London Calling by Karen Booth, Karen Stivali Read Free Book Online Page A

She popped up on to
her tiptoes and strained to be closer to him, grasping his shoulders. She
shuffled a few paces backward, pulling him along as they kissed, and stepped up
onto the bottom stair leading to her door.
    Tim laughed quietly, his mouth still against hers.
    “This is better,” she muttered.
    “Much.” He smoothed his hands around her waist and under her
jacket, tugging her closer.
    Jenna wrapped her arms around him, circling a finger into
the thick hair at the nape of his neck. A soft moan escaped her throat as he
sucked her lower lip into his mouth. He gripped her rib cage and his thumb
rubbed the side of her breast. Heat surged through her, heightening the
sensation. Everything he did was driving her crazy, in the best possible way.
    Her heart beat a driving rhythm in her chest. She wanted to
be consumed by him—she cursed her job, her roommate, the notion of a body
needing sleep. It was all keeping her away from him. She rocked her hips into
him and although he was already hard, it felt as if he swelled against her. Her
remaining question faded. Oh yeah. He likes me.
    Tim slowed their kisses and pulled away, resting his
forehead on top of her head. “We have to stop or they’re going to have us both
arrested for lewd behavior.”
    The heat rose in Jenna’s cheeks and she nestled her face
into Tim’s neck. “You’re so warm. It’s freezing out here.” She huddled against
him, protected by his arms.
    “I hadn’t noticed.”
    “Right. Your new coat.”
    “Uh, the coat is great, but it’s not that.”
    She smiled.
    “Please tell me I get to see you tomorrow,” he said. “Would
you like to come and watch me entertain the upper crust of New York?”
    Her heart sank to her stomach. “I promised Natalie I’d do
something with her. We’re both always canceling on each other.”
    “Perhaps she’d join you. Drinks are on me.”
    Jenna looked up into his eyes. “Natalie’s been known to down
her fair share of ten-dollar cosmos.”
    “I’ll take my chances.” He stepped back and held her hand.
“I’m just going to kiss you good night on the cheek. Otherwise, I’ll never
leave.” He brushed his warm lips against the side of her face.
    Even that was titillating. She took a deep breath. “Good
night. Thank you for dinner.”
    “Good night, Jenna.”
    She sighed as she watched him walk away. She saw his strong
profile as he turned to look for traffic before he crossed the street. Her
heart fluttered. He likes me. She hurried inside and up to the second
floor, relieved that Rachel was in her room. Jenna brushed with the new
toothbrush that she now carried wherever she went, and closed the door to her
bedroom, pressing the lock.
    Sleep seemed unimportant if not impossible. There were so
many details of the night to obsess about—his smell, his hair, his mouth.
Every word he’d said to her was fresh in her brain and she began to replay each
wonderful scene as she went to her closet. She smiled, shook her head and
giggled quietly, flipping through the hangers. Chewing on her pinky, she
wondered how she would ever pick the perfect thing to wear for tomorrow night.
She knew it had to be good.
     
    Tim couldn’t get Jenna off his mind. Although the air was
just as chilly as it had been the night before, he was anything but cold. He
was revved up and overheated. He walked home briskly, making a quick stop at
Duane Reade to buy a drink and some shaving cream. While he was at the store he
grabbed a box of condoms, just in case. Wishful thinking? I hope not.
    The flat seemed strangely empty without her in it. He tossed
the condoms into the small drawer of the bedside table and flopped onto the
bed. It was nearly midnight and he was totally wired. Now what? His cock
answered with a drum-like beat. He struggled out of his jeans, dropped them off
the edge the bed and stroked himself through the smooth fabric of his boxers.
His eyes closed as he imagined it was Jenna’s hand.
    Kissing her had been even