“Come join me,” he said, his brown eyes warm.
“Um, we might fall out,” she replied, suddenly feeling shy. Nothing sounded better than curling up next to Jacob, but she’d practically be lying on top of him in that tiny thing.
“I won’t let you fall,” he said, his voice deep. “Come on.”
Hesitantly she walked over, and Jacob put one foot down on the ground to steady it. She sat down beside him and then practically rolled into his muscular body, the hammock pushing their bodies together as it sunk inward.
“That’s it, angel,” he said as she nestled against him. “Hell, you feel good next to me.” His arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her, and she let herself relax into his embrace. Jacob smelled clean, of spice and man, and she wanted to bury her face into his shirt and warm skin, inhaling his intoxicating scent.
It should’ve felt strange lying here in Jacob’s arms, a man she barely knew. But there was also something comforting and right about it, too. Like she was somehow exactly where she belonged.
He let out a deep breath, relaxing, and she let one hand rest lightly against his muscular chest. “God it feels good to be back,” he said quietly. “And even better to be here with you.”
“Are you okay?” she asked. “You seem...different somehow.”
A beat passed before he answered. “It was a rough mission,” he admitted. “Things didn’t exactly go as we planned.”
His jaw clenched, and she wished she could take away whatever burden he was carrying.
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t say anything else. He couldn’t tell her the details anyway even if she asked him.
“How was your week?” he asked quietly, letting his fingertips trail over her bare arm. Electricity surged straight through her at his light touch. Jacob was so muscular and strong—it seemed like he should be invincible, with nothing able to harm him. Something seemed to be weighing on him though, and she wished she could help him.
“Nothing like yours,” she admitted. “I’m on summer vacation, remember? We hung out on the beach, relaxed. I got mani/pedis with the girls. The weirdest thing that happened to me was a creepy guy we saw at the bank, and Michelle has convinced me I’m overreacting.”
“You should always trust your gut,” Jacob said.
“I guess. He didn’t really do anything though—just a weird vibe I got.”
“One thing I learned with being a SEAL? You need to always trust your instincts. Be aware of your surroundings. Situational awareness has served me well more times than I can count.”
“I thought your being a SEAL was some sort of secret,” she said.
Jacob glanced down at her, the expression in his dark eyes impossible to read. “My being a SEAL? I don’t exactly go around announcing it to the world. I mean, shoot, most people realize my buddies and I are military though. It’s kind of an open secret around this town I guess.”
“Rebecca told me the other night.”
Jacob laughed. “Yeah, Ice told me. I should’ve let you know that I was leaving,” he said, his voice gruff. “I can’t ever tell you any details about my job, obviously, but I should’ve said I’d be gone since I’d asked you out this week. The problem is, I didn’t know when I’d be back.”
“Ryker told us you guys were leaving,” she admitted.
“Yeah. I was jealous as hell that he got to see you that morning. I know he was over here with Michelle, but hell. I would’ve loved to wake up beside you and see you first thing. Kiss you good morning.”
Jessica stiffened slightly, her heart pounding.
“Easy, angel,” he said, soothing her. “I know you don’t want to rush into anything, and I respect that. Michelle and Ryker are different than us, and that’s fine.”
“I don’t—I don’t have one-night-stands like she does,” Jessica said with a shrug. “I mean, she’s a big girl—she can do what she wants. I’m just not like that though.”
He ducked down, brushing his lips over her forehead. “I like that about you. Hell, if I was looking for the quickest way to get a woman into bed, there are bars up and down the beach filled with women looking to have a good time.”
She let her fingers trail over his chest, feeling the soft cotton of his shirt beneath her fingertips and the hard muscles beneath it. What would being with a man like Jacob be like? He was powerful, a mass of muscle and strength. He’d been nothing but gentle with her though. Protective.
He was off saving the world all the time anyway—she doubted he wanted a relationship even if she did live here.
“I like you, too,” she admitted. “And it scares me.”
“Don’t be scared, angel. I’m in no sort of rush. You’re here for the whole summer, right? We’ll take our time getting to know each other.”
“How can you know that?”
“Know that I want to spend time with you? I’m here, aren’t I?” He chuckled, pulling her closer. “I thought my interest in you was obvious.”
She nestled closer into his embrace, letting her bare leg slide over his. The springy hairs on his muscular legs tickled her skin, and it felt right being here with him. Weird since she didn’t usually get close to men she barely knew. It felt like she knew Jacob already though, strange as that seemed.
“Do you have any plans today?” he asked.
“Aside from my book and my hammock?” she asked with a laugh. “None.”
“Want to go explore Virginia Beach with me? I’ve got the day off since we just got back. We debriefed this morning, but I’m free all day. We can do all the touristy things and then go grab some dinner.”
“Right now?” she asked, feeling surprised.
“Yeah, right now. Why not? You’re here, I’m here. Neither of us as any big plans for the day. Let’s go out and enjoy.”
“Like a date,” she hedged.
“Exactly like a date.”
“But I’m not dressed up or anything—I have on shorts and a tank top.”
He glanced down, making a show of teasingly looking her over as she flushed. “So you do,” he quipped. “I like the pink tank top—it’s sexy as hell the way you look in it.”
