Cross Check (Marriage Contract #1) Read Free Page A

withdraw my touch, Jay brings his hands firmly to my hips,
rustling the white fabric of my full skirt. The laughter hanging in the air
between us gives way to earnestness. We can’t hold the moment at bay any
longer.
    “I came out here looking for you, you know,” Jay murmurs,
circling his arms around my waist. “I don’t know how, but I just knew you’d be
here. Waiting for me.”
    “I wasn’t waiting for you,” I insist, even as I let
my hands trail down his bare chest.
    “Fine,” he smiles, his blue eyes boring into mine, “But you
can’t tell me that part of you wasn’t hoping I’d show up, too.”
    “Maybe,” I allow, savoring the sturdy, immovable feel of his
body. “But why wait for your last night in town to come looking for me? I’ve
been right next door this whole time, in case you’ve forgotten.”
    “Because I’m a fucking idiot,” he says firmly, pulling my
hips flush against him, “That’s my only excuse, Leah. But trust me, I’ve kept
my eye on you.”
    “That doesn’t really cut it,” I tell him, “After all this
time—”
    “Isn’t that what we’re doing now? Making up for all that
time?” he presses, tucking a lock of red hair back behind my ear.
    I stare up at him in the darkness, every inch of my body lit
up with wanting him. God knows he’s not the only guy I’ve wanted in my life.
But never have I felt like denying myself a taste of someone would be enough to
drive me insane. Since the time I started noticing boys that way,
Jamison has been the standard bearer of male beauty in my mind. I just never
thought I’d actually get a chance to act on that feeling. But now…
    “Where’s that flask?” I ask him, my voice low and lusty.
    His firm lips pull into a grin as he lifts the silver vessel
from his pocket once more. I take a long, eager swallow of the scotch, savoring
the burn in the back of my throat. Handing the flask back to Jamison, I wrap my
arms around his broad shoulders as he takes a slug and lets the container fall
to the ground with a clatter.
    “So you’ve really wanted me all along?” I smile, hooking my
hands behind his neck.
    “You’re fucking right I did,” he growls, running his hands
up along my back. “You too?”
    “Yeah, me too…” I murmur, “I just thought it was part of our
game, not admitting it.”
    “Well,” he laughs, “If that was the game, I guess I lost.”
    “You mean you guess I beat you,” I tease, ever the
competitor.
    “Just this once,” he says, catching my face in his hands,
“I’m happy to let you have it.”
    My breath catches in my throat as Jamison brings his lips
firmly to mine. I catch his kiss earnestly, pressing myself to him as our lips
meet for the first time. For years I’ve been wondering what this might feel
like, taste like… But I never would have been able to dream this up. I let my
mouth fall open to his as he wraps his arms around the small of my back. Our
tongues sweep against each other as the novelty of finally touching gives way
to urgent need.
    Raking my fingers along his bare back, I moan softly as I
feel his cock pressed hard against me. He lets me feel the full strength of his
want, grinding his hips against mine as he kisses me hard and deep. Our kiss
tastes like scotch, and summer, and years of waiting as I give myself over to
this long overdue moment. Jay’s hands run down my slender slides, brushing over
the swell of my breasts beneath the starched linen of my dress. I feel my
nipples go hard as he runs this thumbs over them, sending a deep pang of need
ringing out in my core.
    “Jesus, Leah…” he groans, as I let my hands drop down to
that hardness between his legs, “Do you have any idea how sexy you are?”
    “I think I can feel how sexy you think I am,” I grin
breathlessly, running my hands all along that impressive length. Nothing but
the thin fabric of his trunks is holding that staggering desire in check. But
I’m not sure how much longer they can do the