when he reached me, his hands rested on my hips, and he just stared into my eyes for a minute. normally, anyone making direct eye contact with me for too long of a time was uncomfortable, but jared looked at me like i was his last meal.

and damn if i didn't love it.

his teeth were slightly bared as he breathed, and his eyes cut right through me. i knew what he wanted. and when i remembered how good his skin had tasted earlier, i couldn't keep myself from touching him.

as my arms went around his neck, i pushed up on my toes and took his mouth. that's about where my control of the situation ended.

he was like an animal sinking his teeth into a juicy kill. one of his arms wrapped around me, while the other held my face. he guided our every movement. when he pushed, i surrendered.

his tongue made my whole world slide on its ass. it was so hot, and when he used his teeth to nibble my lips, i knew what i wanted, too.

my pulse was racing, and i had a desperate ache between my legs. i needed him. i needed him inside me.

"you're cold," he said as the rain drenched our clothes.

"warm me up," i begged.

i left a trail of soft kisses along his neck and jaw, and i heard him suck in a breath when my tongue darted out to taste his skin again. "i love you, jared," i murmured in his ear.

he took my head in his hands and captured my mouth in a deep kiss. his breath was hot, and he tasted like rain. like a memory that i wanted to wrap myself up in forever.

"we can wait," he suggested, but it was more of a question.

i shook my head slowly, desire spreading through my belly like a fire. we were not wasting time anymore.

i lifted the hem of his shirt over his head and let my hands trail across his skin. my fingertips drifted down his back, and he tensed when i deliberately stroked one of his scars. i craved him. all of him. i wanted him to know that i wasn't scared, that i loved every part of him.

holding his gaze, i pulled my black, silk blouse over my head and unclasped my bra, letting both fall to the ground. jared's breathing grew harder, and i moaned when his fingers glided down my br**sts. his touch sent heat shooting through my veins, and my fists clenched with anticipation.

he swept my soaked hair behind my shoulders and drank me in with his eyes. normally, i was self-conscious about everything. i never walked around na**d in the locker room. but i loved his eyes on me.

jared pulled me flush with him, and the pulsing at my core throbbed harder when i felt his skin against my bare br**sts. our lips melted together in a rush, and when i felt him through his jeans, i moaned, thinking for sure that i was going to lose it.

i need you.

i peeled off my jeans and let out a little whimper when he lifted me up unexpectedly. my legs wrapped around his waist, and he carried me across the patio to the chaise lounge that had a canopy.

laying me down, he hovered over me looking at every inch of my body that his eyes could cover. he bent his head and kissed my chest over my heart. my body jerked up when he took a nipple in his mouth, and i held him to me feeling anything but chilled now.

"jared..." my chest shook with the overwhelming pleasure.

as he sucked, his hand skimmed down my body, caressing my hip and leg. the pressure at my core was agonizing, and i knew what i needed.

"jared, please."

he left my breast and continued kissing down my stomach, his tongue made me jerk every time it touched my skin. "be patient," he ordered. "if you keep begging like that, i'm going to lose it right now."

as he trailed kisses, he pulled my panties down my legs and dropped them to the ground. standing up, he fished a condom out of his wallet and unbuttoned his jeans, taking everything off in one smooth motion.

oh, my god. he was definitely as ready as i was.

coming down on top of me, he positioned himself between my thighs, and i throbbed with his hardness rubbing against me. i closed my eyes, the twitch of my cl*t where his skin grinded on my sex sent thrilling waves of excitement through my body. this was it. i needed him inside of me. right. now.

he looked down at me as i wrapped my legs around him. arching my body into his, i felt him glide against my opening.

he groaned with need...or maybe agony, and i couldn't help but love the sound. everything was perfect. having him. in the rain. and he loved me.

he ripped the condom from its wrapper. slipping it on, he leaned down to kiss me.

"i love you," he said before he slipped inside of me.

"ahhh...," i gasped loudly, and my body went rigid and still.

jared stopped and leaned back to look at me. he was breathless and flushed as he gazed at me with care and love.

i knew there would be pain, but that hurt! i took deep breaths, trying to let my body adjust.

"are you okay?" he asked.

i nodded, slowly feeling the ache fade away. "i'm good. don't stop but go slow."

when jared saw me relax, he slowly went deeper until he was all the way in.

"damn," he breathed out. "you feel so good. perfect."

he kept his weight off of me, and i held his hips, feeling his slow thrusts against me. i started moving with him, feeling the quiver of what his body was doing to mine. with each meeting, i pulled him harder into me. it didn't hurt anymore.

my body had to stretch to take him, but now i was feeling the familiar burn in my belly and pulsing between my thighs.

we weren't making love long and slow. not tonight. i grabbed for his face to bring his lips down on mine. i needed every inch of his body on or inside me. i whispered against his mouth, "i feel you everywhere."

he let out a raspy moan. "don't talk like that, baby. i'll be done too soon."

our bodies moved in sync, my h*ps rising up to meet his. he was coming undone. his eyes were glazed over, and he was breathing hard.

i ran my fingers down his back which was damp with sweat and rain, feeling the power of his thrusts into me. our foreheads met, and his teeth clenched as he looked down at my body moving with his.

my orgasm came quickly as his h*ps grinded into mine, and i cried out in pleasure as jared went harder. after a few more seconds, his body tensed, and he closed his eyes as he came, too. we lay there, unmoving, trying to catch our breaths for several minutes.

there was nothing in the world better than what we'd just done. i wanted him forever. i could still feel where we were connected, and there was no happiness greater than knowing he was sweating and shivering because of me.

he leaned down and kissed my lips after our bodies had calmed down. "you were really a virgin." he wasn't asking.

