A/N: Hey peeps. Yeah it's been a minute since I've updated but only because I was on break. As a fair waring this chapter features mostly Bonnie x Jared. There is a Stefonnie scene, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Thank you for the reviews!
Sometimes the weather in DC could become freakish. A spontaneous rainstorm when minutes prior it had been sunny and beautiful outside. Hail, tornado-like winds, lightning that lit up the place like it was Fourth of July, thunder that rocked buildings. Well, I guess that wasn't so different from what happened all over the world, but when walking through the metropolitan area, between skyscrapers where the sun was blotted out it had a more haunting effect.
We were caught in one of those "without warning thunderstorms" where life was momentarily put on pause, as people stood around gazing up at the darkening sky.
"Shit, it's about to rain," Stefan grabbed my hand as we waited for the light to turn green to cross a six-lane intersection.
Thunder rumbled; the wind blew at a velocity that pushed us briefly to the side. Men wearing ball caps grabbed their hats. Women secured their loose hair in a makeshift ponytail, but people carried on, ignoring the warning of what was to come.
Stefan and I had just finished having lunch together, meeting up at spot not far from his job. It was our tradition to meet up once a week.
We had a block left before he'd be at his place of business, but the blocks in DC were long. They weren't your average length, probably as long as a football field or longer depending on where you were.
As soon as the light switched to green there was a hard crack of thunder that spooked me, but I was being pulled behind a determined Stefan. A pelt of rain smacked me right on the cranium. The next landed on my shoulder, then my nose, and then it was coming down in sheets.
Horns blared, people cursed and groaned, and ran for cover.
My sandaled feet slipped over the slick asphalt, but thankfully I didn't go down. Stefan's fingers tightened damn near brutally on mine as we scurried across the street making it to the other side without being run over by impatient motorists.
Stefan ran expertly ducking between slower moving pedestrians who didn't seem to notice it had turned into a monsoon. I kept up with him, struggling slightly, worried about my sandals popping off my feet at any moment.
We would be drenched if we didn't find a place, an alcove or awning to duck underneath to wait out the storm.
"Up here!" Stefan yelled over his shoulder and we were running up a pair of stairs that led to a building that was probably one of the many Smithsonian's.
We darted between a pair of marble columns and found we weren't the only one with the same idea.
"My hair," I whined. I at least had the foresight to pull it into a ponytail but it had still taken the brunt of the rain, the ends wet. I could smell the leave-in condition bleeding out of my tresses.
"Its fine," Stefan's fingers brushed a few wet strands off my forehead, tucking them back into place.
"Yeah, right, but thanks for lying."
He grinned and looked away. Periodically we saw clusters of people sprinting down the street using whatever they held in their hand as an impromptu umbrella.
I diverted back to him. "When are you getting on the road to head home?"
Stefan would be abandoning me for twenty-four hours with Damon. Ugh.
"Around six in the morning on Saturday. I should be home late Sunday night. You want to catch a movie on Friday?"
As appealing as the idea was my Friday was already booked. That was pretty much broadcast on my face and I saw the subtle change to Stefan's hopeful one to something closed off.
"I have a date that night, roomie."
"With?"
"Jared."
Stefan nodded but otherwise made no further comment.
"You're not going to poke your nose into my business and demand to know where he's taking me? What we'll be getting into?"
"I'm not your father," Stefan stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Hmm. "You never let that stop you in the past."
"You're a big girl, Bon, and Jared…he seems like good people."
The back of my head butted against the hard wall poised behind me. I listened to the rain strike the concrete, the roofs of cars, and felt fingers slinking across my forehead removing more strands of wet hair. Heat suffused in front of me altering me that a pliant body was drawing closer. The tickle of lips right at my ear said:
"He better treat you right or I'll kick his ass."
Laughter bubbled out of me and I stared at Stefan's profile. He pulled back enough for us to make eye contact. The glint in his said he was serious.
"Jared is at least five inches taller and about…" I scanned Stefan from head to toe. His wet shirt was damn near translucent and I saw his hard nipples tenting the fabric. "Twenty pounds heavier."
