A/N: Here is some M-rated R&J prom night action ;D

Chapter 21

'Isn't it locked?' Rory said, staring at the closed door in front of her.

'Well, there's one ex-detentionaire who may or may not have a copy of the key.' Jess wiggled his eyebrows, producing a key from his pocket.

'Detentionaire?'

'It's a word.'

'It's not a word.'

'It should be a word.'

'And now you're distracting me from the fact that you stole this key, Dodger.' Rory stared at the metal object, frowning.

'It's not stolen. It's a copy.' At her unimpressed stare, he defended. 'And anyway, this a library. It should always be public access.'

'Can't we just find a classroom… or at least somewhere that isn't locked?'

'A classroom? Give me a little credit. I didn't bring you out here to make out in a classroom.' He gave her a mischievous smile, turning the key over between his fingers.

Her face was reddening. She hoped he wouldn't notice.

He did and it clearly amused him. 'Let me just remind you. You said to me, let's go make out in a supply closet.'

'I did not.' Rory was horrified. Crossing her arms protectively over her chest, she leaned her back against the door to give him a meaningful glare.

'I think you did.'

'Stop making everything sound dirty!'

'Oh, dirtier than you telling Lane we were leaving to go make out?' He casually placed one hand on the door, close to her face.

'That's not what I said to Lane!'

He stepped closer, his other hand lightly brushing her waist. 'This is all your idea. I'm just following at this point.'

'I didn't say make out and I didn't say supply closet.' Rory tried to sound annoyed, though the butterflies in her stomach were making it hard to stay convincing.

'I'm so proud.' His face was close to hers.

'That's not what I –' She started, but his sudden kiss interrupted her, catching her lips in a blur. It was brief, but full of promise.

When he pulled away, he still looked amused. 'You said to go get a room, so… we're getting a room.'

'We're breaking into a library.' She argued.

'We have the key.'

'Stolen key.' She corrected, then upon meeting his amused gaze, shook her head slowly. 'I should've known this night would end in crime.'

'A tux and no crime? That's just wasted opportunity, Bonnie.' He kissed her cheek.

'We'll get in trouble. Someone's gonna come in and bust us for breaking in.' She reasoned.

'Well, if it makes you feel better…' He leaned closer to whisper against her lips. 'I think it's what we'll be doing in the library that they'll care more about, not the breaking in.'

She couldn't make up her mind, whether to be horrified or impressed with his reasoning, but she definitely knew she was turned on. All too aware of his breath on her jaw and his hand on her hips, she could only sigh, bringing him closer by the jacket. 'It all starts here. My gradual descent into iniquity.'

'Oh yes, we're turning you into one of the Fitzgeralds.'

'Poor Zelda never stood a chance after breaking into that library.'

'How tragic.' Jess said, his eyes widening in mock-pity.

Rory agreed. 'Very tragic.'

For a second, she managed to look weary, but couldn't hold back her smile as he brought his lips to hers again. In yet another tease, he parted his lips against hers but pulled back before they could deepen the kiss. He pressed her body against his and effortlessly unlocked the door behind her.

He'd just managed to close the library door and switch on the lights when Rory grabbed his jacket and pulled him close, kissing him hard. Her hands wandered to his chest, around his back, rubbing up and down soothingly. His thoughts suddenly fell away, scattered in the usual way they do around Rory. Whenever she kissed him like that, his mind commanded only one thing. Drop everything and kiss her back.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed his palms against the small of her back, his fingers gliding over the silky fabric of her dress. He stepped them back towards the nearest bookshelf, letting her push him hard against it. It didn't happen all that often that Rory initiated like this, but when she did, it was always breathlessly amazing. It was so reminiscent of their first kiss at that wedding such a long time ago that he had to smile against her lips. This time though, she wasn't pulling back. There was no running away, no guilt, no 'don't say a word, Jess'. They'd come such a long way since then.

She tilted her head against his, kissing him with more fervor. She seemed to be enjoying her full control over the kiss. He could feel it in the way she touched him, the way she clutched at his neck, and the way her lips moved. Licking her lower lip, he tasted the remnants of her delicious lipstick and felt her shiver wonderfully against him. When she slid her tongue through his teeth, they both made a low noise and grasped at each other's shoulders.

With heavy breaths, she pulled back slightly and whispered. 'My head's spinning.'

He chuckled lightly and pulled her in again. 'Mine too.'

All day, they'd kissed and teased each other endlessly. There'd been accidental brushes and gentle grazes, discrete touches and less discrete kisses. There'd been so many secret glances from behind bookshelves and over shoulders, across car seats and diner booths, over coffee cups and hotdogs. They'd had the whole day to themselves, but it wasn't enough. This whole day was slowly coming to an end, but it was nowhere near enough.

Still, they forced themselves not to rush. He took his time making each small touch last, kissing the soft skin under her jaw and sucking at her earlobes. She took her time unbuttoning his shirt and running her hands over every inch of his chest, his shoulders, his arms. His thumbs traced light circles over her back, relishing the softness of the fabric and mentally marking the spots where she ducked ticklishly away from his fingers. When he turned to kiss her lips again, her hands were clutching his shoulder and her chest was pressed into him.

