Page 6

FIVE

IMOGEN

I must have fallen asleep because I jump with a start when a loud voice yells, “Hey, baby, the cavalry has arrived.”

I blink furiously against the sudden light that illuminates the room to find Jesse carrying a box of pizza and two root beers, grinning cheekily from the open door.

“Jesse.” I blink in confusion and as he drops down beside me on the bed, he balances the beers on the box and grins. “I brought the party to you.”

“I can see that.”

His cheeky wink drags a smile out of me and as I take one of the beers, I’m grateful for the cool shot of regeneration it gives me.

“Cassie told me what happened. You should be more careful, baby.”

“I know.”

He hands me a slice of pizza as he crams one into his mouth.

“You really didn’t have to do this.” I remind him and he shrugs.

“I wanted to. Why would I prefer spending time with the guys when I have you waiting for me?”

He grins and my heart melts because when Jesse wants to, he can turn on the cheeky charm and discard all of my reservations in a heartbeat.

He flicks the remote and the movie I was watching bursts into life on the screen and he scoots up the bed and leans against the pillows, resting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close.

“This is nice.” He whispers as he drops a light kiss on my head and as he reaches for another slice of pizza, I kind of admit it is.

Jesse is easy going at the best of times and this is when he shines. I decide to use this to my advantage and enquire, “What did you do today?”

His easy response chases away my doubts. “Gym, then I caught up on my overdue essay and shot some pool with Frankie and the guys.”

He peers at me with concern. “I heard about your ankle. That sucks.”

“It’s fine.” I snuggle into his side, strangely loving this situation. It feels good, almost natural and, if I’m honest, was always what I envisioned a relationship to be like.

The movie distracts my attention and we eat in silence, absorbed in the story, enjoying a peaceful night together with none of the distractions of our friends.

If anything, it makes me like him more because there is no pressure. We are away from curious eyes, and I’m certain that wouldn’t be the case at the party tonight.

Jesse is one of the popular Elusive guys. They live in a house together, along with Cassie, Jack, Siri, and Luca, and are considered the top dogs at Rockwell. Summer is Frankie’s sister and therefore we were included in their exclusive club and Jesse is one of the main players of that.

Many girls covet my place by his side and it’s only now I see the attraction.

When he’s relaxed, Jesse is impossible to ignore.

He is handsome with his super fit body and blondish colored hair.

His eyes mesmerize and his easy smile is sexy as hell.

Any girl would kill to be where I am now, and I must remember that.

When Jesse plays himself, there really is no other competition, but it’s the secretive edge to him that has my guard up.

The movie ends, and he yawns loudly. “I never saw that twist coming.” He refers to the thriller we just watched, and I nod. “Same. I loved it, and I never suspected for one minute the mother did it.”

“Same, although where I come from, moms aren’t all apple pie.”

“In what way?”

I’m so curious about Jesse’s hometown because, on face value, they have a strict upbringing there and iron clad morals.

Jesse is expected to marry a local girl who will be a virgin and set up a farm for the good of the community.

I just can’t see that happening, especially knowing he was such a man whore before I arrived.

He tugs me a little closer and says sadly, “Bolder Rock isn’t a place listed on any tourist map, and if it were, it would come with a warning attached.”

“What’s so bad about it?” I keep my voice low because this is the most he’s spoken about his hometown and I don’t want him to change the subject.

“You wouldn’t be free there, Imogen.”

His voice is loaded with regret and he sighs heavily. “Women are controlled and when they reach eighteen, they are gifted to a family their father considers respectful.”

“Gifted!” I sit up, my eyes wide and Jesse surprises me by reaching up and holding his hand flat against my face, peering into my eyes and saying softly, “You are so pretty, Imogen. You would be sought after in Bolder Rock.”

“Jesse, it sounds awful.”

I can’t comprehend a life that holds such disregard for women’s emotions.

A flicker of pain lights his expression and he whispers almost to himself while staring into my eyes. “My family is considered respectable. My father works in the offices of the town president.”

“I don’t understand. What is a town president?”

His thumb drags against my cheek as he whispers, “The appointed head of the chamber of business. The machine that drives our existence. Every family in the town has an obligation to pay into the joint wealth. If we farm the land, the profits of any sales out of town are gifted to the chamber. The women make jams, sew clothing and make jewelry and sell it at markets and online. Once again, any profits are deposited into the chamber’s bank account. ”

“But why?”

I can’t comprehend how that would work and he shrugs.

“There is one bank account in town and it’s the Chambers.

The president accepts all the income into it and pays each family the same monthly wage regardless of who contributes the most or least. We are given enough to exist on, pay the bills, groceries, and any small items we require. The town provides what else we need.”

