Ok so I sat and debated for like an hour over whether or not I would post this or re-write it lol! Honestly I'm not happy with the last half, it was hard to write because I don't normally write stuff like this, but I've decided to leave it because A) Its important for the rest of the story and B) I've already re-written it several times and I can't be bothered doing it again!

Ok now before you read please remember that this story is rated M and that rating definitely applies for this chapter! Things are gonna start getting a little angsty, I'm sorry but it has to happen okay? Don't hate me! I promise things are going to get better! :)

And thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews! I'm so thankful that you are all still enjoying reading this! You guys are simply amazing!

Chapter 11: Dirty Dancing

Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you

Jackson stood at the bar, a glass of scotch in his hand. He was listening to one of April's cousins talk about his job as an accountant, well, truthfully, he wasn't really paying much attention to the guy. Jackson's attention was focused on someone else entirely, a certain red headed surgeon he couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of.

He watched her across the barn, she was standing with her sisters, talking to some of Karen and Joe's friends. Jackson watched as April laughed at something Kimmie said, her face lighting up and a huge smile spreading across her lips.

You should see what's underneath, April's words from earlier rung through his head and his gut clenched at the not-so-decent thoughts that flashed through his mind. How the fuck was he supposed to get through tonight after hearing her say something like that?

"Jackson?" April's cousin – Liam – tapped Jackson on the shoulder, trying to get his attention. "Are you alright, man?"

Jackson cleared his throat, forcing his eyes away from April and turning to look at the guy beside him. "Sorry," he mumbled, taking a sip from his scotch. "What were you saying?"

Meanwhile, April was having a wonderful time talking with all her relatives. She was standing with her sisters, making polite conversation with some old family friends. She held a glass of champagne, sipping on the drink as she listened to the older couple talk about their grandchildren and their home back in San Diego.

Every now and then April's attention would drift over to the bar, her eyes settling on the handsome plastic surgeon. Jackson was talking to Liam, one of April's cousins from England, and April couldn't help but smile as Jackson nodded along with whatever Liam was saying, a polite smile on his lips.

She continued to watch him, letting her eyes skim over his body and taking in the view of him in that tux. She wondered how any woman was supposed to control themselves when he wore something like that. Her gaze slowly skimmed over him, taking in the way the suit clung to his body, the way it hugged his muscular form almost perfectly.

She looked back up at his face, blushing when she saw him watching her. He'd caught her staring, a smirk slowly creeping across his his pretty face. April gave him a small wave and flashed him a smile, a faint blush in her cheeks.

She jumped when Alice nudged her, trying to get April's attention. "Stop doing that," Alice scolded, giving April a look.

"Doing what?" April forced herself to look away from Jackson, focusing on her sister.

Alice huffed, rolling her eyes. "You're looking at him like you're about to go over there, rip that suit off of his body and fuck him right there in the middle of the barn." Her voice was a quiet whisper, only loud enough for April to hear.

Her cheeks turned an even darker shade of red, her eyes widening at her sisters words. "Alice!" she gasped, horrified.

"What?" Alice shrugged, taking a sip from her champagne. "Don't pretend like you didn't consider the idea, I mean look at him," Alice glanced over at Jackson. "He looks like some kind of Greek God or something. I'm pretty sure every straight woman at this party is thinking about doing it, too."

April shook her head, inhaling a breath. "I wasn't looking at him like that," she replied, clearing her throat.

The younger Kepner gave April a knowing look. "Well if it makes you feel better," Alice murmured, smirking at her sister. "He can't seem to keep his eyes off of you either." Alice winked, before excusing herself to go and find her husband.

April waited a few minutes before heading outside, deciding she wanted to get some fresh air. The garden outside the barn was lit up in thousands of lights, making it look like something out of a picture book. April smiled, thinking how much effort her parents had put into planning everything.

"Apple!" Sam's booming voice sounded from across the yard and April grinned at the sight of her childhood friend. Sam was talking to some of her mothers co-workers and she watched as he excused himself, coming over to give April a giant hug.