He looked completely unconcerned. "I don't give a fuck how tall or big he is. That doesn't automatically spell he'd have the advantage over me if it came down to a fight."
"Why are you so ready to come to blows anyways? I never knew you to be violent."
Stefan grinned and put more space between us. "I'm no tree hugger but something's trigger a violent response in me."
"Such as?"
"Anyone messing with my family…anyone messing with you."
Stupid heart just had to get to fluttering. "You're so overprotective."
"I can't help that. Would you rather I not care if anyone where to hurt you, Bonnie?"
"Well of course I want you to care, but you don't have to pick up a sword and challenge someone to a duel. I know you want the best for me, Stefan. It works both ways. I want you to have the best, and yes I will drag a bitch if she messes with your heart."
"And that's why I love you."
"I love you, too."
Stefan beamed and focused on the rain still coming down in sheets. "Doesn't appear this storm is letting up anytime soon."
And as soon as he said that the entire area was eliminated in shades of silver-white as a bolt of lightning cut across the sky. I braced myself for the subsequent boom of thunder, and it came like a hand clap from God. I tensed. Being outside during a thunderstorm was one of the most terrifying things.
"Say something to distract me," I petitioned.
"You still owe me twenty bucks."
I burst out into giggles and rolled my eyes. "Fine," I huffed, dug into my purse searching for that all-elusive wallet that liked to hide behind receipts, makeup, and a ton of other shit I shoved into my bag.
Pulling out a fresh Andrew Jackson, I waved it in the air before crooking my finger for Stefan to come closer. He obeyed.
I folded that twenty and slipped it into the back pocket of his jeans, and not totally ashamed to say I groped his butt a little.
Stefan tried to fight off his smirk but gave into the urge. "You trying to have your way with me, Miss Bennett? I should call your daddy," he teased.
"Shut up," I retracted my wayward hand, but Stefan didn't exactly put any space between us.
Another boom of thunder sounded, I jumped.
"Come on, Scaredy Cat, let's head inside whatever this building is," Stefan edged toward the door. He opened it and motioned with his head for me to enter first.
I did and he popped my booty.
"Bitch," I cursed and rubbed my stinging cheek.
"You do it to me all the time. Do I complain?"
Yeah, but not the point though.
We meandered inside to discover it was an art history museum.
"How's your manuscript coming along?" my roommate wondered as we trailed from one exhibit to the next.
"It's coming," I shrugged. "I have a meeting with my editor next week where she's expecting me to hand in chapters 5-10 and I'm still stuck on chapter 4. I've been lacking inspiration."
"I can help your muse."
"How? Unless you speak Russian and know ten ways to kill a man, how do you plan to help me?"
"A muse feeds off a stimulus, right?"
"I guess." I wasn't sure where Stefan was going with this.
He slithered behind me, "Then it's time to broaden your natural senses, Bonnie. Smell things deeper, taste things purer, touch things harder, see things beyond the surface, hear sounds you didn't think we were possible to discern. Look at this painting."
I did.
"Now imagine what you think I'm doing behind you."
He really did not want to go there with me.
"Concentrate on the colors…see the brush strokes…inhale the acrylics used to create this, but tie that into what I'm doing. Can you picture it?"
Closing my eyes, for a while nothing happened. Nothing stirred within me. My attention was often thrown off to accommodate focusing on a new sound, but then I blocked it out. Traveled deeper. It was right there, on a precipice.
Stefan's warm hand landed on my hip. "Good girl. Are you seeing something?"
"Yes."
"Whip out that phone and jot down what just popped into your head."
Stefan stepped away and it was like a loose thread being ripped off a garment. He had moved on to take stock of another portrait and I was left feeling combustible. My roommate could be so incredibly rude at times.
Later that night while he snored up a storm, I sat in my little office, pounding away at the keys. Around three a.m I snatched off my reading glasses, and sat back in my swivel chair. Mission accomplished.
My underwear didn't match every day and I sometimes walked around with chipped nail polish. The point was, so long as I kept it real with myself then who did I really have to impress? Change was the avenger of routine, and I was about to do a semi-renovation.
Jared and I had been texting religiously all week. Words and emoji's sustaining the both of us until we were able to see one another in the flesh. He sent me a selfie, a shirtless one. I sent him one in return of my jaw plopped open. He called me afterward.
