He gently pushed me onto my back and leaned on top of me, his dark brown eyes boring into mine. “You are so beautiful. You know that?”
I let out a small breath before pulling his head down and arching toward his lips. His tongue pushed its way into my mouth with intensity. I ran my hands down his back and slipped my fingers into the waistband of his shorts before lifting his shirt up in succession with my own.
A slight sound escaped my lips at the feeling of his bare skin hot against mine. Chills coursed through me, appearing up and down my legs and arms. His breath was warm on my neck, small kisses being delivered around my ears and cheeks until meeting my mouth once more.
“Cassie. ” He mumbled my name, his breath ragged.
Without a word, I slipped out from under him and stretched out my hand. He laced his fingers with mine and I led him away from the living room and into my bedroom, where I closed the door behind us.
*****
Jack opened Matt’s front door without knocking and led me inside. I watched as five baseball players with hairy faces turned their heads in our direction and smiles instantly appeared on all their faces.
“Carter! What’s up, buddy! Hey, Cass,” Matt yelled from the round table where they were playing a drinking and card game.
“Hey, Jack. Hey, Cassie. ” Ryan greeted us without looking up from his hand, his forehead creased in concentration.
Dean picked up his cell phone, checking the time. “Finally! Where have you two been?”
“Not sure I’ll ever get used to you holding some girl’s hand,” Brett added, his blue eyes locked pointedly on our intertwined fingers.
“Get used to it, BT, she’s not just some girl. ” Jack planted a kiss on the side of my face and gently squeezed my fingers.
“I like that you’ve finally found someone, Jack. And I especially like that she isn’t some stupid skank. ” Matt’s girlfriend Jamie walked out from the kitchen with a smirk.
I laughed. “Love you too, Jame!”
“You have to admit my worry was valid!” She pursed her lips together, her brown ponytail bouncing. “Now get in here and help me,” she called out, after disappearing back behind the wall.
I looked at Jack and smiled as I untangled my hand from his. He smacked me on the backside when I walked away.
“I love that girl,” he said to his teammates before sitting at the table. “Deal me in. ”
I entered the kitchen before giving Jamie a quick squeeze as I glanced back at the group of guys. “Their facial hair is killing me. They look freaking horrible. ”
“Please don’t remind me. I try to pretend it’s all a bad dream,” Jamie said, rubbing her palm against her cheek.
“Ahem, ladies. ” Matt pretended to clear his throat. “We can hear you, ya know!”
“Like we care!” Jamie said with a huff.
“Hey! Don’t curse our winning streak!” Cole answered back before slapping his hand over his mouth.
“Jesus, Cole, who raised you? The first rule about the winning streak is you don’t talk about the winning streak!” Ryan punched him in the shoulder.
“You guys are just lucky we keep kissing you,” Jamie said, attempting to steer the attention from poor Cole.
“I second that,” Jack belted out, his eyes meeting mine briefly before settling back on his cards.
“Pussy,” Brett teased, his eyes focused on the deck of cards in his hand.
“I’ll knock you into the middle of next week if you don’t shut up, BT,” Jack threatened, his jaw rigid.
“He’s just jealous ’cause no girls want to go anywhere near him,” Cole teased as he removed his baseball hat and tossed it on the floor.
“I can’t keep the girls off me. It’s you no one wants,” Brett chipped back.
The card game continued until Jack checked the clock on the wall and rose from the table. He slammed back a shot of tequila before speaking. “Kitten, I gotta go. Get out here and give me some loving. ”