Page 61 of Learning to Love

I get a hug from granny next. She whispers in my ear. "Don't get pregnant."

I holler, then laugh. "Granny! Ew!"

Jake howls with laughter. She does NOT whisper well. I blush for the hundredth millionth time since meeting my Jake, the Sex King. I laugh to myself. I'll have to tell him his nickname one day.

I hug everyone again until only Jake's parents remain. His dad gives me a quick hug and tells me that he looks forward to getting to know me better in the future. I think I'm a hit with the military dad. He winks at his wife and exits the room. Jake's Mom seems hesitant to approach. I smile at her to let her know it's okay.

She smiles back as she comes closer and takes my hands in hers. She surprises me as she says the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to our Jake. Thank you because after a long hard year, we have him back." She embraces me tightly and leaves before I can say anything back to her.

I look at Jake and he has tears rolling down his cheeks. I grab onto him and we cry together. I don't even know how much time passes before we let go. He finally picks me up and carries me to his room and lays me gently on the bed.

He has so much love for me in his eyes. We need to talk about everything, but words are not required now. We didn't even know if we'd ever see each other again. I know I'm young, but I don't think I'll ever love anyone like I love Jake. He's my person. Our hearts are one, beating to the same drum deep within our cores. I need to feel alive and cherished like only he makes me feel.

He takes his shirt off slowly in one smooth move. How he managed to do that with one hand, I'll never know. I want to watch him take it off like that for the rest of our lives. I sit on my elbows and watch him finish undressing from the waist down, and with each slow, agonizing movement, my insides become mush, and a throbbing starts between my legs. It has been days, and I need him like the flowers need the rain.

Tired of laying on the sidelines, I sit up and inch my way toward him at the end of the bed. I look up into his eyes just before grabbing him and putting him in my mouth. He mutters something unintelligible. I smile at my power over him. I lick his long hard length and feel him pulsating against my hand. I suck and lick and flick my tongue all over him like I’ll never get to do it again.

“You have to stop baby or I’m going to come and I want to take my time with you.” I back off and he climbs on the bed, making me scootch back. He places himself between my legs and leans down and kisses me as he slides two fingers through my folds. I cry out in my pleasure and his mouth hovers over mine as he works me in and out. He smiles and crawls back down and before I can say anything he’s devouring me. It doesn't take me long to find my release.

I’m so overwhelmed because I missed him so much and thought of this moment over and over. He moves us both to a better position and places himself between my legs. He looks down at me and says, “My sweet, Dani,” before he thrusts deep inside of me in one smooth motion. His strokes quicken as he pounds into me, and the now-familiar sensation builds within my body. It’s not long before I find my second release and after a few more pumps, he finds his. We lay curled up in his bed, not saying a word until we are almost asleep. As I drift off, he leans over and whispers. "I can't wait for the rest of forever with you."

Chapter 39

Life Continues

Everything Fearless 24/7

Did you know our Queen Bee Janet failed a drug test this morning?! She's kicked off the squad until further notice. She told her second in command that she better not get too comfortable in her spot because she'll be back. She swears that the test was tainted. Daddy's money will vindicate his little girl...more to follow soon. #Imnotwithher

The following days go by swiftly. Benji resigned from the football team shortly after his fight with Jake. Jake is still on the team, but he has thirty more hours of community service. He also has to be the defensive player's water boy at practice for the entire season. Jake says it was worth it and that community service doesn't bother him. He helps out at the local children's hospital whenever he can anyways so he’ll just do extra shifts there.

Unfortunately, Benji is still a student here at school. He's an active suspect and has been questioned several times by law enforcement, but no other arrests have happened. It’s so frustrating but with no actual evidence, what can they do?

The head detective on the case told me he believed my version of the story, but until Jeffery confessed the whole truth or they uncovered more evidence concerning Benji, they had nothing on him. I knew that would be the case, but it still makes me so mad. It's one thing to think that the worst possible outcome will come true, but when that outcome comes to fruition, you can't believe it's happening to you and you want justice.

What if Benji never has to pay for his involvement in my case? What if he decides to kidnap me again? It's not fair that I've lived through this terrible experience, and now my behind-the-scenes captor is free as a bird. As bad as I hate to admit the truth, I'm scared. I can't go anywhere by myself except to the bathroom, and I wish I weren’t alone in there either. I don't want to be this person.

Hopefully, after strenuous therapy, and an arrest warrant for Benji, I'll be able to resemble my life as I once knew it. I don't want to have to look over my shoulder every ten seconds for the rest of my life. With him being out and about, I can't deal. I haven't told Jake or anyone else, but I've caught him several times watching me while he lurks in the shadows. I've never seen him on campus this much. Every time I catch him, he always gives me that signature smirk. Maybe he thinks it's cute, but it's not, far from it. I want to punch Benji square in his mouth to wipe that damn expression off of his face.

I can't tell anyone because if it gets back to Jake, I'm scared he'll do something rash. Jake hates Banji even more than I do. The time will come when we have to deal with these raging feelings, but until he's in prison, how can we? The first couple of times I saw Benji, I ran, and to my absolute horror, I heard him laugh. The traitorous wind carried every bit of that laugh and planted it softly into my eardrums. After that, my pride wouldn't let me run any more. Last night I even smirked back at him as we left the library. It took every ounce of courage in me, but the expression that crossed his face was priceless. It started with anger, then turned to what looked almost like admiration. His reaction is scary now that I'm thinking about it.

Note to Self: Self! Don't smirk at criminally insane guys!

The days have turned into weeks, and finally, finals are in one week. Jaxon and I took a big Biology test yesterday. It's the last test before the big kahuna. Grades will get posted tonight and I'm not nervous. I think I nailed it. I've thrown myself into studying as it helped shut out any feelings of me dealing with the uncertainty of my situation, and it made me not notice the constant stares and whispers going on behind my back.

Jake has been great, and we are leaving after our Lit essay to visit his parents for a few days before the college preseason games start. Granny Betsy Jean and mama weren't happy when I told them I wasn't coming home for my mini break before fall classes started. Surprisingly, they wound up being okay with me continuing to go to school here. However, I think it had more to do with Toby coming to school this coming fall semester and not so much my constant begging and crying. It's a win, and a win is a win in my book!

Sasha, Toby, and I will all be roommates in the fall. Jake and I will still stay together, but I told him I needed my space sometimes, and he reluctantly agreed. Besides, on some weekends, he’ll be gone for games in other states. I want to stay in my room on those weekends. Sasha felt the same way, and Toby needed roommates. So, here we are.

The Lit final was easy, and our professor came up to me afterward and asked if I would like to be her TA. I wholeheartedly accepted. It was an honor considering I thought only juniors or seniors got invites to perform those duties. Maybe teaching is what I'll wind up doing.

I hear a soft knock on the bedroom door. "Come in."

It's Jaxon. "You looked at our grades yet?"

I laugh. Jaxon knows me pretty well. “I've refreshed the page every thirty seconds since leaving Jake’s room! Finally, ten minutes ago, the grades magically appeared. Congratulations, by the way. You beat me by one measly point."

He chuckles. "No reason to be snooty! Science is my thing. 97 is not a terrible grade."