table.

To hide the heat crowding my face, I hooked my fingers around the handle of the mug.When I faced them again, their hilarity had tampered down—slightly—and I sat beside Bianca, across from Camila.

Holding my cup on the table, I smiled.“Thank you for yesterday.It was an awesome—”