With a soft smile he took her coat and held it for her. “I’ll drive you home, no need to take a cab.”
Inwardly yelling for joy, Gillian followed him out of the restaurant and to the truck. The drive to her apartment was short and quiet. Biting the inside of her lip, Gillian’s mind raced with thoughts and plans to get him to come up. How did other women do it? There had to be something she could do to entice him, short of throwing herself on him.
“Well here we are.” Jack’s quiet statement penetrated her thoughts.
She glanced around and sighed, disappointment tugging at her heart. Damn. “Did you, uh, want to come in for a drink?”
“I shouldn’t. I meant what I said, Gilli. I’m not after sex. I want to get to know you.” Jack palmed her cheek. “I want more than just a few nights with you.”
“I know. Coffee? That’s all.” She crossed her fingers and waited with baited breath. Would he come in? Or had the experience been so revolting for him he didn’t want to risk a repeat?
Must have liked it enough the first time, he invited you out on a date. The voice of reason whispered to her.
“Not this time.” Jack leaned over, his breath hot on her face. “Tonight was about getting to know each other, Gilli. I’ll take a rain check though.”
Gillian nodded, her lashes coming down to hide the tears burning her eyes. Her fingers fumbled with the seat belt as she offered him a shaky smile. “Oh, yes. Rain check. Thank you again for dinner, Jack. It was lovely.”
“Anytime.” His fingers tangled in her hair, he pulled her closer, his lips brushing against hers. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow, depending on when I get back. Have a good night, Gillian.”
Gillian shivered at the warmth in his tone. She gasped, her lips parting as he inched closer, his tongue darting out to touch hers. Her hands rose, pressed against his chest, fingers tangling in the leather of his coat as he deepened the kiss. The faint taste of coffee and barbecue sauce a heady mix as she pressed closer.
Through the thin material of her blouse, she could feel her nipples against the zipper. The teeth were an added stimulation. With a moan, she trembled at the prickles of electricity darting down her body to between her legs. Her clit throbbed, the coil of heat forming low in her belly.
Hesitant, shy, she pushed against his tongue, stroking it. A shiver of longing raced along her at the low groan escaping him before he pulled back. Licking at her lips, she whimpered at the faint taste of him. She jumped when his hand slid across her shoulder, his knuckles brushing against her aroused nipple.
“Good night, Gillian.” Jack’s fingers curled under her jaw, tilting her head up. With an unsteady finger, he pushed her steamy glasses up and pressed a quick kiss to the end of her nose. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Mmhmm.” Gillian fumbled with the door handle and slid out of the truck onto weak legs. Head down, she scurried up the stairs to her place and turned to look behind her. Jack’s truck sat idling beside her car, the headlights gleaming. She lifted a hand when he raised one and began to back out.
The knob turned easily beneath her touch and she pushed against it. She stumbled inside, closed the door, and sank down to the floor. “Ooh, God.” Pressed back against the cold, white wood, she moaned. She squeezed her thighs together and shuddered at the flare of pleasure darting along her core.
She ignored the angry peel of the phone as she climbed to her feet. Her fingers locked the door out of habit. Stripping her clothes away, she made her way to the bathroom. Within minutes the tub was filling with hot water. Gillian lit the candles spread out around the room and sank beneath the bubble-filled water.
She closed her eyes and trailed her fingers across her body. The short nails scratched across sensitive flesh. She cupped her breasts, her thumbs tracing over the tips. With a moan of pleasure at the touch, she arched, the sound of her voice loud in the stillness.
Gillian’s eyes flew open at the slow glide of her fingers down her body, the first hint of the dark curls between her legs. She clamped her legs together and lay panting in the water.
No, I won’t. I can’t. Sure you can. It’ll feel good, just like before.
Gillian shook her head at the nagging voice. Nothing good would come of her touching herself. The memory of her mother’s irate face when she’d caught her as a girl flashed before her mind’s eye before the memory of Jack’s touch washed over it.
Confused, she pulled the plug, rose, and wrapped a thick towel around herself. The soft slap of bare feet against tile filled the air as she danced to the bedroom. She pulled on the heavy nightgown she wore most nights, along with a pair of simple white briefs, and curled under the sheets. Ignoring the blinking alarm clock, she closed her eyes, her mind a tangled, racing mess of thoughts and emotions with no grounding point.
Chapter 9
“Gillian Rebecca, are you up yet?” Barbara’s furious tone pulled Gillian from a sound sleep. Bolting upright in bed, she spat a curse at her mother’s intrusion. “Gillian Rebecca!”
“What do you want, Mother?” Gillian stormed into the living room. “I told you I have—”
“And I told you to cancel them.” Barbara sniffed, her eyes sweeping over Gillian with utter disdain. “Don’t you have any decent nightwear? That thing looks like a burlap sack, hardly befitting a woman of your age. Or rather it suits you. Sexless as a rug. Come along,
