Here is chapter 9 as promised! I shall be posting chapter 10 before the end of the weekend ~ enjoy! Thanks for all the amazing reviews and welcome to my new followers!
Nine: So?
Seth's POV
I felt like the worst guy in the entire world. Not only had I screamed at Jane, but I had made her cry, too, which I was just realizing was worse than anything in the world. Jane alone was absolutely adorable, but Jane while crying was unreal. It made her look like the saddest, most perfect, porcelain doll. Her giant brown eyes filled with tears and shined brilliantly against the dark sky. Her freckles became more apparent with the added liquid. Her bottom lip pushed out and began trembling. There was nothing in the world more heartbreaking than seeing Jane cry.
And yet, I had been the one that had made her do it.
I lifted our entwined hands to my lips and brushed them against the back of her hand. Jane tilted her head and smiled gently at me. She was so forgiving, it made me feel even worse.
Jane had brought up some pretty heavy stuff during our very first fight, and for the life of me, I could not even begin to understand how that asshole had ever yelled at her and purposefully manipulated her. If she cried every time she got upset, how the hell was he able to do that to her all of the time? I yelled at her for possibly getting herself sexually assaulted and wanted to die. That guy must have been a real piece of work. Actually, I was sure he was a piece of work, but that was even before Jane admitted that he slept with her best friend.
I squeezed her hand.
Jane placed her hand over top of mine and grasped my wrist tightly.
"Where are you taking me?" Jane bit the corner of her lip and whispered her question to me as she stared out the passenger side window.
"Surprise," I brushed my thumb across her skin. "Is that okay?"
Jane nodded her head with a small, close-lipped smile.
"I'm really sorry I yelled at you," I told her for what felt like the hundredth time. "I begged you for a date and then I ruined it."
"Seth," Jane whispered. "You really don't need to keep apologizing. I already said I forgave you."
"I know," I sighed. "I just feel bad."
Jane smiled just a little bit and then closed her eyes. "You want me to give you a punishment or something?"
I couldn't help my mind from flashing to something entirely dirty and inappropriate, but I quickly pushed that down. Jane was a freaking diamond, she deserved the utmost respect, and I knew that did not include me making crude gestures about her getting rough with me in the bedroom.
"I might feel a little better then," I played along.
Jane chuckled. "Okay, hmm- let's see here," Jane pursed her lips and pondered this a moment. I watched her, amused, until she finally clasped her hand tightly around my own and twisted towards me in her seat.
"You have to tell me one secret," Her eyes shined brightly. "And you can't ask for one of my own."
My lips pulled up into an uncontrollable grin. "That was a very Jane-like demand," I told her. "I like it."
Jane bit the corner of her lip. "Well?"
"Well," I began slowly, turning the car into the very start of a long driveway leading through the woods. "I will tell you during dinner. Because... we're here."
At this, Jane quickly released my hand and then looked out the windows expectantly. I could tell that she was confused without her having to say anything, and to be honest I couldn't blame her. I was currently driving her down a long stretch of highway that led through a path in the thick forest. It was pitch black and there was barely any lighting.
Jane peered over at me nervously. "Are you taking me to the woods to kill me and then dispose of my body?"
I grinned. "Sadly, no."
Jane raised a dark eyebrow at me. "Sadly?" She questioned.
"Sadly," I cut the engine as I pulled my Jeep to a stop in front of the front of the cabin. "Murder seems like a very unforgettable first date!"
Jane rolled her eyes, but then I noticed her gaze catch on the outline of the small cabin in front of her. I had streamed lights on the porch banister, leading to the back deck earlier, so the cabin was more clearly illuminated.
Jane examined it for a while before I reached for her hand. "Are you ready?"
Jane turned towards me. "Where are we?"
"You'll see," I told her gently.
Jane suddenly appeared nervous. "It's a little... secluded."
I frowned. "Are you scared of me?" I deflated; had yelling at her really made her feelings change for me that quickly?
"What?" Jane's eyes bulged. "Of course not! I just- well," Jane let out a long sigh and then placed a piece of her hair behind her ear. The beginnings of a blush splotched on the corners of her cheeks. "I just don't want you to be expecting anything..." Her voice trailed off. I didn't understand her at first, but once her words sunk in, I practically tongue-twisted myself in an effort to ease her mind.
