“What are you looking at?” she snapped.
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Do you need a ride home?”
“I don’t know you.” Her sneer was condescending.
“You will,” he shot back matter-of-factly. “May as well get acquainted now.”
Oh, Jesus.
Her face fell, but she returned the favor and gave him the once over he’d given her. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Old enough to unravel you.”
I wiped my hand down my face, ready to get the hell home.
K.C. looked between the two of us, scowling and clearly aggravated.
“You’re both the same.” She shook her head and turned around to walk away. “Madoc, I need a ride home!” she yelled as she entered the house.
I heard Jax exhale a laugh, and I just rolled my eyes.
We both steered clear of commitment, but we went about it differently. He didn’t get caught up in the long line of short, disconnected relationships the way I did. He didn’t mind letting people in, because he knew they’d never make it into the end zone with him.
I was afraid that I would care too much.
Jax knew he wouldn’t care enough.
“Who was that?” he asked as we walked back through Madoc’s house and to my car.
“Tate’s best friend, K.C.”
We opened our car doors and climbed in.
“What does the K.C. stand for?” He slicked back stray hairs that had fallen out of his pony tail.
“No idea,” I sighed. “She’s been K.C. for as long as I’ve known her.” I looked over at him before turning the ignition. “And don’t,” I ordered.
“Don’t what?”
“I’m trying to get level with Tate. Shit needs to calm down. Don’t create more drama. K.C.’s not a one night stand kind of girl, and she’s definitely too emotional for friends with benefits. Just leave her alone.”
“Too late, brother. My people are hunters.”
His people. I laughed to myself, although it was sad. I doubted Jax even remembered what his mother looked like let alone her tribe’s name. And he was only a fourth American Indian, anyway, but to him, he was all Indian.
“She’s not your type,” I pointed out. “Uptight and whiny.”
Pulling around the driveway, I laid on the gas, speeding down the road towards the gate.
“Exactly my type.” He spoke low. “You can’t fall for someone like that.”
“Son of a bitch,” I grunted, sitting up in bed.
Arching my leg, I rested my forehead in my hand with my elbow propped up on my knee.
I’m so fucked.
My dick was throbbing so hard it hurt.
I was waking up with constant hard-ons, and it was like I was thirteen all over again.
I was actually waking up in pain with the pressure between my legs, and the only thing I wanted was under lock and key next door.
It was going to be a long fucking year. That was for sure.
I still didn’t have any plans about college, but one thing was for certain. Wherever I ended up, I looked forward to visiting Tate and screwing her brains out in privacy, without parents around.
A creak interrupted my thoughts, and my head shot up out of my hand to see Tate stepping into my room.
My chest caved, and I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
She shut the door and leaned back against it.
“Please tell me you’re thinking about me.” Her lips were soft and playful as she purred her words.
She was fucking me.
With her look, fierce and urgent. With her mouth, moist and open. With her voice, smooth and taunting, and I was ready to thank my lucky stars that she was here.
“Are you kidding?” I raised my eyebrows and whipped off the blanket, gesturing to the very hard bulge poking through the jeans that I’d fallen asleep in. “Look at this shit. I can’t think straight.”
And I jumped out of bed and rushed her. Our lips came together, and the sweetness of how her body molded to mine made me regret every other girl I’d touched.
Tate always tasted good, like hot apples and angry skies, and her tongue was simply candy.
She knew how to move with me. When I leaned in, she arched back. When I pulled my head back, she read my mind and opened her neck to me.
“Wait,” she gasped. “Your front door was open. I didn’t see your mom when I walked in, but she’s got to be up.”
I shook my head, scolding her. “You started this. And this isn’t your house. There are no rules here.” I smiled and leaned over to my iPod dock and switched on Rachel Rabin’s Raise the Dead to drown out our noise.
“Come here,” I whispered, pulling her by the hips into my body.
But she pushed me away.
Disappointment—-no, pain and confusion—racked through me.
“Wha—” I started to ask but sucked in my breath when she began peeling off her clothes.
Fuuuuck.
Her little, white tank top?
Gone.
Her pajama shorts and panties?
Off in a single movement.
And when she came to me, I was light-headed and fucking hard.
I glided my fingers up her sides and then down over her beautiful breasts. Her skin was silky and firm, like rain.
Perfect.
I didn’t even have time to reach for my nightstand drawer before she pushed me down on the bed and straddled me.
“Tate, a condom,” I gasped out.
Holy shit.
My whole body shook with the contact, her wet heat rubbing against me and the blood pumping through my cock.
“Pants,” she whispered, and when she leaned over to grab a condom, I knew what she meant.
After about three seconds, the rubber was on, and I thrust up and inside of her.
We stilled for a minute, both shuddering and catching our breath as we soaked in the feeling.
God, Tate. So tight.
Her lips crashed down on mine, and I dove into her mouth, moving my tongue against hers as we gasped and came back for more.
“Jared,” she whispered between kisses. “Something’s wrong with me. I always want more of you.”
Her hips started moving back and forth, up and down my cock, making a sweet tightness race down my arms and legs.
