Part 20 (1/2)
”It's nothing grand.”
”If you're there, that's where I want to be.”
He chuckled softly and turned his truck around. They rode in silence to his house, the windows rolled down. AJ turned into a long, narrow driveway. They were on the outskirts of Hidden Valley, not many other houses around. Pepper Trees lined the asphalt line, the smell sharp like the cardamom spice. Jennifer craned her neck for a better view of his house. It was a small white square, the stucco peeling in places. AJ turned his truck and his headlights beamed on a three car garage, the third door high enough to accommodate an RV. A garage door slowly rolled up.
”The garage looks brand new.”
”It is.”
”And much bigger than your house,” she laughed. ”I think I know where you spend all your time.”
He grinned. ”Priorities.”
The truck pulled in and Jennifer unclicked her seat belt. Antic.i.p.ation was killing her. To be with him. To see his home. To kiss AJ and brush against him. It was easy to just be with him. l.u.s.t hummed hard and fast between them. She'd not deny that. All the parts of them together made her happy. He made her happy.
AJ killed the engine. He left one hand on the steering while like a man with words to say. His profile was solid like him. He stared straight ahead, the muscles in his jaw working.
”AJ?” She scooted closer on the bench seat.
”There's something I've got to say and better to get this out now than later.” Crystalline blue eyes pierced her. He swallowed hard. ”I know I'm falling for you.”
Her inhale was fast and sweet. Euphoria almost lifted her off the seat.
His hand went up, palm out. ”Let me finish. I'd rather cut off my left nut than make a mistake with you.”
”Oh, AJ,” she said, stifling a giggle. ”You have a way with words.”
”I mean it.” He touched her skirt. The silk faille made seductive whispery sounds. ”I don't want you giving up your art, your independence...your whatever for me.” His voice was forceful. ”I don't want you looking back on your life, feeling like I stole from you.”
”You won't.” They hinted at forever. ”I'm not that woman anymore, and neither are you that kind of man. I feel how much you respect me.”
Maybe it was too scary to admit it aloud. She was fine with that. She wanted this now with AJ. Forever would take care of itself. And how freeing that was.
AJ's forehead sheened lightly. The night was cool. The windows were down, the garage door was wide open. Crickets sawed notes in open fields beyond his driveway. AJ's usual stoic brand of confidence sweetly faltered as he declared himself. He was forceful and lost all at the same time. It melted her in all the right places.
She cupped his smooth cheeks with both hands. ”AJ. It's alright. We'll be good together.”
His hand slipped under her skirt hem. ”I know.” His voice was gruff with l.u.s.t and affection. ”Come on. Let's go inside.”
”No. Girl's choice. I'm making this call.” She settled back against the door, her head resting at the bottom of the open window. She braced her foot on the dashboard, a s.h.i.+ne catching on her black T-strap pump. ”We're starting right here, right now.”
AJ didn't seem bothered at her bossiness. He kind of liked it judging by the s.e.xy curl of his lips. He stroked her foot from the patent leather covering her toes up the middle strap to the buckle at her ankle.
”Pin up girl shoes.” His leisured stroke inched higher up her calf. ”Your skin has a certain glow,” he said softly as if she might break.
”It's the oil I use.”
He grunted, pus.h.i.+ng her skirt over her knee. His eyelids dropped half over smoldering blue eyes. ”You're going to let me rub it on you someday.”
”I will.” She wedged her other leg between AJ and the back of the seat. Her legs were wide open under her skirt. ”There's another place that needs a little oil rub.”
He pushed the skirt up her thigh. His hands skimmed her knee reverently. The wors.h.i.+p of her knee tormented her. She was getting wet from AJ's proximity, the promise of what would happen. She licked her lips and let the tide wash over her. They'd barely begun. No sense in being impatient. She knew where his hand was headed, and she knew what surprise he had in store.
Her breath went a little faster just thinking about it. ”AJ?”
”Yeah.” He bent down and kissed the inside of her knee. He got down on his knees on the floor, pus.h.i.+ng the picnic basket onto the driver side. He cramped but in no hurry either.
She liked that he wanted to savor this. ”How many times did you listen to my message?”
He nosed her skirt up her thigh, laughing against her skin. ”Fifty, sixty times...maybe more.”
”Want to record another one?”
Nose deep in her skirt, he froze. AJ pushed up and braced a hand on the seat by her head, smiling from ear to ear. ”You are one dirty woman.”
”Wait 'til you see what I have for you.”
Her b.u.t.t had slid lower on the seat. Head wedged lower against the door and seat back, her body hummed so bad with need, she care how tight the s.p.a.ce was. Car s.e.x got her lax and wound up all at once. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s ached in her tight bra, but another spot ached...harder.
AJ swooped down and captured her mouth. He kissed and kissed and kissed. She tasted beer on his lips. The top of chest brushed hers, the slight pressure maddening. She had to touch his head, feel AJ's buzz cut tickle her palms, a.s.surance he was really here kissing her over and over again. The seat sunk lower as he lodged his midsection between her legs. Her girl parts twitched. Skin under her skirt got balmier.
Forever was now. In AJ's kisses. In his hand rubbing her thigh. The smell of his truck and the summer air. She'd be ninety and she'd never forget this night. And AJ would be with her. They completed each other...forget four days. She knew as he rained down kisses this was it. Him and her. Together.
Her nails sc.r.a.ped his s.h.i.+rt. In between kisses, she said, ”This-” Kiss. Kiss. Kiss ”-needs to-” Deeper kiss. ”-come off.” She pushed his shoulder. ”AJ.”
His eyes were pitch black. AJ's splayed hand on her thigh was possessive. The tide of girl's choice s.e.x was turning.
”Go ahead. Pull it off me.”
Laughing, she yanked the s.h.i.+rt up over his head and let it fall behind him. She sc.r.a.ped her fingernails over his shoulders down his pecs to his nipples. AJ's abs flexed and his face tightened.
”f.u.c.k,” he breathed the word out slowly. ”That feels so good.”
The tips of her nails played with the tip of his nipples. Back and forth, up and down, the feather light sc.r.a.pes barely nudged his nipples. ”I figured our second rule of dating.” The nipple play stopped. ”Want to hear it?”
His brows slammed together. ”What?” His usual smooth baritone dragged low, rough notes. AJ was a nipple man and he did not like the denied touch.
She gathered her hem with both hands. ”Rule number two. We belong together.”
His scowl relaxed. He brushed hair out of her face as she bunched black silk faille around her waist.
”Yeah,” he said, holding eye contact. ”I'm falling hard for you too.”
She nipped her bottom lip, shaking her skirts. ”I did this for you. It's called a virgin Brazilian bikini wax.”
AJ's mouth fell open. ”It's called f.u.c.king hot.” His eyes flared in big, shocked blue circles. ”The whole time tonight...no underwear?”