He’d also touched her too often. His hand had always been on her arm or back or even her thigh. She hadn’t liked it much when they first arrived, and she’d liked it even less after running into Jason.
She rubbed her forehead with two fingers, closing her eyes. Visions of how Jason had touched her on their first dance and then in his hotel room less than half an hour later made her almost laugh. She’d never get enough of Jason’s touch. But Eddie? Just no.
She finally took a deep breath and met his gaze. She needed to nip this in the bud. “This isn’t going to work, Eddie.”
“Why not?” He looked perplexed, though she thought it was feigned. “Are you seeing someone else?”
Fuck. She needed to dodge that question in case her mother walked in. “That’s not what matters, Eddie. I’m just not interested.”
He smiled and had the audacity to reach out and stroke her cheek. “Well, I’m here now. Let’s enjoy the evening and see how it goes.”
Her mother walked in with the steaming pot in her hand moments later, her father following.
Her mother’s smile was huge. “Let’s all sit.” She set the pot down and then clapped her hands together one time in that annoying way she often did to punctuate her words.
Libby stared at Eddie for several seconds, shocked by his tenacity. The man pulled out a chair for her, for fuck’s sake. Libby sat, her heart pounding. What the hell was she going to do?
Her mother started rambling, asking Eddie a thousand questions as if the two of them had arrived to announce their engagement. Eddie answered every question as if he were the poster child for politeness. Libby wanted to stab his fake self with her fork.
And since when did her mother make stew and serve it with bread? Since never. Libby didn’t listen very carefully to the ridiculous small talk because her ears were ringing, but she caught the edge of a conversation about the fact that Eddie was so Americanized—her mother’s exact word—that he preferred American cooking.
Libby’s brows raised. Apparently, it was okay for the man to be American as long as his parents hailed from Guatemala. Libby felt like she was watching a job interview. Eddie was being interviewed as an appropriate suitor, and he was passing with flying colors. No one seemed to care what Libby thought.
Her father glanced at her several times. He even looked a bit chagrined as if he realized this situation was all kinds of fucked-up and wanted to apologize with his eyes, but the man didn’t say a word.
As soon as it seemed even marginally reasonable, Libby wiped her lips, dropped her napkin, and pushed to standing. “I can’t stay. I have to work early tomorrow. Thanks for dinner, Mamá.” She nodded at her father and then reluctantly at Eddie and turned to head for the front door.
“I’ll walk you out,” Eddie stated, jumping up to rush behind her.
Libby walked fast, unamused to say the least. She forced Eddie to nearly jog to keep up with her as she stepped out the front door and rushed toward her car.
She was shaking as she unlocked the car with her fob.
Eddie set his hand on the roof, blocking her. “Hey. I guess this wasn’t such a great idea, huh?”
She rolled her eyes and cocked her head. “Ya think?”
He shrugged, looking irritated. “When your mom called, I assumed you had spoken favorably about me to her. That’s why I came.”
“Well, I didn’t speak of you at all, Eddie. She dreams this shit up on her own.”
He had the decency to at least wince. “Okay, but I still think we should go out again sometime. We had a good time that night. My friends loved you.”
His friends couldn’t have loved her. She barely spoke to them, and they barely acknowledged her.
“Eddie, there’s no other way for me to say this. I’m not interested. It’s not going to happen between us.” Was this guy dense?
He patted the top of her car. “Well, I disagree. I think you should consider another date with me. I’ll call you in a few days.”
She groaned. “I’m not going to change my mind.”
He shrugged. “We’ll see. We make a good couple. My parents and your parents are friends. A relationship between us is so tidy. They would all be thrilled. Win-win. Plus, I’m attracted to you. You’re smoking hot.” He reached out to stroke her cheek, grinning.
She swatted his hand away and then shoved his body back a few feet so she could climb into the car and slam the door. Without another glance—because seriously, he didn’t deserve one—she drove away.
She was so fucking pissed. Her hands were shaking on the steering wheel. She’d meant to go straight to Jason’s house, but now she didn’t think that was a good idea. Not in this state of mind—furious. Besides, what the hell was she going to say to him? He was going to be equally irate. Rightfully so.
When am I going to grow a spine?
She headed back to her townhouse, and when she got there, she grabbed her overnight bag from the back seat and went inside.
Christa was on the couch watching television and painting her nails. She looked up, surprised. “What happened? I thought you weren’t coming home tonight.”
Libby groaned and dropped down on the armchair. “My mother happened. I’m too angry to go over to Jason’s now.”
Christa cringed. “What did she do?”
“She fucking set me up with Eddie again.”
“The guy you were with the night you ran into Jason?”
Libby nodded. “Yep.”
“What do you mean she set you up? Was he there at your parents’ house?”
“Yep,” she repeated.
“Ouch. What did you do?”
“I gave Eddie a piece of my mind, ate my damn meal in silence, and then bailed.”
“And you haven’t told Jason…”
Libby rubbed a hand down her face and shook her head. “He’s not going to like it.”
