Chapter Thirteen #2
‘Sure,’ I say lightly, though if I’m honest I barely ever order takeout because it’s too expensive. ‘What did you order?’
One hand goes to the back of his neck. ‘I got, uh… I didn’t know what you’d like so I just ordered a variety of stuff. Kung Pao chicken, spring rolls, chilli wontons, firecracker spicy beef… that sorta thing. You’re not a vegetarian, are you?’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘No nut allergies?’
‘No, I’m good.’
‘Can I get you a drink? A beer? A soda?’
‘Soda’s fine. Thanks.’
‘Do you like Dr Pepper?’
‘Sure.’
‘Have a seat, I’ll be right out.’
I pull off my jacket. He takes it and hangs it beside the door. I notice the beads of sweat at his temple. It’s not warm in here, so my guess is he’s nervous.
I sit down and wait. He comes back with my drink, then disappears again. I check my watch. I probably have about ninety minutes before I’m gonna need to head back into the city, and the thought leaves me a little miserable inside.
I can hear him heating food in the microwave. We don’t really talk as Jake brings all the dishes out onto the table. I like that he’s made so much effort.
‘Thank you for this,’ I say as he pulls me out a chair.
There it is: the hint of a smile. ‘Guess I’m always tryna get you to eat.’
He takes a seat on the opposite side of the table, and I help myself to a small plate of food. He waits for me before serving himself.
‘So, did you take Lemon out?’ I ask as we start to eat.
‘I did.’
‘How was it?’
He gives an exaggerated nod. ‘Uh… as I thought. She’s… definitely not my type.’
I giggle. His gaze flits to mine. ‘What did y’all talk about? Was she the reason you got drafted?’
‘Honestly? Hard to tell.’
‘Does it matter? I mean, you could take it as a compliment. You could say she’s got a nose for talent.’
Finally, his shoulders relax. ‘You think so?’
‘If Monday night was anything to go by, you’re the Mutineers’ best hope of reaching the Super Bowl.’
‘Is that what your friend Jewel says?’
I’m laughing again. ‘Not just her. I heard them talking about you on Canyon radio. I pay attention. I may still not understand what’s happening on that field but…
I know if you’re the one making the touchdowns, then there’s a reason you were a first-round pick in the draft.
And if Lemon told her granddaddy to go after you…
I’m just saying. Maybe Lemon is smarter than everybody makes her out to be. ’
‘I think you’re right. She is smart. Smart but lonely. I get the impression her family don’t think so highly of her.’
I’ve heard the way her brother talks about his sister, so I know that’s true.
‘Do you like the food?’ he asks.
‘Delicious,’ I say.
‘You really have no idea what’s going on on that field?’
I put down my fork. ‘I mean… I’m learning. Jewel knows a lot. She comes from a family of football players. But at the end of the day, if the music starts playing, and my squad leader tells me to dance, then I just do as I’m told.’
He’s watching me with a gentle expression. It was the same expression he had on his face the night he asked to kiss me, and it makes my belly flutter. ‘Okay, one day I’m gonna teach you the rules of football,’ he says.
‘I’d like that,’ I say, and I note that his gaze hasn’t left mine.
And then the moment’s gone. ‘I couldn’t believe that idiot Conor McGrath barging into you like that,’ he scoffs. ‘Wearing that dumbass costume.’
‘I looked back, ’cause I was tryna look for you.’
‘Really?’
‘Did you not see me look back?’
‘I thought it was a more general… you know, sweeping look, like a… take in the scene kind of a glance back.’
‘Not really. I wanted to see you.’
We’ve stopped eating. I’m aware that we haven’t talked about it. Our kiss a week ago.
He swallows. ‘I bought us phones.’
‘Phones?’
‘Like cell phones. So we can message one another.’
‘You mean like burner phones? Like in the movies?’
‘Exactly. Dedicated phones so we can communicate. To get round the cheerleaders-can’t-date-players problem. Then you don’t ever have to give me your real phone number.’
My eyes go wide. He gets up and goes to a backpack that’s over on a bench. He reaches inside for two cell phones. I abandon my food at the table and move closer to him, taking a seat on the couch.
‘I hope you don’t mind,’ he says. ‘I bought ’em from this store downtown. Set ’em both up. Put a secure PIN on ’em too. This one is zero, one, two, eight. January twenty-eight. It’s my birthday. I didn’t know your birthday.’
