“Great!” Char began pacing. “Be sure to tell that to the judge when they ask you why you shouldn’t go to prison!” She swatted him across the stomach and swore.
“I’m sorry. I just… I panicked. I was protecting your honor!”
“Easy, Pot,” Char said. “You’re getting black on your kettle.”
Jake glared. “Very funny.”
“What are we going to do?” Char pointed at Jace’s body. “You didn’t kill him, did you?”
“I didn’t hit him that hard,” Jake muttered under his breath and then leaned over Jace. “He’s probably just knocked out for a bit.”
“Well, how long do we wait for him to wake up?” Char was still pacing, only now she was thrusting her wineglass into the air, alternating between drinking it and yelling.
“I don’t know. Put the wine down. You’re making me nervous.”
“I’m making you nervous?” Well, at least she stopped pacing. “What right do you have to come to my rescue anyway?”
Jake let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve always wanted to be the knight in shining armor.”
“Funny, I don’t remember the knight beating the crap out of some innocent guy.”
“Innocent, my ass!” Jake yelled. “He had his hands all over you!”
“So?” She crossed her arms. “Why do you care?”
“Damn it, Char!” In two strides she was in his arms; her mouth opened and the minute his tongue met hers, it was on fire.
He pushed her against the countertop and deepened the kiss. Her body was so responsive to his. They kissed just like they fought: all aggression, all passion, nothing slow and steady about it.
Unable to control himself anymore, he pulled down the straps of her sundress. Her skin was like soft velvet. Her hands twisted in his hair as he trailed his tongue along her lower lip, tasting and sucking the wine from her mouth. Goosebumps rose across her chest when his lips moved from hers down the front of her chest stopping just above her bra.
Jace groaned from the ground.
Jake ignored it.
The groan got louder.
Char dug her fingernails into Jake’s back.
God hated him.
Breaking away from her had to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his existence.
Jace was stirring on the floor.
“We should go.” Jake struggled to catch his breath when his eyes met Char’s. She had been thoroughly kissed, thoroughly ruined for a minute, by him, and he loved knowing that he was the man who’d put that look on her face. Her expression was one of lust, desire, want, and it was all because of him.
Jace groaned again.
“We’re fleeing the scene, aren’t we?” Char grabbed Jake’s hand as they returned to the main level.
“If anyone asks, we saw him trip.”
“Into your fist?” Char asked. “Really? That’s the lie we’re going to go with?”
“Sorry that my brain isn’t exactly on the right track right now. We’re lucky I can even walk and talk at the same time without throwing you against the stairs and lifting your skirt.”
“You can, you know.”