We silently feed one another, and the air crackles with sexual tension. Our faces are close, our bodies side by side, and I’d challenge anyone to pry me away from her in this moment. I let her have the last strawberry, but she bites it in half, offering the last bit to me. Little bits of fleshy strawberry sit on her bottom lip, and I can’t ignore the temptation any longer. I lap at the strawberry remnants with my tongue as I pull her into my arms. She repositions herself on my lap so she’s straddling me, leaning down, and kissing me. Her tongue swirls into my mouth, and the kiss quickly grows heated.
My cock is like a block of wood behind my flimsy jogging shorts as she grinds against me in a way that should be outlawed in public. The tiny moans she emits are like a shot of liquid lust straight to my dick, and I’m seconds away from pulling her behind the tree and burying myself deep inside her.
She pulls back first. “Damn. You make me so horny I forgot we were in broad daylight.” She laughs, and it does weird things to me. “The fact I haven’t had sex in a year might have something to do with it too.”
“Seriously?” I ask, not masking my surprise. I readjust myself in my shorts when she climbs off me.
“Told you I’ve turned over a new leaf.” Pride glimmers in her tone. She sits beside me, resting her head on my shoulder, and I press a kiss to the top of her hair. “I worked my butt off this year. My grades have always been a bit up and down, but I was determined to graduate on a high, so I really knuckled down. Between school, work, and study, I had no downtime, which suited me. I don’t miss much about my old life,” she adds in a lower tone. “Except my sister and brother. And sex.” She laughs again, and the tinkling sound sends a rake of shivers coasting over my body.
And what the fuck is up with that?
I shake myself out of that pansy-ass thought. “So, what’s next? You planning on college?”
Silence greets my questions, and I lift her head, cupping her face and forcing her gaze to mine. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No. Of course not.” Her smile is sad. “I want to go to college, but I wasn’t approved for any of the scholarships I applied for.”
“Won’t your parents pay for it?”
She shakes her head. “They’ve washed their hands of me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Aaron suppressed all my applications.”
“Shit’s that bad?”
She nods. “He hates me.” She averts her gaze, and prickles of apprehension raise goose bumps on my arms.
“You want to talk about it?”
She plucks at the grass with her long, slim fingers. “It’s the classic scenario. I’m not his flesh and blood. He was stuck with me when he married my mom. And I’ve done nothing but cause him trouble and damage his precious reputation.” She barks out a bitter laugh. “What a fucking joke. If—” She pushes to her feet. “Actually, I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I’ll only get in a bad mood. I need to shower.”
Hmm. I’m sensing there’s more she’s not saying, but I’m not going to push her on it. “Hang on.” I jump up. “Let me clear this up, and I’ll walk you home.”
“You live in the opposite direction. It’s fine, Jackson.”
“How about an early movie then?” I suggest. “We can both head home, get changed, and I’ll come get you.”
“You don’t have to spend your entire day with me. I’m sure you’ve got other stuff to do,” she says, shuffling awkwardly on her feet. She chews on the corner of her mouth as her shoulders slump and her lips pull down.
Why does she look so insecure all of a sudden?
It feels like whatever progress we were making has suffered a setback, but I can’t work out why.
I place my hands lightly on her hips, pulling her into me. “You’re the only one I want to do,” I tease before remembering my role. That is not something Prince Charming would say. More like his douchebag evil arch nemesis. “I’ll rephrase,” I add even though her lips are already curving up. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than spend my free time with you. I’m not ready to let you go, babe.” She laughs, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug. My eyes close momentarily. “I like being with you. Please say yes.” I press my mouth to her ear. “Say yes; say yes.”
“You’re incorrigible.” She looks up at me through long, thick lashes. “And yes. I’ll go to the movies with you.”
CHAPTER SIX
Vanessa
“OH MY GOD. That was so cheesy,” I say, leaning my head against his shoulder as we walk home from the movie theater. We ended up catching a later show because Jackson had to go somewhere with Sawyer, but I didn’t mind. I spent my afternoon on the balcony reading and dozing before taking a long shower and spending time getting ready for my date.
“I thought girls loved all that mushy shit.” Jackson places a soft kiss on my temple.
“I must be missing that gene,” I joke. “That part where he was confessing his love in that hideous flowery language, in front of all those people, at the top of the Eiffel Tower had me cringing. I actually had to look away from the screen and block my ears.”
“Man, it was corny as fuck,” Jackson agrees, “but for my first chick flick, it wasn’t as bad as I imagined it would be.”
“I like some chick flicks, but they can be a bit hit or miss. The Notebook and Sweet Home Alabama are two of my favorite movies, but the most romantic movie I’ve watched is The English Patient.” I place a hand over my heart. “Forbidden love at its finest. It’s tragically beautiful.” I look up at him, blushing at the intent look on his face. “Have you ever watched it?”
“Can’t say I’ve even heard of it.”
“That’s a tragedy in itself.” I cling on to his arm, smiling up at him. “I’m sure I can stream it from somewhere. You want to come over one night this week and watch it with me? I’ll make dinner too.”
“It’s a date,” he says, and my lady parts swoon.
“You want to come up?” I ask when we reach my door, hoping he doesn’t turn me down again.
He nips at my earlobe. “Try stopping me,” he whispers in my ear, and I shiver in anticipation.
We head up to my apartment, and I deposit my purse on the kitchen counter as Jackson closes the door. “Do you want something to eat or drink?” I ask.
“Nope.” He stalks toward me with that infamous cocky swagger of his. “There’s only one thing I want.” He reels me against his toned body. Leaning his face down, he lines our mouths up so there’s only a sliver of a gap between us. “You,” he whispers in a husky voice.
He slams his lips down on mine, and we devour one another without hesitation. I’m clawing at him, desperately needing to get closer, as his wicked lips and tongue whip me into a frenzy. I tighten my arms around his neck, rocking my pelvis against his erection, letting him know I’m down with this.
Without breaking our lip-lock, he grabs my hips and lifts me onto the counter. My thighs automatically spread to accommodate him, and I moan into his mouth at the feel of his hard cock pressing against my pussy. I wrap my legs around his waist, tugging him in closer, grinding my crotch against him in a pathetic attempt to ease the friction building in my core.