Lily |18+ [Paraíso, #1]

thirty five

|J A K E|

There's a lot of things that I like. The feel of of the texture of wood I intend to turn into a piece of furniture. The thrill of cutting through a log with cutting saw. Not an electric one, just the plain old-fashioned one. In short, I love what I do with my hands. Creating something from scratch. . . that's a thrill I could never get tired of.

Yet none of that compares to the woman I'm currently kissing right now. She tastes like the strawberries we just had for breakfast. I like them better like this, to be honest, and as she pulls me in and deepens the kiss, I know she's had the same thought as me.

My hands slide down to her ass, the satin material of her sleeping shorts digging into my fingers as I give it a squeeze.

Julia moans into my mouth and it takes everything in me not to take her right there and then. I start pushing her back into the house, my intentions clear, when she pushes me back, pulling away from me. She gives one last tug on my bottom lip before settling back on her feet.

I don't let her go, not yet. My hands go around her waist, holding her close. I brush some of the hair obscuring her eyes.

"That was hot as fuck." A giggle bubbles up from her, making me smile. "I was serious about the other thing."

"I know." She sighs, her hand smoothing up and down my neck before they loop around it. "And I already told you the answer."

"I want to hear it one more time."

"Yes, I'll go out with you."

"And?"

"And I'm ready to see where this leads. I won't lie to you, Jake. I'm terrified. The last time didn't end well for the both of us and I don't want. . ." she hesitates. "I don't want to hurt you like that. I don't want to hurt us like that."

Last night was a defining moment for us. I fucking yelled out the words I'd been denying to myself for weeks now.

"I'm in this for the long haul, Lily. I know it won't be the same but. . . I really want this. I want you."

"I want you too. And we'll figure out everything along the way."

I smile. "Promise?"

"Promise." She raises her right pinky, prompting me to wrap mine around it. I stifle her laughter with another kiss.

This time she has to physically put space between us in order to make us stop and she laughs as she pushes me out of the door.

I'm in high spirits when I pull up in front of David's house and press on the doorbell.

"Jake?" Liz laughs when she opens the door and sees it's me. "Come in."

Seeing her only brings back the impending anxiety I have concerning her. I really hope she was in that yacht because of some party one of her friends invited her to.

"Hey, kiddo," I say after hugging her. I follow her into the living room.

"David's not in but I think I can brush up on my hostess skills with you. So." She clasps her hands and gives me a huge smile. "What can I get you to drink?"

"Come, sit down." I pat the space beside me on the couch.

"Uh-oh," she jokes, sitting down close to me. "Am I in trouble?"

My demeanor remains solemn. She notices I'm not sharing her humor and her smile slips.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Not a fun of beating around the bushes, I go right to the point.

"What were you doing at the yacht club?"