He paused his kisses just long enough to whirl them around, barely noticing when two books fell off the shelf by his feet with a thud. He felt Rory's smile against his lips as her fingers wove into his hair, urging him closer. His hands drifted over her dress, roaming her back urgently, trying to find the zipper, never leaving her lips.

'Jess.' Rory pulled back breathlessly.

He took it as encouragement, nibbling on the soft skin around her shoulder.

'Jess. Wait.'

His head snapped at the words. She wasn't pushing him off, but he responded as though she were, stumbling back in worry. His lips tingled and his body felt cold at the sudden distance.

'Rory, did I..?' He searched her face for signs, signs he'd messed up. He was too aware of the last time this had happened. The last time they'd gone to a party. The last time she'd told him to wait. His heart raced as he braced himself for her reaction, running away, leaving him. How could this be happening again?

'No, no, no. God, no.' She looked embarrassed. Not hurt though, and not mad, not as far as he could tell anyway. 'I just… I didn't mean to… I'm just so…' She stammered, looking guilty, then bit her lip, scattering his thoughts again. 'Is the door locked? I just don't want anyone…'

'It's locked.' He reassured, something in his chest easing.

She nodded, then closed her eyes and looked away, a blush creeping over her cheeks. 'I don't have… a condom.'

He had to smile at that, letting himself exhale. 'I got it. I have a few.'

Apparently, that was enough to distract her from her shyness. 'A few? How lucky did you think you'd get?'

He watched the playfulness in her eyes, before responding. 'I had a good feeling about the tux.'

She smiled, then said. 'I didn't mean to freak you out. I'm not…' Hurt? Worried? Freaked out? He absently touched a strand of her hair as he waited for her to finish. Instead, she edged forward, cupping his cheeks and giving him a soft kiss on the lips. 'Can we go back to where we were?'

He sighed and let the soft pressure of her hands ease up his tense muscles. Their kiss started out soft, almost feathery, reassuring and gentle. She continued to edge forward, but he waited reluctantly, his hands staying firmly at her elbows until she could make the first move. But then she sighed, her lips parted, her legs wrapped around his waist and they were both lost again. Their tongues meeting, their lips dancing, their bodies pressing closer.

He let his hands slip under her dress, fingers brushing her hips, as she pushed his jacket and shirt over his shoulders carefully. She guided his hand to the zipper of her dress. On the side, not the back. He'll have to remember that. He pushed it down carefully, almost reverently, and lifted the dress up over her head.

She was completely breathtaking, with her flushed cheeks, slightly swollen lips, and tiny hair strands loosely framing her face. The makeup around her eyes was a little smudged, making them look all the more stunning. She had a simple cream bra that was slightly sheer, giving him the kind of view that got his blood pumping down into his pants. He realized, a moment too late, that she'd caught him staring as her eyes shone with excitement.

Stroking her way down his chest with shaky fingers, she unzipped his pants and pushed them down. Meanwhile, he managed to unclasp her bra and toss it away. She let her fingers linger and rub over his boxers lightly, feeling his hardness, until he groaned against her. With her thighs pressing against him, he realized he wouldn't last much longer. He turned against the bookshelf for support, pulling her legs higher against his waist, relishing the way she held onto him. Not that it stopped her from rolling her hips against him, making them both pant loudly. It didn't take long before he pushed her underwear away and slid into her, molding her body to his.

With both of them panting and frantic, he felt her bite into his shoulder as their thrusts grew quicker and harder. He nearly thought he'd burst when she asked him to go faster, yet he complied. As they edged towards their finish, they rocked against each other, falling into a fast rhythm, forgetting everything but their bodies. Their chests were pressed together and he could see the thin sweat forming between her breasts. He closed his eyes as he rocked into her as fast as he could. Not much later, Rory came with a shudder and a cry that she buried into his shoulder. Her clenches against him made him clutch her tighter as he followed into his own blissful finish.

They ended up sitting side by side on the floor leaning against the poetry section. Rory picked a book at random and tucked her head against Jess's shoulder. She flipped through the book, too tired to read but still content with the feeling of having paper beneath her fingers. It was a nice library; Rory noticed the dark wooden shelves, only slightly scratched at the edges, and the dark gray, carpeted floor. The books were neatly arranged by author, something that satisfied and relaxed her. Most of them looked used, with spines that were falling apart, held in place only by tape or thread. Some were yellow with age and handle. She liked that they looked that way. Books weren't meant to be just looked at; they were supposed to be touched and moved around and read. She imagined Jess felt the same way and could immediately see that this would've been his favorite place. She wondered if he wrote any margin notes in any books here.

As she scanned the book titles absently, her breaths slowed and her eyelids grew heavy. She snuggled into Jess's jacket, which he'd put around her shoulders even when she'd insisted she wasn't cold. His fingers squeezed her shoulders as he pulled her legs onto his lap, his free hand rubbing her knees in very hypnotizing circles.

