Page 43 of Ruled Out

He teased the waistband of my skirt, running his fingertips along the front. His light touch sent shock waves throughout my body as he caressed skin that had never been touched in this way.

“I really want to touch you some more, Mia.”

I whimpered. I wanted it so bad. “Where do you want to touch me?”

He dropped his hand from my waistband as he slowly worked it down the flimsy material of my skirt until the back of his hand rested on his thigh.

He teased the hem of my skirt between his fingers. “Under here. Is that okay?”

My ability to speak had deserted me, and all I could do was nod as I rested my forehead against his and rose up onto my knees to give him the access he needed.

When his warm, rough palm met the inside of my left knee, his fingers began dancing toward my apex. I was so turned on; it almost hurt.

“I want to make you feel really good, Mia.”

As soon as his fingers found the fabric of my underwear, my breath caught in my throat. “Oh my God,” I gasped.

“I haven’t touched you yet, Sweetheart,” he replied.

“It already feels so good. I just hope I do it right for you.”

Jessie pulled back, his bright blue eyes shining in the lighting from the theater. “Do it right? Mia, I’m ready to blow straight into my pants—you turn me on that much. I’m fighting with everything I have to hold it together.”

I kissed him hard, my tongue swiping against his. The way he could make me feel everything, but mostly in this moment, the way he could make me feel safe, secure, and confident to go further than we ever had before.

“Touch me,” I pleaded.

His fingers found the edge of my panties. “I can feel how soaked you are for me. I promise I’ll be gentle.”

I waited to feel him, for his hand to find my center and do all the things I’d fantasized about in my bed, when his phone buzzed in the center console, andMomlit up the screen.

It was like a switch flicked in his head. Relaxed and happy Jessie was gone, and in front of me was a guy panicking to grab his phone.

His cell was still ringing in his hand when he picked it up, but he didn’t answer it.

“Why didn’t you pick up?” I asked, confused.

He shook his head and adjusted himself beneath me. I could tell he wanted me to climb off, so I did, making my way back to the passenger seat. He didn’t fight me to stay where I was, and he didn’t seem sorry for breaking away from me when I had been about to hand myself over to him.

He looked in his rearview mirror and cranked the engine on the car.

“W-where are we going? The movie isn’t finished,” I asked, a lump forming in my throat and tears welling in my eyes.

I was embarrassed and shocked by the way he was reacting to a simple call from his mom. Was this just an excuse for him to get out of a situation he didn’t want to be in with me?

I thought I was what he wanted.

“I’m sorry, Mia. But I need to drop you back at your place. We’ll do this again another time.”

Through glassy eyes, I looked over at Jessie’s worried face. “Is everything okay?” What I’d meant to say was,Is it me?

He nodded once and hit the road, heading back to my house. “Everything’s fine. I just need to be somewhere.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JESSIE

S