"You look amazing," he commented, taking a step back.

"Thanks!" April smiled up at him and even she had to admit that Sam looked good tonight. He was wearing a pair of black pants and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had on a firm fitting vest, which did nothing to hide the fact that he was well built underneath the layer of clothes. April looked away, flushing when she realized how close Sam was to her, his hands resting on top of her bare shoulders.

April had always had a crush on Sam, ever since they were teenagers and he'd kissed her at one of Alice's parties. They'd been playing spin-the-bottle and when it was April's turn the bottle had landed on him, so of course they'd had to kiss for one whole minute, in front of everyone. April could still remember it, remember how good his lips had tasted, remember the way her belly did flip-flops when his hand touched her cheek, when his tongue glided against hers.

It had been her first kiss and her feelings towards Sam seemed to change after that. She stopped seeing him as her goofy best friend and she started seeing him as the handsome guy who'd kissed her, the guy she found herself wanting to kiss again. She never told him how she felt though, she knew he wouldn't have returned her feelings. Sam was one of the best looking guys at school, he was popular and all the girls wanted him. There was no way he would have wanted to go out with a girl like her.

"So where's the boyfriend?" Sam asked, his jaw hardening as he took a sip from his glass of wine.

April stepped back, running a hand over the front of her dress. "He's inside," she told him, smiling as Sam guided them over to a vacant seat at the back of the garden. They sat down on a small garden bench, underneath a tree filled with hundreds of pretty lights. April took a moment to appreciate the view of her parents yard, it looked magical all lit up like this.

"Jackson seems like a good guy," Sam pointed out, leaning forward on the seat. "You really like him?"

April nodded, inhaling a breath and looking over at the man sitting next to her. "I do," she breathed. "I like him a lot."

The corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. "I guess I'm too late then," he told her, looking away and bringing his glass to his lips for another drink.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, confused.

He didn't look at her, his gaze downcast. "It's nothing," he mumbled. "Just forget I said anything." He forced a smile on his face and finally turned his head to look at her. "You really do look stunning tonight," Sam complimented. "You've changed so much since high school."

She laughed, nodding in agreement. "I'm not the ugly duckling any more," she said, sighing at the memory of her old self. She'd never been very pretty growing up, puberty hadn't been kind to her. She'd had braces through high school and she'd been flat chested until her late teenage years. She was chubby with bad acne and most of the kids at school had teased her because she wore glasses, calling her names like 'ugly duckling' and 'ducky'. The memories of her high school years had never been pleasant.

"You were never an ugly duckling," Sam told her, trying to make her feel better.

April chuckled, shaking her head. "You have to say that because you were my friend," she corrected him. "But lets face it, I wasn't exactly a beauty queen."

He shrugged. "I thought you were beautiful."

April rolled her eyes at his comment. "Please, you were too busy chasing after Sandra Wilson to notice me."

He groaned, running a hand over his face. "I can't believe I dated that girl," he replied. "She was insane!"

Sandra Wilson had been Sam's girlfriend through most of high school. She had been the most popular girl at school, but she'd also been April's worst enemy. The popular cheerleader had always teased and bullied April, making April's high school years a living hell. April never understood what Sam had seen in her, she was pretty but her personality had been terrible.

"What happened to her?" April asked.

Sam shrugged. "I dunno. I broke up with her after high school, last I heard she'd dropped out of college and was living in Portland, a single mom with two kids."

April and Sam drifted into an easy conversation, catching up on all the time they'd missed together. April had to admit that it was nice spending time with her old friend, it had been ages since she'd spoken with him like this and it brought back lots of fond memories.

. . .

Jackson walked out of the barn a short while later, a smile on his face as he slipped his hands into his pants pockets, his eyes searching the yard for April. It had been a while since he'd last seen her and he wondered if maybe she'd come outside. Jackson had spent the last half an hour being introduced to all of Karen's family and friends. Karen had dragged him around the barn, showing him off to all of her guests. Jackson had waited until April's mother wasn't looking before quickly disappearing out of the barn, eager to try and find his date.

