Page 32 of Love Unbound
The way he sat perched on the stool, one booted foot on the floor, the other bent at the knee with his boot heel hitched on the bottom rung, made Jodi vitally aware of his body. She kept her eyes away from him, though she had noticed how incredible he looked in his suit. Slim fitted, it detailed every inch of his body,much to Jodi’s consternation. Light gray suit pants hugged his lower body in a way that made Jodi blush. A matching, slim cut vest was buttoned closed over a black dress shirt that he had left unbuttoned at his throat, a forest green neck tie fashioned loosely around his neck. He wasn’t wearing a hat today, and his dark hair that was slightly too long looked soft and fell over his brow.
Turning back to him, she held up two different colors of concealer next to his face, matching the closest one to his complexion before beginning to apply it with a makeup sponge. Dabbing it gently over the bruise, careful not to cause him undue discomfort, she was distinctly aware of how close they were. His thighs had parted, allowing her to stand between them, granting her closer access. The cologne he had on was intoxicating to her senses. That tantalizing mix of cedarwood and citrus that she had begun to associate with him. He was silent as he watched her work.
“I never meant for you to find out the way you did,” she murmured quietly after a while, never taking her eyes away from what her fingers were doing. “It wasn’t fair of me to keep it from you. My marriage to Josh was brief. I’m not proud of it. It’s a time in my life that I want so badly to forget.”
“He cheated on you?” Free asked gently, and her eyes finally met his.
She nodded, and then shrugged one shoulder in dismissal. “Among other things.” His mouth tightened and she smiled wanly, reaching for a setting powder to make sure the concealer stayed in place all day. Jodi sighed heavily, zipping the makeup bag closed and setting it back on the counter next to them. “I’m sure you have questions, and I will answer all of them, but not today, please.”
Jodi stopped breathing when one of his hands reached out and slid around her waist, putting the lightest of pressure on herback until she inched forward closer to him. Their faces were at the same level where he remained seated on the barstool, her standing between his thighs. His other hand came up and cupped her cheek in his palm, turning her face toward his. She let out a shuddering breath, her gaze captured in his like a vice.
“Free…”
He lifted his head slightly, brushing his lips across hers once, twice, before they pressed and stayed. The fingers of the hand cupping her cheek slid until they were tangled in the hair at the back of her head, using them to pull her lips closer to his own. His mouth settled firmly over hers, his short, trimmed beard tickling her slightly, his tongue delving deeply into hers, kissing her slowly, sweetly.
Jodi’s hands slid around to his sides, her fingers gripping lightly the fabric of his vest. Breaking away to catch her breath, Jodi pressed her forehead against his. The hand at her back slid down and around until his fingers touched the bare skin of her thigh that peeked out of the high slit in her dress. His breath was harsh against her lips, matching her own. His palm slid flat around to the back of her thigh, beneath the fabric of her dress.
Jodi was on fire.
Their mouths met again fiercely, kissing hungrily. She felt more than heard his growl of approval when she let her body settle against his front, and she gasped when she felt his hardness at her belly. The hand on the back of her thigh squeezed tightly, then soothed gently. His fingers were dangerously close to the cleft of her thighs, and she was already wet and achy.
Free tore his mouth from hers, dropping his forehead to her shoulder, where he panted heavily. “Fuck, Jodi.” When he had caught his breath, he raised his head to look at her, sweeping stray tendrils of hair away from her face with his fingers. “Shane’s going to have my hide if I’m late. Will you come withme? Please?”
Jodi blushed, thinking of another way she’d like to come with him. He must have read her mind, because his eyes darkened lasciviously and he grinned slyly, slapping one of her ass cheeks with the palm of his hand sharply. “That’s for later, Jodi.”
She backed away and he stood, running his hand down over his distended fly, making her blush again.
Backing her up against the counter, Free ducked his head and kissed her again soundly before growling, “Yeah, that’s what you do to me. Ready to go?”
“Uhh, almost,” Jodi stuttered, flustered. “I just need to grab my purse and slip on my shoes.”
Free walked with her into the living room, waiting at the door for her. She padded down the hallway to the bedroom, picking up a gold beaded clutch and slipping her feet into nude heels. She stopped in the bathroom to check her makeup, reapplying lipstick after being thoroughly kissed. Meeting him back at the door, he extended his hand out to her, and she placed her hand in his as he opened the door and escorted her out. He assisted her down the porch steps, then held the door open for her and helped her climb into the passenger seat of his truck. He rounded the hood of the truck and climbed in beside her, starting the engine.
Free looked over at her as he fastened his seatbelt, grinning broadly. “I can’t stop staring at you.”
Jodi blushed and said a quiet, “Thank you.” He took her hand in his, squeezing lightly. “You look very handsome, too.”
“Thank you,” he said and raised her hand to his lips, kissing the backs of her fingers tenderly. “And thank you for covering up that bruise.”
“What happened?” Jodi asked, laughing. She still couldn’t believe the last hour had transpired. So much for sticking to her guns. She was powerless where Free was concerned.
“Uhh,” Free hedged, looking over at her nervously. He made a face. “Your dad, actually.”
“What?” Jodi exclaimed. “Why would he hit you?”
Free chuckled darkly, squeezing her hand again. He drove leisurely, his other hand draped over the steering wheel loosely. He looked over at her. “I may or may not have told your dad I had asked you out.”
“You told him?” Jodi asked, shocked.
Free shrugged. He slowed for a red light, stopping. “I knew he was going to be here today. I thought I owed him the courtesy of finding out about us from me beforehand, that way he wouldn’t do this—” he gestured to his face, “—at the wedding when I lean in to do this—”
He leaned over the console and pressed a kiss to her surprised mouth, dipping his tongue into her mouth languidly. When he pulled away, he grinned, his straight white teeth making her melt all over again.
“Because I plan on doing that a lot,” he murmured huskily before turning his attention back to the light, which had just turned green.
Pulling in and parking, Free hopped out of the truck and came around to her door, opening it and assisting her out. The ceremony location was a secluded park shaded by towering maple trees. The site was used frequently for weddings and the landscapers had paved a walkway from the parking lot to the ceremony location.
Taking her hand in his, they walked hand in hand down the walkway. Autumn florals bloomed along either side of the path. In the distance, Jodi could see white chairs lined up in front of an immense willow tree. Several men in suits that matched Free’s were mingling along the walk. Beyond the ceremony site, string lights made a path toward a large white tent, where the reception would take place.
