My heart starts thumping when Jessa emerges at the end of the hall and strides into the dark kitchen. "Fancy running into you here, Boss Man." Her mouth curls into a sexy, one-sided smile.
My eyes move up and down her body. I don’t even bother to hide it. She's not wearing any makeup. Her hair is wet from her shower and hangs like a dark curtain around her pale face. The long wet tendrils drip down the front of her fitted white T-shirt, emphasizing the tiny, puckered nipples beneath the fabric.
“I’m in the mood for your cake." My voice is husky, laden with double meaning.
Yes, I’m blatantly flirting with the woman. I don’t even know who I am anymore.
“I bet you’re in the mood for my cake,” she says, her tone matching mine. She winks and tosses her hair over her shoulder as she strolls past me, toward the pantry.
My attention wanders to her ass. And is it just me or are her shorts a little shorter tonight? Is there an extra sway in her hips?
She sets out the snacks on the island before grabbing a beer and a juice box from the fridge.
“Thanks,” I say, untwisting the beer top as she lowers onto the stool next to me.
I get a whiff of her sugary scent. My throat contracts and my mouth goes dry. I want to taste her so bad.
When I lift the bottle to my parched mouth, she grabs my wrist to stop me. “Wait—we need to toast.”
I turn to face her and quirk a brow. “Toast to what?”
Beside me, she punctures her juice box with her straw and grins. “To regaining legal custody of your daughter.” She raises her beverage.
My chest tightens hearing the words. “Fuck—yeah, to regaining legal custody of my daughter.” I clink my bottle against her box and she giggles at the ridiculousness of the gesture.
Her glittering eyes sober just a touch. “I’m really happy you officially got Callie back. You’re a great dad. She’s so lucky to have you.”
I go for a handful of caramel popcorn. “Thank you,” I say. “I can genuinely say I wouldn’t have been able to do this single dad thing without you, Jessa.”
Despite the darkness, I can see her blushing. “You don’t have to say that.” She peels back the wrapper on a mini chocolate cake and takes a little bite.
I drape my arm around the back of her stool and lean closer. I need her to look at me when I say this. “I mean it, Firefly. From the bottom of my heart. You’re amazing with my little girl. You’re an amazing nanny.”
Her cheeks flush when I call her that. I like it. “My job is easy. Callie’s a great kid. We get along so well.”
I snort and reach for my beer. “Maybe because you’re practically like a kid yourself.”
She screws up her face at me. Eyes squinted, lips puckered, nostrils crinkled up.
“What?” I ask clueless, with my drink halfway to my mouth. “Did I say something wrong?”
She sits a little straighter and mutters defensively, as if she’s got something to prove. “For your information, I’m no kid, Eli Kingston.”
Her tone of voice gets my attention. I stop what I’m doing to look at her. Really look at her. “Is that so?” I challenge, my words growing quieter, huskier.
Her eyes don’t leave mine. She snatches the beer bottle from my hand. “I maybe sweet and smiley but make no mistake—I’m a grown-ass woman, Boss Man.”
I watch as her lips close around the head of the bottle and she takes a long, slow, deliberate swallow of my beer.
My cock nearly flips up and overturns the table when she does that.
Shit. This woman is giving me all the signals and I feel like I’ll go crazy if I don’t make my move. Right now.
Still, I don’t want to read her wrong. I don’t have too much going for me in the finesse department. I’ve barely had contact with women over the past few years, and even before then, I was a married man, so I wasn’t exactly putting my flirting skills to use.
But the way she’s looking at me. She’s making me feel strong. Strong and big and relevant. And willing to take a chance. Even if I end up making a damn fool out of myself.
My focus settles on her breasts. Her tight little nipples strain against the fabric of her shirt. I want to gather her into my arms and taste them. “Your body definitely looks like a grown-ass woman,” I tell her.
She sways closer when I lick my lips. I get a hint of her sugar-scented skin.
“You smell like one.”
I drop my hands to her thighs and slide my palms up her smooth, smooth skin. Goosebumps break out at my touch. Her legs open a tiny bit wider.
“You feel like one.”
Her breath quivers. “I can guarantee that I taste like one, too,” she says, sounding edgy and impatient.
“What if I told you I’m going to need to test that theory?” My fingertips brush along the hem of her shorts before slipping beneath the fabric.
Her words come out as a whisper. “I’d say, be my guest.”
Jessa drops her head and I drop mine. Our foreheads press together. We’re breathing heavy. My fingers smooth down the back of her neck before sliding upward and tangling in her hair. Her presence throbs in the air. I can’t ignore this thing between us anymore.
Time to be honest with myself.
This girl is fucking magic and I love the way being around her makes me feel. I want to kiss her. I’ve wanted to kiss her everyday since the very first time our lips brushed together.
So I do it. I lift her chin and I close my eyes and I softly touch my mouth to hers.
Jessa releases a heavy, quivering breath against my lips. I nearly go crazy from the sensation. Her fingers curl around the back of my neck and she pulls me closer.
Oh, damn.
I part my
