Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

NINA

“I just need to make a quick stop at the library and make sure I closed everything up for the night properly,“ Jay explains as we pull to the curb in front of the building.

“No problem.” I get out of the truck to follow him inside as I add, “I love being in the library at night. As if it wasn't peaceful enough, being here at night is even better.”

We enter the dark building and Jay responds, “It is so peaceful. Wow, I should have brought all my dates here.”

I laugh. “Like you haven’t been sneaking into this place all along. I bet if I ask Mrs. Holly she’ll tell me the truth.”

“I never had a girl that would enjoy this place like I do.” I stop just inside the doorway, but he keeps going, saying over his shoulder, “I’ll just be a couple minutes.”

I have to keep reminding myself that Jay is a good guy. He’s easy to speak to and always wants to make others feel good. Saying he ‘has a girl’ doesn't mean anything.

Hearing him head downstairs I take the elevator to the second floor. Entering the Read Me, Baby room at night suddenly takes on a different feel. It's gone from the sweet hallmark romance vibe during the day to a sexy and seductive room at night.

The moonlight filters through the windows and I grab the latest novel by Bella Valentino and sit on the couch. Thumbing through the pages I begin to read.

“I’m falling for the boy next door. It was the last thing I envisioned myself doing while trying to find my way in this new town. He’s the one thing I didn’t see coming but now that I know he exists, there’s no way I could walk away. There’s no way I could give up on a chance that this could be my forever.”

I forgot how sweet romance novels are. How they sugar coat love and glorify relationships that can’t ever exist.

“Just words on a page, Nina,” I mutter to myself more loudly than necessary. “It’s not real life.”

Banging on the pipes startles me and then a muffled voice says, “Think about it, Nina. It could be real life. You deserve a love like that. Everyone does.”

I gasp, recognizing Jay's voice, “Jay?”

“Yeah, baby.”

“Y-you can hear me?”

“I can. Stay where you are.”

My heart races at the thought of him coming for me. It also races at the question of how much else has he heard?

A minute later, Jay enters then closes the door behind him, leaning on it. He’s absolute perfection in jeans and a collared shirt. The moonlight picked up that tribal tattoo covering his arm. His eyes that watch me with awe and a smile on those kissable lips that make me want to forget everything I’ve sworn off about romance and men.

“How much have you heard?”

“Tonight?” He asks with a smile and then he walks toward me.

I cover my face with my hands, letting the book drop to the couch beside me. “Oh god, I’m so embarrassed.”

The couch dips beside me as he sits and gently pulls on my arms turning me to look at him. “What in the world are you embarrassed about?”

“Have you heard,” I pause, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat. “Everything?”

He chuckles. “If you're asking if I heard you reading about licking a dick and it tasting so good–”

“Jay!” I exclaim, dying more of embarrassment at actually hearing him say the words.

“I did hear all that. And it was hot as fuck.”

I giggle, attempting to cover my face again but he grabs my hands with his. “I’m just teasing you, Nina. Don’t you dare hide that beautiful face. If it bothers you, I won’t say it again, but how are you going to read to the town if you can’t even hear me say it?”

“I don't know,” I whisper. “I didn’t know all of this was part of the job.”

“What if I help you?”

“How are you going to help? No one knows you read romance books and I doubt you want to put that tidbit of info out into the world. The town would never stop trying to set you up. A real life book boyfriend living in Magnolia Point? Oh the scandal!”

He laughs, tangling his fingers with mine and taking his other hand to brush my hair back. “I don’t really want to tell people. It’s one of the only things I enjoy that I can keep to myself. A secret just for me.”

“Thank you for letting me in on that secret.”

“It's your turn. Tell me a secret of yours,” he says.

“I have none.”

“I doubt that.”

“It's true. I'm boring.”

“Who told you that?” He asks, frowning.

I scoff. “My ex. So when I decided to do something for myself, and put myself out into the world like he wanted, he made fun of me. Since then just about every guy I’ve come in contact with has reminded me I’m not enough.”

“This guy thinks you’re more than enough.” His eyes drop to my lips and I know exactly what he wants. Because I want it too.

“Jay...” his name lingers on my lips as he leans in, and I meet him halfway, our lips touching hesitantly. We press closer, the heated connection igniting as his tongue teases me, and I open, letting him in where we each explore. He tastes of the tequila we were drinking earlier. He nips at my bottom lip and I sigh into his kiss, returning the smile I feel in his lips.

I pull back, my eyes meeting his twinkling ones. “I don’t know how that’s going to help me read in front of a crowd, but maybe we should do it again.”

He laughs. “I’m willing to do anything it takes.” We kiss again, only this time is a little more frantic. I’m desperate to feel his hands on my body so when he palms the side of my neck, his thumb stroking my cheek, I press in closer, pushing my chest against his. His other hand spans my waist as he pulls me tighter against him before urging me onto his lap.

“Is this okay?” he asks against my lips.

I run my hands over his shoulders and down to his tattoo, tracing the dark lines before bringing my eyes back to his. “More than okay. You make me feel good.”

His hands squeeze my waist before he moves them to my back and under my shirt, tickling the skin at the hem of my jeans. “You asked how I can help?” He adjusts himself under me and my eyes flare when I feel him. “Don’t move Nina. You’re killing me.” He rasps out.

I bite my lip and do my best to still my hips. “Sorry. Tell me how you can help.”

“I’m probably going to regret this because I don’t know how much self-control I actually have. It’s been some time since I’ve been tempted like this.”

“I’m far from a temptress.”

“Woman. You don't even know the power you have over me.”

My eyes close and I grind against him, his openness about how he feels about me making me want to lose control of myself.

“Nina.” My eyes open and his are intense as he asks, “Do you want me to read to you? So that you get used to hearing those words?”

“Do you think that's a good idea?”

“I think it’s the best idea.” He lets out a moan as I move on his lap and it only makes me crave him more.

“I’ve never had anyone say those words to me at all.” I admit quietly.

His eyes flare and his lips curve up. “I’m your first dirty talker?” He pinches my waist and I fall forward squirming and laughing. Even during something I'm uncomfortable with, he makes it easy. He turns it into something joyful. “Guess that's your secret then, huh?”

“I guess so. I’m a dirty talking virgin.”

He lets out a laugh and sits up more on the couch, I wrap my arms around his neck. Our chests are pressed tightly to each other and the security that I feel right now is unlike anything I've known. He kisses me again, then whispers, “I love feeling you this close to me. I can’t wait to see all of you. I can’t wait to have you stretched out in my bed where I can lazily explore every inch of your skin. With my tongue.” He bites at my neck and I let out a yelp. “You’ll be screaming my name, begging me to make you come.”

I bury my face in his neck. “Is that from Bella’s new book?”

He pulls back. “No, it’s not.”

“Where’s it from then?”

He takes my hand and places it on his heart. “I know it’s only been a few days, and one date, but it’s from here. Are you ready to hear more?”

My lips turn in and I giggle again. It’s a nervous habit and I can’t stop.

“Don’t laugh at me, Nina.” He winks. “Are you ready to hear more?”

“Yes.”

He inches off the couch, setting me on my feet and stands to his full height. Taking my hand he places it on his cock. I squeeze him lightly and his eyes flare. “Now you know where else it’s from. You’ve got me so hard. I can’t wait to get home and stroke my cock, thinking about how it's going to feel once I get inside you.”

My heart races, my entire body vibrating with heat and need.

Now I get it, the intense appeal of the dirty-talking hero.

And I want more.