Causing a Commotion (20 page)
Read Causing a Commotion Online
Authors: Janice Lynn
Tags: #Humor & Entertainment, #Humor, #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Romantic Comedy
Jumpstart it did. Into some wildly erratic rhythm.
Had the monitor been on, the nurses would have flown to her room to see what all the commotion was about. Colin caused a commotion. And how.
Deeper and deeper he probed, conquering and demanding.
Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, tasting his lips, breathing his scent deep, and holding on to him with desperation.
He held her with a desperation of his own. Kissing her as if he’d thought he might never kiss her again.
Maybe that’s what he had thought.
If she’d been able to think, perhaps it’s what she would have thought, too. She could have died. Yet again.
She wanted Colin. No more denying herself when life was so short. She could have a relationship with him and not fall in love. She could do it.
“You are,” she whispered against his lips, her hands tangling in his hair. “Ouch.”
Gently, he helped untangle his hair from where her I.V. caught it. “Am what?”
“The sexiest man alive.”
To which he laughed. Not a sarcastic laugh, but one filled with joy. Colin filled with joy did funny things to Jessie’s insides.
“I think your mind is still hazy.”
“From your kiss.”
To which they stared at each other, silent messages passing. Jessie knew they’d crossed some invisible line. One they couldn’t retreat behind. Perhaps one neither wanted to return behind.
“Well now,” J.P. said from where he and Jill stood just inside her hospital doorway, “Aren’t you two cozy as two peas in a pod?”
Chapter Thirteen
Two nights later, Jessie handed a bowl of popcorn to Colin and dropped onto her apartment sofa next to him. Tamara was gone to a party and wouldn’t be back till late. They were truly alone for the first time. Although it wouldn’t surprise her for J.P., Maxwell, or Jill to show up. They’d practically smothered her since she’d left the hospital.
Since they all believed someone had poisoned her, she supposed it made sense they’d be protective, but enough was enough.
She glanced at the man on her sofa. Garbed in faded frayed jeans that ought to be against the law they looked so good and a plain t-shirt he appeared relaxed and intent on the television. Was that why Colin was here? To protect? Had her hospital visit scared him? Perhaps J.P. or Maxwell ordered him to play babysitter?
She wouldn’t put anything passed those two, but she hated to think Colin was in her apartment, with her, for any reason other than that he wanted to be in her company.
The former seemed more likely. She chose to ignore that. After all, it wasn’t like her eyes weren’t wide-open. She wanted an affair with Colin. Hot sex. Nothing more.
Although just spending time with him was nice.
“What’s on?” she asked, snuggling closer to him and scooping up a handful of popcorn.
“Not much.” He flipped through the channels in typical male fashion. “Do you have cable?”
She shook her head. It wasn’t an expense she and Tamara could justify. Under normal circumstances they weren’t home that much.
“What movies do you have?”
She pointed to the shelf of movies she’d brought with her from San Padre. “Pick one.”
Colin stood, thumbed through the movies, and chose the one she’d starred in with Eric Ewing. “I’ve never seen this one. Since he’s scheduled to be on the show next week, watching this would be timely.”
Timely? She reminded, “I’m in it, too.”
“Yeah, I know.” He didn’t sound impressed. He opened the movie case and removed the disc.
“But you don’t like actresses and this might remind you I’m an actress.” She stared at him. “I don’t want you to go back to not liking me.”
That caught his attention, and he turned to her. “Who said I like you now?”
“A little birdie told me.”
“A little birdie, huh?” He toyed with the movie case. “For the record, I’ve always liked you.”
Her insides warmed all fuzzy and toasty. “Sure have a funny way of showing it.”
He nodded. “If I were a wise man, I’d stay away from you. I tried, but apparently I’m a fool.”
“Why?”
J.P.’s warning haunted her. Because it could ruin their careers. Hers, definitely. Possibly Colin’s, too. J.P. hadn’t held back when he’d blasted her for kissing Colin at the hospital. She hadn’t told that she planned to kiss him a whole lot more.
“I can’t think clearly when you’re near.”
“Good.” She liked his answer. “That makes us even.”
“I’m not staying tonight, Jessie.”
“I didn’t hear anyone invite you to stay.”
He sighed, put the DVD into the player and sat back down next to her. “I shouldn’t be here. You’re not ready for this.”
“Oh please. Don’t even start that again. You are here and we’ve already established you aren’t staying. We’re co-workers watching a movie. I am ready for this.”
Despite her play at relaxing him, his expression remained intense. He shook his head, as if to himself. “If I stay, I’ll kiss you.”
Her pulse kicked up a notch. And another. “So? We’ve kissed before.”
“We’ve kissed at the hospital and in my car.”
“And here,” she reminded. “I can restrain myself if you can.”
“That’s what worries me.”
His tone of pure torture pleased her. She scooted over and laced her fingers with his. “Good answer.”
“I’m tired of restraining myself.”
A part of her wanted to strip his clothes off him right now while she saw the weakness in his eyes, but she didn’t, wouldn’t. When Colin made love to her, and he would, it would be because he wanted to.
“Shh, the movie’s coming on,” she teased.
“The movie?”
Clearly, she’d thrown him. He wanted her to seduce him. To take the matter out of his hands. She glanced at their intertwined hands and shot him a silencing look. “Shh.”
His expression pinched, and he pulled their clasped hands into his lap and held her hand like he’d never let go.
He turned his attention to the screen.
An hour later, Jessie curled into the crook of Colin’s arm and pretended to watch the movie. She’d seen it numerous times. She was in it. Screaming and shaking her boobs, of course.
With her free hand, her other was still locked with Colin’s, she traced a light pattern up his arm. Dark, crisp hair impeded her path, making the journey upwards intriguing. Adventurous.
