“I'm sorry, I'll get out of your way. I just wanted to grab a quick drink.”
Without a word, I'm across the room, forcing her back against the counter. I can't stop myself. I lost all the control I have over myself.
My hands run down her arms, touching her silky smooth skin. She's so soft, I just want to touch her all over. My fingertips slip back up, following the curves of her shoulders to her throat.
Jenna inhales a sharp breath as I reach her chin and run the pad of my thumb across her bottom lip. I can feel her trembling. Her skin erupts with goosebumps as my hands move from her face to her hair.
Holding her head, I dig my fingers into the base of her skull and say, “Have you thought about me over the years? Did I ever cross your mind at all? Because I've thought about you. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you.”
Her eyes dart back and forth between mine, and her lips part as if she wants to answer but can’t find her voice. Jenna tilts her head into my hand, her eyes glued to mine, glistening under the light over the sink.
Before she can even utter a sound, I kiss her. I kiss her because I have to. The need is overwhelming, consuming me instantly, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.
To my surprise, Jenna kisses me back. Her body rolls against mine, pressing her soft breasts against my chest. Pressing her harder against the counter, our kiss turns savage.
My tongue is in her mouth, her tongue is in mine. She's breathing heavily, and exhales with a soft moan.
No, you can't do this! The voice inside my head screams for me to stop.
Pulling away from her quickly, I take a long step back. Looking down on her, her chest is rising and falling rapidly, and her eyes are sultry. Jenna lifts her fingertips to her mouth, touching her lips lightly.
“Good night,” I say, turning around and going up to my room.
I can't do this. I shouldn't do this.
If I allow myself to become undone by her swollen lips and sexy eyes, it's all over.
I need to control myself or this will never work.
6
Jenna
Knock knock knock.
Sluggishly lifting my head off the pillow, I look at the clock on the nightstand.
Five-thirty in the morning, ugh.
I let my face drop back against the pillow as I groan. Ryder isn't kidding about getting up early. I can barely keep my eyes open, my head is pounding, and all I want to do is crawl back deep under the covers.
I slept like shit.
I spent all night tossing and turning. My mind was running wild after that kiss. It came out of nowhere, taking me completely by surprise. It wasn't like any other kiss I've ever had. The way he grabbed me, the way his hands traveled over my body, I melted instantly for him.
He tasted like whiskey and desire. His tongue sweet, his lips rough with need. The strength of his touch made my stomach swarm with butterflies, and my entire body come alive like a wildfire that's out of control.
Even now, I can still feel his mouth against mine. The sensation is lingering there on my swollen and tender lips. Lifting my fingers to my mouth, I touch my lips, softly running the pads over the surface.
I can't believe he did that. Where the hell did that come from?
Between the kiss and Melody's outburst, I'm not sure what to think. All I know is that kiss turned what little sleep I had into dirty, heated dreams. Every time I dosed off, my mind kept going back to that moment.
Only in my head, he never stopped. Our kiss became an entangled explosion of tongues dancing, and our bodies rubbing together. His hands never stilled, continuing to glide and explore every inch of my body. The Ryder in my dream only pulled away to run his tongue down my neck and across my shoulder.
And then I'd wake up soaked in sweat and wet between my legs. The short bursts of erotic fantasy would rouse me awake every time. I couldn't have gotten more than an hour or two of sleep.
“Hey, wake up in there,” he says loudly, knocking on the door again. “The farm isn't going to run itself.”
“I'm up, I’m up. I'll be down in a couple minutes.” My voice is horse because my throat is dry as the desert.
“Ten minutes, that's all you get.”
“Or else what?” I ask, twisting my legs off the bed and sitting up reluctantly.
“Or I come back with a jug filled with ice water.”
I hear him walk away, his feet heavily moving down the stairs. Forcing myself to stand up, I go in the bathroom and wash my face. The warm water helps to clear the fog on my brain.
Throwing on the only other outfit I have, I pull my hair back into a ponytail, and head downstairs.
“Wow, seven minutes, that's pretty good,” Ryder says, keeping his back to me as he scrambles eggs in a pan.
“I said I only needed a few.”
He plates the eggs and turns around. I'm leaning against the doorway, my arms folded over my chest. Ryder looks me up and down in disbelief. “You're kidding me right?”
“What?” I ask as he sets the plates on the table. Standing up straight, my arms hang at my sides as I look down at myself. “What is it?”
“You're not really wearing that are you?”
Scanning my clothes, I let my eyes drift back up to his. “It's all I have with me. Working on your farm wasn't exactly part of my plan. I shouldn't even be here. I should be on a plane going home.”
“No one's stopping you.”
Cocking my head, my lips pull taut. “This is your idea remember?”
“I didn't forget. But just remember, no one is forcing you to stay. You agreed to this.” Ryder chuckles, looking me up and down again. “You might be the only girl who's ever ruined designer clothes by working on a farm.”
“I don't have another option. I definitely can't do it in heels and a skirt.”
“I wouldn't mind watching you try. It'd be interesting for sure.” Laughing, he shakes his head. “Hold on, I'll be right back.”
Ryder disappears upstairs. I'm in shock he hasn't said anything about the kiss yet. Not an apology, not an explanation, nothing. I thought it would be the first thing out of his mouth, but he's acting like it never even happened.
Maybe that's not a bad thing.
If he doesn't remember, then we can avoid the awkward explanation and any tension or apprehension after. Except I can't ignore the small sting in my chest that the kiss was something he could forget so easily. With every blink I see his face rushing to mine, and I feel his hands on my body.
I'm still having trouble controlling my breathing. My chest is heavy and tight as my heart speed up. Taking in slow breaths, I calm myself down. I can't lose it like this. I can't let this man steal my self control.
I'm here on business, simple as that.
“Here,” he says coming back with a small pile of clothes. “I can't do anything about your sneakers, my sister doesn’t have any, but here are some clothes you can borrow.”
“You don't think she'll mind me borrowing her clothes? I mean, she already hates me.”
“We can keep this secret between us, no reason to poke the bear. Besides, she's working most of the day at the hotel, she won't even know they're missing.”