Chapter 12
Daphne
And there was Jake, standing in the middle of my apartment.
Seeing him there, so close to me, after everything that had happened tonight, made my heart race a mile a minute. It was as if every fiber of my being was awake, waiting, longing for something more to happen between us. That kiss on the threshold had been overwhelming, so intense that I could still feel the warmth of his lips on mine, and honestly, I didn’t want to let go of him. I wanted to savor this moment, to savor him, without reservations.
There was a mixture of nerves and excitement bubbling inside me. After that kiss, I knew I wanted more. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to feel his lips on other parts of my body, to explore every inch of his skin and have him explore mine. I wasn’t closed off to the possibility of an intense night; I didn’t think it was wrong if things went that way. I wanted to enjoy him, to enjoy us, to savor whatever this night had to offer.
Jake looked around my small apartment, a soft smile on his face.
“You have a lovely place,” he said, his voice low and calm.
“Thank you,” I replied, trying to appear calm even though, inside, I was a bit of a whirlwind. My apartment was quite small, but I had always tried to make it cozy and organized. I didn’t have many things, but the ones I had were important to me and held meaning.
There was a brief silence in which we simply looked at each other, as if each of us was trying to read the other’s thoughts. Finally, to break the tension a bit, I offered him something to drink.
“Would you like something? I have some sodas and… well, not much else,” I said, with a nervous laugh.
“A soda would be great,” he replied, his gaze still fixed on me, as if every move I made fascinated him.
I nodded, and almost instinctively, I slipped off my heels, feeling the immediate relief in my feet. The change in my height didn’t go unnoticed, as Jake glanced down, taking me in from head to toe, his eyes lingering a second longer on my legs. Knowing he was looking at me that way sent a shiver through my skin and filled my body with an electric current that was hard to ignore.
Barefoot, I walked to the kitchen, feeling his eyes following me, and opened the fridge to grab the drinks. The sound of the can opening filled the silence, and as I prepared the drinks, I sensed Jake drawing closer, slowly but with intention. Just a few steps away from me, I heard his soft voice, almost a whisper.
“Daphne… I don’t want to ruin tonight. I like you too much, and I don’t want to rush anything that isn’t ready to happen,” he said, his sincerity catching me off guard. I could hear the emotion and tension in his voice, which only made my desire for him grow.
I turned to him and looked at him, feeling the warmth of his presence wrapping around me.
“Jake… I don’t want to ruin anything, either. But I really like you too, and… it’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone that I feel like I’m… like I’m about to explode. Tonight… tonight has been even more than I imagined.” My words seemed to flow without a filter, and deep down, I felt like I had nothing to hide from him.
Jake smiled as he listened, and I saw a hint of relief in his gaze. He took a step closer, and though there was an intensity in his eyes, there was also a tenderness that made my whole body relax, trusting him completely.
“Then let’s let the night go at its own pace,” he whispered, gently brushing my cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m not disappearing at dawn, Daphne. I’m not going to run. I want more of you… more of these moments, more of these dates, more of you. And of course…” he lowered his voice, his tone becoming even deeper and more suggestive, “I want more kisses. I want to know you more.”
My lips parted, and I felt my heart beating so hard it was as if he could hear it. I had no doubt that this night was about to be unforgettable, and I wanted to enjoy it without thinking too much about tomorrow.
Jake moved closer, and before I could process what was happening, he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my neck. The warm breath of his exhale against my skin and the brush of his lips so close made a shiver run through my whole body. I felt his hand resting on my back, pulling me toward him with a gentle but intense enough hold that made me feel completely captive in his arms.
“You’re… you’re like a drug,” he murmured, barely pulling away from my skin. “I don’t want to stop feeling this.”
His words filled me with desire, and in that moment, I knew I was completely lost in him. There was no going back. The nearness of his body, the warmth of his skin—everything made me want more, and as he pressed me softly against the kitchen counter, my hands found his chest, exploring the firmness of his muscles and the warmth of his skin through his shirt. It was as if each small touch was a spark that ignited a larger fire within me.
Jake continued kissing my neck, slowly, as if he wanted to memorize every inch of my skin. His breathing was slow and deep, and I could feel how he breathed in my perfume, as if he truly wanted to capture every detail of this moment. I couldn’t resist anymore. My hands slid to his shoulders, and I felt his arms enveloping me completely.
