Page 11

JESSE

“Is it true?”

Jesse looked up from his notebook to find Blaine, Anton, and Brody in front of his desk. They were staring at him avidly as if… He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his chair. “Is what true?”

“That you beat up Tucker?” Blaine blurted and got elbowed by Anton.

Jesse narrowed his eyes. “Where’d you hear that?”

“One of the guys in Tucker’s band said you jumped him in the parking lot after school yesterday. Did you?”

Brody eyed Jesse’s bruised, swollen knuckles and drawled, “That’s what I would have done if I heard the nasty rumors he was spreading about my sister. Me and some of the boys were thinking of kicking Tucker’s ass, regardless of whether it’s true or not.”

“It’s not true,” Jesse snapped.

“It isn’t?” Blaine asked and took a step back as Jesse shot to his seat.

“Violet never slept with him.” The memory of him claiming her virginity made his dick twitch. He sat before any of them noticed he was getting an erection. “She’s breaking up with him.”

“Because she heard what he said about her?”

“No,” he growled and fixed them with a level look. “She came to the conclusion that he’s a dick all on her own. I don’t want her to hear what Tucker said about her. It’ll just upset her.”

“How are you going to stop her from hearing about it? It’s all over school.”

“By countering it with the truth. She wouldn’t sleep with him, so Tucker started that rumor to ruin her reputation. It’s as simple as that.”

Anton and Blaine glanced at one another before they left to spread the word, leaving Brody behind.

“I would have had your back if you asked me to come with you,” Brody said.

“I know.”

“Coach Rick was pissed you took off like that.”

“I apologized to him this morning.”

“How much damage did you do?”

Jesse flexed his sore hand. “Enough. I wanted to do more, but it’s probably best I didn’t. He’d be in the hospital, otherwise. He’ll think twice before he pulls a stupid stunt like that with Violet or any other girl.”

Brody shook his head. “I hope Violet learned her lesson, but I have a feeling she didn’t. What does she see in these losers?”

He had no idea, but if he had any say in it, Tucker would be the last guy she ever dated.

Brody filled him in on what he missed at practice yesterday and their upcoming game before he was cut off by their teacher, who called their attention to the board. As Brody took his seat, Jesse slouched in his chair and stared at the clock.

Why the hell had he brought them back to school? He should have taken Violet home. Giving her two class periods to think was dangerous. The last time he thought they were on the same page, she started dating Tobias. He wouldn’t stand aside this time. He couldn’t. Not after having her. Not after being inside her. Not when he was so close to having all of her.

He felt like he was walking a tightrope. He was afraid of coming on too strong and scaring her or giving her too much space, allowing her to come up with more obstacles to throw in his path.

For four months, he’d been forced to watch her date the most bewildering lineup of guys imaginable. They were the bottom of the barrel, the invisible one’s other girls dismissed without question. Even his friends grumbled about her bad taste and asked him why he allowed it, but Violet was deaf to anyone’s advice. He knew it would be difficult to see her with Tobias. Little did he know, he was just the first, with each guy getting progressively worse until Tucker came along.

Tucker was the only one bold enough to kiss and pet Violet in front of him. The sight made him physically ill. He suspected Tucker did it deliberately to see if he would do anything. He wanted to, but he didn’t want to give Violet any more reason to avoid him as she’d done all summer, and she’d seemed genuinely happy. The only thing that kept him sane was believing she wouldn’t go beyond chaste kisses.

His aggression in sports had increased. He did his best to fill his days with as much activity as possible. At night, he staked his claim in the only way he could. They never had a replay of Violet touching herself or waking up when he was in her room, though he’d done his best to make that happen.

The need to check on her was hammering at him. She said she was with him, but what if she changed her mind again? He dragged his sneakers restlessly across the floor as his heartbeat accelerated. Then he would find a way to change it back again.

The fact that she joined him for lunch was a good sign. It had been a calculated risk to kiss her at the park. She’d been shocked and resistant at first. He kept his kisses light, almost teasing to draw her in. It didn’t take long for her to respond and then came that sweet acquiescence that frayed his control. He had to stop, or he would have taken her right there in the car. Her look of dazed pleasure was one he intended to see often.