"No, no, Jane!" I quickly clarified. "That's not- this isn't that at all. At all. I promise, Janesie. Come on, I'll show you."
Jane seemed slightly relieved, but there was no doubting the hint of uneasiness that still lingered behind her eyes as she reached for the passenger door handle and stepped out. It had gotten colder on our drive over here, which is why I immediately lifted my jacket off of myself and handed it to her (a jacket that I had worn solely in case of this predicament) right when I noticed that she had goosebumps.
Jane blushed. "Thank you," She murmured, and to my delight she wasted no time slipping it over top of her head. As Jane was pulling her incredible hair out from underneath it, I couldn't help that notice that since Jane had shorts on, the jacket covered even those. It was entirely adorable, and it looked like she was wearing my jacket as a dress.
"You're welcome," I responded, not caring that my reaction was delayed because I was admiring her. I reached for her hand on the way up the front porch, and then let the lights guide us around the side and to the back.
As soon as we reached the much larger back porch, I heard Jane take a small but obvious intake of breath. I peered down at her, and the scene that I had prepared seemed to do the trick that I had only hoped it would.
Jane was staring, wide-eyed with admiration covering her delicate and beautiful features, at the dinner that I had prepared for us. I had set up a table, with a newly purchased, nice white tablecloth, and littered it with rose petals. Surrounding the table and littering the railing of the porch, sat fake twinkle lights, and I had hung lanterns in the surrounding trees to add a finishing touch.
It took Jane a little while to respond, but once she finally looked up at me I noticed that her eyes had filled up with water again. This time, though, I was happy that it wasn't for a bad reason.
"Seth," Jane struggled. "You did this for me?"
I smiled gently at her. "Of course I did, Janesie."
Her mouth parted as she looked at the scene again. "This is," She shook her head, seeming at a loss for words, and then suddenly turned towards me. Jane reached up on her tip-toes and then pressed her mouth easily to mine. My reaction was immediate, which was no surprise considering Jane was the absolute best and most talented kisser I think to have ever existed. I gently wrapped my arm around her back and used my other hand to cup her soft cheek in my hand.
"This is perfect," She whispered so quietly to me once she pulled away, our lips still only inches apart.
I kissed her once more, delicately this time. "You're perfect, Jane."
She smiled just a bit and then bit her lip, turning towards the dinner table. She reached for my hand and then took a steadying breath.
"I'm so hungry," She giggled.
"I thought you would be," I led her to a chair and then pulled it out for her. Jane seemed taken aback for a moment before she blushed and made her way towards it. I helped her to sit down and then told her I'd be just a moment as I headed back inside to heat up the food.
Thankfully, I was able to carry both of our bowls out and a bottle of wine at the same time. When I pulled the door open leading to outside, Jane quickly snapped her head back from where she was staring out into the woods. She smiled warmly at me, and I couldn't help but smile back as I placed her bowl in front of her.
Jane peered down into it curiously. "Did you make this?"
"Not this time," I told her honestly. "My mom did. You'll be thanking me- trust me."
Jane chuckled.
"Do you like wine?" I asked her.
Jane's eyes appeared to sparkle. "I love wine," She admitted.
"Really?" My lip pulled up at the corner.
She nodded enthusiastically. "I once accidentally got extremely drunk on a bottle at Thanksgiving. Started telling my entire extended family a story about how I accidentally forgot to put my pants back on after gym class." Jane blushed furiously.
"Forgot to put your pants back on?" I couldn't help but laugh. "I would hope you at least had undies on."
Jane exploded in a fit of laughter. "Who says undies, Seth?" She crinkled her nose at me.
"I was trying to keep it PG," I grinned at her.
Jane shook her head, but the hints of both a smile and a blush remained on her perfect, porcelain face.
"Yes, Seth. If you must know."
"Thank you." I poured her a glass and then some for myself. I had never been much into wine, but if Jane was happy, I was happy.
"Dig in," I told her as I took a seat, excited for her to try.