“Jake…” I whispered, not exactly sure what I was going to say, but feeling that this moment was everything I needed.
Without saying anything, he lifted his head, and our eyes met. Jake looked at me as if I were the only person in the world, as if in his eyes I were everything he desired. His lips were so close to mine that I could hardly focus on anything else. I could feel the warmth of his body, the intensity of his gaze, and the soft touch of his fingers brushing my cheek. I was overwhelmed with a mix of nerves and excitement, a combination that made every fiber of my being vibrate with anticipation for what was to come.
We kissed again, this time with a newfound urgency. I felt his lips pressing against mine, firmer, more determined, and the heat in my chest spread through my whole body. My hands found their way to his neck, sliding up to his hair, pulling him closer as if I wanted to merge us into one. His skin was warm beneath my fingers, and the way his lips moved on mine made me forget everything else.
Jake pulled back for a moment and looked into my eyes. His breathing was as ragged as mine, and his lips barely parted from mine as he whispered:
“Daphne… you have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
There was a spark in his gaze, something wild and vulnerable at the same time, that made me want to discover more, to know more of him. I didn’t respond with words. Instead, I leaned in to kiss him again, and he responded, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me so close that there was barely any space between us. I felt his hands tracing down my back, firm yet tender, as if he were exploring every part of me with a practiced delicacy.
His arms moved down to my thighs, where he swiftly lifted me, causing me to gasp, and he set me down on the kitchen counter. Jake stepped between my legs, looking at me with those dark, pleasure-filled eyes.
One of his hands slid along my waist, while the other caressed my cheek, and the kiss deepened. I could feel every part of him, the warmth of his body pressed against mine, the tension in his arms as he held me, and the soft brush of his lips that seemed to ignite a flame within me.
There was a moment when our lips parted, both of us breathing heavily. Our foreheads rested against each other, and I felt his breath mingling with mine. I opened my eyes and looked at him. Jake’s eyes were closed, as if he were absorbing the moment, and when he opened them, I saw something in his gaze that took my breath away. It was desire, yes, but there was also something more, something that made my whole being tremble.
“I don’t want to ruin this,” he whispered, with a vulnerability in his tone I hadn’t heard before. “I want this to be special.”
My lips curled into a smile, and I brought a hand to his cheek, gently stroking it.
"Jake, this is already special," I replied, my voice coming out softer than I’d expected. “It’s okay to let ourselves go.”
There was a brief hesitation in his eyes, and then he nodded. He kissed me again, slower this time, exploring, as if each movement were part of a silent conversation between us. I felt his hands sliding down my waist, moving slowly to my hips, and I clung to him, letting that desire guide us.
Jake lifted me gently, guiding me toward the living room. I felt the softness of the sofa against the backs of my legs, and we sank down together, not breaking our kiss for a single moment. My entire body was on high alert; each touch, every brush of his lips, sent waves of electricity through my skin. He looked at me for a moment with a playful smile, and I responded by leaning toward him, letting my hands slide down his chest as I slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
“Daphne…” he murmured my name as if it were a prayer, and something in his voice made my heart beat even faster.
There was no going back. I wanted him, needed him in a way I had never felt before. The closeness of his skin, the way his hands touched me, as though I were something fragile and precious, made every rational thought disappear. This wasn’t about love, not yet. It was pure desire, an attraction that had been building since the moment our eyes first met.
His hands traced my arms, my back, then down to my thighs, sending shivers through me as he slid his fingers along my skin. There was something almost reverent in the way he touched me, as if he wanted to make sure that every part of me received the attention it deserved. I felt the warmth of his body, the firmness of his arms as he held me, and each kiss, each caress, only made me want him more.
Jake looked into my eyes, and his expression was so intense that it nearly took my breath away.
“I like you so much, Daphne, so much…” his tongue brushed my lower lip, and I sighed at the intensity. “Are you sure about this?”
I nodded, unable to speak, and I let myself go. His lips descended to my neck, and I felt his warm breath as he inhaled my scent, as if every detail of me mattered. His kiss was gentle, but the tension in his body told me how much he was holding back. I didn’t want to hold back either. My hands found his back, slid up to his hair, and pulled him closer, leaving no space between us.
I felt his hands unzipping the back of my dress and then sliding the straps down my shoulders, kissing every inch of skin as it was revealed. Since it was a lovely dress, a bra would have spoiled it, so my breasts were bare before him, and I heard him take a deep breath.