Jackson's smile instantly disappeared when he caught sight of her. April was seated on a bench underneath one of the giant oak trees, her attention focused on the man sitting next to her. Jackson stopped in his tracks, taking in the sight of April and her douchebag friend. They were sitting side by side, her body touching his. Jackson watched as April's face lit up, a smile spreading across her lips as she listened to whatever the guy was telling her, her attention completely focused on him.

An unpleasant feeling settled inside Jackson's gut, making his entire body tense uncomfortably. Jackson wasn't the kind of guy who got jealous, he'd never been the caveman type, but seeing April sitting there, watching the way she clung to every word the douchebag was saying, it stirred something inside of him, a rush jealousy that seemed to consume every fibre of his being.

Jackson watched the way April laughed at something he said, the way her eyes lit up and her head fell back as she laughed out loud. She placed a hand on his arm, an action that was probably meant to be an innocent, friendly touch, but did nothing to ease Jackson's jealousy. He watched the way her male friend looked at her, watched the way his gaze skimmed over April's body when she wasn't looking.

Jackson swallowed, his jaw tightening and his gut clenching with possessiveness. The word mine flashed through his mind and he couldn't stop himself from going over there, eager to put a stop to their moment.

April looked up as Jackson approached, smiling at the sight of her best friend. "Hey," Jackson greeted, clearing his throat. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

She shook her head and got to her feet, feeling a pang of guilt pass through her when she realized how long she'd been gone from the party. "Sam and I were just talking about high school," she explained, looking between her two best friends. "We lost track of time."

"Hey, man," Sam greeted, standing up and offering Jackson his hand to shake.

Jackson hesitated for a moment before taking hold of his hand. "Hey," he mumbled, sounding less than enthusiastic. Jackson pulled his hand away almost instantly, clearing his throat and stepping towards April, letting his arm snake around her waist. "Your sisters are looking for you," he told her, smiling down at the petite redhead. It was a lie, no one was looking for her, he just needed an excuse to get April away from the jackass.

"Yeah, I should probably get back inside," April replied. "It was nice talking to you, Sam."

Sam smiled at her, a smile that made Jackson want to punch his teeth out. "Maybe you could save a dance for me later?" he asked, winking suggestively.

April laughed, turning away. "We'll see," she replied, a light blush covering her cheeks.

They walked away, Jackson exhaling the breath he'd been holding. He took hold of April's hand, sighing in relief as her fingers threaded through his, her small hand clasping onto his much bigger one. "He's in love with you," Jackson pointed out, once Sam was out of earshot.

April laughed his comment off. "No, he's not," she replied, awkwardly. "Sam's just a friend. He's never liked me like that."

"Did you like him like that?" Jackson asked, interested to know what April's feelings were towards the guy.

"It doesn't matter," she muttered. "Sam was the popular guy at school, every girl wanted him. He was my friend but he didn't notice me. I wasn't the sort of girl that boys like him wanted to date."

Jackson swallowed the lump in his throat, looking down at her as they slowly made their way back to the party. "So you did like him?" he enquired, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach.

April shrugged, looking down at the ground. "He was my first kiss," she confessed, licking her lips. "I guess I kinda had a crush on him."

Jackson sucked in a breath, her words making his gut tighten with jealousy. "Your first kiss?" he repeated. The idea of April's first kiss being with that asshole was unnerving and Jackson found himself disliking her friend even more.

"It was years ago and it didn't mean anything," April replied, clearing her throat and plastering a smile on her face. "Not to him anyway."

. . . .

"Could I please have everyone's attention?" Joe Kepner's voice boomed throughout the barn as he talked into the microphone. He was standing on the stage, a glass of champagne in his hand. "I'd like to say a few words," he murmured, sounding a little nervous.

Everyone turned to look at him, the crowded barn instantly turning silent. April stood next to Jackson, his arm draped around her, holding her against his side. She could feel the heat of his body radiating through her and she found it hard to focus on anything other than the feel of her body pressing into his. His breath was warm against the bare skin of her shoulder and the familiar scent of his cologne did nothing to help her focus. He seemed to captivate all of her senses, her body shivering as she let herself relax against him, taking a small sip from her champagne.

