"Would you at least consider it before saying no?" he asks.
"Even if I went with you, it wouldn't work. We'd get out there and you'd be gone all the time. You'd be at class or studying. You wouldn't have time for me."
"I'd still see you. When I was home, you'd be there."
"You're living in the dorms. I can't live there with you."
"Then we'll get an apartment."
"In New York? Are you crazy? Rent costs a fortune there."
"My parents are paying for it. I'm not. And they don't care where I live."
"They would if you were living with a girl. A girl they don't approve of. We can't even tell them we're dating. Even if we could, they can't afford an apartment in New York. They're broke."
"They're not broke. They just have less money than they used to. And if they don't want to pay for it, I'll use the money in my college account. We could make this work. You just need to say yes." He cups my face. "Say you'll move in with me."
"Brad, we can't do this. We haven't dated that long. We haven't even had—"
"I know." He scoots closer. "But it's not because I didn't want to. I've wanted to for weeks."
"You have?"
"God, yes. Are you kidding me?" He brings my face to his and talks over my mouth. "It's nearly impossible to hold myself back when I'm around you. The things I want to do to you." His lips brush against mine and a shiver runs through me.
"Like what?" I whisper.
"I don't want to say it. Even just thinking about it is working me up." His arm goes around my waist and he slides me over until I'm flush against his body. "You see what I mean?"
I feel him, hard and thick, pressing against me.
"So, um." My eyes lift to his. "Why haven't we done it?"
"Because we're never alone. Your mom's always walking in on us. Or her boyfriend does. And we can't be alone at my aunt's house."
I lean in and kiss him. "We're alone right now."
"We are." He smiles, then lays me on my back and kisses my neck as he unbuttons my shirt. My chest rises and falls as his fingers brush against my skin, sending tingles down my core. He flicks open the front clasp on my bra and I feel the cool air over my skin as the breeze blows through the back of the SUV.
I close my eyes and let the sensations I'm feeling take over any thoughts and concerns. Quitting my job. Lying to Nate. Money problems. They're all gone, replaced by all the things Brad's making me feel.
He lowers my shorts down my legs and I shiver.
"Cold?" he asks.
"No," I whisper.
I shiver again as he slides off my panties. He tosses them aside, then kisses his way up the inside of my leg, my inner thigh, then finally, to the spot that's throbbing with need. He's done this before and learned what I like, so it doesn't take long before I'm at the edge, ready to come.
"Not yet," I say, stopping him. I love what he's doing but I want more. I want to feel him inside me. Filling me.
He moves up my body until his lips are on mine. "You're so damn perfect. God, you turn me on."
I yank at his shirt, trying to get it off.
"Hold on." He jumps out the back and quickly sheds his clothes as I toss my shirt and bra aside.
"You sure you're not cold?" he asks, laying over me.
"Not at all." I pull his face down to mine and kiss him, feeling the length of him between my legs. I tilt my hips up, wanting him inside me. Not wanting to wait another second.
His cock brushes against my opening, then dips inside, just a little. He's large and I feel it stretching me. He pushes in a little more, and I break from his lips to take a breath.
"You okay?" he asks.
"Yeah," I breathe out. "Keep going."
He pushes all the way in. "Fuck, you feel good."
I open my eyes and they meet up with his as he slowly pulls out, then thrusts inside me, harder this time. I gasp, then smile as he does it again. And again.
"I love you," he says between kisses.
"I love you too," I whisper, my heart filled with joy because I know he means it. He's not just saying it. He really does love me.
His long deep thrusts continue, gradually getting faster. I feel the pressure building, wanting to explode. I've been wanting this with Brad for so long that I don't want it to end. But it's coming. I'm so close.
"Oh, God!" I yell, arching back as the waves of pleasure wash over me.
Brad thrusts faster and harder, his muscles clenching.
"Fuck," he groans as his own release comes.
His body relaxes and he takes a breath. He slides out of me and falls back to lay beside me. "Tell me again why we waited so long to do that?"
I laugh. "Something about us not being alone."
"We should've come out here a long time ago."
"It's kind of a long drive."
"It's worth the drive," he says, breathing heavy. "It's definitely worth the drive."
As I lie there, I notice something trickling down my inner thigh. I reach down and feel it. "Shit."
"What?"
I sit up. "We didn't use anything."
He bolts up. "Fuck! I totally forgot."
"Me too."
"I'm clean," he rushes to say. "I had a physical right before I moved here. I got tested. I was clean."
"So am I. I mean, I don't have anything. I haven't even been with anyone since—never mind." I look around for a towel.
"Here." He reaches to the center console and opens it. He pulls out a small towel. "It's clean. I just keep it there in case I spill something."
"Thanks." I take it from him.
"You're um...on the pill, right?"
I nod. "Yeah."
He breathes a sigh of relief. "So we're good?"
"Yeah. We're good."
"Come here." He lays down and waits for me to join him. When I do, he takes me in his arms and kisses my forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too."
I wish I could go to New York with him, but my life is here. I can't leave my mom. This town. This is my home. It's all I know.
But I really want to be with him. I want to be happy, and Brad makes me so happy.
What if I did it? What if I finally did what makes me happy and left here? Maybe this is my chance. Brad's offering me a way out. Maybe I should take it.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Riley
"I'll do it," I say to Brad as I burst through the door.
"Do what?" he asks, giving me a kiss.
"I'll go to New York with you."
"Are you serious?" He holds me back, looking at my face. "This isn't a joke, right? You'd actually come with me?"
"It'll be tough leaving my mom, but you're right. I can't take care of her forever. I want to do this, Brad. For me. For us. It's scary, but I want to do it."
He brings me into his arms. "We'll make this work. I know you're scared, but we'll make it work. We'll start looking for apartments today if you want."