“Kayla,” he sighs.

   I wrap my legs around him and grind on him in an effort to release the tension. I kiss his neck and under his ear, gently biting his earlobe. He groans again. I avoid his mouth like he did mine. I kiss along his jaw to his collarbone. I want more—I need more.

   I reach for the hem of his T-shirt, and he helps me lift it over his head. His body is leaning into mine, keeping me pinned against the wall. My hands are everywhere at once. I caress his back and his rock-solid chest, his muscles straining from his neck down to his arms. He definitely has an athlete’s body—he’s not a beef-head but perfectly toned and fit, every ridge in his abs defined and a smattering of curls leading to that perfect V that goes lower to his . . .

   I kiss his chest, gripping his back with my hands. My fingers hold on to him so tightly, my nails dig into his back, almost breaking his skin. I find his nipple and take it in my mouth. He grips my ass more tightly and lifts me up, moving us to the bed. He lays me down—and that’s when the panic sets in.

   Being in this room with him is just too much. The memory of my parents surrounds me, and I wonder what they would think if they knew what was happening right now.

   I pull back slightly and wait until he’s looking at me. “Jake, I can’t—we can’t . . .” My hands are still wrapped around his neck, and he hovers over me, arms on either side of me like he’s about to do a push-up. “We can’t do—”

   “It’s okay, Kayla.” He kisses my forehead. “We don’t have to do that. I mean, I don’t want to—not yet. But, please, just let me touch you. I think I’d die if I couldn’t . . .” He searches my face for an answer. I nod.

   His head dips down to kiss my chest, moving lower and lower until he reaches the swell of my breasts. He moves one hand to the hem of my top and lifts it over my stomach and my breasts. I sit up and help him remove it, and I instantly lean into him, skin-on-skin. The heat from his skin envelops me. He hasn’t seen me topless before, and I’m afraid. He gently lowers me. I move reluctantly and lie still, watching him take me in—how his eyes roam from my face to pause on my breasts. “God, Kayla, you’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispers and lowers his head. His mouth is on my nipple, licking and gently biting while his other hand softly caresses the other breast.

   I’ve never, ever felt like this—this wanton need to combust. I’ve never felt like my body was being worshipped before. It feels like Jake can’t get enough. The minute I feel his hand under my shorts, I lose all control. I spread my legs further for him, and he makes a moaning sound that vibrates through my nipples straight to my core. I grip his hair and beg him without words to please don’t fucking stop. When his fingers find what they’re looking for, a loud moan escapes me, and he has to stop working on my breasts to tell me to be quiet. “Shh. Jesus Christ, Kayla. You’re so fucking wet.”

    I grip his head harder and push him back down to my tits. I need him there. He laughs a little to himself before continuing. His fingers are moving inside me, working their magic. I feel something building in the pit of my stomach, and I’m scared and amazed at the same time. This has never happened before, not with anyone, and it feels so much better than anything else.

   He pulls away, and I look down at him. His eyes on mine, he squeezes my breast in his other hand then runs his glistening bottom lip along my nipple. So fucking hot. That’s all it takes for me to explode all over his fingers. I thrash wildly, screaming his name over and over—so loudly that he has to cover my face with a pillow.

   Once I’ve come down, I remove the pillow and slowly open my eyes. He’s lying next to me, still shirtless. He leans over and smiles. “So . . . You’re a screamer?”

   “I had no fucking idea, Jake—not until you.” I shake my head in disbelief.

   “Good answer,” he says. He stands up and walks to the bathroom, his hard-on tenting his pants.

   “Where are you going?”

   “To take a really cold shower, or take care of myself. I haven’t decided yet.” He walks backwards into the brand-new bathroom, built just for me, turns, and closes the door behind him.

   I go to my dresser and grab the baby oil. I enter the bathroom and notice his shocked face as I make the decision for him.

TWENTY-FOUR

MIKAYLA

   The summer days go by quickly. It’s already been a few weeks since we got back from the wedding. I work two days a week with Nathan, and he pays me like we’d discussed. Personally, I think he overpays, but what can I do? Jake works out and trains every morning, but the afternoons are relaxed and lazy. I drive Julie around as agreed, and we hang out with Jake’s friends when we can.

   Out of respect for his family, we haven’t had any more moments. But it’s not just that. I think we’re both just happy to be around each other and haven’t talked about taking things further. I don’t know about Jake, but I’m waiting to see how things go when we leave for college. It might be completely different once we’re not together all the time.

   When I get home, I grab my MacBook from my room and settle into a chair on the back patio. A few minutes later, I hear the door slide open. “What are you doing?” Jake asks, stepping out.

   “Browsing online for apartments and jobs near campus.” I glance up from my computer.

   He looks at me for a beat before sitting in the chair opposite me. “You can’t do student housing?”

   “You have to pay for the year in advance, so, no, I can’t. I’m hoping there’s some cheap shared housing nearby. Whatever job I get will hopefully pay enough to cover the rent. Plus, I’ve got to consider how close everything is to bus stops, because I won’t have a car.”

   There honestly aren’t too many options out there, especially this close to the start of the school year. I don’t tell Jake because I know he’ll worry—and, really, it’s not his problem, as much as he would like to make it his.

   “What about you?” I ask. He hasn’t even mentioned where he’ll be staying.

   He stares at me, an emotion I can’t decipher on his face. I try to hold his gaze, but it’s so intense, I have to turn away. “I haven’t yet decided what I’m going to do,” he finally says.

   “Seriously, Jake? School’s around the corner—you better decide. There aren’t many options available.”

   He smirks at me. “Kayla, I’ll be fine. I—” He points his thumb at himself. “I’m kind of a big deal. I’m sure whatever I decide, they’ll somehow make it work.”

   “Okay . . .”

   The back door slides open again, and Julie comes out. We’re going to the mall today. I think she’s been bored out of her brains. It’s hard to remember what summers were like when I was her age, having to depend on others to get me around. I close my computer and stand up to leave.