"Hey Jess." Bradin quietly greeted the next morning as he walked up behind her in the washroom and placed his hands on her waist. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Of course not." She said reassuringly, though he felt her twitch at the physical contact. She grabbed her brush and whirled around. "I'm going to go change." She muttered distractedly without looking at him.
When she resurfaced for breakfast, he tentatively said, "Again, I'm so sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"You didn't." she shook her head. "I'm just, I'm just sorry that I'm so…"
"Listen, it's not a problem at all, it certainly isn't something you should be apologizing over. I understand if you're not ready." He soothed.
"Can we please not talk about this?" she pleaded, laughing nervously.
"Aw, sex talks first thing in the morning. It's the most invigorating thing." He grinned and kissed her.
"Sex talks? Okay, I'm just going to grab my muffin and leave before I hear too much for my own good," Erika held up her hands as she walked into the room. "I knew three weeks in Florida would bring out the love birds in you."
Jessica turned red and ducked down into her cereal. "It's not what you think."
"Oh?" Erika raised an eyebrow up in interest. "What's the scoop?"
Jess looked like she wanted to curl up and die so Bradin figured he'd save her, "It's between us."
"Oh come on Kansas and Kansas, I'm good with advice. You've always come to me before." Erika smiled.
Jessica smiled thinly and continued eating.
"And you should know as well as any that there are some things people would be more comfortable keeping private." He shrugged.
"All right, I'll stop poking around." She relented. "Oh, but hey are you ready to train with me today?"
"Sure, I have the competition at one so we can do some practice this morning. You okay by yourself this morning?" he turned to Jess.
"No problem." She waved off.
"Great. I'll see you at the competition then?" he gulped down the rest of his milk and kissed her goodbye before leaving with Erika.
"Repeat after me, you are just a paranoid, insecure girl." Jessica reprimanded herself as she watched Bradin walk off. And with a shake of her head, she finished getting ready and went downstairs to check out a few local shops.
It wasn't as if she didn't trust Bradin. And Erika was amazing, she'd never do anything quite as dishonest as Jess was worrying about. But then, even if they were both honest, good people, they were also both incredibly gorgeous. And Bradin had once held a torch for Erika, which she knew for a fact. Whether or not he had gotten over it or was still harbouring an infatuation, Jessica didn't know.
She wanted to scream at herself. She was standing in Florida, it was sunny and warm, and filled with excitement. Disney World was around the corner and her boyfriend was a finalist in a renowned surfing competition. Why was she stressing so much?
Shaking her head to get rid of her brooding thoughts, Jessica tried to enjoy herself while she looked at the stores. Three new outfits later and she was feeling a bit calmer. Things were going to be fine…
Later that day, after she had dropped her bags back in the hotel room, after watching Bradin kick ass in the that day's surfing tournament, Jessica spent a few hours sight-seeing with Bradin and he promised that they'd go to Disney World in a few days. She was still a bit sensitive around him at this point, and he noticed it. Right before they were about to grab a bite for dinner, Bradin had to go with Erika because apparently there was some papers he had forgotten to sign after he took second place at that day's tournament.
Jessica watched him go forlornly. With a sigh, she sucked it up and went into a bar and grill. No sooner had she dug into her pasta then some jerk-off plopped himself next to her. She briskly blew him off. Ten minutes later, a second guy around her age grinned at her and fell into the stool behind her table. She could smell his breath from where she was sitting and noted with disgust that he was drunk. Getting hit on by drunken guys was not high on her list of things to do.
Sitting into the stools next to the guy were two girls who looked slightly older than Jessica. Completely oblivious to her sitting there, they began a gossiping spree. Normally she would have tuned them out, but then a name jumped out at her.
"Did you see Bradin Westerly today?" one of the girls, the blonde wearing a halter top, asked her friend.
"Dear Lord, he's certainly God's gift to women." Her friend, a redhead, gushed as she fanned herself in emphasis.
"Too bad he's taken." The blonde sighed dejectedly.
"Oh, he's with his surf instructor, right? That brunette who was hugging him so tightly after he got second place?" The redhead responded. "Now she had a lot of the other surfers drooling all right."
"Yeah, I bet more than a few of the guys were jealous of more than Westerly's skill." The blonde smirked. "But no, word around here is that he's with some girl from his hometown. She was there today, too, I think."
"You can't mean that other girl hanging around him after the show? She can't hold a candle next to that instructor." The redhead snorted. "If Bradin's not with her officially, he's with her on the side."
They finished their drinks and pranced off, leaving Jessica glaring after them. Unfortunately, she had forgotten about the tipsy teen beside her.
"You look rather riled," he commented, reaching over and putting his hand on her waist. "I'm Kevin Nole, by the way."
Suppressing a shudder, Jessica pushed his hand off. "I've got a boyfriend."
"You're not the girl they were just rambling about, are you? Girlfriend of that Westerly guy?" he snorted.
"I am." She said defensively.
