Page 54 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Marley
JJ TALKED TO his parents about Bailey the first night we were here, and I think it’s for the best he got the conversation over with. I hoped he would tell them about his drug problem too, but after the way his mom began crying, I don’t blame JJ for not being able to.
It helps me understand a little more why he broke down the way he did at my front door the last time Bailey called, and why the phone call two weeks ago sent him spiraling in the first place.
I’m sitting on the wraparound deck of his parents’ beach house, flipping through the pages of my songbook, trying to find which one I want to give to JJ for his birthday.
When Sebastian asked JJ at dinner last night what he wanted for his birthday since they weren’t going to be able to go to France with everyone’s schedules, I felt stupid for not realizing his birthday was the same day as Christmas.
I definitely need to get him something better than a pillow, and hopefully one of the songs I’ve written about him isn’t too cheesy of an idea.
Picking one is proving to be harder than I expected it to be, though.
“When you asked if I wanted to run with you, you failed to mention we’d be running at a sprint the entire five miles.” A deep voice groans from the bottom of the stairs.
“I think what you mean to say is Thanks, JJ, for offering to help keep me in shape ,” JJ says, his familiar laugh tugging at my heart strings.
“I’m plenty in shape—you’re fucking insane if you think this is fun.”
JJ’s dark head of hair appears as he jogs up the wooden stairs, his defined chest glistening from perspiration, and I don’t even try to pretend I’m not staring at him.
Hunter appears a moment later, clutching his side while he groans, his entire shirt soaked through with sweat despite the chilly breeze coming off the water.
“Hey, sweetheart,” JJ greets, and I manage to tear my gaze away from his torso, happy to see his green eyes sparkling.
“How was your run?” I ask, shutting the songbook, and his eyes linger on it, an easy smile forming.
“Would have been better if he hadn’t complained the whole time.”
“Shut the fuck . . . up,” Hunter says, struggling to breathe.
“Getting any inspo from the ocean? If you sit here long enough, you might spot a mermaid,” he says, and Hunter keels over, panting as he flops onto his back, staring up at the sky.
From how hard he hit the deck, I’m wondering how it’s supposed to make him feel better.
“You definitely have a close-up of a dead fish.”
“Just looking through old songs,” I answer, biting my lip to keep my laughter from slipping out.
JJ shakes his head, laughing as he leans down to kiss my cheek. “I like seeing you here,” he whispers, going back for seconds to kiss the corner of my mouth as I smile.
I like being here.
“What did you do to him?” I ask, and JJ shrugs, opening the back door to step inside, returning a few moments later with a water bottle in each hand.
“We went for a run, and Hunt had a problem with the pace,” he says, taking a seat in the chair next to me, but despite how he’s not panting, he chugs what I’m guessing is nearly half the bottle.
“When the hell did you start running like the devil is chasing you?” Hunter asks, pouring water on his face instead of drinking it.
The light in JJ’s eyes dims a fraction, and he scoffs, his hand resting on his knee, rubbing circles on the joint. “I think the better question is when did you get so out of shape?”
“You’re annoying.”
“So are you,” JJ fires back, before the back door opens, and Thalia pokes her head out, eyebrows raised as her gaze bounces from Hunter to JJ.
“Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not,” I chime in, and she chuckles.
“I was coming out to ask if anyone heard from Henry and Mirabelle to know if they’re coming over for dinner tonight, but I might just call her again and leave you boys to your bickering.
Marley, I don’t know if you need rescuing, but you’re welcome to join me inside if they’re being too much for you,” Thalia continues, a soft smile directed my way before the door closes again.
JJ tilts his head, leaving it up to me, which I appreciate, but it would be nice to get to know her better.
A strangled cry sounds from the ground, causing us both to jump. “ Shit, motherfucker, make it stop, ” Hunter begs, shoving his fist in his mouth as he grabs for his leg.
“Dude, what the hell is wrong with you?” JJ asks, looking at Hunter. “I thought I was the one with the bum leg.”
“Charley horse,” he says, his voice strained. “Can you massage it?”
“Okay, I’m out, this is weird,” I say, laughing as I grab my songbook, and JJ follows.
“Yeah, no thanks, but you can call your girlfriend to do it.”
“You so did this on purpose.” Hunter moans, and I shake my head as I open the door into the spacious dining room off the kitchen.
“Are you good if I slip out for a bit?” JJ asks, and I turn to look at him, trying not to let my head fill with worry.