“Jacob,” she protested lightly, squirming against him.
“I didn’t mind the bikini you had on when we first met, either, just so you know. You’d look good in anything, but if you’d rather change or something, I can hang out down here while you get ready.”
He twisted in the hammock, one large hand resting on her hip, so they were practically face to face. Her breath caught as her gaze dropped to his full lips. The stubble covering his strong jaw was sexy, and she wondered what it would feel like rubbing up against her skin.
“I know I said I’d kiss you after our first date, but....” He paused, meeting her gaze to make sure she was okay with it. She knew if she said the word he’d back off.
She wanted to kiss him though—as much as she was trying to take things extra slowly with him, she couldn’t keep away if she wanted to. She was attracted to him and aroused with the way their bodies were pressed up against each other. In this moment, nothing could have stopped her from kissing him.
Slowly, she tilted her head up, letting him know it was all right, and then he ducked lower, his full lips brushing over hers.
She nearly gasped in shock as electricity shot straight through her—with his arms holding her and his lips against hers, she was his for the taking.
It was an intimate first kiss—their bodies pressed together in the hammock, one of his arms wrapped around her shoulders, the other gripping her waist. Her breasts pressed up against his muscular chest, and she sighed in contentment as he gently nipped at her before pulling back.
“I could lie here kissing you all day,” he admitted. “But I know you want to go slowly. Let’s get going.”
She nodded, watching as he dropped a foot to the ground again to steady the hammock and helped her sit up. She felt dazed and flushed as she stood, getting her footing. They’d only briefly kissed,
and her mind was spinning.
Being with a guy like Jacob was dangerous—she knew he was comfortable around women and probably was with a new one all the time. Maybe he’d agreed to go slowly with her, but she didn’t want to end her summer with a broken heart.
Chapter 11
JESSICA SHRIEKED AND clung to Jacob as the roller coaster dropped, and Jacob laughed good-naturedly, loving that she turned toward him for comfort. There wasn’t a hell of a lot he could do to protect her if something went wrong on a ride like this, but the fact that she trusted him made him feel about ten feet tall.
Her brown waves flew through the air, tickling his skin as the roller coaster turned, and she screamed again, holding tightly onto him.
A minute later it rolled to a stop, and he grinned at her. “What’d you think?”
“That was terrifying. And awesome, too.”
Jacob laughed and climbed out of the car, holding a hand out for Jessica. Her breasts bounced slightly in her hot pink tank top as she jumped down, and he resisted the urge to groan. Not letting go of her hand, he tugged her toward him, weaving his fingers between hers.
Her hand was so delicate and slender, he felt massive beside her. He towered above her more petite frame, and hell if he didn’t love that she barely come up to his shoulder. He wanted to pull her against him and protect her from everything—an odd feeling since he didn’t even know her that well. Something about Jess got under his skin though—and hell if he didn’t want to explore more of where things could go between them.
“You were clinging to me so tightly, I wasn’t sure if you liked it or not,” he said with a chuckle.
“It was exhilarating,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s about as daring as I get—a tiny roller coaster like that. No upside-down thrill rides or bungee jumping for me.”
He smirked. “Thank goodness this is a rinky-dink carnival at the beach then. Hell, angel, I jump out of airplanes for a living.”
Jessica shuddered. “That sounds...horrifying. Seriously, it does.”
Jacob chuffed out a laugh, pulling her toward another ride. “I couldn’t handle sitting at a desk all day, angel—that sounds boring as hell to me. Maybe some people can spend their careers doing that, but as for me? I’d go stir crazy before lunchtime.”
“Well, teaching high schoolers isn’t exactly a desk job. But I do appreciate the sentiment. Sitting at a computer all day isn’t for me either. I like working with the kids, talking to them, feeling like I’m helping them in some small way. Sure, I’m their teacher, but I like to think I’m making a difference in their lives.”
“You are,” he assured her. “How could you not be? That’s all anyone wants, right? Someone who cares.”
They got to the back of the long line for the Ferris wheel, and Jacob wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “I’m glad you could come today,” he said, his lips brushing against the top of her head as he spoke.
“Me too. And I didn’t even know this place was here.”
“It’s small,” he admitted. “If you’re looking for thrill rides, Busch Gardens is over in Williamsburg. But this Ferris wheel is pretty cool. We’re on the busy strand right now, but when we get up high enough, you can see over the hotels to the beach.”
“Wow. How cool. That sounds like a good view.”
“It’s amazing,” he said. He absentmindedly caressed her shoulder as they stood in line, and she relaxed into him. Jessica’s skin was soft and smooth, with a faint floral scent. He wasn’t sure if it was her perfume or soap, but his groin tightened nevertheless.
Glancing down at her beside him, he could see the swells of her breasts beneath the tank top she wore. The faintest hint of her lacy bra was beneath that. Resisting the urge to groan, he looked around the carnival. This wasn’t the time or place to be admiring her gorgeous figure. He’d be harder than a rock in no time.
Two fighter jets came blazing across the sky, and everyone around them looked up for a moment, waiting for the deafening noise to stop.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to those,” Jessica admitted. “I’ve been coming to Virginia Beach for years, but wow. Those are crazy loud.”