He hands me a phone and I punch in the number. ‘July sixteen,’ I tell him.
‘I’ll make that my code.’
I open up the phone. It’s nicer than my ordinary handset. ‘You bought these just for us?’
‘Is that alright?’
I nod lightly. ‘I guess.’
He’s back to looking nervous. ‘I mean… I didn’t want you to risk anything. By talking to me. I figure I can’t get away with coming to the diner too many more times either. And if you decide you don’t wanna see me, then… well, I guess you got yourself a free phone.’
The words are out my mouth before I can stop them. ‘You’ve really thought this through, huh?’
His smile is awkward, kinda crooked on his face. ‘I’ve thought about it a lot. How we could do this… given our situation.’ He pauses, his hands going into his pockets. ‘I’ve thought about you a lot too.’
It’s at that moment I’m done with conversation. I put down the phone and get to my feet. I sense this ain’t a guy with a whole lotta experience in making the first move.
‘See, here’s the thing, Jake,’ I murmur. ‘I wanna do more than just talk to you.’
I wait. Watch as my words sink in. Something stirs between my thighs. I need to be kissed by him again.
I step closer. He abandons his phone, but his Adam’s apple bobs up and down.
When I put my palms flat against his T-shirt, I feel a solid wall of muscle, on a level that’s almost ridiculous.
When I raise my chin, he dips his head. The initial moment our lips touch reminds me of a first kiss: a light, innocent brush, tentative, like nobody is quite brave enough to really go for it.
He takes my hand and leads me to the bedroom.
Standing opposite him, next to the massive bed with pristine white linen, I tug at his T-shirt.
I want him to go for it already, the memory of our last kiss making my intimate muscles pull taut in need.
When his lips meet mine proper, I forget all about the rules I’m supposed to follow, about the fact that I can’t stay here tonight.
While it feels like he’s trying to be a gentleman at first, within a few seconds, it’s like we’re picking up where we left off inside his truck, pawing at one another, only this time it’s with an acceptance that we’re gonna take things further than that.
My tongue tastes his and it sets off a chain reaction in me, the whimper that escapes my lips like a sound I don’t even recognize.
My head sags back as his lips go to my neck, but I’m greedy now and want more of him. My body’s screaming for it.
I lift his T-shirt, running my fingers down the hard, muscular savannah that is his chest. He lets out a shaky breath.
He tentatively fingers the hem of my top, and I help him lift it over my head.
I’m wearing a pretty, strapless lace bra, baby pink and cut low, and I can tell by the way he looks at me that the swell of my breasts ignites something inside him.
I reach around the back and unclip it, the bra falling away.
I step closer, my nipples grazing his chest, sending pleasure shock waves through my abdomen.
‘I wanna see you,’ he whispers. ‘It’s hell not being able to talk to you.’
I press myself even closer to him, and he captures my lips with a rough moan. I arch my back a little and his hands palm the globes of my ass through the denim.
‘Should I take these off?’ I whisper against his mouth.
‘Yes, yes, take ’em off,’ is his eager response.
I unbutton my jeans, shimmy them over my hips until they drop to the floor. He helps me out of them, so that I’m down to my panties. Without warning, he swings me into his powerful arms and lowers me to the bed.
He crawls up my body and his kisses are deeper now.
He’s slowed things down, perhaps on purpose.
We’re not pawing at one another, but the atmosphere feels hot and heavy.
He moves his mouth to my breasts, his tongue darting out as he licks and sucks at my nipples, taking his time to devour each one, and I run my fingers through the crisp hair at the nape of his neck.
His right hand drifts down my body. He shifts off me, encouraging me to open my thighs for him. He’s gentle in his movements, a little innocent in a way, teasing yet unsure.
His fingers slip further downwards and graze the material of my panties. ‘Wow, you’re… they’re… your panties, they’re drenched,’ he says, almost in surprise.
Then his fingers slip inside the material to touch me. I close my eyes. It’s been so long since any man did this. My hips buck and I cry out at the sensations. He rubs my folds, and I slow my hips for him, encouraging his movements, willing him to find my clit and send me spiralling over the edge.
But instead, Jake returns to kissing me. ‘I’m sorry it has to hurt the first time,’ he whispers against my mouth and, less than a second later, my eyes fly open.