Violet wanted him, but she didn’t want to want him. She’d done her best to keep their relationship platonic, but yesterday he broke through. He wasn’t going to let her withdraw. She was just as susceptible to their chemistry as he was. He’d chain her to him with bonds of the flesh and fulfill sexual desires she tried to keep hidden. She so badly wanted to be a good girl, but she wasn’t, just like there was another side to his wholesome facade. He had to destroy Violet’s image of him as her brother and make her see him as a man. He would make her love him , regardless of the title he carried.

Eight minutes left.

Mom finished work in an hour and a half, maybe two hours. Dad had the day off, but mentioned he was helping someone from church and wouldn’t be back until dinner. They would have the house to themselves. Would Violet let him touch her? If she allowed him another chance between her thighs, he wouldn’t waste it.

He lifted his hat to comb his fingers through his hair and touched the back of his neck where she’d left her mark. He took a picture of his back in the mirror last night, mesmerized by the chaotic pattern she’d created, which would fade all too soon. Under other circumstances, he would have loved showing off her brands in the locker room, but he couldn’t afford rumors to spread when he was supposedly single, so he would have to be mindful of such things in the future.

The teacher eyed him but made no comment as he rose and slung his backpack over one shoulder. He was halfway to the door before the bell rang, signaling school was over. Blaine called his name, but he didn’t stop. He briefly debated whether he should go to Violet’s class or wait by the car, but he didn’t want to risk missing her. In the end, he headed to the parking lot.

He leaned against the SUV and searched the crowd for Violet or her friends from her last class. Minutes passed. He was about to go hunting when he saw Violet crossing the parking lot with Lettie. His fears evaporated when Violet made eye contact and gave him a smile. His heart thundered in his ears as she said goodbye to her friend and made her way over.

He waited until she had hopped into the SUV before he climbed behind the steering wheel. Violet stared straight ahead with her hands clasped in her lap. Nervous , he deduced, but he could work with that. She hadn’t run or gone into another bout of denial. She came to him. That’s all that mattered.

The adrenaline rush made it difficult to concentrate. Please may Mom and Dad not be home , he silently chanted. When he pulled into the driveway, he opened the garage to make sure their parent’s cars were missing and said a prayer of thanks when he saw they were gone. He turned toward Violet with a silly grin, but she was already closing the passenger door and heading to the house. He’d spent the drive running all sorts of scenarios through his head and hadn’t said one word to her.

He jogged after Violet and caught a glimpse of her heading down the hallway. He checked to make sure they were truly alone before he stood in the open doorway to her bedroom. She took out her binder and set it on the desk. The sight of her trembling hands reminded him that he needed to tread carefully.

“Vi.”

“Hmm?”

“Look at me.”

She went motionless. The long silence and sudden awkwardness that filled the air made him move quickly. He let his backpack drop to the ground and strode toward her. He clasped her face and gently lifted it.

“Violet.”

Her lashes lifted, revealing her eyes had turned green, a sure sign that she felt conflicted. He leaned down and rested his forehead on hers.

“It’s me, Violet.”

“I know,” she rasped. “But this is so…” Her eyes glistened with tears.

Declarations she wasn’t ready to hear clogged his throat. He swallowed them and murmured, “Do you trust me?”

She blinked, the question clearly taking her by surprise before she nodded. A tear hovered on her lower lashes. He brushed it away before it could fall. Tears had no place here unless it was tears of joy.

“I won’t hurt you,” he promised.

“I know.”

He covered her mouth with his and felt her jolt, but she didn’t try to break away. Encouraged, he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. When her mouth tentatively parted, he immediately accepted the invitation. She tasted of bubble gum and iced tea. She was more addicting than German chocolate cake.

He backed her against the wall, hands sliding from her face into her hair. He angled her head the way he wanted and claimed her mouth.

“Kiss me back,” he breathed.

She was passively allowing him to do what he wanted, but he wanted her active participation. Demanded it, in fact. Violet had matured from the impulsive wild child he met at fourteen, but her true nature still lurked beneath the surface. He didn’t want just the sweet parts of her. He wanted the competitive savage who would do anything to win and the warrior who marked up his back. He wanted the vulnerable, lonely girl who had unabashedly claimed him as her friend the moment they met. And he wanted the dirty girl who had touched herself and masturbated right along with him. She was holding back, and he wasn’t going to allow it.

He brushed kisses along her jaw. “How does this feel?”

She swayed as he sucked on her earlobe.

“Tell me,” he growled and squeezed her hip to beckon her out of her head.

“It feels good,” she said so quietly, he wouldn’t have been able to hear her if he wasn’t pressed against her.