“We always joke that we know who the tourists are, because they’re looking up when the jets fly by,” Jacob said.
“How can you not?” she asked with a laugh. “They’re so loud all conversations have to stop.”
“You get used to it,” he said. “We had F-18s flying overhead all the time when we went through BUD/S out in Coronado, too, so this just reminds me of that.”
“What’s BUD/S?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Training we go through. It stands for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. Seven months of hard work—if you can’t pass that, you can’t be a Navy SEAL.”
“I’d probably fail the first day—it sounds grueling.”
They moved forward in the line, the Ferris wheel starting and stopping to let people on and off. The scents of funnel cakes and cotton candy drifted toward them, mixed in with the salty scent of the ocean. Before long, they were finally climbing into a basket on the ride. Jacob sat down right beside Jessica, wrapping his arm around her shoulders again as she settled against him.
“Where do you want to eat later?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“There’s tons of awesome seafood places nearby. But what are you in the mood for?”
“Anything, really. I skipped lunch today.”
“Aw, you should’ve said something. We could’ve eaten first and then headed over here.”
“I’m fine. I would’ve gotten a snack or something if I was starving.”
“I would’ve gotten you a snack,” Jacob said. “This is a date, so I’m buying. Funnels cakes, ice cream—whatever you want. And then we’ll grab some real food and drinks later on.”
The Ferris wheel began to move upward, and Jessica leaned closer into him, her bare leg brushing against his own. Jessica pressed up against him felt damn good. He had a vision of her snuggled up against him back in his apartment while they relaxed on his sofa together. Funny because he never really brought women home. He had on the rare occasion in the past, but generally they went out on a couple of dates, had a good time, and then parted ways.
To want to have a woman in his space was somewhat of a surprise.
Especially since he was envisioning her next to him on the sofa, not sprawled out naked on his bed. Not that he’d mind that either.
“On my God,” Jessica breathed as they crested the top of the Ferris wheel and saw the Virginia Beach oceanfront stretched out before them. The sun gleamed off the water, hundreds of people walked up and down the boardwalk and spread out on the sand, and it felt like the entire world was at their disposal.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” he asked in a low voice.
A sailboat sailed by, and several jet skis raced around further down the beach.
“This is amazing! Wow, I never even knew about this place. Even if I did, I doubt I would’ve stopped to try it out. Who knew the Ferris wheel had the best view in town? Well, aside from you I guess,” she added with a laugh.
“It’s older but still popular with the tourists. There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned boardwalk at the beach, complete with a carnival and games.”
They began to lower, and Jessica clung to him again, her brown waves blowing gently in the breeze. “I kind of like you snuggled up against me like this,” he said gruffly, brushing the top of her head with his lips.
She giggled. “I didn’t take you for the snuggling type.”
“Don’t tell the guys,” he quipped.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said dryly. “Besides, I’d rather have you all to myself.”
“Fair enough,” he chuckled. “I think Ryker is going to call your friend Michelle tonight. We’ll see. He’s not really the dating sort.”
“I don’t think Michelle is either,” Jessica admitted. “She’s always up for a good time.”
Jacob shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that I suppose. You’re only young once.” They rode past the line and went up again, circling around once more. “It’s weird being off in the middle of the day like this,” Jacob admitted. “I kind of feel like I’m playing hooky.”
“Same here. Usually I teach summer school. What do the rest of the guys on your team do when they get back?”
“We’re all off,” he explained. “We get some time to decompress. Back in the old days we’d all go hang out at Anchors a lot. Most of the guys have girlfriends or wives now though. They want to get home to see them.”
“And what—you just aren’t interested in that sort of thing?”
Jacob lifted a shoulder. “I hadn’t met the right woman I guess. No sense in forcing something that isn’t there.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. A few of my friends back home are married already, but as for me? I’m not going to rush into anything.”
“Are you originally from Blacksburg?” he asked.
“Yeah, I even went to Virginia Tech. How’s that for original?” she asked with a laugh.
“Rebelling would’ve been going to UVA,” he joked, referring to the University of Virginia. “I’m actually from Pittsburgh. But I went out to California when I joined the Navy. I go visit, of course, but I’ve never been back to live there ever since.”
“I can’t see myself leaving Virginia.”
“Me either—I mean, I won’t be a SEAL forever, obviously. I’m getting older. But there’s a hell of a lot of good jobs down here with the Navy. Plus the Pentagon of course. Either way, I figure I’ll end up somewhere here.”
“Hmmm.”
She didn’t say anything else, and Jacob smiled, content to simply enjoy the day with a beautiful woman at his side. They’d go to dinner. Maybe walk on the beach. He’d kiss her goodnight like he promised.
And after that?
He wanted to see much more of her.
Chapter 12
“DO YOU WANT ANOTHER drink?” Jacob asked as they sat at the outside bar of the crowded restaurant later that night. Twinkle lights were strung above the tables, torches strategically placed around lit up the patio area, and groups of people talked and laughed around them. Jacob rested his forearms on the bar, and she tried to ignore the way his muscles bulged in his sleeves.
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