"I want to hear the noise you made when you saw my selfie."
Too amused to be put off with his arrogance, I retorted, "Who said I made a noise? Perhaps that was a look of horror."
"I doubt it."
My cheeks were burning because I was grinning like a toothless baby at my first photo shoot. "You left me speechless, Jared."
"Your face does that to me each time I see it."
Deep sigh. Jared was going to be the death of me in a good way.
"Off the top of your head name the five foods you simply can't live without. Go!"
Laughter was my first answer as my brain completely short circuited for a moment, having been put on the spot. I had to get over the initial euphoria, rush that Jared was putting my number to use, calm myself down long enough to sound mellow.
"Five foods I can't live without…hmm…sourdough pretzels, peanut M&M's, my aunt Tessa's mac-n-cheese, crab cakes, and…mint chocolate chip ice cream. Why do you need to know these things, Jared?"
"Research purposes."
"Right and what about you? What are five foods you can't live without?"
"I'm holding those answers hostage until our date. Friday is too far but I can't wait."
"Ditto," my teeth sank into my thumb completely unable to wipe the smirk off my face.
"Sweet dreams, Bonnie."
"Sweet dreams, Jared."
That conversation had fueled me until Friday. Tonight was the night and a bitch was nervous.
To my utter delight (dismay) Damon was home. Stefan was there too, pecking away on his MacBook, forehead doing an awesome job of mimicking the blinds.
I needed a buck fifteen to get ready, but literally only had less than ten. Jared was in route and I was battling against a debilitating case of first date jitters. The palms of my hands felt like someone dumped a hot coal on it. Explaining to myself that breathing normally was non-negotiable and absolutely necessary, I calmed my tits long enough to brush my teeth and get my makeup on.
From the bathroom, I heard Stefan and Damon arguing over what bar they were going to hit up. The elder wanted to venture to a spot where the clientele was just like him. Gorgeous with washboard abs looking for no strings attached sex. Stefan on the other hand wanted to patronize his favorite tavern where his drinks were half price since he was friends with the co-owner. I left them to it, but already knew they would settle with heading to the local liquor store, buy a bunch of booze, and get tanked on the couch.
Toothbrush jammed in my mouth, my phone started ringing the special ringtone I programmed just for Jared. That same toothbrush almost ended up in the toilet as I let out a shriek. Spitting out toothpaste residue while answering the phone, I found my chill.
"Hello?"
"Hey love," Jared's baritone timbre penetrated my ear like the rumble of low, purring thunder. "I'm about five minutes away."
He called me 'love' I inwardly squealed. All right, Bonnie get your ass in control, now.
"Okay. I'm just about ready," I lied.
"Take your time. I'll see you soon."
We hung up and I rinsed, gargled, spit, and put on my lipstick.
I literally jumped into my clothes; a white, high neck seamless crop top paired with a turquoise flowy asymmetrical wrap skirt that revealed thigh with each step I took.
Careening into the living room, I hopped around struggling to get a wedge sandal on my foot, while trying to stick a chandelier earring through my lobe.
"Need some help?"
"Yes, please," I handed Stefan my earring and stood still while he carefully put it in.
"Where are you going?" Damon swaggered out of the kitchen, pulling the tab on a can of beer.
"I have a date."
"You have a what now?"
"Shut up."
"Who are you going out with?" Damon poked his nose where it ought not go. Or belonged.
"No one for you to be worried about because you're not really in this apartment," I smiled sweetly.
Damon fake smiled right back before parking his ass on the couch. The doorbell rung and it was like a person hitting the wrong note on a piano as my nerves flared.
This would have been the point where I turned to my best girlfriend to fangirl, shriek, but I couldn't do that with Stefan who was very quiet. He had ambled to open the door, and surprisingly greeted Jared with an elaborate handshake.
Something tampered with my oxygen as my date entered the apartment seeming larger than life with his stature.
Decked out in a thin gray V neck shirt, sleeves bunched at the elbow, a vest in a darker gray, tight, ripped jeans showed off the magnificence of his muscular legs. My saliva nearly choked me as I swallowed.