"First I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight, it means so much to Karen and I." April smiled as her dad spoke awkwardly into the microphone, he'd never been good at public speeches. "We're excited that we're able to share this night with you all." He smiled and everyone clapped in response.

He continued, clearing his throat. "It's been 40 years since I married Karen, the woman of my dreams. 40 years since I put on a suit and stood at the altar and watched the most beautiful woman in the world walk down the isle." April's heart melted with his words, tears forming behind her eyes.

Joe looked down, clearing his throat again and moving his weight from one foot to the other. "Karen and I have been together since high school. We got married as soon as we graduated. Most people thought we got married too soon, but I knew the second I laid eyes on her that she was the woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I fell in love with everything about her, her eyes, her smile, the sound of her voice. She's the most beautiful woman in the world."

April swallowed the dry lump in her throat, a tear falling down her cheek as she listened to her father talk about her mother. "The 40 years we've been together have been the best years of my life. She has given me four beautiful daughters; Libby, April, Kimmie and Alice, you have all grown into such amazing young women, you're mother and I are so proud of you."

Joe smiled adoringly at his daughters, his eyes red with tears of happiness. "I look at my daughters and I see the woman I fell in love with, the woman who has loved me through everything. Karen, you've made be the happiest man in the world and I promise to spend the next 40 years reminding you of that." He held his glass up, a teary-eyed smile on his face. "To Karen," he toasted.

Everyone toasted and cheered and April wiped the tears from her eyes, watching as her father walked off the stage, pulling her mother into a tight hug. The band on stage started playing and the song I've Had The Time Of My Life sounded throughout the crowded barn. April watched as her dad guided her mother onto the dance floor, pulling her into his arms as they slowly danced to the music.

"They love each other so much," April breathed, watching her parents in awe.

Jackson smiled down at her. "Would you care to dance?" he asked, his voice hoarse as he offered her his hand.

She didn't think before placing her hand in his, letting Jackson guide her over to the dance floor. He stopped and tugged her towards him, April's body melting perfectly into his. His hand remained wrapped around hers as his other settled over her waist, his fingers splayed out over the curve of her hip. April sighed, relaxing into him and letting her head rest against his firm chest. She closed her eyes, her hand gripping onto his upper arm as they swayed in time to the music.

Nothing was said between them as they both lost themselves in the moment together. "I've had the time of my life, no I never felt this way before." April grinned as Jackson softly sung the words into her ear. "Yes, I swear it's the truth, and I owe it all to you." He spun her around, the action catching April by surprise, a breathless laugh falling from her lips.

He pulled her back into him again, Jackson's body warm and firm against hers and she marvelled at how good this felt, how right this was. His hand moved lower on her waist, caressing her over the dress. April sighed, feeling a swirl of desire settling inside her belly, her body coming alive in his arms. They were so close, she could feel his breath against her skin, feel the muscles of his biceps flex under her touch. April's grip on his hand tightened as she inhaled a deep breath, letting his familiar scent consume her.

"April," he breathed out her name. The song had finished, drifting into a more upbeat tune. April made no effort to move, she wasn't ready for this moment to end just yet. She sighed as Jackson grasped her waist with both his hands, shivering when she felt him plant a soft kiss on the top of her head.

She opened her eyes, lifting her head and looking up at him, his face only a few inches from hers. April licked her lips, letting her gaze flicker down to his mouth, her hands reaching out to grasp the collar of his shirt, gently tugging him down towards her. The kiss was brief, his lips barely scraping against hers before he pulled away. April watched him gulp, his eyes darkening, his fingers digging into the sides of her waist.

"Can I cut in?" Sam asked, coming to interrupt their moment. April cleared her throat, blinking a few times as she pulled her eyes away from Jackson, turning to look at her oldest friend. The cowboy grinned down at her, holding his hand out as an invitation.

