chapter Nineteen
Emily
I got lost in Jake’s arms. It wasn’t a bad sort of lost, but a good one. I didn’t forget about the rest of my life, but I could escape the stresses that usually kept me wound up too tight.
We’d dropped Noah off with Jake’s parents, and I wasn’t so nervous leaving Noah this time. He’d had a ball the first time, and I could tell Mary enjoyed having a kid around. I also got the feeling she wanted things to work out with Jake and I. My biggest concern with leaving Noah was that he’d be a trouble maker and leave a bad impression. He was such a good kid, but I think most boys that age are rambunctious.
“Would you want to go somewhere to look at the stars?” We’d picked up sandwiches, and were curled up on Jake’s couch after finishing dinner.
“Wow, I haven’t gone stargazing in years.” I did it all the time growing up. My brother and I would lie out in the backyard and watch the sky for hours. Somehow I knew it would be different with Jake.
Jake ran a finger across my cheek. “Then we definitely should.”
I looked at my wrist—realizing I’d forgotten my watch at home. “What time is it? I don’t want to leave Noah too much longer.”
“He’s fine. My parents would call if there was a problem.”
“Let me call and check on him at least.” I started to pull out my phone but Jake touched my hand to stop me.
“How about we wait and call when we get there. I bet you’re going to want to check the reception.”
I froze. “Why would I worry about reception? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“Jake. I don’t want to go too far.”
“We won’t. I promise. And I know we’ll get reception. But I bet you’ll still worry.”
“It’s called being a mom. We worry.”
“And I get that. I completely get that.” He kissed me gently.
“All right, let’s go. I guess I’m driving so I can turn around anytime.”
He shook his head. “Whatever gets you moving.”
When we pulled into the marina I was a little skeptical. “Are we getting on a boat?”
“Yeah. There’s no better place to take in the stars than out on the water.”
“Maybe this is a dumb question, but can you operate a boat if you don’t have a license?” I wasn’t sure of the specific laws, but the last thing Jake needed was more legal trouble.
He shrugged. “I’ve taken all my exams. I’m clearly sober. I think we’re good.”
“All right. But I’m checking reception.” I pulled out my phone. I had four bars.
He laughed. “I knew you would.”
It was a beautiful night out, slightly cool, but still comfortable. The only sound was my flip flops slapping against the wood of the dock. Jake stopped in front of one of the smaller boats at the marina. “This one’s mine.”
I glanced around. I didn’t know anything about boats, so I had no idea what any of them were. “Are a lot of these your dad’s?”
“Most of them, but other people keep theirs here too.” He took my hand and helped me on board. I took a seat. Jake jumped on behind me, sitting down and starting the engine. I enjoyed the short ride, waiting to see where he stopped.
“Perfect,” he said to himself, before pulling out a blanket and laying it on the floor. I had a feeling he left a blanket there for exactly this purpose. He moved to lie down, and took my hand to get me to follow. I situated myself next to him, and looked up. The only light came from the stars and moon. There couldn’t have been a more romantic atmosphere.
“It’s beautiful.” I couldn’t take my eyes off the stars. There were so many.
“I know.” Jake turned to smile at me. “It’s so peaceful.”
“Thanks for bringing me out here.” I shifted slightly on the blanket.
“My pleasure. I love doing this at night.”
“Do you come out by yourself?”
“Yeah, it’s relaxing. Of course, it’s much more enjoyable with your company.”
He ran his fingers over my arm, always tracing the same pattern. It took me a minute to figure out what he was writing.
“Jake’s. You’re writing Jake’s on my arm, aren’t you?”
He gave me a mischievous smile. “Maybe.”
“Marking ownership?” I always got nervous with things like that.
He leaned over me slightly. “No. I don’t need to own you. But I can still write my name on you.”
“Don’t need to? That’s a funny way of putting it.”
“How else would I put it? I’m not one of those guys that has to get all alpha male and claim a girl, but I still feel protective and possessive of you. It’s just natural.”
“It’s natural to be possessive?”
“Of course. You feel that way about me too.” He looked right at me.
“I am not possessive of you.”
“You’re not?” He ran his fingers through my hair. “Then why did you ask if I came out here alone? You wanted to make sure I don’t bring other girls out.”
I tried to look away but he caught my chin. “Don’t be embarrassed. I told you it’s natural. It’s human nature to want to keep what’s yours.”
“I’ve never thought about it that way.”
“Maybe you’ve never been with anyone you’ve wanted to keep before? I know I haven’t.”
I reached out and touched his cheek. “Maybe.” There was something refreshing about Jake’s honesty and the way he saw the world. It was simple, but complicated all at the same time. We hadn’t talked about Tim much, but I think Jake sensed that relationship had been different, built out of a need rather than desire.
He laced his fingers with mine. “I’ve never met anyone like you before. I’ve never been with a girl I couldn’t get enough of. You make my heart race, you make me feel out of control, and I love every second of it.”
“Sometimes you make me feel out of control, but mostly you make me feel perfect.”
“Perfect? Really?” He pushed one of my dress straps off my shoulder slightly.
“Yeah.”
“Mm, good.” He kissed my shoulder. I never thought a kiss there could feel so intimate, but it did. He leaned over me, moving my other strap in the same way. He kissed that shoulder too.
He was still leaning over me, and I slipped a hand under his t-shirt. His skin felt warm.