Jared locked gazes with me, the smile on his face stretching, making those loveable dimples of his pop. It was nearly my undoing. I didn't move a muscle as he gave me a long and thorough optical frisk, and when he bit briefly into his bottom lip, my nipples got hard.
Stefan cleared his throat and I remembered he and Damon were present. Oops. I swayed to Jared who bent and kissed my upturned cheek.
"You look beautiful," he whispered in my ear.
What I wouldn't give for him to take one of those big hands of his and grab my ass. "You look very handsome."
Jared winked.
"Don't be rude, Bon. Introduce us." Damon, naturally, had to insert himself into the equation by joining Jared, Stefan, and myself standing in the area that wasn't quite living room or foyer to be exact.
"Jared this is Stefan's older brother Damon. Damon, this is Jared."
"Hey man, nice to meet you," Jared extended a hand.
Damon eagerly accepted it. "Likewise. So you're taking our Bonnie out."
I caught him briefly ogle Jared. Typical.
Jared released Damon's hand. "I am."
"Well good luck with that," Damon said and slithered away.
I did look at Stefan. The expression on his face was…he wasn't really wearing one. There were few times that Stefan was stoic, and like me he typically wore his emotions on his sleeve making him easy to read, cover to cover. Tonight, he wasn't letting anything in and certainly wasn't letting anything out. It was wrong to take joy in that but I did. Sue me.
Turning to my date, I informed, "Jared, I'm ready to go."
"All right. Well I guess I'll see you guys later," Jared tossed a lazy hand up in a wave and escorted me to the door where I picked up my purse.
"You two have fun," Stefan stood impossibly close behind me. His fingers brushed my arm and when I gave him my undivided attention, the poker face mask melted enough for the warm Stefan I was accustomed to, to shine through. "Be good," he said for my ears only.
"Your good or my good?"
Stefan shook his head. "Don't do something Damon would do."
"Ah," I snapped fingers and pointed a finger at my roomie. "Don't wait up."
Jared and I vacated the building where he presented his arm for me to take. Gravity was working in reverse and I felt weightless with my hand on his arm.
My date cleared his throat unable to hide the flush to his cheeks. "I had to park half a block away. I hope your toes can forgive me for that."
I stared at my footwear. My wedge heels added four inches to my height, but provided plenty of cushion. I'd be all right for the most part. Unless Jared had designs to drag me all up and down through DC then yeah we'd have a problem.
"My toes will manage."
"I can always carry you," he suggested.
"There's that as well."
"Here we go," Jared gently pulled his arm away in order to take my hand as we rounded the most unusual car.
"Um…what's this?"
Jared chuckled huskily and opened the passenger side door. "It's a fully restored 1932 Ford Roadster."
It was a classic in the truest sense of the word. It was, for all intents and purposes, a convertible, black exterior with red and black leather seats to which I saw nary a seat belt. Would this car—that would turn heads—even be able to meet the standard speed limit of thirty-five miles an hour? Guess I was about to find out.
Sliding inside the vehicle, Jared hopped behind the wheel and started an engine I expected to roar loudly, but it was a sophisticated growl that dispelled any notion it wasn't built to handle high speeds.
Shades covering our eyes, Jared shifted into gear and we were off. It was a good thing I decided to put my hair up into a ponytail, edges gelled so they weren't flying all over the place.
"How was your day?" I started the banal part of conversation to get it out of the way.
"Nerve wrecking."
"Why?"
"I had three meetings lined up with potential buyers and every time I tried to explain the inspiration behind a certain piece, it was like I was overcome with the world's largest brain fart," we laughed. "I couldn't articulate shit," he wagged his head at his own ineptitude. "My mind was too focused on tonight."
I slighted him with a knowing look. "Will I ever not intimidate you?"
"I hope not." Jared lightly pinched my thigh. We merged on the highway.
"So where are we going exactly?"
"You haven't told me about your day," Jared deflected.
"Well, I spent a good majority of it finishing up two articles. One for my usual publication; and the other is a freelance article for the Washington Post."
"You write for The Post?"