She stole a glance at his face. His head was angled back against the bookshelf, his eyes closed. With his crumpled shirt and soft, unruly hair sticking to his face, he looked less like the rebellious troublemaker he was and more like a character from a Jane Austen novel. No way would she ever tell him that, of course, but the thought made her smile. His face had a rare serenity to it and Rory thought it mirrored the wonderful contentedness she felt. The silence between them was comfortable, almost peaceful. After a while, their breaths synced and Rory thought she'd never been so content to be silent with anyone.

A simple thought passed through her. You love him. It wasn't a shocking realization, more of a puzzle piece falling into place in her mind or a warm breeze tickling her. It was like the feeling had always been there and was just now simply announcing itself in her mind. It wasn't because he'd brought her to New York and taken her to prom like she'd always wanted. It wasn't because he'd recreated her favorite memory of him and orchestrated the perfect date. It wasn't because he was a wonderful kisser or his touch electrified her skin completely. It wasn't because of anything specific; it was just because he was him. Because he was Jess. It seemed so simple to her, though she could never explain it. She was in love with him.

The fact that she loved him was simple, but what to do with it was less so. Should she tell him? Would it be too much? Would it freak him out? She couldn't even remember saying I like you to Jess, nor him saying it to her. It'd always seemed like a silly, rather obvious fact. Even when they first got together, saying the words like or crush seemed too cheesy. Neither of them was very good with words of affection.

She burrowed her head back again into his shoulder, kissing his neck contentedly. His eyes fluttered open and his hands started rubbing her arm gently. She looked up at him, her lips at his jaw. Right then, she wanted to just blurt it out. Jess, I love you.

But she contemplated the thought for far too long, her lips twitching then pursing shut, her mind blocking the words from tumbling out.

The last time Rory had been in this situation, after a near-perfect date with Dean, those three words had completely ruined the evening. The pressure she'd felt to say them back was something she'd hated back then. Given how uncomfortable Jess usually got with serious conversations, she had no doubt it would send him running. Besides, it felt wrong to say those three words to him just so she could hear them echoed back to her. She shouldn't do that to him. This day needed to stay perfect, no awkwardness and no surprise love confessions.

Still, as the silence went on, she felt like she had to say something. She went with the only other thing on her mind. 'Jess, why'd you do… all this?'

He shrugged noncommittedly, then bit his lip and cracked a lazy side-smile. 'Mostly to get you naked here in the school library.'

She tried to laugh, but was blushing too hard to really pull it off. 'Jess.'

'No, really. Hanging on to a copy of this key was the best thing I ever did.'

'Come on. Be serious.'

'I'm very serious.' He gave her his most serious look, narrowed eyes and all. 'I'm taking you to prom every year if it means it'll end like that.'

'Every year?' Rory raised her eyebrows in doubt. 'You're gonna put on a tux and listen to four hours of pop music and dance to amateur Fleetwood Mac covers every year?'

He rolled his eyes. 'Maybe only till we're thirty. After that, we wouldn't really pass for high schoolers anymore.'

'Of course.' Rory managed to say, though her mind was more hung up on the fact that he'd just casually made plans for being together for the next ten years.

He went on. 'And in the future, we should just skip all the bad music and come straight here.' He promised, giving her a quick kiss.

'What about the other stuff? The book fair and lunch and the park and everything?'

'Buttering you up for this moment.' He nodded seriously.

'No, really.' Rory nudged his jaw with her nose, meeting his eyes gently. 'Why'd you do it?'

He didn't reply at first. The silence dragged for so long that Rory looked away, and busied herself with flipping through the book in her hands again.

Minutes later, he sighed. 'I'm not very good at… this.'

She stared at him questioningly. 'What?'

'This. All of this.' He gestured around the room.

'Grand romantic gestures?'

She was only awarded an exasperated look.

She turned to his cheek, kissing him softly. 'I'd say you're doing a pretty good job.'

He shrugged again, but she could see his cheek twitching faintly.

Her lips moved to his ear as she whispered. 'It was perfect. All of it.' The words hung between them, before they both settled into silence again.

'It's not like it's a big deal or anything.' He said looking at his hands, which were still rubbing circles into her knees.

She contemplated teasing him but decided not to push him any further tonight. 'Okay.'

He stared at her for a moment, his eyes fleeting all over her face. 'I mean, you said you wanted to go to prom and I took it as a chance to… visit New York, I guess. And to get away from your crazy town.'

She smiled at his sudden nervousness. 'Okay.'

'Stop smiling.' He snapped in embarrassment.

She could only smile wider.

'I just wanted to go to New York for a day. You happened to want to go to prom. They happened to coincide. No biggie.'

'Sure.' She agreed lightly. 'Not like it's the best date we've ever had.'

His eyes caught hers, then darted away. 'Maybe.'

She went on. 'At least, the best date I've ever had.'

He slumped a little lower and looked away to kiss her shoulder. Then, he whispered, so softly she almost missed it. 'Yeah, it is.'

A/N: Please leave me a review if you're still reading! I'd like some feedback on how the story is going so far, what did you like (or dislike)? Thanks for staying with me for so long and for being patient with my slower updates 3