“And this?”

When he put his hand on her breast, she went very still.

“How does this feel?” he pushed.

“Um…”

When his thumb brushed over her nipple, her stifled gasp was music to his ears.

“How does this make you feel, Vi?”

“Hot,” she said in a strangled tone.

“And this?”

He placed a wet kiss on her neck and felt her body vibrating under his hands.

“Makes me weak,” she whispered.

That’s all he needed to know. He stepped back. Immediately, her nerves came back, but he didn’t give her time to get her defenses in place. He crouched and hoisted her over his shoulder.

“Jesse?”

He didn’t answer her because it was taking all his discipline not to toss her on the floor and sink himself inside her.

He closed her door to the bathroom. If their parents came home and saw his bedroom door closed, they wouldn’t think anything of it. If they went to Violet’s room and saw the bathroom door closed, they would assume she was in there. It would buy them a few minutes to get themselves situated if they needed it. Also, he wanted her in his bed. Tonight, he would go to sleep not just with the memories of what they were about to do, but the physical proof soaked in his sheets. He couldn’t wait.

He set her on the edge of his bed. She looked up at him, clearly unsure, but battling it back for him. Humbled, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. When she closed her eyes and kept her face turned up to him like a flower seeking the sun, his heart melted. He ignored the demands of his body as he stroked her rigid back and kissed every inch of her face until she was completely relaxed.

“Arms up,” he said quietly.

Her eyelids lifted. Green eyes surveyed him for a moment before she obeyed. The blast of triumph that ripped through him caused his hands to shake. He grasped the bottom of her shirt and lifted it, uncovering every exquisite inch of her. She held his gaze for a moment before she blushed and raised her hands to cover her breasts, encased in baby blue satin.

“No, don’t do that,” he admonished, twining their fingers together and holding her arms wide so he could take her in.

“Jesse!” she protested, twisting and hunching in an attempt to hide her bare upper half.

He couldn’t believe she was self-conscious about her body. She was gorgeous.

“I don’t think,” she began.

To squash her nerves and rising panic, he flattened her on the bed and took her mouth to stop the words he didn’t want to hear. To his surprise, she kissed him back with a fervor that made his dick throb. She was channeling her anxiety into sexual aggression, which was just fine with him. But he underestimated the effect her enthusiasm had on him. She was setting him alight! He detached their mouths and moved down her body so he could retain some semblance of control. He wanted this to last, and he was determined to examine her body.

He kissed his way down her neck, inhaling her heavenly scent. As his tongue traced her collarbone, she quivered and then went lax beneath him. Her breasts were so sensitive, even lightly nuzzling them made her squirm and gasp. When he slid even further down, hands smoothing along her sides, he suddenly stopped and buried his face against her quivering stomach, unable to believe this was really happening.

Her fingers sank into his hair. “Jesse?”

Emotion swelled in his chest, making his eyes sting. He lifted his head and looked up the length of her body. As their eyes met, hers flared before her expression softened. She didn’t say a word as she stroked his cheek. Time stalled as their spirits realigned with one another. This was meant to be. Did she feel the rightness of it? There was just him and her. It wasn’t just sex, though desire plagued him night and day. Their connection was magnetic, an unstoppable force. She was the moon, and he was the ocean, obeying her push and pull—forcing him to withdraw or flood the shore. He was defenseless against her, a slave to the bond that snapped into place at fourteen. She was everything to him, but did she feel the same? He turned his head and kissed her palm. He would show her how much she meant to him; how much he adored her. No one would ever love her more than he did. It was time to prove it.

He continued his reverent exploration. He gripped her tiny waist as his lips dragged over the silky skin of her stomach before tracing her hipbones with his tongue. When he undid the button of her jeans and pulled down the zipper, she stopped breathing. Discovering she wore matching underwear made his mouth water. He took off her shoes and socks and when he tugged on her pants, Violet hesitated before she lifted her ass, allowing him to drag them off.

He knelt at the foot of the bed with Violet splayed out before him, clad in just a bra and panties. He saw her naked yesterday, but he hadn’t been able to admire her. Now, he did.

God took his time with her. Her face alone was portrait-worthy, but her body surpassed those he’d seen in movies, magazines, or TV. Nothing compared to flesh and blood. She had breasts that he now knew fit perfectly in his hand, a small waist, wide hips, and thighs that some guys would have labeled as too thick, but he loved them. They were feminine, muscular, and strong. Her skin was still tan from the summer.

