Olivia laid her hand against Jake’s warm chest and began running her fingers across the strong muscles there. She could feel his heart racing frantically beneath her palm, and found comfort in knowing he was just as affected by her touch, as she was his.
Using her other arm, she grabbed the back of his neck and deepened the kiss. Caught up in their sensual dance, Olivia didn’t even realize Jake had turned their bodies around until the backs of her legs hit the mattress.
Without breaking the kiss, she sat down, her nightgown making it easy to for her to slide farther back onto the bed. Jake followed her lead.
He lay beside her. With his weight rested on one elbow, his other hand was free to explore. They continued to taste one another, their tongues swirling and thrusting together perfectly. Jake ran his fingers down her jawline before tracing the pulse line of her neck, no doubt feeling the incredible effects from his touch.
His hand continued lower, his strong fingers outlining her breast before finding her hardened nipple. Olivia gasped against his mouth. The material covering her was so thin, it was almost as if she were wearing nothing at all. Almost.
“Jake,” she breathed out his name against his lips.
He rolled the distended nub between his thumb and forefinger, the sensation nothing short of exhilarating. It was as if her nipple was somehow connected to that tiny bundle of nerves between her thighs, and when he gave it a gentle tug, Olivia cried out. Her lower body arched upward of its own accord, begging him for more.
Jake pulled his mouth away and began trailing tiny kisses up her cheek, stopping at that spot just behind her ear. She shivered again, and when he took her earlobe between his teeth, Olivia didn’t even try to stifle her moan.
“God, Liv.” His hot breath whispered across her ear and neck. “You make it impossible to be good.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She ran her hands up and down his taut arms. “What you’re doing feels pretty damn good to me.” She felt him smile against her neck.
“Smartass.” He pulled back so he could look down at her, his expression becoming too serious for her liking. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
Her heart damn near stopped. “W-why not?”
Jake’s eyebrows rose. “Why not? For one thing, you’re hurt—”
“They’re just bruises, Jake,” she interrupted, but he continued on.
“And you’ve been through hell. Your emotions are probably all over the place, and I can’t”—he licked his lips—“I won’t take advantage of that. Not with you.”
Olivia worked to keep her voice steady and prayed she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt. “It’s not taking advantage, if it’s what I want.”
Jake’s brow creased as he slowly brushed a wayward curl from her forehead. “Sweetheart, you need to rest. After what you’ve been through, you need to—”
Olivia stopped him with a finger against his lips. “I know exactly what I’ve been through, Jake. I also know what I need.”
She rose up, hiding a wince as her sore ribs pulled, and kissed him softly. Determined to prove her point, Olivia slid a hand down between them.
Through his boxers, she wrapped her fingers around his impressive erection as best she could and began to stroke him. Jake closed his eyes, his breath hissing between his teeth.
Olivia smiled. “And all I need right now, is you.”
He was hot and pulsing against her fist. The wonderfully stubborn man was doing his best to play the gentleman. To hell with that.
Olivia had literally come face to face with death more than once over the past few weeks. Although, a part of her understood she was probably crazy to be thinking of sex after everything that had happened, she didn’t care.
Now, more than ever, she understood just how precious life was. There was no promise of tomorrow. Not for anyone.
Tonight, she was free. Something Olivia had begun to believe she’d never be again. So, tonight was going to be all about living.
“Olivia...” Jake’s voice sounded strained as he tried reasoning with her again. The man was nothing, if not persistent.
She smiled and shook her head, her fist slowly stroking up and down. “Stop trying to talk me out of this, Jake.”
“But...”
“No buts.” She released him and framed his face with both hands. “I’m not asking for forever here.” She leaned up and kissed him again. “All I’m asking for is this.” She kissed his strong jaw. “Us.” A small kiss to his chin. “Tonight.”
Olivia held her breath, praying he didn’t say no. When she looked into his eyes, heavy-lidded with arousal, she could see his resolve crumbling.
Jake gently palmed her face with both hands. “I don’t want to hurt you, sweetheart. The last fucking thing I ever want to do is hurt you.”
“You won’t hurt me, Jake,” one of her hands caressed his rugged cheek. “Please. If you want me like you say you do, then give me something good to take away from all of this.”
****
Jake had tried. He’d really tried to do the right thing and back off, but he was no saint. Olivia was lying next to him in that unbelievably sexy gown, practically begging him to make love to her. Like hell, she’d ever have to beg him for anything.
“I’ve wanted you for so long, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t,” he confessed. “You have no idea how hard it’s been not to touch you this way. To not be with you.”
He ground his hips against her thigh, his swollen cock painfully hard. With one finger, he traced her jawline. “So many nights I’d lie awake, wondering what it would be like to be inside you. I couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve used my own fist while imagining it was you touching me. So,
