The four of us caught up to Ivy and Ty who appeared very uncomfortable about walking with us. Alec wasn’t going to make this easy on anyone. But it didn’t matter. Because his opinion was no longer a factor in my life.
The next few weeks went by in a blur. I’d applied to a few more schools because I’d come to the conclusion that I didn’t want to go to Texas State. I didn’t know if I had a chance of getting into TU as I’d gone rogue on my essay, so I was going to have a back-up plan.
“You have a birthday coming up.” Jett and I were sprawled out in the hammock facing one another and he played with the rope bracelet around my wrist. My mother hated it. I think the twine represented the new me in a way, and she wanted nothing to do with it. She continued to go to all of Alec’s basketball games with Mama T, and I found it disheartening. She’d barely attended her own daughter’s cross-country races, but she’d support Alec to the ends of the earth. My father didn’t go with her anymore, and I’d heard them arguing about it several times. It was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that my parents were basically fighting because I’d ended my relationship with Alec. Jett was right—her obsession with it was not normal.
“Good memory.” I smiled up at him.
“You brought heart cookies and cupcakes every year to school for as long as I can remember. Of course, your birthday is on Valentine’s Day. It’s very—”
“Very what?” I asked, and my tongue dipped out to wet my bottom lip.
“It’s very Adelaide Edington of you.” He laughed.
“I have to say, I don’t mind having a birthday on Valentine’s Day. I wish we’d been together on your birthday though.” Jett’s birthday was in September. I’d remembered it because he had always been the first birthday in elementary school when we were growing up. His gram was a great baker, and she’d always make delicious treats for the class. Jett was the first in our class to get his driver’s license.
He was born to lead.
“Oh yeah? What would you have done if we were together?” His fingers moved to my hair, brushing it out of my face. My heart raced at his touch. It always did.
“I’d have kissed you every time I saw you.” I chuckled. But I meant it.
His mouth came over mine, and I tangled my fingers in his hair. I couldn’t get enough of him. His hand glided up my side, grazing my breast and I arched into him. I wanted more. But he was insistent on taking it slow. Everyone that looked at Jett saw this rugged football player, a fighter, a bad boy on a motorcycle… but I saw him for who he was.
Gentle and kind.
Patient and honest.
I loved everything about him. How he made me feel.
Safe and wanted.
Cherished and loved.
He tipped me back as he hovered above me, taking our kiss deeper. His hand slipped beneath my cardigan and tank top, and his fingers traced the hard peaks over my lace bra. He cupped my breast and squeezed as he moaned into my mouth. I ground up against him, and I could feel how much he wanted me, because I wanted him just as bad.
His hand moved behind me and unclasped my bra. His fingers took turns teasing each of my breasts and my breathing was out of control. I continued rubbing up against him as the most sensational feeling took over my body. An unbelievable need burned inside me. His hand moved down to the waistband of my jeans pausing at the button.
“Is this okay?” he whispered between labored breaths.
“Please,” I whispered.
He continued to kiss me as he slipped his hand down, teasing my most sensitive area over my lace panties. My hips bucked and moved of their own volition. Grinding up against his hand.
“Let yourself go, Ace.” He covered my mouth with his after he spoke.
I gasped as the most intense orgasm ripped through my body. I’d never known I could feel that good from just kissing. And touching. But here I was, writhing beneath all his hardness as I rode out every last wave of euphoria.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, covering my eyes with my hand.
This was embarrassing, right?
We hadn’t even had sex, and here I was crying out my release like a fool.
He pulled my hand away from my face. “Don’t cover yourself from me, ever. That was fucking beautiful. I’ll be rubbing it out to visions of you coming apart just grinding up against my hand for years to come. No pun intended.”
We both laughed and I shook my head. “That’s never happened before. I mean, with another person.”
Oh my god. Stop talking. Shoot me now.
“That’s because you dated a selfish prick—so, of course you had to touch yourself because he was too lazy to do it for you. I love giving you pleasure, seeing you come apart like that.”
“One day at a time,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around him and settling my head on his chest as he adjusted my jeans and rolled me on top of him.
“So, what do you want for your birthday?”
“I have everything I want,” I said, staring down into his gorgeous dark eyes. It was the truth. Jett and I were together. I had amazing best friends. I was figuring out what I wanted in the future and making it happen. Aside from the distance I felt from my mother, I’d never been happier. I wished she could be happy for me.
His hands reached behind my back, beneath my top, and I shivered. “Just fastening your bra.” He chuckled at my reaction.
“You were pretty smooth the way you unlatched it so quickly,” I said, trying to hide my smile.
His gaze studied mine. “Was it okay that I did that? I mean, I know it felt good, but I don’t want to push you, Ace.”
“You’re the one holding back, not me. I’m ready for more. I’m ready for everything.” I raised a brow, demanding him to tell me differently.
“Not holding back. Trust me, I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. But I want to do it right, you know? You deserve that. You deserve everything.”
He stole the air from my lungs with his words. He had a way of doing that to me.
“You know what I want for my birthday?”
“What?” He smiled up at me and my stomach dipped.
“I want you to come to my family birthday dinner. Mama always makes my favorite, and I want you to be there.”
He nodded. “Done.”
“Thank you. She’s really not that bad, I promise.” His body tensed beneath mine, and I ran my fingers over his arm to help him relax. My mother had been pretty awful to him every time he’d come over to pick me up and the few times he’d come to hang out in the basement and watch a movie. I went to Jett’s house much more often. It was small and cozy, but most importantly, I was welcome there. I felt it every time I walked through the door. I hated that my mother didn’t treat him the same way. My father and Clem loved Jett.