Free Cocktails & Dreams by Autumn Markus Page B

Nicholas lift the hem of his shirt to wipe sweat off of his chin and sighed as his firm abdomen with its dark line of hair came into view.
    Nicholas glanced over and caught her looking, and a wicked smile crossed his face. “Dancing in your underwear, huh?” He chuckled as Jena flushed. “Wish I could have been there. You know, I asked Diane to invite you to that party specifically in hope of seeing your underwear.”
    Jena smiled and took a last long swallow of her beer, feeling a tiny drop escape her mouth and run down her chin before trickling down her throat. “I might have heard something about that just lately, in fact.” She jumped when Nicholas’s finger swept from the neckline of her tank top to her chin, gathering up the beer residue before he licked his finger clean.
    He looked at her, eyebrow raised. “I don’t think a little taste can hurt me.”
    Jena stopped breathing for a second and then had to gasp to get the air moving again. She got the feeling he knew exactly how crazy-sexy that little move was, and if he didn’t, it was certainly visually apparent on the front of her shirt. He laughed again as Jena tried to casually cross her arms over her chest.
    Her voice was uneven as she surprised herself by saying, “Maybe you can join us for the next shitty day ritual. You never know what could happen.”
    Nicholas stood up, pulling Jena to her feet with his good hand. “I have an idea,” he murmured, shifting his weight forward—
    “What the hell time do we have to be at the doc’s house, Nicky?” Conor’s voice bugling from the living room disturbed the moment, and Jena jumped back. What was she thinking? Hadn’t she decided earlier that they might be able to be friends if the whole sex thing was taken off the table?
    Nicholas sighed and muttered, “Shit,” rubbing his hand over the top of his head, and Jena suddenly missed the shaggy hair from college. She thought that she’d have to ask why he’d cut it if they got together again.
    He looked at his watch and gestured toward the door. “We have to be there in about an hour, Connie , so we’d better get moving,” he answered as he and Jena re-entered the living room.
    Conor yelled his goodbyes as he headed for the shower. Leisa and Travis, taking the hint, rose to their feet and gathered up their bottles, getting ready to leave.
    Nicholas walked them to the door, thanking them again for helping him unpack. Leisa and Travis were already out the door when Nick caught Jena’s arm. “I’m really glad we were able to get together again, Jena. It’s been a lot of fun today.” She nodded, smiling, and turned to leave. Nicholas still had hold of her arm, though. “I know this is quick, but can I call you sometime?”
    Jena licked her lower lip and heard him inhale. “Sure. You have a few weeks of treatment before school starts, and—”
    Nicholas stepped closer, and his closeness made Jena’s head spin. “No. Can I call you?” He laid his hand on Jena’s chest, just below her collarbones.
    Oh, hell yes, Jena’s mind screamed, but for once she kept her mouth shut and just nodded quickly. Speeding off down the stairs, she was hoping to avoid doing something like ramming her tongue down his throat or begging him to fuck her now.
    A girl had to set some limits, after all.

Chapter Six
    N ICHOLAS W AS S MILING as he turned away from the door. He couldn’t believe that it was still so easy with Jena, so fun. Of course, they were both older, and he found himself even more aware of her as a woman now than he was seven years before. She had been hot as hell in college with a lean, athletic body that had captured his eye from the very first time he’d seen her waiting for the team bus, even in sweats.
    Now? Well, fuck me , Nicholas thought .
    Jena was still strong and lithe, but time had rounded her hips and breasts in a way that made Nicholas itch to run his hands over those curves. He’d spent a good deal of the day trying not to dwell on