Jacoby could read me like a book. He knew when I was teasing and when I was serious. Without me having to say anything, he could tell if I needed his silent support or gentle prodding to open up about whatever might have plagued me. And aside from the massive misunderstanding when I’d kissed him for the very first time, he’d never shown any judgment toward me. Not only did he treat me with such immense respect, but he made it look easy.
Aside from Dave, he was the only person who’d ever treated me that way.
“I’m glad you’re finally seeing things my way.” I made a big show of winking at him, really owning the role of comedic relief. One of the things I loved about being around Jacoby was how easy it was to be myself. I didn’t have to pretend with him.
He really was a lot like Dave—except straight.
And very sexually appealing to me.
“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, are you ready to get schooled on this game?”
For the first time since knocking on his door, I was aware of my attire. “I’d love to, but this dress isn’t the most comfortable. Not to mention, I still need to wash off all this makeup and take my hair down.”
“That’s fine…let me get you a T-shirt.” He stood and pointed to the bathroom, adding, “There are clean washcloths beneath the sink and a bar of facial soap in the holder. Help yourself.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I can just run home and change really fast.”
He stopped mid-step and studied my face for a moment, as if searching my eyes for something. Either that, or maybe he was pleading with them. “Do you need to go home, or do you just want to?”
I opened and closed my mouth several times, unsure of how to answer before settling with, “Well, I mean, that’s where my clothes are. I don’t want to give you more to wash by using one of your shirts and a clean face cloth.”
“If you’d be more comfortable doing all that at your house, I’m completely fine with it. I just didn’t want you going all the way over there and back in the dark if you don’t need to. With the amount of dirty laundry I have after a week of working in yards, an extra T-shirt and washcloth are seriously nothing.”
I thought about it for a moment, really weighing my options. He had a point about it being dark, and I was already here. Everything I would do there could be done here without all the time wasted coming and going. Finally, I conceded with a sigh. “Yeah, okay…fine. Go get me that shirt. Preferably the biggest one you have.” That was all I could get out before he disappeared into his room, his laughter leaving a trail behind him.
Even though I had requested the biggest shirt he owned, I doubted that was what he gave me. And I had a feeling that he’d done that on purpose. It barely covered my backside, and thanks to the thong I had to wear with that form-fitting dress tonight, Jacoby would get a full moon every time I got up or sat down.
I had hesitated after slipping it over my head, unsure if I was prepared to expose that much of myself to him so soon. Sure, two weeks ago, I was straddling his lap and grinding myself against his impressive erection. And a few days after that, he’d crawled between my legs while I was on the phone with Ty. Granted, clothes were never removed, and neither occurrence had ended with the deed being done. Since then, though, the furthest we’d gone was a bit of intense kissing and some innocent—yet sexy—groping here and there. Walking out with my behind on full display would definitely move things up a notch.
What I’d told Dave earlier about making sure of things before taking the next step was just as true now as it was then. I genuinely believed that Jacoby was different, so my hesitation wasn’t because I thought he’d hit it and quit it. It was to protect myself from the heartbreak that could come when my time here was up. Considering the feelings I’d already developed for him after only five weeks, becoming intimate too soon would surely lead to my complete devastation. And while I was certain of my decision to feel things out a bit more, I knew that would go straight out the window the second he touched me.
Jacoby could turn an atheist into a believer.
With one touch, they’d be singing “Hallelujah” and praising Jesus.
I finished washing my face and then dried it off with the towel he had hanging next to the shower. The thought of that same towel being wrapped around his wet, naked body wasn’t lost on me. In fact, I found it to be a rather appealing visual as I removed all the bobby pins from my hair before tying it up in a messy bun.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I thought once more about the risk of prancing around his place with my rear hanging out. I quickly ran through the pros and cons, as well as everything I’d discussed with Dave earlier today.
With my eyes closed, I took a deep breath and made up my mind.
14
Jacoby
I definitely didn’t think it through before grabbing a shirt for Tasha.
I’d picked one that I assumed would’ve been long enough for her, but it clearly wasn’t. Part of me rejoiced at the sight of her as she came out of the bathroom, but another part of me felt like I had set myself up for a night of blue balls. Although, I’d bear almost anything to spend an evening with Tasha. And that scared the hell out of me.
What shocked me the most was the confidence in her smile when