“Yeah, I’ll hang out with your mom. You okay?” I ask, and JJ reaches for my hands, squeezing them briefly, his cheeks turning pink.
“Yeah, there’s just a meeting nearby I want to hit. I won’t be gone long,” he whispers, glancing away as if he’s embarrassed by the admission.
He’s trying. He’s really trying, and I couldn’t be more proud of him for it. “I’m proud of you,” I say, and his emerald gaze is slow to meet mine. “I love you and I’m proud of you,” I repeat, to make sure JJ knows I mean it.
JJ’s hand leaves mine as he slides it into my hair, pulling me to meet him halfway for a kiss making my toes curl and tempting me to beg for another. “Thank you,” he says, lifting his mouth to kiss my forehead again. “Thank you for seeing me, and still loving me.”
“Loving you isn’t a choice, JJ. It’s part of who I am.”
His smile is blinding when he steps back. “Now who has the one-liners?” he teases, winking playfully at me.
“Shut up, I’m never going to say anything romantic ever again if you’re going to give me shit for it.”
JJ’s shoulders shake as he turns around. “That’s okay. I’ll come up with enough of them for both of us.”
~
My jaw falls open as JJ steps out of the bathroom, a towel slung low over his hips and his ridiculously chiseled chest on full display.
I close my journal, shamelessly staring as his eyes find me.
My head is telling me I should finish getting ready so we can leave for Hunter’s game, but every other part of me is telling me to put my mouth all over him.
He laughs, his smile wide as he looks at me. I wonder if he can read the filthy thoughts running through my head? “Close your mouth, sweetheart, unless you plan on using it for something else,” JJ teases, and apparently, he can read my mind. JJ, if you can read my mind, drop the towel.
“Is that a challenge?”
A familiar blush crawls up his neck, turning his cheeks a rosy color. “We’ll be late.”
“Do you care if we are?” I ask, and JJ looks torn.
His family left earlier while JJ was attempting to give me a surfing lesson, but I was hopeless. Any athletic ability I had vanished when I quit dancing years ago.
“Marley,” he says, and I stand up, walking closer to JJ, hyperaware of the distance between us I fully intend on closing.
“JJ,” I reply, reaching out to wipe away a drop of water trailing down his chest, before deciding to let it linger. “Tell me to stop.”
He swallows and I press my hand directly over where JJ’s heart lies in his chest, feeling the strong heartbeat. “I’m powerless when it comes to saying no to you,” he says, and I lower my hand until it reaches his, holding the towel in place.
“Are you saying no?” I ask, giving him an opportunity.
“I’m saying please don’t stop.”
I beam at JJ as I pull his hand away, looking down to watch his towel fall to the floor, his thick erection jutting out toward me. Before JJ, I would have said I didn’t care about sucking a guy’s dick, and it always felt like more of a chore than anything. With him, it’s different.
I want JJ to enjoy this, and I’ll take him any way he’ll let me have him.
My gaze lifts to watch JJ’s face when I wrap my hand around him, thrilled when he pulls his bottom lip between his teeth to bite back a groan as his head tips back.
I lower to my knees, and when I close my lips around the tip, JJ releases a breathy moan. Electricity shoots through my veins as I take more of his cock in my mouth, using the lubrication of my saliva to help my hand move easier as I stroke him.
“Pillow,” he says, his eyes struggling to stay open and I’m confused.
“Did you say pillow?”
“It’s more comfortable for you.” JJ strains to get the words out as I tighten my grip, jerking him off firmly the way he showed me he liked, taking him in my mouth again, my hand bumping against my lips as I moan around him.
Only JJ would think of a pillow right now.
“Let me grab one, please ,” he begs, his hips bucking forward, surprising me by forcing more of him into my mouth than I’m ready for, and I gag, my eyes watering.
“Fuck, I didn’t mean t—”
“I’m fine, really,” I interrupt, smiling at JJ so he believes me.
“Pillow, nonnegotiable or I say stop.”
Is JJ serious? “You realize you’re stopping me in the middle of a blowjob because I’m not kneeling on a pillow?” I ask, and JJ’s jaw tightens before he nods.
“I think you seriously underestimate how much I care about you being comfortable,” he says, cupping my cheek in his hand. “I’m actually disappointed I didn’t think of it sooner.”
I can’t help smiling when JJ steps away before retrieving a pillow from the mountain of them on his bed, bringing it back with a pleased smile on his face, but I do my best to make him smile for a completely different reason a minute later.
~