“I’m sure, but you have to be honest with him, or you’re going to make it worse.”
“Yeah, I know.” Libby sighed. “I couldn’t go over there like this though. My blood is boiling. He’s not the right person for me to vent about my mom’s blind dates.”
“True. Good point.”
“Ugh. I need to text him at least.” There was no way Libby was going to lie about any of this. It wouldn’t help her out at all. She pulled out her phone and texted.
Hey. Shit hit the fan with my mom tonight. I’m back at my place. I didn’t want to come over there angry.
A few moments later, she got a response.
I’m sorry about your mom. Come over anyway. I’ll make you forget.
He added an evil-faced emoji that made her giggle.
One thing was for sure—if she didn’t go over to Jason’s, her mother would have kind of gotten what she wanted. That infuriated Libby even more. She decided to go.
Okay. But we need to talk first. I’ll be there soon.
First before what?
He added yet another evil-faced emoji.
“You’re smiling,” Christa pointed out.
Libby put her phone away. “Yeah. Okay. I guess I’m going over there. Wish me luck.” She shoved off the couch, grabbed her bag, and headed out the door once again.
“Good luck,” Christa called out.
Chapter 16
Jason met Libby at the door, touching her back as she passed under his arm. After closing the door, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his arms.
He wanted to look into her eyes and gauge her emotions. The text conversation had been off. He’d have gotten a better bead on her feelings if she’d called.
Cupping her face, he looked into her eyes.
She met his gaze but then dropped her head and set her forehead against his chest. “Ugh. Let me tell you what happened.”
“Okay.” He slid a hand to hers and lured her toward the kitchen. For the first time, he sorely wished he had a sofa. They had two choices—bar stools in the kitchen or his bed. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked
as he pulled out a bar stool for her.
She hopped up onto it and sighed. “Water would be great.”
He grabbed a bottle from the fridge and handed it to her before taking the other stool. “Tell me what happened.” He reached for her hand and held it loosely, nerves starting to make his pulse pick up. She was really off.
“Remember that guy I was out with when we ran into each other?”
“Yes. Eddie.” How could he forget? And fuck me, but I don’t like where this is going.
“Well, my mom invited him to her house for dinner.”
Jason’s eyes popped wide. Even though he should have seen this coming, he was still shocked. “And…” Please tell me you left.
She pulled her hand out of his and groaned before setting both hands on her head. “I was caught off-guard. So fucking stunned, I didn’t know what to do.”
“So you told your mom to stop meddling in your life, and you left.” He knew he was wrong, but damn, he wanted to be right.
Her shoulders dropped and she shook her head. “No. I did tell Eddie that I wasn’t the least bit interested in him and never would be. It hardly made him flinch. The man is convinced we would make a perfect couple. It’s like he couldn’t hear a word I said.”
Jason stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. There was no reason to be mad at her. She hadn’t really done anything wrong. Except not stand up to her mother. Which was everything.
He stood, needing to pace and think. And take several breaths.
After a few moments, Libby spoke again. “Oh, and he’s the one who sent the roses.”
Jason spun to face her, fisting his hands at his sides. “Seriously?”
She nodded. Her expression was drawn.
“Jesus,” he muttered.
She drew in a long breath. “Look, I knew you would be mad. I almost didn’t come over. I considered not telling you at all. But I didn’t want there to be any secrets between us. I went to my mom’s. She ambushed me. I told Eddie to take a hike. I left.”
“But you also sat at the table and ate dinner,” he accused.
She lowered her gaze and sighed. “Yes. If you want to call it eating. I stabbed at my food for about fifteen minutes while thinking about how I was going to get out of there.”
A war was taking place in his head. On the one hand, she’d told him exactly what happened. On the other hand, he still thought she was stringing him along. “I’m gonna be honest, Libby. I don’t like this. I don’t like that you’re lying to your parents, and I certainly don’t like that some guy is stalking you.”
She pulled in a breath and slid off the stool. How the woman could make jeans and a fitted white T-shirt look sexy was beyond him, but she always managed to make him take notice. Even now. Even though he was off-kilter and so was she.
She took a step back. “I’m gonna go.”
He jerked. “Go? Why?”
She turned and started shuffling toward the front door, speaking as she walked. “Because I’m stressed, Jason. My evening was shit. I have some fucking guy basically stalking me, and the man I really like is more interested in what my stupid parents think than any other single thing. I want to go home and sleep.”
He jogged toward her to close the distance, wrapping an arm gently around her middle before she reached the door and pulling her back against his chest. He rocked her back and forth and set his lips near her ear. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Don’t go.”
She blew out a breath, but she was stiff in his arms.
He brushed her hair from her neck and kissed her, inhaling her scent while forcing himself not to get carried away. He was at least as nervous as Libby. The last thing he wanted was for her to leave tonight. “I overreacted,” he whispered.
She leaned her head against him. “Jason, you have to let up about my parents. We’ve been dating like ten days. I know it’s intense, and I really like you, but I’m not going to declare my undying love for someone to my mom this early in a relationship.”