I could hear the impressiveness in Jared's voice. "I do. Occasionally. My circuit court judge father and lobbyist mother wouldn't hear of their baby girl only being a relationship columnist for mere pennies. So I sometimes write think pieces for major publications, but I only do it five times a year. A lot of research goes into that shit, but it's mad lucrative."
"Guess I need to pay better attention to who pens articles. I had no idea I was taking out such an accomplished woman."
"You thought I was a slacker?"
A light flush pinked Jared's cheeks. "N-no, I wasn't trying to imply that."
My laughter made him take his eyes off the road once more.
"You're doing it again," Jared chided.
"Well, you kind of walk into things, therefore, leaving me little choice but to exploit you."
"Can I say I hope you exploit me…thoroughly?"
My toes curled but I affected a cool façade. "Maybe. If I'm feeling generous."
"Then I'm hoping you'll be merciful," he paused briefly before starting another round of conversation. "So you're not going to ask me the obligatory question of why I'm still single?"
"A lot of good people are still single. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with them. Besides, I know that's not the most interesting thing about you."
That right dimple was flirting with me. "I see you're a fast learner."
"I try to be."
"But seriously," Jared shifted gears, "ask me."
"Okay, Jared why are you still single?"
"Advice given to me by my paternal grandfather," he began to explain. "He said to me 'Jar' and he's the only person allowed to call me Jar by the way and that can never leave this car,"—I giggled—"But he said to me 'Jar, the best thing you can do for a woman is be her friend. If she's the right one everything else will fall into place.' I've met a lot of women, some of them turned out to be good acquaintances, some wanted to skip the whole friendship stage and go right into a relationship."
He said nothing else and I guess it was up to me to infer the answer through his spiel. "You gotta help me out here. That still doesn't explain why you're single."
"Because it's easy to find a girl you want to bang, but one you want to bang and be her friend before and after it's turned out to be harder than expected. Plus, I'm extremely busy. My art…she's my wife, my lover, my side piece, my mistress, my bitch. I give her so much of me that what I have left, isn't enough…for some."
Hmm, his words spoke to me on a creative level. On a personal one, it worried me. Threw up a major red flag. Was Jared preemptively telling me that though he might like me, want to get to know me, that at times I'd be shelved so he could suck the toes of his main bitch—his art?
I felt the weight of his probing stare.
"What are you thinking?"
I wiggled against the seat and crossed my legs. "You know I understand about dedicating the time to expanding your passion, I'm just…a little curious if you have time to even casually date."
Jared bobbed his head, switched lanes. Most of rush hour traffic had died down so cruising along I-395 wasn't met with many impediments, or having to constantly stop and go.
"When it's something I truly want I make the effort. No question. Look at that," he pointed.
"That's where we're headed?"
"Yep and I have a surprise. I hope you're ready, Bonnie."
Jared managed to find a place to park right there on the National Mall. From the trunk he retrieved a blanket and a picnic basket.
First dates were usually spent in a crowded restaurant before heading to a dark movie theater. Our first adventure would be spent outdoors with tourists and locals who spoke a myriad of languages. It was amazing really that in half a block one could hear up to five different dialects. We walked hand-in-hand across the grassy knoll and found a spot right outside of the George Washington monument.
"I gotta say I've never done this before," I helped Jared unfurl the blanket and spread in across the grass.
"Never? Never called up a bunch of your friends and told them to meet you on The Mall to have a picnic?"
"No, and part of me should feel shamed about that. But in my defense, me and a few of my girls did congregate to view the MLK monument, and afterwards we had lunch in Arlington…at a restaurant."
Jared laughed and, taking my hand helped me sit down, which I had to do it in a cute way since I was wearing a skirt.
"What's in the basket?"
"The second surprise," Jared popped open the basket but didn't pull anything out. "List your favorite foods for me again."
Dramatically I sighed and did as requested. Each item I ticked off, Jared removed and laid it on top of the blanket. My eyes lit up with amusement. Dinner would be consumed on paper plates—the good kind—real silverware, and a chilled bottle of white wine.
"Now this isn't your Aunt Tessa's mac-n-cheese so hopefully it'll be a nice substitute."
"It's not Stoffer's is it 'cause I eat enough of that."