"Sure," April replied, her voice raspy as she let go of Jackson.

Jackson watched as Sam guided her away, pulling April into his arms. A new song started to play, this one much slower and more romantic than the other. Jackson's jaw tightened, his stomach twisting with jealousy as he watched his date dance with another man.

He turned on his heel, heading straight over to the bar and ordering himself a scotch. He only waited a couple of minutes before the barman poured out his drink, pushing the glass in front of him. Jackson took a long drink, the alcohol going so easily down his dry throat. He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling a breath before turning back around, his gaze instantly settling on April.

She really did look stunning tonight. It seemed as though the dress was made for her, hugging her body perfectly and showing off all of her alluring curves. Her hair was pulled back into a fancy up-do, highlighting her bare neck and creamy shoulders. His grip on the glass tightened, his gaze travelling over her body as he suppressed the urge to go over there, throw her over his shoulder and carry her out of the barn.

Jackson watched as April smiled up at her friend, her hand sitting on his shoulder. Jackson watched uncomfortably as Sam leaned down towards her, whispering something in her ear and causing April to laugh in response. Jackson took another drink, finishing what was left in his glass and quickly turning around to order another, sighing in relief when the bartender pushed a fresh drink in front of him.

Jackson took a few sips, watching as Sam's hand moved across April's lower back, settling dangerously low on her waist. The side of Sam's face was pressed against hers, their bodies barely an inch apart. A rush of hot, jealous rage ripped through Jackson's body, this time more intense than the last. Jackson's jaw tightened, his body clenching with discomfort as he watched April with the other man, watched how comfortable and relaxed she was in his arms.

He didn't like the idea of anyone else touching her, least of all him. Knowing that April had once harvested feelings towards her old friend did nothing to ease Jackson's growing discomfort. The thought of her first kiss being with him was unnerving and he found himself wanting to claim her, wanting to make sure that everyone knew April was his now.

The song seemed to go on forever and after a few minutes Jackson couldn't take it any longer. He didn't think before finishing his drink, slamming the empty glass down on the bar and quickly making his way over to the dance floor, eager to take back what was his.

April's eyes widened when she saw Jackson approach, an unreadable expression on his pretty face. "Sorry to interrupt." He didn't sound very sorry. "April could I speak with you alone for a moment?"

she hesitated, a confused expression on her face as she looked over at Jackson. "Can it wait?" she asked, looking between her two friends. "I'm dancing with Sam at the moment."

He narrowed his eyes, clearing his throat and shaking his head. "It can't," he replied, stiffly.

April sighed, turning back to Sam. "Sorry," she apologized. "This shouldn't take too long."

Sam shrugged, letting go of her hand and taking a step back. "It's okay," he assured her. "Take your time."

Jackson took hold of her arm, pulling April towards the exit of the barn. She hurried to keep up with his long strides, finding it almost impossible to walk fast in her heels. Jackson said nothing as he guided her outside the barn and across the brightly lit yard, towards the house.

"Wh-where are we going?" April asked, confused. "Can we slow down?"

Jackson made no effort to reply, his grip tightening on her arm. April looked up at him as they walked, taking in the tightness in his jaw, the hard lines around his eyes. She'd known Jackson for a while now and she didn't need to ask to know that he was obviously pissed off about something. The expression on his face reminded April of the one he'd been wearing that night at the club in Columbus, when he'd punched that guy for trying to hit on her. The memory made her shiver.

"Jackson?" she murmured, following him inside the house. The door banged shut behind them and April gasped in surprise as Jackson grabbed her, pushing her against the wall, his mouth landing on top of hers. One of his hands went to her face, tilting her head back so he could kiss her deeper, harder.

She was shocked by his abruptness, Jackson had never kissed her like this before. She inhaled a sharp breath before letting herself respond to him, her hands grasping hold of his upper arms as he trapped her between his hard body and the wall behind her. His grip on her was tight, his fingers digging into the curve of her waist and she groaned as his tongue pushed between her lips, intertwining with her own.