As his hand brushed over her satin covered mound, she clamped her thighs together. His lips quirked as he kissed the tops of her thighs to coax them to part while he massaged her calves.

He’d been fantasizing about this for over a year. After jacking off with her underwear and trying to lap up what she left behind, he could now partake directly from the source. He intended to go slow. To savor and seduce, but the smell of her arousal made him salivate.

“Come on, baby. Spread your legs for me. I need to taste you,” he said hoarsely.

“Taste what ?” Violet demanded, bracing herself on her elbows to gawk at him.

“You liked my fingers in you?”

She bit her lip when his thumb dipped between her thighs.

“Did you?” he demanded

“Yes.”

“You’re going to like my mouth on you even more.”

“ What? No way!”

He gripped her waist to stop her from scooting up in bed. “It’ll be good, I promise.”

“That’s gross! Why would you even want to…? My answer’s no!”

When she started to struggle, his shaky control snapped. He yanked the drenched underwear down and off. When he pried her legs apart, she sat up, her cheeks flushed with mortification and anger.

“Jesse, don’t you dare?—”

Her voice cut out as he put his mouth on her. The vibrant taste of her burst on his tongue. Stealing her underwear versus being between her thighs was like someone describing what a dish tasted like rather than sampling it himself. There was no comparison, and he was starved. He ignored her panicked voice and fluttering hands that pushed at his head and smacked his shoulders. He wasn’t going anywhere.

He’d never done this before, so it took him a while to figure out what he was doing, but he figured he was on the right track when she let out a strangled shriek and fell back on the bed.

“Oh my God, please stop,” she begged.

He had no intention of stopping, not when he was finally drinking nectar straight from her, as God had intended. He was mesmerized by the rolling movements of her body and loved the tortured, helpless sounds she made. He drowned himself in her and rode her restless hips.

Violet threatened, begged, then sobbed as she yanked at his sheets, lost in the throes. He watched her fight her orgasm and him, but in the end, had no choice but to surrender. When she climaxed, her piercing scream hurt his eardrums. When her slick walls contracted, he slid his finger in to give her pussy something to grip onto.

When her orgasm passed, she tried to turn on her side to get away from his mouth and pushed at him with weak, shaky hands.

“Please, Jesse. I can’t take anymore.”

“I’m almost done,” he soothed.

He finally stopped not because he was satisfied, but because he was ready to burst. He shot to his feet, shucked his shirt and shoved down his underwear and jeans. He didn’t have the patience to kick off his shoes or step out of his pants but leaned forward and slid inside her. Violet moaned as he penetrated her tight channel. Her eyes flashed open as he kissed her, forcing her to taste herself. She tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her.

“You’re perfect,” he panted. “The best thing I’ve ever tasted. I’ll never get enough.”

She bared her teeth as he sheathed himself.

“How does it feel to have me inside you?” he said harshly.

“Incredible,” she breathed, wrapping her arms and legs around him, taking him even deeper and running her hands over him.

He jerked as if she’d put her mouth on his cock. “Vi, don’t...”

Eyelashes wet from tears she’d wept in ecstasy, lifted as she glared at him. “So, you can touch me, but I can’t touch you?”

“I’m going to come.”

She licked his lip. “So, come.”

That’s all it took. He spilled at her command, just from the wonder of being inside her. He slumped on top of her and buried his face in his sheets, groaning that he hadn’t lasted. But it was difficult to be truly disappointed with Violet beneath him and her fingertips caressing his skin.

“I didn’t know,” she whispered.

“Know what?” he muttered.

“That people put their mouths…”

As her inner muscles fluttered around his dick, he raised his head to look down at her. Her eyes were glassy from her orgasm and despite all they’d done, she still looked a little embarrassed.

“You didn’t know about oral sex?”

She shook her head, eyes wide.

“We’re gonna do it often,” he stated, brushing his lips over hers.

“We are?”

Detecting the eagerness she tried to conceal, his mouth curved. “Yeah.” When she squirmed, he raised a brow. “Want me to do it again?”

Her cheeks bloomed with color. “No!” she said adamantly, but her body said otherwise.

Violet wasn’t a good girl, thank God. His dick twitched with renewed life.

“Jesse.”

Her tone warned him before he saw the uncertainty creeping back.

“I don’t know if we should…”

“Do you like what I do to you?” he interrupted.