"Okay," Jane shrugged her shoulders rather adorably and then picked up her spoon, dipping it into the mystery soup and then bringing it to her lips. Her eyes were cautious for a moment, before they suddenly met mine. I nearly dropped my spoon; the way that she was looking at me, mouth parted, head slightly bent, staring at me from underneath her long, dark lashes, I had never been so attracted to a woman in my entire life.
"Wow," Jane's eyes widened. "That is delicious."
"Told you," I smiled at her.
"I love Italian wedding soup," Jane took another spoonful. "How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," I smiled. "And no one has ever disliked this soup before. Well, except for Leah, but I think she just says that to be a nuisance."
Jane chuckled. "I like your sister," She suddenly stated.
Something inside of my veins heated up. I had not expected this, and quite honestly I had no idea why, but for some reason, Jane stating that she liked my family so nonchalantly made me want to kiss her.
"Yeah?" I asked her.
Jane nodded. "It must be fun having a sibling."
I shrugged and grimaced at the same time. "Sometimes," I tried not to disagree too fervently.
"You don't think so?" Jane giggled.
"I think if you asked any guy if it was 'fun' having a sister who was only a few years apart from them in age they would reply the same way."
Jane chuckled. "My dad always said that he wished he had, had a son before me so that he could pay him to keep boys away from me." She then blushed furiously.
I raised my eyebrows. "Your dad was a very smart man."
"Did you ever do that for your sister?" Jane asked.
"Sure," I admitted. "One time I hid behind a tree near a restaurant where she went on a date with a total tool-bag."
Jane giggled. "Tool-bag," She murmured happily. "That's funny. I like that."
"Yeah?" I laughed.
Jane nodded. "I think I'll start using it."
"I would love to hear you say tool-bag, Jane," I told her.
Jane chuckled. "Yell at me again and I just might use it," She just barely whispered underneath her breath. Jane's cheeks heated up, and my admiration for her grew exponentially.
"What was that?" I leaned in.
Jane pressed her lips together and shook her head, but I had heard her, and I loved the quiet sass in her that was just barely beginning to come out.
We ate in comfortable silence for a little while before Jane suddenly set her spoon down. "Secret," She folded her hands in her lap.
At first I worried that she somehow hadn't liked the food by stopping so suddenly, that is until I realized that she had placed her spoon down because she had, in fact, finished the entire bowl.
I smiled at her as I worked to quickly finish the rest of mine. "During the next course," I replied.
"Do you have a good one?" She inquired.
"I have a few," I tried not to think of the most obvious. "What kind of secret would you like to hear, Janesie?"
Jane thought for a moment. "Something you've never told anyone," She sat back in her seat and brought her wine glass with her, taking a very seductive, though I was sure she had no idea of that, sip of the red liquid.
I gulped. "Hm," I thought out loud. "Honestly, Jane," I told her, "I don't have too many secrets that no one knows." And that was true, especially considering how the pack could literally read into my mind.
Jane frowned. "Everyone has secrets," She whispered to me.
My face softened. "I'd love to hear all of yours."
"Yet you won't even tell me one of yours," Jane frowned.
I sighed. "I have one I could tell you."
"You do?" Jane's entire face seemed to brighten.
I smiled at her. "Yes. Can I go grab dinner and then I'll tell you?"
"I'll help you," Jane stood up.
"Oh no, Jane," I quickly argued. "I'll get it."
"I want to come," Jane smiled and brought her wine glass with her as she bounced into the kitchen. I let out a deep breath as I followed after her, forcing my eyes away from her long, tan legs that glimmered as she walked.
Once inside, I grabbed the two plates of our main course out of the fridge and began heating them up. Jane pulled herself up on the counter and then placed her glass down.
"Can you tell me now?" Jane asked innocently.
I chuckled. "You can't wait until dinner, Janesie?"
She shook her head with a guilty smile.
I nodded my head- here goes nothing. "In high school, I was going through... a lot, with my dad dying and other big changes, and so I payed someone to take the ACT for me."
Jane frowned. "That one sucks."
"What?" I laughed, slightly astonished. "How? The kid got a 32 and I have been worshiped as a Brainiac by all of my friends and my family. And none of them know about it. How is that not a great one?"
Jane pursed her lips. Well," She began uneasily. "I guess it's not terrible. Test scores aren't really what I had in mind, though."