He tried to snake his arm around her again and leaned too close for comfort. "Dream on, I mean you're a pretty girl, but no offensive, that brunette was one hell of a hottie." He smiled. "I think they're right, and if he's doing someone on the side- I don't see why you shouldn't."
Jessica again pushed him away from her and stood up to leave.
The stupid man wouldn't take no for an answer. "Have I touched a nerve, sweetie?" Before she knew what was happening, he had her back against a wall, his arm out blocking her exit. He leaned in and pressed his chapped lips over hers.
Okay, she was done being polite. She shoved him away and brought her knee up, hard. Wiping her lips in disgust, Jessica walked over the keeled over man.
"With a girl as frigid as you, I'm sure you'll get dumped soon, Westerly can have any girl he wants, what's he going to do with a bitch like you, who won't even put out?" "Kevin" groaned.
Looking at him with distaste, Jessica "accidentally" trod on his hand as she left the restaurant. Walking back to the hotel, however, she couldn't lie to herself. She knew he was drunk and all, but his words had jarred her. Everything she had been worrying about was summed up in the words of the guy keeled over in the bar. She said she wasn't ready for that step, but she knew Bradin was no virgin. And if she didn't put out, he had so many people willing to jump his bone… Including one very fit older woman who happened to have a hotel room right next to his. And she happened to be alone with him more than Jessica liked to think about.
It didn't help things that when Jessica walked past the outdoor pool by the hotel, she saw Bradin and Erika in the hot tub. She was wearing a skimpy bikini and the hot tub was really crowded. She was practically sitting on his lap.
Forcing herself not to be immature, Jessica clenched her teeth and walked into the lobby. The papers must have been signed rather quickly, she thought angrily. Nice of Bradin to call her and meet up for dinner with her. She had just sat through the worst meal she had sat through this trip while he was practically getting a lap dance from Erika. Jessica took a deep breath. She was stronger than this. She was smarter than this. It was perfectly innocent. She knew this.
The rational part of her mind shut down soon after this, though. After taking a long shower to get rid of the smell of horny men from the bar, she changed into one of her more revealing outfits to make herself feel better. She wasn't unattractive, and a little ego boost never hurt anyone. Besides, it was warm out. Her eyes were still sulky as she put on her halter-top that left more than three-quarters of her back (and an inch of her abdomen) exposed and the shortest skirt she owned (which still wasn't very short… it went almost down to her knees). She glared at the mirror. There was nothing wrong with her, she thought sullenly. It was decided that she was never going to go to a bar again without pepper spray or a cattle prod. Idiot men.
She slammed the bathroom door closed and sat crossly on her bed. From outside her room, she heard Erika's laughing voice. The wall behind her bed was the hall way, which made for much annoyance when people were loud out there as she could often hear them.
"See you later, lover." Erika said teasingly.
"You'd better get into your room before another guy spots you and hits on you. Today must be a record." Bradin's voice laughed.
"Actually, must people assume I'm with you and stay away." Erika replied. "They think my pro-surfer macho boyfriend will kick their asses."
"I think you're tougher than I am," Bradin snorted. "Later, Erika." The sound of more laughter and two doors opening rang through Jessica's ears.
Thanks to her over-emotional state, her jealousy was ignited. Jessica was done with being calm and rational. She rashly strode past the washroom and into Bradin's room.
He was halfway to the washroom, wearing swim trunks and a towel over his shoulders. He glanced up in surprise.
"Hey, Jess. Are you-?" he started.
Jessica interrupted him with a rather heavy kiss. She felt him smile slightly as he returned the kiss. She slipped her hands around his shoulders and tangled her hands in his slightly wet hair.
Pulling back for air, Bradin looked at her questioningly, "Happy to see me, or what?" She didn't answer, preferring to encompass his lips over hers again. She could feel his confusion as she deepened the kiss further, slipping her tongue over his bottom lip. He opened his lips slightly, letting in her tongue and leaned into her, returning her intensity.
She broke apart for a moment, once more, for air. He stroked her cheek, asking her, "I thought you were mad at me?"
Jessica shook her head, "You think too much." Bradin thought his lips were going to be bruised soon as she crushed her lips against his again and pushed him onto his bed. Now he was seriously confused.
"What-?" She cut him off by throwing the towel around his neck to the ground and straddling him. He propped himself up on his shoulders but she shoved him down again as she laid him with desperate kisses. She moved to his neck, his jaw, his ears, causing a sigh to be released from the blonde's mouth.
Her lips brushed against his chest briefly before Bradin finally found his voice again. He placed a hand on her waist, his thumb accidentally brushing a part of her skin that wasn't covered by her shirt, causing her to shiver slightly. "Jess- I haven't even showered yet… I smell like chlorine." He looked apologetic.
"I don't care." She shook her head and kissed him.
He pulled back. "But I do. This shouldn't be so spur of the moment, you deserve better than this, I mean, I seriously smell."
She silenced him with her lips and took his hands in hers and laid them around her back. She looked directly into his eyes as she untied her halter.