“How?”

I’m fascinated by this and he sighs. “If we need money for, say, a new car, or horse, animals, or repairs, we go before a committee where they decide whether we are eligible for the money. It’s a controlled community to keep sin from our door and subsequently our freedom is also under scrutiny.”

“I’m sorry, Jesse, it sounds–” my words falter because I don’t have the right ones to describe how awful that place is and he smiles.

“It’s okay. It’s all I’ve ever known until I came here and met the guys.

It opened my eyes and made me realize I want more.

I don’t want to be controlled, Imogen. I will make my own way in life through my choices, not theirs. ”

“I understand that, Jesse. What will you do?”

He continues to stroke my face and leans forward, his lips resting against mine, and whispers, “I’m not going back. Frankie has assured me of a job with him and I’m taking him up on the offer.”

“What job?” My breathing comes faster as Jesse’s touch sends sparks through my body and he brushes his lips against mine and whispers huskily, “It’s best you stop your questions there, Imogen, because you may not like the answer your receive.”

Before I can process that, his lips caress mine softly, almost leisurely, creating something inside me I never knew was there. I forget about Mr. Bellingham, I forget that I’m uncertain about Jesse. All I can think of is that this isn’t enough.

I like it. I want more and I am so ready to dive into the deep end and see if I can swim or not.

Jesse groans against my lips and presses in deeper, his tongue searching for mine as he claims it in a delicious dance inside my mouth.

His hand drops and fists my hair and as he deepens the kiss, I tremble inside.

I shift closer and his other hand reaches underneath my top and as it connects with my bare skin, I moan into his mouth, his fingers rough against my soft skin, applying pressure as his thumb searches for my aching nipple.

He cups my breast in his hand and rolls the nipple with his thumb and as I return the favor, I push his t-shirt upward, my fingers caressing the hard muscles of his taut body.

He shifts and presses me further down onto the mattress, his hands wandering, lifting the fabric away from my skin, exploring with a lazy urgency that tells me his intentions far more than words.

My pussy is throbbing as his hand moves lower and slips inside my sweatpants, tugging them down, his fingers inching inside my panties, brushing against my throbbing clit.

“Jesse, I–”

He kisses my neck, sucking the soft skin and as his finger dives inside me, I moan his name, “Jesse, oh God.”

I arch my body toward him as he pulls down his jeans, just enough to free his hard cock that lies rigid against my stomach.

It doesn’t escape me that we are still fully dressed, only our pants pushed down enough to offer unrestricted access to something I have yet to experience.

His low groan tells me he wants this as much as I do, and as his cock presses against my aching pussy, he whispers, “Wait a minute.”

I hear rustling and with one hand he wraps his cock and then it suddenly dawns on me what his intentions are.

“Jesse, I’m–”

It’s as if realization is an icy bucket of water drenching my libido as I face up to the fact this is going way too fast and as he presses against my pussy, I shake my head, “I don’t–”

“Relax, baby.” He kisses away my concerns and I shift under him, my hands pushing against his chest.

“No, I–”

“It’s okay, baby, this is what we both want. It will bring us closer.”

“No, I, um–”

My words fade into a scream as that cold bucket of water comes to life and icy water rains down on Jesse’s parade, courtesy of the sprinklers.

“What the fuck!”

Jesse pulls back as the heavens open above us and I take my chance and push him away, pulling up my sweatpants and swinging my legs to the side of the bed.

“What’s happening?”

Jesse dives to the window and says in disbelief, “It appears that Willow Tree House is being evacuated.”

I hear screams and hobble to the window, witnessing my fellow house members diving through the front door out into the yard in various states of undress.

Jesse grasps my hand.

“There must be a fire. Come on.”

As we attempt to leave, my ankle holds me back and Jesse yells, “We should get a move on! This place could go up like a rocket.”

“I’m trying.” Tears stream down my face as the pain hits me from all angles and, with an impatient groan, Jesse slings me over his shoulder and heads to the staircase.

As we spill out into the night air, I notice the curious glances thrown our way and as Jesse sets me down, several teachers run toward us, Principal Constable leading the charge.

“What’s happening?” She asks and one of the girls yells, “The sprinklers activated, but I don’t see any fire.”

“I’ll call for the fire department.” The principal says and as she dials the number, Jesse whispers, “I should get out of here. We don’t want her asking questions about why I was in there.”

He winks and then presses his lips to mine and whispers, “We have unfinished business. I’ll arrange a different place so we’re not disturbed next time.”

He pulls away and with a devilish wink, he slides into the shadows toward The Elusive House, leaving me wondering what the hell just happened.