Her heavenly skin felt like cream, and I grabbed her ass in my hands, jerking her down on me as the room filled with wet heat and sweat.
God… she loved me. I still couldn’t believe it, but she did.
“What do you want, Tate?” I breathed against her lips, desperate and fucking lost in my need for her skin, her smell, her fire...
“I want you.” She closed her eyes, and dropped her head back as her body rocked into mine. “Every morning and every night.”
Her head came back down, and her fingers fisted in my hair. “I want to feel you all day, Jared.”
Yeah, it was going to be a long fucking year.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I whipped us around, so that she laid on the bottom, and I fucked the love of my life hard enough, so that she would feel me.
All. Damn. Day.
“Ahhh,” she moaned, her desperate eyes meeting mine.
“I love you, Tatum Brandt.” I put my hand over her mouth, and pushed inside of her harder. “Now, come.”
I fucking hated rushing. But I knew my mom was already up, and our talking and moaning would draw attention. Even with the music.
“Jesus Christ, baby, you feel good.” I dropped my mouth to her breast and sucked her nipple into my mouth.
I knew my back was drenched with sweat already, and I smiled when I tasted her salty skin. She felt this as much as I did.
Her thighs tensed around me, her nails dug into my back, and I felt her pulsate from the inside as she held her breath.
She was coming, and I looked up to see her eyes flutter closed. After a few moments she let out a little whimper and exhaled against my hand.
>
I always knew when Tate came. She had a thing about holding her breath.
I leaned up on one hand and grasped her thigh with the other, moving my hips between her legs faster and faster. More and more. Harder and harder.
My eyes closed, the pressure inside of me at its breaking point.
Fuck.
I looked down into her blissful face, and dived into her a few more times before letting it all go.
Cool fire spread through my veins, and all of the air left my body as I collapsed on top of her, breathing like a marathon runner.
“Jared, I need a clean shir—oh.”
My head snapped up, seeing Jax, and Tate squealed, pulling my body down to cover hers.
“What the fuck?” I was naked as hell, and Jax just stood there, wide-eyed with his lips formed in a circle. “Get the hell out!” I yelled.
After a pause, he broke out in a grin and snorted. “Hey, you must be Tate. I’m Jaxon.” And the fucker held out his hand for her to shake.
Thankfully, Tate was shielded by me, but I wasn’t covered. The dickhead had left the door open, too.
Tate peeked out and offered her hand bashfully. “Um…hi, Jaxon. Nice to meet you.”
They shook, and the stupid prick stood there smiling.
“Get the fuck out,” I barked again, my eyes burning with murder.
“Jared, why are you yelling?” My mother poked her head in, and Tate shrunk up into a ball underneath me again.
Oh, what the fuck?
“Jared!” My mother’s shocked gasp, when she noticed the extra arms and legs, caused me to clench my teeth.
Jax descended into a fit of laughter, and his face was turning red.
“Everyone, get out!” I shouted, and Jax cleared out, still smiling and obviously trying to hold back more laughter.
My mother, her face pinched up in anger and looking like she wanted to say something, grabbed the knob of the door and slammed it shut.
“Oh, my God!” Tate cried into my chest. “That did not just happen.”
“Yeah, I’m afraid it did. But who cares?” I shook it off. I was pissed, because Tate was embarrassed, but my mom and Jax were no threat.
She looked up at me, her sexy hair falling over her eyes. “Your mom will talk to my dad.”
“My mom is scared of your dad. We all kind of are. She won’t say anything.” I kissed her forehead.
“I’m so misbehaved.” She sat up, covering herself, looking a little sick. “I just couldn’t help it. Or…I didn’t want to, maybe. I woke up, and I wanted you so badly. I didn’t think.”
“Look at me,” I interrupted, holding her face in my hands. “You’re not misbehaved. You’re a good girl. No one takes this from us, Tate.” My voice hardened and my eyes got sharp. I nudged her chin, so she’d meet my eyes. “We’re eighteen. We’re in my home. You’re in a safe place. Quit acting like we should be apologizing for being in love. I understand showing your dad respect under his roof, but what’s done is done. We’re not going backwards.” I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her warm neck.
“I know,” she sighed, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me close. “I love you, and…and I trust this.”
But I felt the doubt sitting in my gut anyway.
Was she sure? Too much drama lately, or too much trouble, but she was still afraid of being hurt.
I cleared my throat and shook it off, changing the subject.
“Go get ready for school.” I pulled back and looked at her. “I’ll be over in thirty to pick you up. And you may as well leave through the front door. They know you’re here now,” I added as I stood up.
The corner of her mouth turned up, and she laughed when I threw one of my clean T-shirts in her face.
“Wear that.” It was another Nine Inch Nails T-shirt. They were one of my favorite bands, so I had a few of them. “To replace the one you burned last year,” I added when she pinched her eyebrows at me.
“Cool.” She smiled and slipped on her underwear and the shirt. “I always liked wearing your clothes,” she whispered sexily and spun around once, modeling the outfit.
Annnnnd…I was fucking hard again.
“Dude, I take it all back,” Jax rushed to say when I entered the kitchen. “You should definitely get her name tattooed on your body. Hell, I’ll get her name tattooed on my body.” He started laughing again, the fucking prick.
