“Toby, get out of here!” Shelby calls from the sofa. “You are ruining this Hallmark moment.”
Toby scowls. Then he places his hands on his hips and lowers himself into a lunge.
“What makes you think I’m not the star of this show? I’ve been working on my glutes. Don’t act like my cute tush isn’t doing it for you.”
Jesse’s eyes are still locked on mine.
“Can I speak to you for a minute? Alone?”
I nod. Rising to my feet, I head into the front hall. He slips his hand through mine, then leads me out through the front door.
Outside, the sun has started to set. The sky is marbled in shades of blue, and crickets have begun to chirp in the distance. The air has grown crisp with the setting sun and I’m not sure if my shiver is caused by the drop in temperature or the odd sense that everything is about to change.
Jesse’s body language is throwing me off. His hands are shoved into his pockets and he’s shuffling his feet, sending dust flying up from the dirt path. It’s completely at odds with the Jesse I’m used to, the one who radiates calm and quiet strength. This Jesse is nervous. I’m afraid it’s my fault. That I made him feel insignificant, even though it’s the last thing I meant to do.
“What did you need to tell me?” I breathe. I reach forward, wrapping my hand around his wrist. I give it a gentle squeeze, hoping my touch can relay everything I’m feeling. Jesse looks down at it and when his eyes return to mine, they are newly resolute.
He glances back inside before stepping me another foot out of view.
“This,” he says, then cups my face, tilting it upward and pressing his lips to mine. The world spins sideways as stars explode behind my eyes. My body turns boneless, and he wraps a strong arm around my waist to hold me upright. The feeling of his mouth against mine is everything. It’s only been hours, but I’ve desperately missed kissing him. Now I can’t seem to remember how I ever managed to tear myself away.
His thumb skates over my cheekbone and his tongue parts the seam of my lips. I breathe out a sigh, and he swallows it as his mouth moves over mine, devouring me. He tastes like beer and potato chips, which is suddenly my favorite flavor in all the world. When his teethcatch my bottom lip, my toes curl in my shoes, and my nipples pinch against my top. My entire body is lit up with need. I want more of him. I need more.
I lace my fingers through his hair, and he presses me tighter against him. Jesse drags his lips down my chin, scraping his teeth down the side of my neck, before moving back up to plant a soft kiss just below my jaw. I let out a groan, and it seems to trigger something inside him. He slants his mouth over mine again and my lips part eagerly. His kisses are more urgent now, the energy behind them frantic and yearning. I fist the material of his T-shirt, and his hands slide down to cup my backside. When he hauls me against his hips, I feel the unmistakable shape of his desire.
“Marissa,” he groans.
I pull back, tilting my head to stare up at him. His eyes are wild, pupils blown out, and his glazed expression is probably a mirror of my own.
Part of me is desperate to leave with him. Take him back to my house and spend the rest of the night exploring every part of his body. And maybe I would have, if Pooja weren’t in town. As badly as I want to, I know I can’t jump into his truck right now. It wouldn’t be right.
I find myself wondering what Ina would do. The answer comes swiftly. Ina would not ditch her best friend to have sex with a hunky carpenter (even if her friend would happily sign off on that plan). No, Ina would adjust her scarf, pour herself another martini, and file it away as a good story to tell friends over roast chicken. I will do the same.
I press my lips to Jesse’s in one final kiss and then take a step back.
“I should get back,” I say quietly. “But come find me later?”
Jesse nods. He looks wildly attractive, his hair mussed and lips kiss-swollen. It takes every ounce of my strength to walk away andreturn to the house. I can’t help but steal another glimpse at him before heading through the doors. Beneath the trees, his silhouette is backlit by moonlight, and even though I can’t quite make out his face, I know that he’s smiling.
25MARISSA
Pooja only lasts another thirty minutes before the jet lag hits her. She starts dozing on the drive home, leaving me with no distraction from the buzzing memory of Jesse’s touch. Scenes from tonight flit through my mind like a flashback montage and I dig my fingers into the steering wheel. I’m growing addicted to the effect of Jesse’s kisses and the way they seem to light up my entire body. That moment on the lawn was a tease, and I need more.
A long nighttime shower usually calms me down, but I’m no less settled after stepping out from under the water and slipping into a cozy pair of pajamas. Which is why I’m sure I’m imagining things when I hear a rapping sound against my windowpane.
I pull back the curtain and do a double take when I spot the silhouette of a man on my front lawn. When I realize it’s Jesse, I let out a sigh of relief, even though it takes a minute for my thumping heart to catch up with my brain. Opening the doors, I step out on the balcony. This is it, the teenage dream. All I need is a white dress and a pool to dive into, and I’d be Claire Danes inRomeo + Juliet.
“No one has ever thrown stones at my window,” I stage-whisper. “Is this what I missed in high school?”
Jesse grins at me. “More or less.”
I press my arms into the railing and lean over the edge. “You want to come in?”
I see him nod in the moonlight, and pleasure sweeps through my body at the thought of Jesse wanting me just as much as I want him.
“Give me one second,” I say. “I’ll come let you through the front door.”
“Absolutely not,” he replies, keeping his voice low. “I need to see this entire fantasy through.”