Jessie liked adventure. She liked Colin. Everything about him. His scent. The way his arm wrapped around her even though he was absorbed in the movie. The intensity of his blue eyes. The strength that emanated from him.
“I like your arms,” she praised, needing his attention on her in person and not her on the screen.
She was on the screen. She rolled her eyes, embarrassed that Colin would see her scream-and-shake-her-boobs scene. Unless she distracted him.
She bent and dropped a kiss onto his forearm.
Colin immediately turned to her. “Quit that. You’re on.”
She hated the weak character she portrayed on this show. Why had she never realized that before? She’d known she didn’t like the few roles she’d played but never had she wanted to crawl under the covers in shame. She didn’t want him to watch, so she grinned and turned up the heat in her gaze. “Turned on, you mean?”
His eyes darkened. “Jessie.”
“I know, you’re not staying and you’re a fool for being here, but it’s only a kiss, Colin.”
“Only a kiss, she says.” He sighed, closed his eyes when she kissed the crook of his arm, higher, and again until her lips brushed the sleeve of his t-shirt.
His eyes remained closed and his body stiff. Her gaze dropped to his lap. Very stiff.
“Do you want me, Colin?” she asked, point blank, tired of playing games and wishing he’d open his eyes so she could try to read his thoughts. “I mean, really, really want me?”
He sucked in a deep breath, before nodding. “I really,” he said the words slowly, “really want you.”
Jessie’s stomach took up acrobatics and somersaulted low in her belly. She’d known, but to hear him say it, she squeezed her thighs together and fought the urge to whisper words she had no business even thinking much less saying.
Determined to remain silent, she kissed his shoulder. The indention at his collar bone. The pounding pulse at his throat. The strong line of his jaw. She pulled back, preparing to kiss his mouth, and realized he watched her from beneath lazy lids.
His eyes were darker than she’d ever seen them, almost a midnight blue. There was also a resolved, yet dangerous edge to them. Did he think he could scare her away?
“Do you know how hard you make it to do the right thing?”
She grazed her hand over his crotch. “I know exactly how hard I make things.”
He groaned.
She pressed her lips to his. Soft, coaxing his mouth to return her caress. With another groan, he did.
Wow, but he did. Tasting and tempting and scrumptiously delicious in the way he possessed her mouth. As if he craved her. Needed her. Wanted her. He touched her the way she’d always wanted to be touched. Deeply. Passionately. Possessively. Like he really did really, really want her.
She placed her hands to each side of his face and met him caress for caress. Kissed him until he shifted their positions to where he half lay on her, held her wrists, and raised her arms to where he pinned her hands above her head.
He stared at her for long moments, his breathing heavy, his expression unreadable.
Part of her wanted to squirm beneath him, to lift her pelvis to press into him, but whatever weighed on his mind, she wanted him.
She held her breath and waited.
“You just left the hospital.”
Were they back to this? Did he ever just do something without over analyzing it?
“Doing this would be wrong.”
She bit her lower lip, wanted to close her eyes, but held fast to his gaze. She wouldn’t seduce, but she would tell him the truth. “I want you to stay.”
His jaw tensed. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
His arm muscles flexed, giving hint at how much effort stopping had cost. “If I make love to you, it won’t change a thing about how I feel about
Causing A Commotion
.”
She laughed softly, wishing her hands were free so she could stroke her fingers over the hard contours of his biceps. “This doesn’t have a thing to do with work. Just you and me.”
“Is there a you and me?” His gaze held her tighter than the grip on her wrists, pinned her more securely.
What was he asking?
“I think there is.” She fought the claustrophobia her admission led to. Her eyes were wide open. She wouldn’t fall in love, and she wouldn’t be hurt. It had nothing to do with being alone, that she didn’t want to be alone. It was that she wanted to be with Colin. Had from the moment she’d first seen him. Perhaps that’s why she’d been able to stick with her resolve to stay away from men. All but Colin.
“Yes, there is definitely a you and me,” she said the words louder this time, surer. “I want there to be a you and me. I want that desperately.”
He nodded, a slight move of his head, but a nod all the same. His head dipped and he nuzzled her throat, her neck, breathed in the scent of her hair, exhaled a contented sigh that was followed by a discontented groan when he shifted above her, more fully aligning their bodies.
Jessie felt the difference in his touch.
Something snapped within Colin. His control? Whatever, she liked it. Liked how each movement he made was worshipful, caressing, purposeful, loving. No, not loving, just enraptured. Colin wanted her as much as she wanted him.
His hips ground against hers, his mouth catching her gasp. He’d wondered if she was sure? Ha, she’d never been more sure of anything in her life. She wanted Colin. Wanted him in every way. Which scared her, but the new Jessie didn’t give in to her fears. She faced them head on.
“Yes,” she breathed against Colin’s demanding mouth. “Oh, yes.”
She wasn’t sure what she was agreeing to, but when his hands released her, she eagerly waited to see what he’d do.
He didn’t disappoint.
He skimmed her arms, up again, ran his fingers through her hair, kissed right beneath her ear. His every touch worshipped. Mesmerized. Captured her completely.
“Colin.”
His gaze lifted. For the briefest of seconds, she wished he’d smile, whisper words of love, then he kissed her so hard she couldn’t wish at all. Couldn’t do anything but return his fervor. Kiss for kiss. Touch for touch. Ache for ache.
His T-shirt disappeared. Her shirt and pants, gone. Clothed only in the bright blue thong and bra she’d bought because the color matched his eyes, she splayed her hands over his chest, his sculpted abs. She kissed his navel and squatted beside the sofa to unsnap his jeans. She stared up at him when he stood to allow her to shuck the frayed denim down his hard thighs. His hard everything.
He was beautiful. Everything a man should be. Everything she wanted.
