Page 11 of Jack of Hearts

“And now you’re here.”

“And now I’m here.”

She stands, gathers the dishes, and brings them to the sink. “I don’t want to pressure you. You are an adult and you get to decide when you’re ready to sleep with someone.” She turns on the faucet and begins washing the dishes.

“What if I’m ready now?”

chapter

six

Lucy

My hands still on the plate I’m washing, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Because the truth is I want Jack. I want to be his first. But I also know myself enough to know, deep down, what I really want is to be his only.

He’s not making promises though and we barely know each other. When I’m with him, I feel more centered, more like my true self, than I do when I’m with anyone else. Ever. There’s just something about him that my heart seems to recognize. And I don’t really know how to understand that.

“Lucy,” he says from behind me. “I need you to say something.”

I finish rinsing the plate and set it in the drain, then I turn off the water and spin to face him. “What do you want me to say?”

“That you want me, too.”

“Jack, I’ve been in a constant state of arousal since our kiss yesterday. I definitely want you. I just want you to be sure.”

He gives me a wicked grin. “I’m not a kid, this doesn’t have to be some sentimental thing. My deflowering or whatever.

I chuckle and completely ignore the pang that comes along with his words. I want this to be some sentimental thing. I want it to mean something. But if I only get tonight—or however many nights he’d be here—then I’ll take it.

I’d be a fool not to.

He pulls me flush to his body. The blue of his eyes is practically swallowed up by the black of his pupils. “I want you to know that this isn’t about convenience. This is about me wanting the hot girl who kissed me in her kitchen yesterday.”

She points to herself. “Me?”

“Yeah, Pocket, you.”

I grab his hand and pull him with me to my bedroom. We’ve barely breached the doorway when he kisses me. It’s intense and so hot. He nips at my lips and sucks on my tongue and I’m already so wet it’s a like a slip-n-slide in my panties.

“Do you have any certain fantasies about how you want this to go?” I ask him when his hot, wet mouth trails down the column of my neck. Damn, that feels good.

“I want to lick you everywhere. You taste so amazing.”

“I should probably shower.”

“No. I want you just like this.”

“Fair enough. First, though, it’s my turn.” I drop to my knees and unbutton his jeans, then slowly pull down the zipper.

“What are you doing, Lucy?”

“I should think that’s obvious.”

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?”

“I think I’m fucking hilarious.”

“I actually do too.” He smiles at me and I’m pretty sure that’s the minute my heart leaves my body and launches itself at him.