Free Patience by Sydney Lane Page A

her back pressed against my chest.
    "We're missing the tour." She raises an arm over her shoulder, pulling my face to hers. I lower my head, nipping at her bottom lip with my teeth, teasing her with light kisses. She tries to deepen the kiss, but I pull away just as her tongue grazes my lip. Her breathing hitches in her throat, and her body melts against me.
    "I thought you wanted to go?" I'm teasing her, like I know she's been doing to me over the last few days. My hands glide over her smooth stomach, across her hips, to the juncture between her legs. Her heat warms my fingers as I work them up the leg of her shorts. A soft moan escapes her lips.
    I become aware of footsteps behind me, and I drop my hand, stepping back. "Hey, guys! We're moving on. We wouldn't want you to get lost, now, would we?" The tour guide's perky voice breaks the heated silence.
    "Um, sorry." Jenna speaks first, and a trace of pink streaks across her cheekbones. As we turn to follow the tour guide, she takes my hand again, smiling mischievously.
    I wait for the guide to get ahead of us before I whisper, "Sunshine, I'm beginning to think you like dogging. If I'd known that, I could have shown them a thing or two."
    Slapping me on the arm, she gasps. "You big perv!"
    We burst through the door, laughing and holding hands, to join the rest of the group.
    The thing is... I wasn't joking.

 
    Chapter 19
    Jenna
    I don't know if there's a word for it, but there's something going on inside of me, between us, that I can't explain. It's more than sexual chemistry. It's a soul connection, something deep inside that just won't be satisfied until he's been there, until he's touched all there is of me.
    The day couldn't have been more perfect. The mansion, the gardens, the horses. I felt a little bit like a princess, and my prince was making me feel very special. He's being so sweet and charming, so damn sexy, that he's screwing with my plans.
    I still plan on making tonight very enjoyable, but also very difficult, for him. And then, tomorrow, he'll get his guitar, and I'll jump his bones.
    He'll never even know what hit him.
    Easy.
    As we drive further into the mountains, I get caught up in the scenery. This city is so beautiful, and he's certainly taken care of all the details, making me love him a little more with each new thing. It's just that he's so damn stupid .
    Yes, stupid. Who else would've made that bet?
    Idiot.
    Asshole.
    Fucker.
    And holy shit! We're at the Grove Park Inn! I sit up in my seat, plastering my face to the window as we drive into the resort. It's beautiful. It's romantic.
    He's totally forgiven.
    "Oh my god, Eric!" I throw myself at him, causing him to run over the curb. We get jostled, and I fall across the console, our heads smashing into each other. "Ow!" He grabs his cheek, and I grab my head. That hurt.
    When he bursts out laughing, I let out the breath I've been holding. He could have gotten mad, could've said anything, but instead, he laughed. And my heart skips a beat, basking in the moment. It's so cool to be with someone who actually 'gets' me.
    "Are you trying to kill us or something?" In that moment, his laugh, his beautiful face, it's just perfect. And then, he drops his hand from his eye. I gasp, and he arches a brow in question. "What?"
    "Um, nothing." Looking around, I gesture to the buildings around us. "It's just so beautiful. Yeah?"
    "Yeah, I kind of got that right before you tried to knock me out." He gestures to his eye, and I really wish he'd stop doing that.
    Opening his door, he steps out and walks around to open mine. He may be a fucker sometimes, but Eric is always a true Southern gentleman. I still can't believe this day. That we're here. Together. In Asheville.
    Hand in hand, we walk inside to the registration desk. "James. We have a reservation."
    The young girl at the desk begins typing, looks up at us, her eyes lingering on him, then resumes typing. "Sir, what name did you say the reservations are under?" I