That overtly sexual face of his filled with enjoyment. "No, it definitely didn't come out of a microwaveable tray."
All right, the boy undoubtedly earned himself some major brownie points. We chowed down and Jared shared with me his favorite foods: his mom's clam chowder, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, buffalo wings, and coconut.
"I'll remember that for our second date," I downed my glass of Pinot Grigio.
Language spilled from our lips weaving tales of our lives from childhood memories we could recall as accurately as possible, to a few cringe worthy adolescence stories better left on the editing room floor. There were a few times where conversation lulled and we were distracted by the milling tourists, or distracted by one another. Lapses in silence were punctuated by dilating pupils, lip bites, and a wayward finger caressing an exposed body part eliciting goose bumps.
We lingered on the blanket watching the sun dip below the horizon.
"Full?" Jared inquired.
"Yes," I patted my stuffed belly.
"On to the next part."
The second stop was to Reagan National Airport where we parked and watched planes take off and land. Prior to, Jared had dipped into a Safeway grocery store and bought a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream—a flavor he never tasted before, and a box of plastic spoons. We sat on the hood amid others who had congregated to do the same sans eating ice cream that is.
He made it a point to stop talking and focus every drop of his energy whenever I sank of spoonful of ice cream in my mouth.
"Pervert, stop drooling," I admonished playfully.
"I can't help it. You know what I've been waiting for, for the last two weeks. Don't spoil my moment."
I snickered quietly.
Jared leaned closer, his head nearly touching my shoulder and stared up at me from beneath those long, dark lashes. "Are you honestly enjoying yourself? By some standards this might be a cheap and boring first date."
"I don't see it that way."
He was surprised. "You don't?"
My ponytail swished along my upper back as I shook my head. "I love being outdoors and I rather break bread in the elements than being in a stuffy restaurant where I have to be conscious of how loud I laugh. Like I told you, I never had a picnic on The Mall, and I haven't watched planes take off since I was a kid."
"Who used to take you? Pops? Your mom?"
"Neither. My…old best friend's dad. One Saturday a month he'd wrangle us up and take us to Richmond. We'd make a whole day of it and end it at the airport guessing at where the planes were going by the direction they veered off to. How'd you get into plane watching?"
Jared released a hard breath. "My favorite uncle. He was a pilot and used to tell me stories that I know my mom wouldn't have approved of her nine old son hearing," he chuckled dryly. "I thought about being a pilot, but I don't like flying."
"Really?"
"Nope."
"I love to fly. I can only stand being in a car for like two hours and anything over that, I get stir crazy."
"I'll keep that in mind. Are you still close with your old friend?" Jared ate another spoonful of ice cream, pink tongue gliding over that bottom lip to lick away any left behind residue.
"Unfortunately…I'm not."
"What happened if you don't mind me asking?"
"What typically happens…people grow apart. If I see her, I'm cordial but keep it moving."
"How long have you been friends with Stefan?"
Wow that seemed random. "Um…six years."
"And you've lived with him for…?"
"For the last year and couple of months."
Jared nodded and glanced at the next plane pummeling its way down the tarmac.
"Does it bother you?" I tossed out.
"I don't know many guys who live with chicks and vice versa. It doesn't get weird?"
"Only if we make it weird. Living with friends can be hard at times, but Stefan and I have an understanding and we're honest, probably too honest with each other at times. We make it work by respecting each other's boundaries."
Jared sat up, bracing his hands on his thighs. He looked at me, burning me with those ash-colored orbs. "If I wanted to come over…would that have to be cleared with Stefan, first?"
"Let me put you at ease, Jared. I'm a grown woman and as a grown woman I don't need any man's permission to fuck with abandon in my bed. If anyone has an issue they know how they can rectify it."
It was funny to see the way Jared's eyebrows hitched upward. I could see he was a bit embarrassed but I didn't hold his curiosity against him. If he lived with a woman, I'd want to know if they had some kind of system set up as well when it came to having overnight guests. I certainly wouldn't want to wake up in the morning ready to pour my coffee to find some stranger half or fully naked standing in my kitchen. Without a courtesy warning beforehand.
Jared wagged his head. "Well that clears up any mystery."
