Page 20 of Love Unbound
Sheila was having none of the hand-shaking though, leaning forward in her seat to clasp Jodi in a tight hug. “You’re beautiful,” she said earnestly to Jodi, then turned to Free and said, “Free, she’s beautiful.”
“I would have to agree with you,” Free said with a smile, which made Jodi blush again. She hadn’t blushed this much since high school!
“How have you been?” Brad asked, and he and Free fell into conversation. Sheila whistled loudly, then yelled, “Hey, Kyle, can we get shots over here?”
Jodi saw Kyle give the thumbs up over the heads of the crowd between them, and moments later the waitress was headed over with a tray laden with drinks for the four of them, and four shot glasses filled to the brim with a golden liquor, fresh lime wedges on the rim of each one.
Free groaned, laughing. “Tequila? Really, Sheila?”
“Welcome back, bud!” she crowed, raising her shot glass. Brad, Free, and Jodi followed suit, clinking their glasses before downing the tequila and chasing it with the lime.
The four of them sat talking and laughing for a long time. Jodi smiled over at Free, who smiled back at her warmly. Free checked the time on his cell phone and made a face of chagrin. “Jodi, I should probably get you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
“Tessa opens the store tomorrow, no pumpkin here,” Jodi teased. She was pleasantly buzzed, feeling relaxed and enjoying her time with Free.
Free leaned close and whispered, “I’ve been fantasizing about kissing you for the last hour. I’m afraid if I don’t soon, I may be the one turning into a pumpkin.”
Jodi turned her head slightly, so that their mouths were mere inches apart. “We can’t have that,” she breathed.
Free stood and clapped Brad on the back and hugged Sheila, saying goodbye and promising to see them again soon. Free took Jodi by the hand and led her to the bar, where he paid their bill and left cash for a tip for the waitress and Kyle both. They waved goodbye, and he led her through the thinning crowd and out the door to the dark parking lot.
Rounding the bed of the truck, he opened the passenger door for her. However, before she could climb in, he growled low in his throat and pressed her back against the side of the vehicle. Instinctively knowing what he needed and needing it herself, Jodi wrapped her arms around his neck as he pressed his body into hers. Their mouths met fiercely, and the alcohol in her system made her brave. She tilted her hips against his and sighed when his strong hands gripped them and pulled them more firmly against his. Her fingers curled into the soft hair at the back of his neck where it peaked out beneath the ballcap he still had on backwards.
A car pulled into the parking lot and Free released her, cursing under his breath. He stepped away, his breathing harsh. “We need to go before I take you against my truck,” he said raggedly and grinned that lopsided grin she loved so much. She nodded mutely and took the hand he extended, stepping up into the truck.
They drove to her house in silence, words superfluous. His hand rode high on her thigh, fingers trailing brazenly close to the apex of her thighs, his fingers leaving fire where they touched her bare skin. He parked in her driveway and cut the motor.
“Do you want to come inside?” Jodi whispered throatily, her voice sounding strange to her own ears.
“Very much,” Free whispered back, his own voice strained with want.
They climbed out of his truck and walked side by side up the porch steps to the front door. She let them inside and turned. Free was staring at her, his gaze hot.
Feeling bold, Jodi took his hand in hers and began walking backward toward the kitchen, pulling him with her. Free’s breathing was ragged. When she dared a glance down his body, she could see him straining against the fly of his tight jeans.
Jodi didn’t turn on any lights, the moonlight filtering through the windows their only source of illumination. Stopping at the refrigerator, she opened it, taking out a cold beer. She was probably going to hate herself for the hangover she was going to have in the morning, but she didn’t care. Opening it, she took a long drink and then extended it to him. He took it, tilting it to his lips and taking a long pull of his own. His aquamarine gaze was hot, drinking in all of her the same way he was drinking the cold beer.
He set the bottle down on the counter next to her and reached for her, pulling her forward until her body was pressed closely against his. His arms wrapped around her as his lips found hers with ardor. Tunneling his fingers through her curls at the nape of her neck, he wound his fingers into a fist and held her snugly against him, and she moaned throatily at the sharp sting on the back of her scalp. His other hand skimmed down her spine, past the small of her back, to the flare of her bottom. He cupped one round, firm cheek in his hand, hauling her high and hard against him.
Jodi’s hands came up and knocked the ball cap off his head, sending it with a soft thud to the kitchen floor. Her mouth met his fiercely, hungry for all of him. It had been so long since she’d craved a man’s touch, and she reveled in the feel of him against her. Finally able to run her fingers through his hair, she found it to be as soft as she’d always imagined.
Releasing her, Jodi gasped in surprise when he grasped herhips in both hands and picked her up to set her on the counter behind her. Spreading her thighs instinctively, Free moved so that he was standing between them. His mouth never left hers, but his breathing was harsh against her lips.
With one hand he pressed her hips closer to his, the other tangling in her hair once more, holding her still as his kisses deepened. When she felt his hardness at the junction of her thighs, she moaned, “Oh my god, Free.”
Her body was humming with need. She had never wanted something more.
Free’s deft fingers found the bottom edge of her tank top and lifted it, and she raised her arms to assist him. The flimsy piece of material floated to the floor. Her breasts spilled over the edge of her sheer, lace bra and she blushed as she watched him admire her. Free bent his head and kissed each swell and Jodi’s hands grasped handfuls of his hair once more, holding him to her.
Her nipple was peaked and just begging to be kissed. He obliged, taking it in his mouth, laving her with his tongue through the sheer lace material. Her back arched and she moaned again, the feel of his tongue on her driving her crazy with want. Jodi’s hands slid over his muscled shoulders and tugged at his shirt. His mouth left her breast long enough to allow her to pull the shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor with hers.
He didn’t give her time to look at his magnificent chest, though. He moved between her thighs, his hands running around her middle to flatten against her back, pulling her closer against him. Their mouths met again, passion and unfulfilled need driving them a little insane. Jodi’s hands clutched at the smooth, hard expanse of his back.
Feeling more daring than she had in years, Jodi reached between them and fumbled with the top button of his jeans untilshe managed to wiggle it loose. “Take these off, please.”
Free buried his face in her shoulder, inhaling deeply against the skin of her neck. He sucked air into his starved lungs. After a long moment, he raised his head and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead before taking several shaky steps away from her.
“Free…?” she whispered through kiss-roughened lips and watched in confusion as he rebuttoned his jeans and bent down to retrieve his discarded shirt and hat. He pulled the shirt over his head, refusing to meet her gaze. “Why...?”