He took it as an invitation to remove his shirt. I didn’t mind the view or the easier access. I ran my hands over the muscular planes of his chest while he watched me.
He smiled contentedly. “No one’s ever touched me with such care before.”
“Really?” I started tracing a pattern of my own across his chest.
“Really. And I like having your name on me.”
“That didn’t take long.”
“No, it didn’t.” His lips met mine gently.
“You have really good lips.”
“So do you.” He ran a finger over my bottom lip and then the top. It was another touch that sent a thrill through me unexpectedly. I loved how Jake touched all of me. “I still don’t know what my favorite part of you is.”
I continued exploring his chest. “I know what mine is. Well, there’s a tie.”
He moved to lie on his side. “What parts?”
“Your eyes and your hands.”
“Is there an explanation that goes along with that?” Adjusting the strap again, he kissed my shoulder before moving his lips in a line to my neck.
“Although, right now your lips might be winning.”
He laughed. “Why my eyes?”
“They’re so expressive. They tell me everything you’re thinking and feeling.” I reached out to stroke his cheek again. “At least, I think they do.”
“If they’re telling you how crazy I am about you and how much I want you, then you’re right.”
“They are.”
“Why my hands?” He ran a hand over my chest above my breasts, slowly edging closer to the top of my dress.
“They’re so strong, and they always know where they need to be.”
He chuckled. “I get the strong part, but I don’t know if my hands have a mind of their own.”
“Then I guess my favorite part of you, is just you.”
“That’s my answer for my favorite part. I can’t pick just one. I love your eyes.” He kissed my eyelid. I moaned. It felt incredible.
“I love your lips.” He kissed me gently. “I love your hair.” He ran his fingers through it again. “I love your neck.” He kissed it softly, moving down toward my chest.
“I love your breasts, but you have to expect that one.” He slipped two fingers right underneath the top of my dress so that they brushed against the skin exposed by my bra.
“I love your legs.” He used his other hand to run up one leg, and I hoped he wouldn’t stop at my knee. He didn’t.
“Your stomach.” He slipped his hand under my dress and stroked my stomach.
“I love your hands, especially when they’re on me.” He moved one of his hands so he could put my hand on his chest.
“I love every single part of you. It’s like you were tailor made to be mine.” He paused and a slight smile crossed his lips. “Although that makes me sound kind of possessive again, huh?”
“No. Just sweet.”
“Good.” The hand underneath my dress moved down to my panties. He slipped a finger underneath the elastic. “I need to see and touch every inch of you.”
“Out here?” I leaned up on my elbows to see over the side of the boat. We were surrounded by nothing but water and darkness. It was silent, with just a faint breeze further cooling down the evening.
“Who’s going to see?”
“People. You don’t own this bay.” It might have been quiet, but that could change at any moment.
“All right.” He moved away, and I felt his absence everywhere.
“Would this help?” He returned with another blanket and draped it over us.
“Yes, that helps.” I wanted the coverage as well as some warmth.
“Good.” He didn’t waste any time before pulling my dress over my head.
I reached out and unbuttoned his shorts.
“I’m glad to see you want to get into my pants as much as I want to get into yours.”
“I’m not wearing pants.”
“No, no you’re not.” He grinned. “So are my eyes, hands, and lips the only parts of me you like?” He shifted out of his shorts, and we were left just in our underwear.
“No. Not at all.”
“What other parts?” He kissed my neck again.
“I love your chest.” I reached to touch it. “Your hair, your arms. I love your arms, especially being in them.”
He moved to cradle me in his arms. “I’m pretty sure you belong there.”
“I’m more than pretty sure.”
He smiled. “I love this confidence, Em.”
“You bring out that side in me.”
“I’m glad.” He reached around and unclasped my bra. I wasn’t expecting it, nor was I expecting his mouth to claim my right breast so quickly. “Are there any other parts you like?”
“Can I just show you instead?”
“Showing is always an option.”
I reached into his boxer shorts, determined to show him the confidence we’d just discussed.
He groaned. “I’m glad you like that part.”
“Like my breasts, I think it was expected.”
“There’s nothing wrong with expected.” He grabbed my hand to move it away. “But I also want this to last.”
He moved his mouth to my left breast and let his hand glide down my stomach. He didn’t stop at my panties, pushing them off quickly. He moved his mouth. “Now I get to see all of you.” He ducked his head under the blanket.
I laughed. “It’s kind of dark, isn’t it?”
“I can see with more than my eyes.”
One of his hands slid between my legs, while he returned his lips to mine.
I pushed his lips away. “Jake Mathews, you’re going to be the end of me.”
“The only thing I’m the end of is your dating history. I’m the last one, because I’m never letting you go.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“It’s nice when two people can agree.”
I couldn’t respond. The only thing coming out of my mouth was a moan.
He looked me right in the eye. “I love you, Emily.”
The words surprised me. We’d talked about loving each other’s bodies, but this was different. Even surprised, I knew how to answer. “I love you, Jake.”
“Yeah? Good.” He reached for his shorts and pulled out his wallet. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw him going for a condom.
“I’m guessing you’re on birth control, but you can never be too safe, right?”
I nodded.
He smiled before positioning himself over me. “It looks like I didn’t have to wait too long.”
“Thank god.”
He laughed before doing exactly what he’d promised a few weeks before—reminding me of what I’d been missing.
I’d never experienced anything like it. We moved together perfectly as I watched the stars above us. I’d never get enough of Jake, and I hoped he’d never get enough of me.