"Do you not date women with roommates?" I prodded.
"I do and I have. They all just happened to live with someone who shared the same parts," he laughed uneasily, scratching the nape of his neck. "Really, if it's cool with the two of you then it's not a problem with me," his hand cupped my cheek. "I can't decide."
"Decide what?"
"Which light you look better in. Daylight or moonlight. Both."
"Is that the artist in you talking?"
"Perhaps. Would you sit for me sometime? I'd like to paint you."
"I guess," I feigned nonchalance but inwardly I was doing the running man. I had to go old school on this.
Jared pulled me closer, our backs pressed along the windshield, his arm my pillow. We watched the bellies of planes lift and disappear in a darkening sky. My head slowly turned toward him. His lips twitched and where in striking distance. I could tell he wanted me to cross that imaginary line, take things to the next level.
So I did. I erased what space there was between us. His lips pressed against mine, warm, plumper than expected. Jared wrapped his arms around my waist, hauling me closer, crushing our chests together. Our mouths fit like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and he tasted like mint, like chocolate. The rough texture of his tongue slipped past my teeth and brushed my own.
We rolled until I was nearly pinned beneath his big, muscular body, his leg wedging between mine. Jared controlled the speed of the kiss, its depth. I followed his lead, kissing him back sensually, like a woman whose mouth hadn't been succulently ravished in months.
Jared broke the kiss to plant smaller, sweeter ones along the circumference of my jaw, down the column of my neck. His teeth tugged the collar of my shirt. The intensity of his gaze made me gulp and inhale.
Wordlessly, Jared helped me off the hood and into the passenger seat. The next thing I became aware of he was backing out of the makeshift parking spot, and we were making out way back to DC.
The whole drive to my apartment my face stung with heat. I don't have to tell you my clit was as hard as his dick I felt pressing up against my thigh. However, his actions or I should reaction to our first threw me off. And I made damn sure to wear that confusion like a blinking neon sign.
"I had to stop, Bonnie."
Jared finally ruptured the silence and killed the worry and panic I was starting to feel. The anticipated rejection that was bubbling up. Jared's dick may have craved me, but that it didn't speak for the rest of him.
"Why?"
"If I hadn't…I would have tried to talk you into letting me fuck you."
Well, I certainly like a man who's straightforward.
"But I want to know more than your body, Bonnie," Jared went on to explain. "I do think with beyond the head in my pants."
"That's good to know. So you liked our first kiss?"
"Of course I did! You felt I did. You didn't think I enjoyed it?"
"I'm just checking to be sure. Our bodies may want something our minds don't."
"My body and I," Jared palmed the steering wheel, "are always one."
"Sure, dude."
Jared turned off on my street and managed to find a spot closer to my building. We lingered, got out, and he walked me upstairs.
Inserting the key in the lock, I wasn't ready to walk through that door, go through the usual spiel about having a good time, thanking him for taking me out, and sending him on his way. So I said fuck it, turned around and wrapped my arms around Jared who was ready.
It was really shameful how we kissed right there in the middle of the hallway, making enough noise to wake the hardest sleeper. We wouldn't cross that line—not tonight, but I would definitely leave an impression, an imprint that waiting would be worth it. I was good at what I did.
A sigh of happiness escaped and was promptly swallowed by Jared's hungry mouth when his hands palmed my ass, grabbing those cheeks.
"I should go," Jared talked around a mouthful of well, my mouth.
"Un-hun," we kept kissing.
Jared slowed things down, drawing out the experience. Our lips brushed as he confessed, "I promise to go slow. I'll always go slow in the beginning, and increase my speed when I'm close to finishing," he presented that insufferable crooked grin.
If he didn't quit with the innuendos.
I heard footsteps drawing closer to where we stood that I ignored.
"Jared!"
A shrill voice that reminded me of nails on a chalkboard had us seeking out the source of the gotdamn disturbance.
Like a pair of deer stuck in the middle of a highway were Amber and Stefan.
"Hey guys," I beamed and returned to nibbling Jared's lips.
Chapter end.
A/N: Hoped you guys enjoyed. Please leave me a comment. Thanks for reading!