Jake looked at me, pausing for a second to carefully take in my bare skin. In his eyes, I saw a mix of passion and concern, as if he were holding back, though it was clear that I wanted this just as much as he did. I stroked his cheek and smiled, wanting him to understand there was nothing to fear.
“I’m okay,” I whispered. “Better than okay.”
That seemed to be all he needed to hear because he kissed me again, this time with even more intensity. His hands found the curve of my breast, and I felt his touch linger, leaving a trail of warmth on my skin as he did. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the feeling of his hands, his lips exploring every inch of my body.
It was a sensation of release, as if every worry, every rational thought faded, leaving only the moment, the connection between us. Jake was everything I desired at that moment, and I felt that every part of me was ready for him, for everything we wanted to share.
His lips moved slowly from my neck to my collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I felt that every kiss was a promise, a confirmation of what we both desired without reservations. Jake’s hands, which had been firm and careful, now seemed to carry more urgency. They moved down my back, and I could feel the heat of his palms pressing me against him, as if he wanted to make sure there wasn’t even a millimeter of space between us.
I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan as his lips moved to the top of my chest. It was a blend of anticipation and pleasure that intensified with every second. My fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, deeper. Jake looked up, and our eyes met; there was something raw and sincere in his expression, something that made me understand he was going through the same storm of emotions.
“Daphne, you’re… incredible,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. I felt each of his words wrap around me, and I couldn’t help but smile slightly before kissing him again.
My lips found his, and the kiss was intense, full of everything we were feeling. There was urgency, yes, but also a connection that couldn’t be ignored. His hands moved to my hips, lifting me slightly so I was sitting on the edge of the sofa as he knelt before me. Our eyes met again, and I saw a flicker of adoration in his gaze that made me feel completely exposed, but in the best way. There was no judgment, no rush, only the two of us, exploring what it meant to be this close.
Jake slid his hands along my legs, moving slowly, and the warmth of his touch seemed to ignite every cell in my body. I felt his lips on my knee, then higher, leaving a trail of kisses that made every part of me burn. My breathing was heavy, and I closed my eyes, savoring each small contact, each caress that made me feel so desired. I knew this wasn’t love, not yet, but the attraction between us was undeniable, and I was ready to go forward, to discover where this connection would take us.
His mouth worked wonders on me, bringing me to the first o****m of the night. I moaned his name and dug my nails into his back as I trembled with pleasure. Jake kissed my lips, letting me taste myself, brushing strands of hair from my face and giving me a wide smile.
“That was the best taste of the night,” I gasped, surprised, and laughed a little as I tried to catch my breath.
Jake stood up and undressed before my eyes. I bit my lower lip, catching it between my teeth as I stared at the man before me.
“God bless Ian and his habit of always sneaking condoms into my wallet,” I heard him say as he tore open a small foil packet, put on the condom, and gave himself a quick tap, making me moan at the sight. His eyes sparkled as he looked at me.
“You look so sexy like that.”
My cheeks flushed immediately, completely exposed to him, lying on my sofa, with my breathing a bit steadier.
“You’re the sexy one,” I said, making him laugh, and I noticed how his member twitched at the movement.
Jake sat on the sofa and patted his thighs. I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him.
“Come here, beautiful. I want you on top of me.”
His words made me sigh, and he didn’t have to ask me twice. I moved closer and climbed onto his lap, straddling him, gasping as I felt his hardness pressing between my legs without yet offering pleasure.
Jake stroked my thighs. “I’ve got to thank my brother and brother-in-law for insisting I make a profile on that dating app. Thanks to them, I’ve met the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I felt my cheeks heat even more, and I moved a bit closer to him, making him groan.
“Liar.”
“Liar? This is no lie, Daphne,” he said, guiding my hand to his hardness so I could feel how ready he was. I gasped slightly before bringing my mouth to his lip and biting it gently. Jake growled in pleasure against my lips.
“I’m crazy about you, god, I’m crazy about you.”
I smiled, setting my shyness aside, lifted myself slightly from his lap, and took him in my hand, guiding him to my entrance. Jake didn’t take his eyes off that spot until he was fully inside me, and I exhaled deeply.
“I’m crazy about you too, so much.”
I said before I began to move, and my apartment filled with moans, gasps, and the sound of our bodies meeting with force. I hadn’t expected the night to end this way, but it was the best thing that had happened to me in years.