I raised my eyebrows at her as I led her outside once more. "You want to get deep with me, Janesie?" I asked, actually quite shocked. Jane had talked more than she had ever spoken to me tonight, and she seemed keen to let a little more of her armor fall. With every new layer I fell hopelessly more in love with her, but it was coming off faster now, and I worried that suddenly she would shut down.
"No!" Jane blushed. "I just want a good secret!"
I laughed. "Well if you want another one you can tell me one first."
"That's not fair," Jane frowned. "My life is so... complicated. Yours is so perfect." Jane's face had gone sad and removed in only a matter of seconds, and I knew that her old habit of convincing herself that her life and problems would be "too much" for me had begun racing through her mind again. In a quick effort to console her, I placed my hand on top of hers on the table. Jane's eyes batted up to mine.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Jane," I whispered to her gently.
Jane gulped. "I think I'd like to know it," She just barely whispered back.
I smiled just a little bit at her. "We've got time then," I told her.
Jane nodded her head, and then took a bite of her food, which seemed to do the trick. "Oh my God, Seth! This is incredible!"
I laughed, and then she did, but truly, I was just happy that her shine was back.
"Wow," Jane sighed. "I bet you've woow'ed dozens of girls with your cooking," She stated rather quietly.
"No, Jane," I chuckled. "No I haven't."
I could tell her intrigue, even as she attempted to keep her face unreadable. "You haven't dated?" She inquired, her brown eyes curious.
"I have," I corrected her. "But not much."
"What's not much?" Jane asked.
"I've only ever dated one girl," I told her honestly.
Jane smiled. "Me too."
"Yes," I widened my eyes. "The cheating, yelling, manipulative guy. Sounds like the time of your life."
Jane giggled. "No- well, I mean, no, it wasn't, but no he wasn't really that bad of a guy." She was occupied cutting her food so she wasn't looking at me, but that did not keep me from staring. My mouth had gone completely dry; how on earth did Jane think that he wasn't a terrible guy? The yelling alone would have categorized him as a complete asshole, but mix that with the cheating and everything else, and he was as bad as they come.
"Jane," I finally spoke, my voice uneasy. "I really don't see how that's possible."
"Well," Jane suddenly looked a little nervous. "I started dating him in high school. He was really popular and I was just... not. I guess it flattered me that he was into me. We dated for a year and it was actually really fun; he knew all the party people so my senior year I was able to go to all of that and really experience high school, you know? But then my parents died, and he went off to school and I stayed... here. It wasn't really his fault that my life became so complicated. I just wasn't, like, happy anymore, and I knew that he wasn't happy, but I think he thought he couldn't leave me because of my parents, so I think that's why he was cheating."
I blinked, waiting for her to continue with a "but" and being completely flabbergasted once I realized that was the end of her explanation.
"Jane," I leaned into the table to be closer to her. "Your parents died. You had every right to be sad, that didn't mean that you deserved someone to cheat on you and make you feel like you were a nuisance with your problems. If he was a real man at all he would have been there for you."
Jane's eyes watered just a little bit. "That's nice Seth," She whispered.
"It's true, Jane," I told her sternly. "Any good guy would say that; ask Sam or Paul or Embry or Quil or Jacob."
"So all of your guy friends are actually nice guys?" Jane peered at me quizzically. "Really?"
"What do you mean?" I took a bite of my food.
"Well, I mean, no one, like, cheats on their girlfriends or wives when you go out or..."
"No," I nearly choked on my food as I burst out laughing. "I'm sorry," I laughed. "No. They're the most loyal people I think that the world's ever seen."
Jane shrugged, seeming not to believe it but not pushing the matter anymore.
"I kind of had a similar situation," I told her, wanting to keep her talking for as long as I possibly could while she was being this open with me.
"Hm?" Jane's eyes seemed distant.
"With how you said that your ex was popular in high school and you felt special that he wanted you? In high school I sort of... sprouted. I went from a scrawny kid to, well, how I am now, and it brought me a lot of attention. I couldn't believe that the most popular girl in school was after me."
Jane bit the corner of her lip. "She was probably really pretty," She blurted.
