Jackson grins. “I bet yours isn’t as bad as mine.”
“Strangely, as adventurous she was, she liked guys who were, well, neat and pretty, like the princes in the movies. Me? I liked the villains sometimes, or the rugged ones with the big…”
“Arms?” Jackson asks. “Chests?”
I stop as I find myself staring at his body. I quickly tear my gaze away, drowning my embarrassment in hot cocoa.
“No wonder you never paid any attention to me,” he says.
I frown. “I…”
“It’s fine. I’m not proud of what I was either.” He touches the back of his head. “I was a loser.”
“No, you weren’t.”
“Yes, I was,” he insists. “Isn’t that why you couldn’t bear to look at me?”
“No fair. I was…”
“I’m just kidding.” Jackson chuckles.
He stands in front of me and looks into my eyes.
“I, on the other hand, couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”
The intensity of his gaze takes my breath away. The affection I see in it makes my heart flutter. The desire sets my skin on fire. A tingle of heat goes down my spine.
I swallow. “So you’re saying you… you liked me even then.”
Jackson’s fingers brush against my cheek. “I loved you even then.”
His choice of word makes my pulse quicken. My heart soars, taking my soul with it. I feel like my feet might suddenly float above the ground, too, like I’m a hot air balloon brought to life with a spark, a flame that burns brightly inside my chest.
Jackson loves me.
He said I knew how he felt, but he hasn’t really said it plainly until now. Now that he has, it feels more real and yet at the same time more magical.
I snort as I regain my composure. “How could you? I was young and foolish and my hair was always a mess. Well, I still am young and foolish and…”
“I don’t know,” he interrupts me. “I just know that while other people compared you and Trisha all the time because you were always side by side, for me, it was only you I saw. My eyes were always only on you.”
“But of course. It would be so wrong if they were on your sister.”
“I think she knew. That’s why she told me to stay away from you.”
“And me to stay away from you.”
“Yet here we are. In the end, we couldn’t stay away, maybe because we’re meant to be together.” Jackson strokes my cheek. “And you know what? I think Trisha’s happy we are.”
I nod. “I think so, too.”
I know she’d want me to find a man who loves me. I know she can tell Jackson does.
I still can’t believe it, though.
Jackson loves me.
I see the love in his eyes before they close as he brings his face closer to mine. I close my eyes as well and hold my breath. His lips, softer than I expected and cold from his beer, brush against mine. His hand slides down to my chin and grasps it gently as his lips press down.
I feel my whole body blush with heat and excitement. A shiver goes down my spine.
So this is the magic of a kiss.
I nearly drop my cup. Instead, I grip it in my trembling hands as I lean forward and kiss Jackson back.
A breeze blows. It cools my heated cheeks and sends strands of hair over my face.
I pull away to tuck them behind my ear. As I open my eyes, I find Jackson staring back at me, the desire in his gaze stronger now.
I can see the plea in them. No, an invitation. An offer. One I can’t refuse.
I draw a deep breath and swallow the lump in my throat. “Shall we go inside?”
~
As soon as we’re inside my bedroom, Jackson’s mouth seals mine once more, robbing me of breath.
He locks the door and pushes me against it. His hand cradles my jaw as his lips crash over mine again and again. I grip the front of his shirt as I try to keep up.
When the tip of Jackson’s tongue brushes against mine, I shiver. His tongue rubs mine and coaxes it into a dance, pushing back and then pulling away. When I stick my tongue past my lips, he sucks on the tip. When I retreat, he licks my lips and the roof of my mouth before letting his tongue slide above mine. The friction sends a jolt of electricity down my body all the way to the back of my knees. A moan escapes my throat.
I wrap my arms around his neck and try to mimic his actions. His hand goes to the back of my head. He tugs on the ponytail and my hair cascades past my shoulders.
Jackson’s hands take turns caressing my hair and rubbing my shoulders. I move my hands as well, sliding them to his shoulders and down to his broad chest before bringing them up again behind his neck. My fingers tug at his hair.