Here’s a little love
Dusk was slipping into night and Lacey turned back toward the living room to contemplate these thoughts, but ran right into Jake.
“Jake!” she shouted, surprised.
“Oh, sorry. I thought you heard me behind you.” He didn’t move away, though.
She looked up into his face, now familiar and comforting, and saw something ragged and raw in his eyes. She drew in a sharp breath, but didn’t step away. Something stirred in her, low and enticing. She tilted her face up to him and breathed, “It’s okay. I was just going to…” Maybe her concussion had left her brain damaged, because she couldn’t think of anything coherent to say. Shallow breaths seized up in her lungs. Wild and frantic passions spurred her pulse as she continued to stare into his glittering dark eyes.
Like steel to a magnate, his lips drew close to hers, touching her gently, briefly. She didn’t resist. It felt right to meet his lips with hers, like they were made for each other.
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her in hard, but gently nuzzled her neck with his face. He didn’t say a word, but she could hear his breath in her ear. Then his lips were on hers hard, his tongue darting inside her mouth, heating her body with his desire.
He started to pull at her camisole, lifting it toward her shoulders, and she yanked at his T-shirt, tearing it over his head, impatiently, to expose his muscled chest. The scent of his heated skin was heady, pulling her further into something that she hadn’t felt in years. Not since before Nicholas…died.
Inexplicably tears brimmed her eyes. She placed a palm to Jake’s muscled chest. Everything slammed to a stop as he realized tears were trickling down her cheeks.
“Lacey, what’s wrong?” He brushed the tears away with a gentle touch and peered down into her eyes.
She collapsed to the floor, and he lowered her, still holding her in his arms. “I’m so sorry.” She rested her head against his shoulder, letting the feelings flow.
“No apologies needed,” he said, caressing her hair. “If anyone should apologize it’s me. I didn’t mean to take advantage of you or lose control.”
“No, it’s not like that.” Misery filtered through her. She needed to make him understand, but how could she when she didn’t? “I haven’t been with a man since my husband died. I’ve never stopped loving him,” she sobbed.
“He was a lucky man, to have you to love and love him back.”
“It’s not that I don’t want you. I do. But I’m not sure how to love someone else. I’m so sorry. You’ve been so kind.”
He pulled back, giving her a pointed look. “I don’t know if you know it but I’m falling in love with you, Lacey. When or if we make love, I don’t want you to feel it’s because you owe me something. Far from it. I’m grateful for the time you’ve been here. It’s been like nothing I’ve ever experienced.” He pulled back more and started to stand.
But she grabbed his arms. “Don’t. Don’t go.”
He slanted his head, confusion in his face. “What?”
“Cuddling would be nice,” she managed to murmur.
Romantic gestures are fun, sometimes funny, but typically memorable. What is one of your most favorite romantic gestures--fictional or real? PG 13, please.