He hated to admit she was right, and he knew his insecurities were clouding his judgment. She’s not Veronica, he told himself yet again. It was hard to remember that when every time he turned around, the similarities between the two of them piled up.
“You’re right,” he admitted. “Please stay.”
She turned around in his embrace and tipped her head back, her hands on his hips. “One condition.”
“Anything.”
“My brain is on overload. I’m exhausted. Can we just sleep?”
He smiled. “Of course.” Relief flooded him. For the first time since he could remember, he’d give anything to have this woman in his bed, in his arms. Even if they didn’t have sex. “One condition,” he parroted, offering her a sly smile.
“Anything,” she repeated.
“I get to wake you up with my mouth on your pussy.”
She smiled broader. “Who could turn down a deal like that?”
He released her long enough to grab her bag and then they headed down the hallway to the master bedroom.
She entered his bathroom and shut the door, reemerging five minutes later. In the meantime, he’d stripped down to his boxers and climbed under the covers. She padded toward him in the dark, removed her shoes and jeans, and then unfastened her bra and pulled it off under her shirt. She dropped both on the floor and climbed into the bed.
He would have rather had her naked, but he would take anything. The moment she was under the covers, he spooned her, wrapping one arm under her breasts and kissing her neck.
She sighed, relaxing into his embrace. “Thank you,” she murmured.
“Any time, baby girl. I know it might seem like it, but I don’t think our relationship is based on sex. Do we have amazing sex? Yes. Is it mandatory? No. I just love having you in my arms.”
She snuggled closer, he hoped in agreement.
Chapter 17
Libby smiled as she slowly came awake. The sun was just starting to peek around the edges of the blinds, and true to his word, Jason was between her legs, the covers shoved down the bed.
She was still wearing her panties, but he had his arms hooked under her legs and was kissing the sensitive skin of her inner thighs.
She fisted the sheets at her sides and arched her chest when he scraped his teeth along the edge of her panties.
“I love that sound, little one.” He nosed her pussy through the silk material, causing her to groan again. In one swift movement, he drew back, grabbed the hem of her panties, and tugged them off her body. Two seconds later, he was back between her legs, his tongue lapping at her folds.
She arched again. He could play her body like no man ever had, and she loved being reminded of it often.
“Push your shirt up over your tits, baby girl. Play with your nipples for me.”
She shivered at the demand but somehow managed to haul her T-shirt up toward her neck and then cupped her breasts.
He was kissing her pussy, nibbling it, really. All over. Driving her arousal higher by the second. “Please…”
He flicked his tongue over her clit. “Pinch your nipples, baby. I want to see them stiffen.”
She obeyed his command, whimpering as she plucked the swollen buds.
“Good girl. Keep playing with them while I get you off.”
She’d never done anything like this, but it was heady. Granted, she’s masturbated for him on the phone, but this was different. She was fondling herself while he watched. And it felt so good.
He sucked her clit in hard, making her dig her heels into the mattress. When he released it, he flicked his tongue over it rapidly.
As her arousal rose, she pinched her nipples harder. They were going to be sore later. She didn’t care. It was worth it right now.
When his teeth scraped the hood of her clit, she cried out. “Jason.” She was panting, shaking with the need to come.
Suddenly he stopped, releasing her pussy.
Her eyes went wide as he leaned over her bod
y and tugged the bedside table drawer open. He was back moments later, kneeling between her legs, rolling a condom down his cock.
His gaze was on hers. Possessive. Serious. Demanding. Hot as hell. And then he dropped onto his forearms while she continued to stroke her breasts. He thrust into her without warning, taking her breath away. Her eyes rolled back as he kissed her.
It was hard to return the kiss since her brain cells were only firing messages to her pussy, but he teased her lips open with his tongue and then stroked it along hers.
She could taste herself on his lips and tongue.
He waited until she was squirming beneath him to pull out and thrust back into her.
She moaned into his mouth, making him smile against her as he released her lips and met her gaze. “Damn, you are sexy.” He held her gaze as he thrust again. And again.
She tipped her head back finally, unable to maintain eye contact as she neared the edge of sanity. And then, she was right there, holding her breath, willing the orgasm back a few more seconds. God, she loved that space, the time between when she reached the edge and when she fell off the cliff. That delicious point where she teetered before falling.
As her orgasm took over, Jason thrust harder until he too stiffened and came deep inside her.
When they were both spent, he hovered over her several more moments, kissing her face and neck and lips. Finally, he pulled out and dropped to a hip beside her, one leg between hers, his hand on her belly. He was struggling to catch his breath. “Good morning.”
She giggled as she smoothed a hand over his forearm. “Yes, it is.”
An hour later, they were both showered and dressed, sitting at his kitchen island.
“You’re off today?” Jason asked as he handed her coffee.
“Yeah.” She groaned as she tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling. “I’ll go talk to my mom. That stunt last night was out of line.”
“What about Eddie?” Jason furrowed his brow. “You think he got the hint?”
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