Chapter 5

Jason

“Stay with me, shortcake.”

I don’t know where she went just now but her midriff tenses under my touch.

And it all started when I finally got my hands on her soft, pleasing tummy. I’m taking a moment to absorb this image: Journey’s hair tousled, her lips swollen from our kissing, her pink top unbuttoned, the white of her full-coverage bra contrasted against her flushed skin, and my hand spanning the gentle curve of her bare stomach.

But her eyes… she’s disassociating and I won’t have it.

“I’m…here.”

Her breathy voice, full of apprehension, forces me to ask a question I don’t want to ask. Because I know the answers will only make me more attached to her. Make me want to fill every square inch of her that hasn’t been cared for in the way she deserves.

“The fuck you are.”

The cussing gets her attention and her eyes lock on mine.

“I am,” she insists.

“You went somewhere.”

“I…”

“You don’t like me touching your stomach?”

“It’s fine.”

“Fine?”

“I’m not used to it.” She swallows. Her eyes start to shine. Dammit, she better dry it up because I’ll lose my shit. I’ll have to leave and go kill somebody for whatever they did to her.

“What happened to you?” I ask.

She laughs but it’s hollow. “There’s not a single woman on the planet who loves their stomach.”

That’s not the honest answer but I’ll take it. I have to take it because if she tells me more, I won’t be able to control myself.

I nod in understanding. “You wanna know what I think about it?” I ask, measuring the span between the bottom of her bra and the waistband of her skirt.

She bites her lip and nods her head.

I drop to my knees and brush my lips over her sweet middle.

“Usually, a dude goes for the boobs first,” she says with a soft laugh.

I sweep soft, damp kisses over her abdomen, her muscles tightening under my touch. “Those are on my list, just not at the top.”

“You have a list? Let’s hear it.”

“First this,” I say, dragging my mouth down toward her navel, nipping a faint freckle.

I glance up; her chest heaves, her face angled up to the ceiling, her eyes closed. “And after that?”

“After that, I’m leaving my mark on one cute little nipple.”

She smiles, her back arching off the door. “How do you know my nipples are cute?”

“I’m not finished, smart-ass.”

Journey’s pretty teeth bite down on her lip to stifle a moan.

“You’re learning. That’s good. Next, I’m gonna watch you come while my fingers own you. And then you’ll get to come a second time while you ride my face.”

“Oh god, yes, please,” Journey whispers.

I chuckle against her skin and give it a soft nip, my hands never stopping their caresses. God, why am I still talking? I need to find out what’s under this flouncy little skirt.

“You like the idea of coming on my face, shortcake?”

“Yes,” she squeaks.

“You want that?”

Her hips push forward. “Please…”

“Then you’re gonna have to get comfortable with me loving on your stomach. And with a little hair pulling, and there’s more…”

“Yes…yes to all of it…shut up, shut up…and do it!”

I rise to full height, towering over her, smirking. “We need to go to the bedroom and discuss how you talk to me.”

Her eyes flash with understanding of what we’re doing here. She follows me into the bedroom, and I close the door for effect.

“Now, be a good girl and take off all your clothes.”

Her cheeks heat. “All of them?”

“Every stitch.”

Holding back the instinct to tear her clothes from her body is taking every ounce of strength. I want her that bad.

Lucky for me, she seems to be in a hurry, shoving off her top and then unhooking her bra. As she fiddles with the clasps, she apologizes. “Sorry, it’s not the sexiest bra.”

How many compliments will it take until Journey believes just how sexy she is? Ten? Twenty? We’ll have to work on that.

Wait, what am I thinking? “Working on that” implies we’re a couple. That’s…not what this is.

Her breasts fall free as the seemingly armor-clad bra falls to the floor. Journey’s hands go to her stomach.

Two round breasts press together with the positioning of her arms. She looks like a damn virgin, and my cock twitches. What is wrong with me?

“My undies aren’t much better. If I had known I would be on a date, I would have worn something prettier, but I thought I would be cooking for hours to prove myself in the interview with Chef Richard. I guess?—”

At the sound of that godawful man’s name, a petty evil surges in my gut. “Wait,” I say, cutting her off as she hooks two thumbs in the waistband of her flowing short skirt. “Skirt on. Panties off and hand them to me.”

I love that she doesn’t question anything. Her breasts bounce adorably as she bends to tug her panties off. I adjust the front of my jeans, but it gives me no relief. When she hands them to me, I take this opportunity to grab her wrist and pull her toward me. Her soft body slams against mine and I take her mouth in a claiming kiss.

When we pull apart, her eyes are dazed and happy. “Thank you for the upgrade. This hotel is nice.”

I squeeze the panties tight, as if I can imprint them on my skin.

My skin runs cold momentarily when I realize what she might be thinking here.

“Just so you know, none of this is transactional.”

Journey blinks up at me. “Can we pretend it is, though? That’s more fun.”

My soul just left my body. I’m falling in love.

“You’re a fucking treasure, shortcake.”