He picked her up, her legs hooking around his waist as his hands settled on her ass, holding her effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing at all. April's hands went to the back of his head, her dress riding up her waist and she groaned when she felt Jackson's hardness pressing into her thigh, letting her know just how much he wanted her.

They staggered down the hallway, opening the first door and stumbling inside the dim room. Jackson kicked the door closed behind them and April moaned as he pushed her up against it, his body pressing into hers as his mouth continued to move hungrily against her own. She didn't think before reaching behind her and flicking the lock on the door, trapping them inside the downstairs bathroom.

It all happened so quickly. They were a tangled mess of limbs and sloppy kisses. It didn't take her long to remove his jacket, pushing it off of his shoulders and onto the tiled floor. Her hands went to his front and she gasped for breath when Jackson pulled his mouth from hers, his face going to her neck as he sucked her skin between his teeth.

"Jackson," she groaned, bucking her hips towards his, eagerly searching for the friction she desperately desired. He said nothing as he turned them around, still holding onto April as he sat her down on the bathroom counter, causing all of its contents to go scattering across the floor.

She let her head fall back as Jackson continued to kiss her neck, his hands on the outside of her thighs as he pushed her tight dress even further up her legs, hitching the satin material around her waist. She made a noise, which sounded like a whimper, her hands tugging at his shirt, pulling it free from his pants. She removed his tie and pulled at his belt, her hunger for him turning into starvation.

And then he grabbed hold of both her wrists, his grip painfully tight as he pulled her hands away from him, pinning her arms at her sides. His nose brushed against the side of her neck. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he asked, his voice husky in her ear. "Do you have any idea how crazy you make me?"

Her hands itched to touch him, to feel him. Her body pulsed with a consuming, desperate need and she couldn't help but groan in frustration. Jackson was pressed against her, his hands holding onto her wrists, stopping her from reaching out to him. The room was lit in a dull glow from the fairy lights outside the window and the sound of music could be heard from across the yard. April closed her eyes, resting her head on Jackson's chest, her knees tightening around him as she inhaled a shaky breath, trying to ignore the pulsing between her legs.

"Please," she whimpered, breathlessly.

His breath was hot in her ear, his fingers digging into her wrists. "You're mine," he growled.

April shivered at his words, her breath catching in her throat. She lifted her head from his chest, her heart thumping heavily inside her ribcage as she looked up at Jackson, his expression hard. She didn't know how to respond to his statement, no one had ever said something like that to her before. There was an edge of possessiveness in his voice that made her stomach flutter with both anticipation and a little fright.

April swallowed the dry lump in her throat, leaning up to kiss the side of his jaw, because she didn't know how else to respond. He turned his head towards her, his mouth an inch from hers. She wished, more than anything, that he would let go of her hands, that he'd let her touch him again.

He seemed to read her mind, his grip on her loosening. April didn't hesitate before reaching for him, her hands going to his neck. "Jackson," she murmured his name and her entire body came alive when he finally touched her again. Sliding his hands under the hem of her dress, Jackson grasped hold of her panties and slowly pulled them down her legs.

April lifted up so he could remove them and she watched as he held the red lace up in front of him, a look of surprise etched on his face. "A-Alice made me w-wear them," she blurted out, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed about wearing something so revealing. What if he didn't like them?

He looked at her and even in the dim light she could see his expression change, see his gaze turn black as he slipped the panties into his pocket. April's eyes widened as her eyes met his heat filled gaze, her heart faltering at the expression of pure hunger on his face.

He grabbed the backs of her thighs and tugged her to the edge of the bench, her legs opening wider for him. April's entire body felt as though it was burning with need, as though every nerve in her system was on fire.

Jackson continued to watch her, his body looming over hers, pressing into her much smaller one. There was a look of primal desire behind his pretty blue eyes, it reminded her of a look that a lion might give to his prey right before he attacks. April's breath caught in her throat as she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, her belly clenching with want.

