“That makes me happy,” I said, matching his smile.
I leaned up on the balls of my feet and kissed him. He tightened his grip around me and my feet slowly came off the floor. My lips were slow and deliberate. I wrapped my arms around his neck, happy that it was my turn to demonstrate my feelings with a kiss.
After a moment, he returned me to the floor. I pressed my forehead against his chest and sighed at the silly misunderstanding. Jared was obviously more worried about my fate with Ryan than I thought.
I looked up at him. “If I’m happy when you’re not around, it’s because I’m thinking of you.”
“I thought you said you couldn’t say things the way I can?” he beamed.
“It’s just the truth,” I said in earnest. I was beyond pleased that he compared his always elegant articulation with my stunted, debilitated speech.
Jared kissed me again, this time scooping me into his arms and lowering me onto my bed. His lips traveled over to my ear, and then slowly made their way down my neck.
I slipped my hands under his shirt and ran my fingers up his back, marveling at the incredible muscles of his torso and his baby-soft skin. Jared pulled his shirt over his head with one hand and tossed it onto the floor. As he did so, his muscles stretched and flexed under his skin, and the butterflies in my stomach erupted into a frenzy.
“Is it hot in here?” I teased.
“Getting pretty toasty,” he smiled, leaning down to kiss me again.
I pulled away from his mouth, sucking in a deep breath of air. His kisses were not the cautious kind. The electricity from his lips pulsated all the way to my toes. His mouth moved the way it did in his kitchen the night Claire made an unexpected a visit.
“It’s definitely hot in here,” I breathed. With that, I reached down and pulled my sweater over my head. Jared pressed his torso against me and I moaned as the feverish temperature of his skin burned against mine. I took another deep breath between Jared’s amazing kisses and pressed my fingers into his chest, pushing him away. Jared leaned back, surprised.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, his breath quick and shallow.
My breathing matched his. “You’ve told me the truth. We love each other, and I’m pretty sure it’s been established that we’re spending the rest of our lives together.”
“Yeah?” he breathed, clearly impatient.
“Please don’t stop,” I begged, staring at his lips.
Jared’s eyes radiated a sky blue as he pressed his mouth against mine. His fingers traced my collar bone, catching the strap of my bra and slowly sliding it off my shoulder. Every inch of me felt tingly, and the nerves under my skin screamed in anticipation. I pulled him against me as his lips touched the cusp of my bare shoulder. His mouth parted against my skin and his tongue tasted my flesh, giving rise to goose bumps when the air cooled the heat left behind. I wrapped my legs around him and my thighs automatically tensed with an overwhelming sensation.
Jared pulled in a ragged deep breath and firmly worked his mouth against mine. It had less caution than before, eager, a prelude to what we both knew was coming.
He leaned his cheek against mine to whisper in my ear. “Are you sure?”
I wrapped my arms around him, my body aching with a desire I had never felt before in my life. I was more than ready. “Don’t stop,” I whispered, the need for him becoming almost painful.
I felt his hand slowly and deliberately glide down my side, over my bare ribs, past my hips to settle on the button of my jeans. Effortlessly he pulled it open and the butterflies that had been in my stomach escaped to more southern regions. He steadied himself with one hand on the mattress as he slid his fingers down my hip, in between my skin and the denim. I let a sigh escape my lips, waiting for him to remove any clothing impudent enough to come between us.
“Well, we can just get it at the….” Beth said, pulling her key out of the door as she walked through with Chad. “OH!” she squealed as Jared pulled his shirt over me.
I cowered behind Jared’s body, covering my face with one hand. “Hey, Beth,” I said, still trying to catch my breath and peeking at her through my fingers.
“Hey! What’s up? I mean…how are you guys? I’m…we’re….” Beth looked at Chad, mortified.
“We were just leaving,” Chad said, pulling Beth’s arm with one hand and shutting the door with the other.
Jared playfully collapsed on top of me, and groaned with frustration.
I kept my hand over my eyes, too embarrassed and frustrated to speak.
Jared eased onto his side and pulled my hand from my face. “You’re blushing.”
“I know.”
Jared kissed my hand. “I’m starting to think there is a reason for all the interruptions.”
I grimaced. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He chuckled. “Here,” he said, holding my sweater.