Page 5 of King of Jokers
He smiled softly, bringing his hand up to touch the ends of my hair. “This looks good. You look different since the last time we video called.”
There was an underlying emotion to his words and he looked at me funny before tapping the side of my nose gently.
“New hair and a nose ring. Who are you and what have you done with my girl, Winter?”
Ugh. He spoke like that with ease, totally unaware of the things those words did to my lonely, unrequitedly desperate heart.
“Do you like it?” I asked nervously. While I would pretend I didn’t need his approval, deep down he was the only one I wanted to impress.
“I’m not sure ‘like’ is the right word.” He answered, tilting his head assessingly, and suddenly I felt clammy. Of course he didn’t like it. I was nothing like any of the girls he had ever dated given I enjoyed carbs more than any of the other food groups and wasn’t as polished as a trophy. Nope, Winter Lennox was curvy, with two pimples courtesy of hormones on my chin and some extra layering on my thighs courtesy of a love for all things fried.
“You just look…different.” He sounded uncertain which was uncharacteristic of him, and did interesting things to my tummy.
Pushing the loose strands behind my ear, I openly studied his face. His complexion had always been deliciously golden and with the short dark stubble he somehow looked older. Wiser. And as handsome as I’d ever seen. Under my scrutiny his brows scrunched, his dark eyes narrowing.
“What?” He asked, his gaze darting over my own.
Putting my things on the floor, I placed my hands on his shoulders and looked him directly in the eyes – suddenly serious.
“Do you trust me?”
“Obviously.” He answered without hesitation.
I watched the way his teeth grazed his lower lip as he spoke, the way his throat dipped when he visibly swallowed.
“Good.” I answered before I moved my hands up to his face and pressed my lips against his own.
He stilled, entirely stiff other than his mouth which was unbelievably soft.
His lips opened ever so slightly in an invitation and with a little trepidation, I explored his mouth with my tongue. Apprehensively, in case I was overstepping and he pushed me away but instead, feather light, he met me with his own. I took the smallest of breaths, nearly moaning when the frosted notes ofmy Jackengulfed me before snapping back to reality and pulling away.
The soft sound of our lips parting was overshadowed by the intensity of our mingled breaths. Mindful of being half-naked and careful not to press myself against him, I took a step back and again studied him as he appeared shell-shocked. His face unreadable, his lips wet from our shared moment.
The first time I was ever impulsive with him and it was now.
Here. Like this. Oh my god. I just kissed Jack.
I was internally freaking out both in excitement and fear. And honestly, I was awash with need.
Bending down, I reached for my towel, using the two seconds to regroup.
When I stood back up his brows were raised questioningly. In a performance I would likely tell my grandchildren about, I masked my imminent freak out and giggled.
“That was exactly what I needed.” I said as a matter of explanation before linking his arm and trying to guide him to the house but he was glued to the spot.
He cleared his throat before speaking, “Care to elaborate, Win?” He said, slowly following my lead to walk towards the house.
“Well, Jackson and Summer just had their first kiss but I was struggling with the description. It felt as though it lacked the realism I was imagining. That helped though. Thanks.”
He halted which yanked my arm still linked through his, causing me to also stop.
“You kissed me for your book?”
“Correct. But you kinda kissed me back, soldier.” I retorted with feigned nonchalance. At this point, I could have been nominated for an Oscar with the level of acting I was exuding.
“Hardly,” he replied with an ease which based on his impossibly large eyes, was also most definitely forced.
“You definitely did, but it’s okay. It really helped.”
