“Don’t move on my account.” He smirks as I shift a little. He looks so smug and downright sexy as he draws a beer to his perfectly plump lips. Oh, how I would love to be that bottle right now.
“I was going anyway.” I lie, hoping that he can’t tell. “I’ve got to get ready for work.”
“Give over, Luce. You’ve got ages yet. Why don’t you come and have a drink with me? Call it an official moving in drink. I won’t bite, well not unless you ask nicely.”
Even though I’m beyond embarrassed right now, a nervous laugh escapes me and I suddenly find myself nodding in agreement. “Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll pop over.”
“Cool, make sure you do. I’ll be waiting.”
I cannot believe that Jake, Jake of all people has moved in next door. Deep down, I’m absolutely ecstatic, but I’m also a little weirded out by it all too. He clearly knew where my apartment was because he’s been here a few times now. The one next door has been empty for months and then boom, he’s suddenly living within a couple of feet from me. Jesus Christ, I bet our bedroom walls are right next to each other too. Somehow, I don’t think that this is all some little coincidence. But, then again maybe it is and I’m wasting my time once again by looking into things too deeply. I’m always trying to find answers to questions that aren’t even there.
As soon as I reach my room, I pull on my shorts and my vest top from earlier and quickly glance at my appearance in the mirror. My hair’s a little wild, but I’ve definitely caught the sun on my face. I guess I could have looked a lot worse. Either way, Jake seemed to like what he saw and if I’m being honest with myself, I’d have to say that I felt exactly the same way when I saw him watching me. He’s bloody hypnotic.
No sooner have I stepped outside my apartment door, I can see Jake waiting for me. I melt a little bit more as his deep, cobalt eyes slowly trail up and down my body and I can feel my cheeks burning up from his intense, heated stare.
Jesus, he’s too bloody much for a girl like me to handle.
“Hey.” I smile as I approach him.
“Hey, yourself.” He shifts to the side, allowing me to pass and I’m instantly greeted with a nice, welcome cold, icy breeze. Typical. The place has been empty for an absolute age, yet his air-con seems to work like a dream.
“At least you’re nice and cool in here. Our air-con’s well and truly had it.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think the temperature just heated up a notch in the past few seconds.”
“Seriously, Jake.” I laugh back at him. Why is he always trying to make me blush? “And here was me thinking that you were actually one of the cool ones.”
“Hey, I’m cool. I’m only stating a fact, what’s wrong with that? Plus, I was always brought up not to lie.”
“Quit with the cheese.” I warn and take a sip of my beer, more to keep my hands and mind busy. I watch as Jake holds his hands up in surrender and he looks so adorable. I automatically smile at him before moving past him and stepping out onto his balcony. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the whole apartment seems much bigger than ours. I bet it’s bloody cheaper too.
“I wish our air-con worked like yours. I constantly feel like I’m dying a slow death over at our place.”
“Hey, I’d offer to fix it, but if it keeps you going outside to cool down like you did before, then I’m all for it staying broken.”
I turn back around to face him and jump at the sudden close proximity between us. I didn’t even hear him come up behind me. He’s that close, I can feel the heat of his breath on my face and it’s thoroughly intoxicating. I step back a little to try and create some distance between us, to try and compose myself, but my back crashes straight into the wall with nowhere to go.
All too soon, Jake is upon me and I can’t breathe. Every one of my bodily functions refuses to work and I’m trapped. “You gonna give us a kiss then, or what?”
I don’t get a chance to respond before his big, strong, bare arms encase me on either side of my head. My whole body is now flush against the wall and I wouldn’t be able to escape even if I wanted too. Without really thinking about it, I allow his lips to gently trace mine and I never want this moment to end. I’ve been imagining this moment since I first laid eyes on him and it’s even better than I ever thought it would be.
Automatically, as if on instinct, my tongue reaches out, frantically searching for his and as soon as they collide Jakes body crashes into mine and he presses all of his warm, solid frame against me.
His scent, mixed with the aftertaste of beer on his tongue drives all my senses into a frenzy and on high alert. I’m conscious of every movement he makes and it’s driving me bloody crazy. I can feel his fingertips slowly and delicately trailing up and down my side, causing a multitude of sensations to erupt throughout my body. Sure, I’ve kissed plenty of guys before, but this? I’ve never experienced anything like this at all. Is this really what Fran was talking about? Bloody hell, if it is, then this is some serious magic shit and I need to bottle it up now so that I can remember what this feels like.
As our tongues continue to explore each other, my hands automatically reach up around his perfect, heated body and as soon as I touch his hard, broad shoulders he presses into me some more. I can feel him harden against the curve of my thigh and as he presses his hips into mine, an unfamiliar and desperate moan escapes my lips.
“Shit. What the hell was that?” I silently scream to myself. In my sudden and somewhat heated moment of embarrassment I try to pull away from him, but then I remember that I’ve got nowhere to go. My whole body is on fire, completely ignited and I’ve got absolutely no idea what he’s doing to me. I’ve never felt anything like this before in my life.
