Page 25 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Marley

JJ’S STRONG ARMS flex underneath me, carrying me easily in his arms. “I’m sorry,” I apologize again, stealing a glance at his handsome face.

“Unless you purposely landed wrong on your ankle after jumping the fence, don’t apologize,” he says, his emerald eyes flickering down at me.

The color reminds me of the earrings my parents gave me for my fifteenth birthday.

I wonder if either of his parents has the same color. God, and those lips . . .

JJ was right. I was staring at them earlier, wondering how he’d kiss me.

I saw him on the field earlier—all I could think about was how assertive and in total control he was. When JJ’s with me, he’s gentle and precise with everything he does. I couldn’t help my mind drifting to wonder how it’d be. Would I get the sweet or rough version of JJ?

I know what it was like three years ago, but a lot can change.

A low rumble sounds from his firm chest, jolting me from my thoughts.

“Marley?” he asks, humor lacing his voice, and I wish I could read his mind. Actually, I probably can. He told me he wants to kiss me, but he’s going to wait until I ask. The only question is why haven’t I asked?

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” I say, remembering what we’re talking about.

“Then why are you saying sorry again?” JJ asks, the corners of his mouth pulling up. Shit, that’s the third time tonight I’ve been caught staring at his mouth.

I can feel my fingers nearly twitching at the urge to chew on them. I hate the way they look, but it’s a nervous habit I can’t kick. “Because I feel bad you’re carrying me. I can try to walk.”

I’m lying through my teeth. I don’t want him to put me down. I want to ask him to carry me all the time instead.

“Marley, you don’t need to feel bad, and I’m not putting you down. Are we going to keep having this conversation?” JJ asks, shifting me further up in his arms.

How did I ever walk away from him in France?

I loop my arms around his neck, his skin hot beneath my touch. “JJ, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. We only met earlier tonight, and I know nothing about you except I’m somehow your favorite person to spend time with, and you’re much better at scaling a fence than I am.”

The ache in my ankle is still there, but this conversation is a nice distraction.

He rolls his eyes but continues to sarcastically play along. “Right. How can I forget I know nothing about you, except your lack of ability to safely jump a fence.”

“Rude,” I say, pretending to frown. I totally deserve that. What was I thinking?

“Sorry, sweetheart. Will you tell me what you like to do?”

What I’d like to do is ask you to kiss me. “Nope. You’re being sarcastic, so I don’t want to tell you,” I say, holding back a laugh as we approach Charlie’s car.

“Can you reach in my front pocket for the keys?” he asks, switching gears.

“Oh, sure,” I say. I slide my hand down between us, reaching blindly for the keys.

Unfortunately, my hand has a mind of its own, completely missing the pocket to grab the front of his pants instead.

JJ’s grip instantly tightens as his breathing hitches.

“Sorry,” I mumble, really wishing I could curl in a hole right now and disappear.

I just skipped way past not being able to ask him to kiss me to grabbing his dick.

With the way JJ’s holding me, it’s a difficult angle for my arm, but finally after what feels like an eternity, I pull the keys from his pocket.

I unlock the car, and JJ silently helps me in. Maybe if I ask nicely, he’ll run me over with the car instead.

What can I possibly say to make this less awkward?

I steal a glance out the other side of the window as JJ adjusts his jeans to hide the bulge, but it doesn’t do much. I quickly look away, my cheeks burning as JJ climbs in the car. Oh my god. I should say something, but he beats me to it.

“Marley . . .” he trails off, his voice deeper now. Instinctively, I look at him before the lights in the car turn off, allowing me to see everything he isn’t saying. “How is it?” JJ asks, and I blink in surprise.

What is it supposed to be?

“What?” I ask, trying to keep my eyes on his face.

“Well, I guess it’s not hurting too bad if you forgot you twisted your ankle,” he says, chuckling quietly.

I am an idiot. “Oh, right. Yes, my ankle, it um . . . hurts really bad.” I stumble over my words, and his head tips back as a real laugh echoes through the car. I relax enough to smile because I’ll take this sound any day over the sound of him crying. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forget it.

“Marley.”

“Why do you keep saying my name?”

JJ smiles, starting the car. “We should get some ice on it. I’ll take you back to your place.”