"That's what the entire football team thought, yeah," I cocked my head at her. "But I think I'm more into brunettes with freckles."
Jane immediately blushed. "The entire football team?" She giggled.
"Yes," I hung my head. "Leave it to me to think that the sluttiest girl in the entire town would settle down."
Jane blushed furiously. "Wow. So, did you date her for a long time?"
"About a year," I told her honestly, but I was sixteen. It was more physical than anything."
Jane's eyes widened. "That's kind of... another reason why Michael and I broke up."
Michael. For some reason, I even hated her saying his name, especially now that she alluded to something physical happening between them that made her break up with him. My entire body was suddenly on high alert.
"Did he hurt you?" I tried to be as gentle as possible with a question that sent all the adrenaline in my body to my muscles.
"Oh, no!" Jane flushed. "Of course not! He was just very... pushy, and I don't know, I guess I was a prude, but I just wasn't interested. I never felt like he respected me enough to sleep with him, even before he did anything."
My admiration for this girl was at an all-time high.
"I don't know," Jane sighed. "I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that he was getting it from somewhere else. I mean what guy really would be celibate their freshman year at Washington State?"
"I would have," I suddenly blurted. Jane's eyes shot up to mine. "I mean, I would have for you."
Jane stared at me for a few seconds, before her lips slowly pulled into a loose smile. "Yeah, I'm starting to think that you would have," Jane agreed softly.
We stared at each other for a moment, each mesmerized by the other, until I noticed that she had stopped eating.
"Are you done?" I gestured towards her plate.
"Oh!" Jane shook both her head and the moment away. "Yes," She smiled sheepishly. "Thank you."
"Of course," I reached for her plate. "I'll go get desert."
"Do you want help?" Jane asked expectantly.
"No! You sit here, I'll be right back!"
"Are you sure?" Jane bit the corner of her lip.
"Of course, Jane. I'll be right back."
I had just grabbed the cheesecake that I had actually had a hand in making this time, and turned to walk back outside, when I realized that Jane wasn't where I had left her. Jane was inside, her back pressed up against the back door that was now shut. The moonlight was illuminating her beautiful figure, and from the swell of her hips and the definition of her waist, I could tell that she had taken off my jacket.
"Jane," I began.
"It was getting cold," Jane took a step closer to me, biting the corner of her lip. "Are we sleeping over?"
I momentarily forgot how to form words before thankfully pulling myself together. "Ugh, well, we can. I have no problem taking you home though, Jane. I don't want you to feel pressured."
Jane closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around my neck. There was a slightly embarrassed, entirely sensual smile playing on her lips. "Pressure me," She whispered and then bit the middle of her lip.
I couldn't help myself. A low moan made its way from the back of my throat through my lips, and then I couldn't help myself from pressing my lips to hers. I pressed my hands into her back and explored the perfect contours there, as Jane kissed me back slowly and tangled her fingers in my hair. I lifted her by the waist onto the counter and then steps between her legs.
"Seth!" Jane squealed and then squirmed away from my grasp. "That tickles!" She giggled.
"Sorry," I laughed. "Want to try some cheesecake? I actually made this one."
"Certainly," Jane smiled brightly.
I grabbed a fork from the drawer and scooped her up a piece, raising it to her mouth. I am quite confident in the fact that Jane had no idea nor will she ever have any idea how much she affected me with wrapping her soft, plush lips around the fork and then moaning.
"Wow, Seth," She sighed. "Your cooking has got to be your best asset; I'm not going to lie."
"Neither am I," I raised my eyebrows at her. "Your kissing has got to be yours."
Jane giggled and I reached for her cheeks, kissing her again chastely.
I heard Jane gasp. Suddenly, she darted her face to the side of me, peering out the window towards the other side of the house where the deck continued. "Is that a hot tub?" Jane exclaimed.
I deflated. "Yes," I sighed. "Darn. I forgot to ask you to bring a swimsuit."
Jane turned back to me, tightening her arms around my neck. "So?" She whispered, biting the corner of her lip as her eyes sparkled up at me.
Oh boy.
What did everyone think about the story of Jane and her ex? Do you think there's any more to the story?
Let me know your thoughts down below! Thanks for reading!