"Jess-" he said hesitantly. She removed her halter. "Are you-" She licked his chest. "Really-" She gently nibbled on his ear lobe.
He lost his words as she gazed at him, eyes set with determination. "Do you want me or not?" Bradin exhaled sharply as she ran her tongue over his nipple, her hand stroking his stomach. His hands reached back and stroked her back before softly rubbing under her bra. His fingers unclasped the bra and he leaned forward to kiss her neck and his lips travelled lower to the edge of her bra. He kissed the skin beside the strap and gently slid the straps off her shoulders, kissing her lips until her bra was off completely. Jessica pressed against him and in a moment he'd be lost completely… But no… This wasn't right.
Bradin wrenched his lips away from her very reluctantly and met her eyes. "What are you doing?" she breathed impatiently, angrily.
"Jess, what is this? I thought you weren't ready?" he gently chided her.
"Well, now I am." She exclaimed, wrapping her hands around his neck.
"Yesterday you weren't, but today you are?" his voice was still so gentle, even as she let her hands drop from his neck as she glared at him.
"And yesterday you wanted me, but today you don't?" she snapped.
Sensing the hurt and ignoring the anger in her voice, he shook his head. "Of course that's not it. Of course I want to… God, you can't know how much I want you."
"Then why do you keep hesitating?" she yelled.
Bradin's eyes never left hers. "I'm not going to do something that you're not ready for."
"I initiated all this, not you, don't you think that means I'm ready?" Jessica demanded.
He cupped her chin and said, "Listen, baby, if you just tell me honestly why you changed your mind, if you tell me honestly that you really want to do this, than we'll do this."
"Why can't you just be like a real guy and accept sex?" she screamed.
"Because I'm not some guy, you're not some girl and I'm not going to do this just because you're upset and want to feel better, I'm not doing this unless you're sure, because you deserve that." Bradin's voice was still quiet and caring.
"You're lying!" she shouted. "You don't want us to work, you're going to leave me… all these girls around and you're actually saying you want to be with me? And now, I'm trying to be with you and you don't even want me! Just break up with me already, Bradin!"
Bradin's eyes went wide with anger, "Don't you fucking say that again!" He grabbed her shoulders roughly and made her look into his eyes. "I'm not going to break up with you! I don't know why we're always fighting about something or another but I want us to work, I want you and only you!"
Jessica pulled away and stood up. She threw the hotel clock against the wall and slid against the corner of the wall, her body wracked with sobs. "I just wanted to be with you." She cried. Bradin stood up and gently covered her exposed upper body with one of his shirts laying by the bed. He kneeled next to her and stroked her hair.
She shut her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry."
"What happened, Jessica?" he pleaded.
"There was this guy at this bar, and these two twittering girls, and Erika…" she tried to explain. She covered her face with her hands and Bradin wrapped a comforting arm around her, giving her a hug. "I thought you weren't going to be with me unless I slept with you. They said you'd find someone else who would, they said you'd sleep with Erika or someone else if I wouldn't, and I…" Bradin kissed her forehead and tilted her chin up.
In shock and amazement, he stated, "I would never do that. I'm fine with waiting, if waiting means you'll be more comfortable. We're not doing anything until you're ready, and having you is more than I could ever want. I don't care about sex, I care about you."
"I just didn't want to lose you." Jessica whispered.
"You won't, Jessie, I'm yours." He softly told her. He held her as she cried, and could feel every sob as it vibrated through her body.
When the tears finally stopped, and she could meet his eyes again, she said, "I'm so sorry, Bradin. For everything, I'm just a mess. I'm sorry for tonight. And for last night. I'm being such an idiot…"
"It's fine, I understand," he calmed her down and very lightly brushed her lips with his own. "And for the record, there's nothing going on between me and Erika, you don't have to worry. She's my friend and nothing more."
"I know, you don't have to explain yourself. I trust you. That guy just hit me at my most insecure thoughts and exploited them." She shook her head. Leaning into Brdin again for a tight hug, Jessica murmured, "Thank you, Bradin."
"For what?" he asked.
"For being you. For not letting me sleep with you. For not being a typical guy. You really understand me… " she said.
"Believe me, it took a lot for me to pull away. You're gorgeous, you know that, right?" he laughed. "Promise that you won't tease me?"
"I won't tease you, next time I say I'm ready, I'll be ready." She smiled.
"And I'll have a fistful of condoms ready," he winked cheekily. Bradin walked her back to her room, handing her her shirt and bra back, much to her embarrassment.
"Good night." She was so red, it was adorable.
"Sweet dreams," he kissed her tenderly, "You're my girl, Jessie, remember that."
She smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "Have a good sleep."
The moment she closed the door, Bradin changed his clothes, grabbed his keys, and stalked out the door. Whoever made her cry like that was going to die. He was going to maim the bastard who hurt her.
A/N: Yes, I've finally updated, I'm not completely dead! I was going to add in the scene of Bradin kicking some ass, but I wanted to get this chapter up as soon as I could, so that scene will probably be in the next chapter. Thanks for sticking with me, readers!