“Jaxon, that behavior is not tolerated.” My mother walked in, briefcase in hand. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with it when you live here.”
“Yes, Mom.” He mocked, but honestly, he had a better relationship with my mother than I did.
“Jared. Be home after school. We’re talking.” She pointed her finger at me.
“Yes, Mom,” I mumbled, echoing Jax.
“Jax, honey.” My mother looked to my brother. “Are you done with my laptop?”
“Yeah, I put it back in the case. Thank you.” And he spooned in another mouthful of cereal as he leaned against the sink.
My mother walked over to me as soon as she’d swung her laptop case over her shoulder. I let her put her hand to my cheek, but I still couldn’t manage to maintain eye contact.
“I love you,” she whispered gently. “And be home after school.”
I nodded, and she walked out, the sound of her heels fading away down the hall.
Looking over to Jax, who stood there trying to keep his smile at bay, I was suddenly confused.
“You have a phone. What did you need the laptop for?” I asked, grabbing an apple off the counter and taking a bite.
He just shrugged and stuffed his mouth with more Captain Crunch.
“Are you sure you feel comfortable in that outfit?” I asked as we walked into school, hand in hand.
She didn’t look at me, but her smile reeked of sarcasm. “Is it my comfort you’re worried about or your own?”
She didn’t look even remotely trampy. On the contrary, she was a fucking magazine cover. But the flimsy black dress was short. Tate usually dressed like a tomboy, but it was like she was on a mission to fuck with my sex drive 24/7.
I was on overdrive.
“My concern has nothing to do with me.” I pulled her into my side and hooked an arm around her neck. “I only think of you.”
We strolled through the halls, barely noticed, finally, as the school had pretty much moved on to newer drama. Jax was a genius. I did a web-search after I got home last night, and I couldn’t find the video anywhere.
Everyone was moving on.
“Let’s go for a ride after school today,” I suggested. “Just get on the motorcycle and go.”
Looking up, she raised her eyebrows and grinned, but then her eyes shifted to the lockers at our side, and her bubble immediately popped.
Following her gaze, I saw two girls eyeing Tate and me and whispering. They were being very obvious.
One of the girls I didn’t know. The other one, I definitely knew.
Shit.
“Tate, just ignore them.”
“It’s easy for you, Jared.” Her voice was low and calm, but there was a bite to it. “You could’ve been filmed with ten porn stars, and you’d be the man. I’m the one that’s paying for that video. Not you.”
She was right. While I cringed every time I saw that thing, I wasn’t in her shoes.
And there was little I could do to protect her.
I wanted to get her out of here. Get on the bike right now, and get lost, but she wouldn’t go for that. Instead I just grabbed her hand. “Let’s get to class.”
We started walking through the throngs of people, but she hesitated.
Glancing down at her, I saw her take out her phone, which was buzzing. My eyes shot up when I heard several other phones ringing and vibrating.
Fear hollowed my stomach as déjà vu struck. Everyone was getting a message at the same time, just like Tate told me they did when the video exploded.
My own phone vibrated against my ass, and
with a cringe, I reached in my pocket to grab it.
Madoc.
Glancing around, I noticed almost everyone had their noses in their devices as well.
Sliding to unlock the screen, I opened the message.
Really?!
With piss and fury burning my stomach, I watched a recording of Nate, blubbering last night in the hot tub. I was in the video, too, but I was blurred out, and I couldn’t hear what I was saying. All that was visible and audible was Nate Dietrich, pleading for his safety and apologizing.
Fuck!
Heat rushed over my back, and a cool sweat broke out across my forehead as I looked to Tate. She was seeing it, too, no doubt. Others started hooting and laughing in the halls, while some whispered and showed their phones around to other’s who hadn’t gotten the message.
The video was not flattering. It clearly protected me and threw him to the sharks as a spineless joke.
Well, good. I was okay with that, but Tate?
Her eyebrows were pinched together as she looked at her phone, and then her serious and very unhappy eyes zoned in on me.
“Jared? This is you, isn’t it? You’re the one he’s talking to.”
Her breathing was fast, and her face was tense.
Son of a bitch. Just when I was hoping things would calm down. Fucking Madoc and fucking Jax. Madoc obviously sent it to the whole school, but it had to have been Jax that filmed it when my back was turned last night. I was sure of it. Madoc didn’t know shit about how to edit videos. Jax was the smart one.
And that’s why he’d borrowed my mom’s laptop this morning.
“Tate, it’s—”
“Was this last night?” she interrupted.
“It was spontaneous.” I held up my hands and shook my head, inching up to her. “Nate was at Madoc’s house, and Jax and I went over to confront him.”
“You threatened him? What were you thinking?” she accused. “I mean, don’t get me wrong,” she continued, “I appreciate the gesture, but it’s not worth it. Now everyone’s talking about us again, Jared. They all know what this is about.”
I looked around and—yes—people were eyeing us again. Talking and laughing, not to mention whispering. The grins weren’t snide or spiteful, but it was still talk.
And Tate was sick of it.
Until You (Fall Away Series) Page 29