A small smile curves onto his lips as he continues to passionately kiss me, as if he has been starved from what I’m giving him and then all too soon, he pulls away and I feel cold. Like a part of me has been ripped away and I feel lost. When I finally manage to open my eyes, I look up and see that he’s looking straight at me, his eyes piercing into the very depths of my soul.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you.” He whispers and his breathing is rugged, his chest falling and rising rapidly.
“He has?” I don’t have any words to say to him and my mind is still a foggy haze. Did that really just happen? I reach out to grab my beer, eager to keep my hands busy and I’m really struggling to keep eye contact with him. He’s going to know I’m inexperienced and then he’ll probably laugh at me, before turning around and never looking back.
Great, now I’m letting all my self-doubt slowly creep in and to top it off, I can feel myself going shy around him.
Guess I should add immature to this ever growing list.
My body is still burning from his touch and I’m scared of actually physically combusting before his very own eyes.
“You okay?” A small smile plays on his lips, but his arched brow shows his concern. The thing is, I don’t know what to say to him.
“Hmm… yeah.” I reply, but it comes out on a high pitched squeak once again.
“You sure? Was it too much, too soon? I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself with you. It’s like some strong pull and I need to be close to you, tasting you, feeling you.”
“What?” I just about manage to say before clearing my throat to continue. “No, no, don’t be daft. Honestly, I’m fine.”
Before I get a chance to say anything else, he’s completely closed the space off between us and I can feel his body heat against mine. My head automatically lifts up to his as if I’m a puppet and he holds the strings. My breathing hitches as his face comes down slowly to meet mine and his eyes never leave me. I can just about hear the ocean in the distance before his lips connect to mine, and as soon as they touch, everything else around me fades. This time, his kisses are much more cautious, delicate, even and I can tell that it’s taking everything he has to hold back.
“What the hell is wrong with you woman? You’v
e been waiting for this, just go with it.” I give myself a mental pep-talk and then place my hands on either side of his face, slowly and gently tracing his day old stubble. As my body begins to tingle again, I increase the pressure of my lips, trying to let him know that it’s okay and from the groan that comes from deep within Jake’s throat, he clearly seems to be on the same wavelength.
My mind is completely intoxicated again and I allow him to grab the back of my thigh, slowly bringing it up to rest on his waist. The unfamiliar ache that’s building up from deep within my stomach is nothing like I have ever felt before and it feels incredible. Breath-taking, even. As we continue to lose ourselves in each other, Jake begins to rock his hips into me and with nothing but the thin fabric of our clothes between us, it’s pure, exhilarating torture and I never want this moment to end.
“You want to go inside?” Jake pants out in between kisses, neither of us really wanting to break the connection that’s simmering away between us. All I can do is nod back at him, my voice unable to function and with one swift motion, he pulls my other leg up and around him and he carries me inside. Our chests continue to rise and fall rapidly against each other and I know that he’s just as affected as me. I can bloody feel how affected he is.
I’ve got absolutely no idea what’s going to happen between us or where we’ll go from here, but one thing that I do know is that no matter how worked up my body is, no matter how much it’s craving his touch, there is no way that I’ll be having sex with him.
Sure, there’s no point trying to deny that we’ve got some crazy connection going on, but I don’t really know him well enough yet. I’m not prepared to be a notch on anyone’s bedpost. For me, as old fashioned as it may sound, it has to mean something; for both of us.
My neck arches up involuntary, allowing Jake to place a trail of soft, warm and wonderful kisses up my neck and along my jawline. His hand sweeps across the band of my shorts and he pulls me closer so that I’m pressed against his body once again. I’m well and truly consumed by him and only him and it all feels so surreal.
My eyes shoot open and lock onto the clock on the bedside table.
“Shit.” I shout out, pulling myself out of Jakes arms. Arms that I could quite happily stay in forever.
“What? What is it?” Jake asks, his voice full of alarm.
“I’m going to be late. Crap. I’m never late.” This isn’t good. I hate it when I’m late, it sends my whole body out of whack.
“Relax, Luce. You’ll be fine.”
“Relax?” I exclaim. That’s bloody easy for him to say. He probably doesn’t even start until a few hours after me. One thing that I have always prided myself on is my punctuality. Since I’ve been out here, I’ve never had a single sick day or been late for a shift and I sure as hell don’t want to change that now.
“Wait up and I’ll come with you.” Jake shouts after me as I try to make a dash for it.
“No it’s okay. I’ll see you later.” The words rush out from my mouth and when I turn to face him, I feel torn. I know that I really need to leave and fast, pretty much right this second if I’ve got any chance of arriving at Poison on time, but at the same time I really can’t think of anything better than spending the night wrapped up in Jake’s arms.
“Wait…” Jake demands, as I try to make my way towards the front door. I feel his arm snake around my waist and before I know what’s happening, I’m being pulled back into his warm and comforting embrace. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“You’re the bloody reason that I’m running late in the first place.” I laugh, before reaching up on my toes to give him a kiss goodbye. I need to go and now. I can’t allow him to distract me anymore than he already has.
“I’m sure the boss man will understand. Anyway, go and I’ll see you down at Poison later.”
