Page 37 of Love Unbound
Jodi then noticed a newcomer to the reception. Tommy Chandler searched until he found Shaun and he stared atthe man holding his girlfriend much too intimately to be appropriate. Shaun looked up as if sensing his gaze and extracted herself from Kasey’s arms. She said something to Kasey and then walked away, hips swaying beguilingly, leaving him in the middle of the dance floor. His eyes stayed on her even after she reached Tommy and slid her arms around the other man’s waist, leaning in to kiss him heatedly.
Kasey sauntered off the dance floor and reclaimed his seat. He took a drink from the glass in his hand, though his hooded gaze never strayed far from Shaun, who stayed close to Tommy’s side.
Free chuckled into her ear. “I warned him.”
“You warned him? About Shaun?” Jodi asked, laughing. “Why?”
“I know my cousin,” Free said with a laugh. “And I know Shaun.” He trailed his fingers along her bare back, making her shiver, then said, “If they’re not a thing in the next six months, call me amazed.”
“She has a boyfriend,” Jodi admonished, though she was having a hard time concentrating when his fingers were moving against her skin the way they were.
Free leaned down, whispering, “You know your sister better than anyone. I’ve only seen her with that boyfriend of hers together for ten minutes, and I can tell they have no chemistry. She’s forcing it. It’s not supposed to be like that.” He motioned toward Kasey. “He sees it, too. I think she likes him.”
“I think she wants to kill him,” Jodi corrected and laughed. “I’ve never seen her take such a passionate dislike to someone she just met.”
“That’s because she’s going to fight it like hell. You’ll see,” Free chuckled again.
As the reception began to wind down, the DJ announced that the bride and groom would be making their exit in approximately ten minutes time, and for all of the guests to jointhem outside along the walkway for a sparkler send off. The wedding guests made their way out of the tent doors, lining up on either side of the lit pathway that led toward the parking lot. The wedding coordinator was back, handing out sparkler wands to all the guests, along with matches so they could all be lit at the same time.
With all of the sparklers lit, Cassie and Shane exited the tent last, passing beneath the tunnel of fireworks and beyond, where their getaway car awaited.
Jodi and Free headed back inside to gather her purse and shoes. Jodi offered to stay and help clean up, but the lady with the clipboard shooed them out with a smile.
She leaned in close to Jodi as she slipped her shoes back on and said quietly, “You know, I’ve worked a lot of weddings and that man has been looking at you all night in a way that I don’t see often. Best not keep him waiting any longer!”
Chapter 27
Free and Jodi slipped out of the reception after a few quiet goodbyes to those that remained. They said a brief goodbye to Seren and Levi, and Jodi blushed furiously when Free and her father shook hands, the older man’s cobalt blue eyes drilling into the younger man’s aquamarine ones. Free held Levi’s gaze steadily, before they turned to wave goodbye to Shaun and the rest of her siblings. Free led her out through the draped doorway of the tent, his hand at her back.
Jodi’s skin tingled where his fingers rested at the small of her back, against her bare skin. They walked toward the truck side-by-side, through the tunnel of maple trees lit by string lights. She was deliciously buzzed and relaxed, at least until Free swept her curls away from her back and lowered his lips to the curve of her bare shoulder, making her body zing with anticipation.
Free opened the passenger door and Jodi took his hand as he helped her up into the seat. He closed the door and rounded the back, climbing into the driver’s seat next to her. He started the truck and turned to look at her. His aquamarine eyes searched hers and he reached for her hand, squeezing it gently before raising it to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles.
He drove them to her house and parked the truck beside her Jeep, killing the engine. Exiting the truck, he came around to open her door and helped her out, his hands splaying wide on either side of her ribcage as he lifted her down.
Without speaking, Jodi took his hand in hers and led him up the porch stairs and to the front door, letting them in quietly.Free closed the door behind them, the soft click of the latch loud in the otherwise silent house.
“Don’t go shy on me now,” Free whispered huskily, reaching for her and pulling her close.
Jodi’s lashes fluttered closed briefly, shading her eyes from his. “It’s… been a long time for me, Free. I’m afraid I’m out of practice. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Lowering his mouth to hers and sipping at her lips softly, he murmured, “You could never disappoint me, Jodi. I’ve waited so long for this, for you.”
She sighed against his lips a heartbeat before his tongue delved between her lips to taste her fully. Their heads tilted, kissing hungrily. Jodi’s lower body ached, want and need and desire all rolled into one. Lifting his head, he panted heavily, swearing under his breath.
“Fuck, you make me so hard,” Free husked, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his fly, leaving it there, letting her make the decision. Her hand curved around the hardness there, and he groaned a half a second before sliding his hands beneath the curves of her ass, hauling her up and against him.
Jodi gasped against his mouth, wrapping her legs around his hips even as her arms slid across his shoulders to hold on. He carried her through the darkened living room, down the shadowed hallway, and into the bedroom where only the moonlight spilled through the windows. His mouth was ravenous on hers, even as he set her down on her feet beside the bed.
Jodi felt his hands on the bare skin of her lower back and she shivered, gooseflesh breaking out at his touch. His hands skimmed up the bare skin of her back, then slid beneath the fabric at her shoulders, lowering it, pulling the sleeves down her arms. She had not worn a bra with this dress, and as Free’s hands lowered her dress, her breasts spilled out. Her breathcame in gentle puffs against his face as he peeled the dress down her narrow waist, then let it fall in a puddle of fabric at her feet when he skimmed it over the curve of her bottom.
Free took a half step back to better view her. All that kept him from seeing all of her nakedness was a tiny lace thong. She blushed deeply at his intense perusal of her, and she lifted her hands to cover her breasts, suddenly shy.
His eyes were bright with desire as he looked at her, raising his eyes to hers. “Please don’t hide yourself from me,” he whispered, his voice thick. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she lowered her hands to her sides, trembling slightly.
He reached out to trace the lacy edge of her panties against her flat stomach with his fingertips, and Jodi sucked in her breath at the contact. “You’re beautiful.”
Jodi blushed and took another deep breath, which brought his attention to her breasts, and his hands raised to cup them tenderly. His fingers found her peaked nipples, rolling them between his thumb and forefinger, and her head dropped back on a moan.