She blinked. “I…”

“It’s a yes or no answer.”

When her eyes slid away, his heart stopped.

“Violet.” He cupped her cheek to get her attention. “Tell me you like what I do to you.”

“I do, but…”

He thought they were of one mind, but she was slipping away while he was still inside her. How could she not realize what was between them was a gift, not a curse? He instinctively knew it would never be like this with anyone else. She was it for him. Why didn’t she realize that? Terror that he would lose her stoked the ashes of his temper.

“We don’t have to make any decisions right now or share what’s happening between us. We have time to explore each other and just be.” He searched her eyes. “Have you felt this way with anyone else?”

She shook her head. The relief that passed through him made him drop his forehead on hers. He wasn’t alone in this. She may not be ready to commit to forever, but she was willing to let him in. For now, that’s all that mattered. Everything would fall into place. He would reel her in so gently, she wouldn’t realize she’d been caught until it was too late.

“What we have is special, once in a lifetime. It would be a crime to ignore it.”

Her vulnerable expression altered, became impish. “Crime?”

He tugged on her bra, so her breast popped out. “A serious crime.”

He was done talking about this. There were far more important things to do, like pay homage to her neglected breasts. Her expressive face was such a turn on. She couldn’t conceal her reaction to what he was doing to her. He hardened inside of her and soon, was grinding against her.

“Kiss me,” he ordered.

She pressed her mouth to his. At his gruff encouragement, she grew bolder and more confident. When her tongue darted into his mouth, he groaned.

“Yes, that’s what I want. Give it to me.”

This time, she was with him every step of the way. The air was permeated with the smell of sweat, sex, and her unique blend of violets and rose. She quickly picked up his rhythm. He raised his head to look down at her. Her hair was spread over his sheets, she was clutching at him with both hands, and her breasts were bouncing with each thrust. Her eyes were bleeding back to hazel. She was flushed with passion. She held on to him as if she were afraid of being tossed into the abyss. She stared at him with a mixture of fear, wonder, and need. He got off on all of it.

When he felt himself getting close, he rubbed her clitoris, wanting her to come with him.

“Tell me how this feels,” he said against her lips.

Her eyes fluttered shut. “It feels…” She flinched and clutched at his biceps as her hips bucked against his hand. “Like I’ll die if I don’t… Oh, God. Jesse .”

Saying his name in that thready tone made him giddy. “Say it again.”

“Oh my God.”

“My name,” he growled and stopped his ministrations so she would give him what he wanted.

Her eyes opened, stormy green chasing away the hazel. “Jesse.”

“Jesse, what?” He couldn’t resist teasing her when he was between her legs and his fingers were slipping through honey that was all for him.

“I want…”

She didn’t bother finishing her sentence but brushed his hand aside and took over the motion he’d been doing.

He was stunned for a moment as one of his fantasies materialized right before his eyes. “That’s my girl. Make yourself come.”

“Jesse,” she breathed before she convulsed.

He ground against that bundle of nerves, prolonging her climax as she wrapped her arms around him and shuddered like a survivor being rescued from a shipwreck. This time, it took him longer to come. He set a decent pace and when he finally orgasmed, he was out of breath and immensely pleased. He collapsed on top of her, but made sure to move his top half to the side so he wouldn’t smother her.

He was sated to his bones, and a had a feeling that Violet was finally on the same wavelength. She was completely relaxed beneath him, the physical exertion calming her overactive mind.

A few minutes passed before he reluctantly peered at the clock. Damn it. He wished they could stay like this for days, but life was still chugging along, propelling them forward.

When he forced himself up and knelt on the bed, Violet gave him a quizzical look, which turned indignant when he unceremoniously spread her legs.

“Jesse!”

Her mortified tone made him grin, but his eyes were on his semen that spilled from her. Prompted by some primitive instinct, he pushed it back in and, when it poured out again, spread it over her skin. He wanted her covered in him. Thankfully, she didn’t fight it. She watched him from beneath half lowered lids until he regretfully noticed the time again.

“If we’re lucky, we have about ten minutes before Mom comes home,” he announced.

“What?”

He wasn’t surprised when she jackknifed up and ran to the bathroom. He finally kicked off his clothes and stretched out on the bed. He considered joining Violet in the shower, but had a feeling she wouldn’t like that. He closed his eyes and drifted with a smile on his face. His dreams were finally coming true.