“Are you sure we should abandon our friends? What if someone calls the cops?” I ask, feeling guilty this is the first time I’ve even thought of them since we walked away.

“The friend Charlie saw at the bar? This is her apartment’s pool. Nobody was breaking in, but that’s what their bright idea was, and they’re all going to hang here after so I said I’d bring the car back later.”

“Are you telling me I jumped the fence for nothing?”

He winces as he pulls the car out, and I kind of wish I’d known this beforehand. “I did try to warn you before how breaking and entering into a pool to swim in our underwear wasn’t the best idea, but you said you wanted an adventure.”

I did say that. I love my parents, and I know they can’t help who they are, but I always knew someone was watching me, waiting for me to mess up. I don’t feel like that when I’m here, and it might be my favorite part about transferring. I’m finally getting the opportunity to figure out who I am.

“So we’re going back to my place?” I ask, reaching for my necklace to play with it. It’s the next best alternative to chewing my nails, giving me something to do with my nervous energy.

“I didn’t think you wanted to go back to my house, considering your ex-boyfriend is one of my roommates.”

Right . “Guess I didn’t really think about that,” I mumble, and he glances over at me, his expression softening.

“How are you doing?”

Perfectly fine because you’re the one consuming my thoughts. I convinced myself it was easier to be mad at you for not telling me the truth than to admit to myself how much I want you. I’m mad at myself for not waiting for you.

Honestly, I’m surprised he’s waited this long to ask. “Better,” I say, because I’m afraid to admit the truth.

JJ nods silently in response, his hands tightening around the steering wheel.

Awesome, now I’ve made it more awkward than it already was.

I drag my hands over my face, sighing.

So much for a fresh start.

~

We stopped by the villa Tessa rented for the weekend so I wouldn’t ruin the artwork we’d come here for, slipping away to go on an adventure afterward.

I should be more careful, but for some damn reason, I can’t bring myself to leave his side. It’s so out of character for me, but it’s nice to exist without someone knowing all the dollar signs attached to my name.

I can’t remember the last time I was this relaxed, and now I’m wishing Tessa and I weren’t flying back tomorrow.

I think I could stay in this meadow underneath the warm sun for the rest of my life and be perfectly fine.

The array of freshly bloomed flowers in deep hues of purple and splashes of blue are surrounding us in the plush green grass.

“I wish I could live here,” I admit, breaking the peaceful silence.

JJ props himself up onto his elbow to look at me. “You could.”

“Oh, really?” I ask, amused by how quickly he came up with that.

“Yes.”

“How?”

His head tilts, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. “Well, my family has a house here, but I’d have to insist we get married if we’re going to stay here.”

“Should I be concerned about you?” I ask, wondering why the fuck I’m not more freaked out by a guy I met a few hours ago suggesting we get married.

“Concerned about what?”

“You just said I could live with you and we’d get married. Do you need me to call someone for you? JJ, you barely know me.”

He flops back onto the ground with a huff. “Haven’t you heard of love at first sight?”

I can’t help it. I snort. And then I’m so mortified by the sound coming out of my mouth, I cover my face with my hands as I wait for the sound of JJ laughing.

But it doesn’t come. I peek between my fingers to see him staring seriously at me, and it throws me off. From JJ’s easy smile, the constant stream of jokes, the confidence he exudes, seriousness is something I wasn’t expecting. “You’re not serious, are you?”

“I think I need another hour to decide, but just Marley, I think you’re making me fall in love with you, and I think you’re going to fall in love with me too.”

See, now this should freak me out. A boy I met hours ago is telling me I’m making him fall in love with me and I’m going to fall in love with him too?

It’s pure insanity, but he doesn’t look crazy.

Maybe I’m jaded from the vicious social circles in New York where everyone is always angling for something, but he has no idea who I am.

All I know is this level of honesty is refreshing.

I can’t think of anything to say because my brain is so flabbergasted.

So instead I focus on the sound of the grass swaying in the breeze for a while as we lie there, falling into a comfortable silence.

His hand brushes against mine, and I inch closer to him until my arm is pressed against his.

JJ loops our pinkies together, exhaling as he does.

My heart is beating faster in my chest at pinky holding than it did the entire time I dated my last boyfriend.

What is it about JJ causing me to be affected like this?