Her eyes slid open. “Dickwad?” she murmured. “Have you been watching Animal House or some other raunch com or something from the eighties? Or the nineties?”
“Jada.” He wasn’t in the mood for their banter to deflect from serious matters right now. He needed to make sure she was okay before he collapsed from worry.
“Do you realize the whole media circus is going to start all over again? Except this time, it’s going to be all about a love triangle. Is Jada lording her womanly wiles over two men and luring them into her web of doom?” Her voice was light and airy, like she couldn’t believe she was in this situation, but found it hilarious all the same. “My parents will have a fit.”
“Jada, I don’t care about all that. I care about you.” He cupped her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
Her eyes locked on his. “I wondered what would happen if I ever saw him again. Would the butterflies come back? Would I feel that same spark I felt the first night we met? You know, I always wondered if that spark was real, or was it a result of producer manipulation telling us over and over again that we were about to meet the man of our dreams, who was looking for his wife? Would I be hit by a wall of regret when I saw him? Would I ask for another chance or would he drop down to his knees and beg for another chance because I was his dream woman?”
Donovan swallowed hard, trying to bring some moisture to a throat that had gone desert-dry, and forced out the question as she gave voice to the fears he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge. “What did you find out?”
A small grin pulled at her perfect lips. “The whole time he was talking to me I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I wanted it to be you. I want to be with you. Only you. For real.”
Again, her lips landed on his with a clear purpose—to seduce. He’d always approved of having a plan. She nibbled at his bottom lip until his mouth fell open. Then she was inside, letting him taste the sweetness that was Jada Townsend-Matthews. He happily lost himself in her.
Their tongues met in a slow, sensual glide. He crowded closer. Close wasn’t close enough. He cursed the clothes separating their bodies. He wanted to see and worship the soft breasts pressed against his chest. He wanted to lay her on a bed of roses and explore every inch of her delectable body with his hands and mouth. He’d never wanted anything more.
She pulled away. He held back an undignified whimper by the skin of his teeth.
Her eyes searched his. “Wait. Do you feel the same way?”
“Yes. So much.” He’d never had to think less about an answer in his life.
Her stunning smile stopped his heart for two full beats. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight in his life than a happy, confident Jada. “Okay, good. Back to kissing.”
Donovan grinned. “My pleasure.”
He captured her lips with his. Their tongues tangled together as he explored her mouth. Her scent surrounded and intoxicated him. She entranced him. He couldn’t get enough. Would never get enough. He rocked against her and swallowed her whimper when she registered how hard he was. Moaned when she snagged her hand in his belt and pulled him closer.
Desire coursed through his veins. This is where he wanted to be. With Jada, locked away from the outside world.
Wait. He pulled back, although it took every ounce of his willpower. “Does that mean you told him to kick rocks?”
He wanted to make sure there were no more misunderstandings. That she was with him in this, whatever this was.
“You wanted me to use those exact words, didn’t you?” She bit her lip. Wait. That was his job. He leaned down for another kiss, paying special attention to the plump bottom lip that had been tormenting him since the day they met.
Reluctantly, he pulled away and gave a quick nod. “I wouldn’t complain if you did.”
She caressed his cheek. He leaned into the embrace, craving her soft touch. “Well, I didn’t use those exact words, but I did let him know that he and I would never be an us. There’s someone else in my life I’m dedicated to.”
Exultation filled his every pore. “Perfect.” He lowered his head again.
Chapter Nineteen
Eventually, Jada grudgingly came up for air. Her heart was racing out of control, but she gathered her faculties enough to swipe a thumb across Donovan’s hard jaw and speak. “I like doing that.”
“I know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t act all macho. I’m the one who made a move.”
“I was going to, but you beat me to it!”