She kissed the edge of his jaw as she reached between them, laying a tentative hand over the hard bulge in his trousers. She was still so new at all of this, unsure of herself. Jackson hissed in her ear and a "Fuck!" slipped out of his mouth before he pulled her face to his and kissed her, his mouth hot and needy against her own.

It all happened so quickly. April hurried to open his pants and Jackson gripped onto her thighs, so tight that she was probably going to have bruises in the morning. She lifted her knees and he pressed his face into her shoulder and they both paused for a second, savouring the moment.

He entered her in a single stroke. She clamped her eyes tightly closed, her hands clutching at his back, her inner muscles stretching around his length. He was deep inside of her, as far as he could possibly go. April's breath was stuck in her throat, her stomach tightening at the feel of them being together again.

And then he was moving, his thrusts hard and desperate, his fingers digging even deeper into her thighs as he grunted in her ear. April held onto him, her hips lifting to try and meet his. April had never experienced anything like this before, she'd never even imagined sex could be like this. It was rough and hard and she knew she was going to be sore the next morning. He wasn't gentle, like the other times they'd made love, but she didn't want him to be. This wasn't like the other times, this was desperate and hungry and April was surprised by how much she liked it.

They didn't last long. April came after only a few short minutes, her nails scraping across the back of his neck, a heavy sigh sounding from her lips. Jackson followed her only a minute later, his body tensing over hers as he grunted her name in her ear, his mouth hot against the clammy skin of her neck.

They stayed together for a long moment, his body still joined with hers. April slowly came back to reality, a lazy smile spreading across her face as she ran her fingers gently over the back of his head, enjoying being so close to him. Her body was sticky with sweat, a few loose strands of hair clung to her neck and she battled to find her breath.

A few minutes passed before she felt him tense, his grip on her instantly loosening. April watched as Jackson pulled away from her, his expression hardening as he turned away to fix up his pants.

"Jackson?" she murmured, taking in the stiffness in his shoulders, the rigid lines of his back. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, her voice barely even a whisper as she watched him.

Jackson didn't respond, his back still turned towards her. He couldn't bring himself to form words as he tried to will away the feeling of self loathing that slowly crept over him. What the fuck had come over him? He hadn't been thinking when he'd brought her in here, when he'd all but forced himself onto her. He'd taken her hard and rough, giving no thought to the fact that this was April, his best friend, the innocent girl who'd been a virgin up until only a few days ago.

Something dark had come over him when he'd watched her dance with Sam, a raw, primal need he hadn't been able to control, and the need to touch her, to be buried inside of her, had been overwhelming. He'd treated her like she was some kind of possession. He'd pounded into her without any mercy, without giving her a second thought. And he'd enjoyed it.

This was why he would never be good enough for her. April deserved romance and sweet lovemaking, she deserved someone who'd treat her better, someone who wouldn't rip off her clothes and fuck her senseless in her parents bathroom because he wasn't able to control his own selfish desires.

"Jackson?" her voice was a broken whisper behind him, snapping him from his thoughts. "Are you okay?"

Her concern only made him feel worse, his gut clenching with a rush of guilt that made him hate himself even more.

"I'm sorry," he told her.

April blinked, confused. "What?" she asked, sliding off the bench and pulling her dress down. He finally turned to her and April's eyes widened at the look on his face. "Jackson?" she whispered, beginning to grow worried. Had she done something wrong?

There was a knock on the bathroom door, the noise was startling. "We should go back to the party," Jackson stated, clearing his throat and going over to grab his jacket and tie off the floor.

April watched him in silence, wondering what had come over him, wondering why his mood had changed so dramatically. She wondered if maybe she'd done something wrong, maybe he was having regrets about sleeping with her? The thought made her stomach turn uncomfortably.

"Jackson?" she said his name again, her voice hitched with concern. "Is everything okay?"

He pulled his jacket on, turning around to flash April a smile. "I'm fine," he told her, his smile forced, fake. "Come on," he said, making his way over to unlock the bathroom door. "We should get back to the party before Alice comes looking for us."

April watched him leave, running a hand through her messy hair. A horrible feeling formed inside of her as she stood alone in the bathroom, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

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