"yeah," i replied weakly. "i haven't had much of a dating life, you know?"

rising up to hover over me, jared kissed me on the cheeks and forehead. "so you're truly mine." his voice was husky.

always. i told myself but opted for my usual sarcasm when i responded. "only so long as you can keep me happy."

he pinned me with a knowing smile, because he both knew that he just made me very happy. rolling us over, so i lay on top of him, he ran his hand up and down my back. "don't fall asleep," he commanded. "i can make you happy again in about five minutes."

chapter 33

"yeah, dad, i promise to be careful." i laughed, trying not to move too much to mess up my hair or make-up. "anyway, k.c. and liam will be there, so i'll be able to find a ride if i get too wasted."

my laptop speakers vibrated with the loud sigh my dad let out. "tate."

"oh, relax. you know you can trust me."

i guess i could still say that, but somehow i felt like it was less true than before.

my fingers fidgeted. i needed to get off this call, so i could get into my dress. jared and madoc had compromised about homecoming. i'd be going with both of them. as much as i just wanted to spend every second with jared, i'd decided to give madoc an opportunity to make amends. if he was jared's best friend, then it was no skin off my nose to give him another chance.

just one more chance.

"it's not you i'm worried about," my dad grumbled.

i narrowed my eyes. "but you like jared, dad."

"he's a teenage guy, honey. i trust him, just not with my daughter."

heat rose to my cheeks, and i hoped my dad didn't see a blush. his suspicions were too close to home.

if he only knew. guilt sullied the otherwise exciting night i was about to have.

jared and i had made love twice on my birthday a week ago and again the next morning. keeping him off me since then so i could get some school work done had become a full time job. a delightful and fun full-time job. i enjoyed the effect i had on him and how easily i could get him worked up only to say no. he called me a bully for it last night, and i'd laughed, because i did kind of get off on the power.

but if my dad knew that jared spent all of his nights here now, he'd jump a plane home immediately. i would do the same thing if it were my daughter, but i just didn't want jared anywhere without me, and he seemed to feel the same way. we couldn't control ourselves. or maybe we just didn't care to try.

"well, how do i look so far?" i asked, meaning my look from the neck up.

he gave me a sad smile, and i knew he was sorry he couldn't be here with me. "beautiful. so much like your mom."

my eyes welled up. "thanks," i barely whispered. my mom and i didn't look a lot alike. she had red hair and was more petite, but it made me feel proud that my dad thought i was just as beautiful. i wanted her here tonight fluffing my hair or helping me zip my dress.

my honey-colored hair was parted in the middle, and wide curls cascaded down my back. the make-up i'd bought when i purchased the dress turned out to be less overwhelming than i originally thought. whereas i usually applied minimal color to my face and eyes, i'd decided to go all out tonight and the result had been shocking. my eyes popped, and my lips looked like candy.

"alright, go get dressed, and text me when you get in tonight." he rubbed the stubble on his jaw.

"i love you. talk to you later," i replied.

"love you too. have a great time." and we clicked off.

casting off the white button-down, i slipped my dress off the hanger. stepping into the nude and silver sequined material, i felt shivers down my arms and legs as giddiness overtook me. the slim-fitting, short, strapless dress featured a sweetheart neckline. my legs, arms, and cle**age were the main attractions, since the dress covered none of them. i took a deep breath while i worked the zipper up and adjusted my body inside the dress as it hugged all the right places. the sheer overlay featured a pattern of sequins that made me look like i glowed. my toes dug into the floor when i saw myself in the mirror.

wow. i'd never looked like this before.

after a few make-up touch-ups and adding some bracelets and earrings, i headed downstairs to grab my heels out of the bronco. waiting until this afternoon to purchase the finishing touch on my outfit had been playing with fire, but shoes had been the last thing on my mind this week.

taking the box from the passenger side of the truck, i spun around to see jared frozen in his driveway, staring at me. i swallowed with the sudden shock of seeing him dressed up. he wore a black suit, of course, with a black shirt and shoes. the jacket didn't hang on him limply but was tailored in at the waist before it fell past his hips. his hair was trimmed and styled to perfection and out of his eyes, making them seem brighter. i just wanted to take him inside and forget about the dance.

his deep stare travelled down my body, and his breathing got heavier by the second.

yes! exactly the reaction i was hoping for.

taking the top of the box and fitting it underneath the bottom, i slipped both high heels onto my bare feet one at a time. jared kept his eyes on me, following every movement.

"so, is the dress for him? or me?" jared teased, crossing to my yard.