He slaps my arse, hard as I turn to leave him and I blush instantly. Thankfully this time, he can’t see my face to witness it and I leave his apartment with the biggest and most goofiest grin plastered one my face and for once, I actually don’t care. Right now, in this moment, I’m happy and that’s all that really matters.
“Free shot upon entry and then it’s two for one on all cocktail jugs for the rest of the night.” I shout out to the mass of passers by outside Poison. So far tonight, it’s been pretty eventful and I don’t think one single person has refused an offer yet. Fortunately for me, I’ve got a pretty large stack of vouchers handy. It’s a bloody good job too, because Thursdays are the new arrival days and everyone loves getting smashed on their first night. I’m just glad that I’m not them the following morning, because these people sure know how to knock it back. There’s no stopping them.
“Hey sweet cheeks, what about you for the rest of the night?”
“Not on offer I’m afraid guys.” I call back. At first, I was a little taken aback and slightly offended at all the hackling I received. I felt like I was something for sale, but I’ve kind of gotten used to it now and I can casually laugh along with them. Most of these guys are purely here for a quick lay anyway and that’s not really my style.
Now, Fran on the other hand, she’d happily egg them on all night long and give their ego’s a little boost. Sometimes, for the select few that have really caught her attention and she fancies taking out for a ride, she hands out her special vouchers. The only difference between the two are that her special ones have her number plastered all over them.
I’ve got to be honest and admit that I’m pretty shocked to see her stood opposite me. I never thought she’d have enough willpower to drag herself away from bloody tash-man, but here she is, clear as day, standing in front of me, working.
“See Lucy, looks like we’ll have no problems sorting out your little situation.”
“Oh, piss off.” I laugh back at her. I don’t know why she keeps bringing it up. It’s no big deal, well at least not to me anyway. “I’ve already told you, It’s not a situation and I’m pretty happy with how things are so far, thank you very much.”
“Sure you are, but that’s because you don’t know any different yet. Trust me Lucy, once you pop, you can’t stop.”
“So you keep telling me.” I scowl at her and all she can do is laugh. Now that I kind of know what she’s talking about after my little experience with Jake earlier this afternoon, but I don’t see why I need to mention any of that to her. I’d never hear the end of it. But it’s nice to see that she’s having a bloody jolly old time by taking the piss out of me.
I wait until there is a break in the crowd of people surrounding us and ask, “have you sorted your little situation out yet? I’m guessing yours is a bit more important than mine.”
“As a matter of fact, yes, yes I have.”
“Really? Can they get the results back to you that fast these days?” I’m fully aware that I don’t have a clue with any of this stuff, but that seems a little too quick, even for me.
“No need.” She smiles. “I spoke to Dave when he came round earlier and he assured me that we were careful all the time.”
“Right, well. I guess that makes everything okay, then?” I reply sarcastically. No matter how much I try, I can’t hold back so God only knows what my face looks like right now.
“Erm, well yeah. Why shouldn’t it?” Fran’s voice breaks and I know that I’ve just hit a nerve with her.
“No reason, but you said yourself that you can’t really remember. Are you really just going to take his word for it, Fran?”
“Why wouldn’t I? What does he actually have to gain from lying to me?”
Seriously? Does this girl really have no clue? She hardly even knows the bloke. He could be riddled with absolutely anything. “Fran, just look at it like this. He might not really remember it all either and maybe he wants to keep you sweet so that you continue to give him the good stuff.”
“Listen to you.” She taunts. “Actually pretending to know what you’re talking about.”
“Fran, you don’t need to be a bitch
about it…”
“Stop being such a Debbie fucking downer then. I’ve said I’ve sorted it, so end of. Okay?”
“Okay. My lips are sealed.” For now, I silently finish the sentence in my head. There is absolutely no way that she can be buying his crap. She can’t be, because if she did then she wouldn’t be so bloody uptight about it all.
“I’m going getting a drink. You want one?” She snaps over to me and I just shake my head at her in response. It’s pointless trying to continue a conversation with her when she gets like this. She’s possibly one of the most stubbornest people I have ever met.
No, right now I’m quite happy here and I’d much rather steer clear of her icy attitude. Jesus, it’s not like I made her sleep with the guy. No, she did that all by herself. I’m still completely dumbfounded as to why, but each to their own and all that. I guess if she wants to be reckless then that’s her problem and one day she’ll have no choice but to face the consequences. All I can do is be her friend, try to tell her what I think she is doing is wrong and most importantly, be there for her when the shit hits the fan.
And it will, I’m bloody sure of it.
“You miss me?” My head whips around and behind me, I’m greeted by Jake perched on a bench, looking as sexy and sinful as ever.
“Hmmm… I’ve been pretty occupied. I’ve not really given it too much thought to be honest.” I reply, not really wanting him to know just how much he’s been on my mind since earlier.
“Guess I’ll have to make more of an impression on you next time, then.” He winks and my body instantly reacts to him. “You’ve been in my head since you rushed out on me before.”
“Ha, that’s good to know.” I know I’m being awkward and I’m really trying my best not to be, but I can’t help it whenever he’s near me. I’m like a completely different person. “What time do you start?”
Since You've Been Gone Page 7