Chapter 1 #2
Before I can continue talking shit, his mouth takes mine again.
This time, the kiss is hungry, feverish.
His tongue pushes past my lips and explores around mine.
I tilt my head back slightly, allowing me better access to kiss him back.
One of my hands tugs at the short strands on the top of his head as the other digs into his back, pulling him closer.
I thrust my hips, seeking contact against him. He quickly catches on to what I need and grinds his erection into me.
“I’m only going to ask once...” Jett says against my mouth, his words choppy and breathy through his panting. “Are you sure? Here? It’s dark, but if someone passes by, they could see—”
“Now,” I demand as my hands travel down his body until I reach his swim trunks. Jett lifts slightly, allowing me to loosen the drawstrings holding up his board shorts. With the last tug of the strings, I push them down just enough until his eager cock springs out at full attention.
I allow a moan to escape, taking his length into my hand, not even attempting to hold back.
“See? Beast,” I say seductively, stroking him from root to tip.
The moon now hangs a little higher. Running through the water that lines the shore, I turn back to see Jett closer than I expect. Thinking fast on my feet, I spin quickly, swinging my hand through the incoming wave, forcing water to splash in his face and attempting to slow him down.
Fail—massive fail.
Jett’s laugh whips through the air as he becomes more determined and closes in on me.
In one last attempt, I dart at full speed. My advance on him falters as he wraps his large arms around my waist, pulling me in. He swings me around in a circle, causing the hysterics that are my current laugh.
“You’re a cheater!” I shout, firmly shoving at his chest, trying to stifle my laughter.
“I didn’t cheat. I won that fair and square,” Jett says with a wickedly handsome smile plastered across his face.
“That was totally cheating. We agreed to a race, not a chase. And you didn’t care to mention that you run faster than a fucking cheetah,” I pant, still breathless and chest heaving, trying to regain my composure.
I’m not as physically fit as I think I am. Noted.
The sound of his dark chuckle draws me in, another smile pulling at my lips. “Aww, don’t be so butt-hurt that you can’t win everything, Beauty.”
“Pshh, I’m not butt-hurt. I just didn’t take the big macho man for a cheater, is all,” I counter defiantly, dropping to the ground and lying in the sand.
Without hesitation, he plops down beside me, legs crossed. Even sitting, he towers over my splayed-out body that’s still trying to recover.
“We can go again if you’d like.” He giggles like a fucking child, undoubtedly at my expense.
Asshole.
My head shoots up, and I glare daggers at him, my eyes meeting his.
There’s something about those eyes. They just do something to me—I fucking hate it.
“Yes, genius,” I spit sarcastically, rolling my eyes. Then I look away, breaking eye contact. “Running again sounds like a great idea when my heart is still zooming at the speed of a NASCAR race.”
His loud laugh rings in my ears as he lies beside me, cuddling me into him.
It never feels weird for us to be like this together. He’s the only guy this sort of intimate connection hasn’t felt weird with. Hell, he’s the only one I allow this with. Being with him in any capacity always feels naturally comfortable.
It freaks me out just how comfortable it feels.
Besides Via and Kasten, my older brother, Jett is my person. I can always count on him. He’s reliable when it comes to me, even though he’s a total asshole at times.
It’s almost like I trust him, and that scares the shit out of me. Because if I trust him, that gives my heart a little too much freedom.
Too much freedom means a risk I’m not willing to take.
“You know, you didn’t ask your questions of the day yet...” he says, breaking my thoughts.
I chuckle softly, looking over my shoulder at him.
“Question of the day, number one...” I begin, taking a moment to think about it. I extend my pinky out toward him, and he quickly interlocks his with a grin. “This is a two-parter. What’s the one thing you like the most about yourself, and what’s the one thing you wish you could change?”
What started as a stupid game I created one day quickly became our thing, daily.
It became our safe space to ask the hard questions that we agreed would always come with hard truths.
With those hard truths comes a promise to listen, to attempt to be understanding, and a promise the other will always be heard—sealed with a pinky promise.
We never miss the questions of the day, regardless of where we are. I can feel his eyes heavy on the back of my head as we lie intertwined in the sand on the empty beach. Staring off into the night sky, I give him the space and freedom to mull the question over.
After a few seconds, Jett answers, “I like my ability to make light of tense situations. Unless I’m to the point of absolute rage, I can defuse most things with humor.” He chuckles in my ear. “It’s almost like my special talent.”
I like that answer. It’s him. He’s goofy, and he isn’t ashamed of it. He embraces it. It’s one of my favorite things about him.
Jett continues, “I wish I could change... My cock size. It’s too intense for most women, including you.”
I roll out of his grasp and bark out a laugh, not expecting that shit at all.
“Seriously,” he says, his dark chuckle growing louder. “Have you seen this thing? Some chick even calls me ‘Beast’ because of it.”
Throwing him a look, I say, “Get over yourself, fucker.”
He bites down on his bottom lip to control his growing smile of pride. “I wish I didn’t care so much about shit. I’m good at seeming unaffected, but I’m sensitive as fuck. It makes me feel weak.”
“You aren’t weak for having feelings,” I counter, narrowing my eyes at him. “It makes you human.”
He smirks as he looks away. “My turn.”
“Shoot!”
“Question of the day, number two... What’s your biggest fear?” His words come out gently.
“Fuck that, I’m fearless. You know this.” I raise my chin in defiance to prove my point, but his scowl calls my bluff. “Okay, heights. Definitely heights.”
Jett shakes his head as he makes a tsk sound. “Deeper.”
“Ugh. You’re so ungrateful!”
His smile grows, and my heart melts a little.
Screw off, heart. You are not needed here.
“Fine. I’m scared of letting people in,” I finally admit, almost timidly, looking away, unable to meet his eyes. There it is. I’ve said it.
“Why, Iz?”
“Nope, that’s all for today, Beast. I’m all questioned out.
Now, I need food.” I stand and dust the sand off me.
He follows my lead and stands beside me, attempting to stare into my eyes, but I won’t allow it.
I won’t allow myself to feel what they do to me.
“Are you going to feed me, or what? This girl needs a big ass burger.”
He snorts. “You eat like a damn man.”
“Fuck yeah, I do.”