Edge of Glory (Friendship, Texas Book 1)

by Magan Vernon

  "Jay?"

  I gasped, looking behind me to see the captain standing in the doorway. "We're about to take off. I just wanted to let you know."

  "Aye, aye," Jay said.

  I watched the captain shut the door, leaving Jay and I alone in the cabin.

  "Now where were we..." Jay's hands tiptoed down my back.

  "Um...I...Uh..."

  Jay smiled and rolled me to my side so that half of me was on top of him and the other half was on the couch next to him. "Why don't we try to relax?"

  He reached into his pocket and I sucked in a breath. Was he going to pull out a joint? Even worse, what if it was a condom?

  But he pulled out his phone and some ear buds.

  "Um, are we going to listen to a motivational podcast or something? Can you even get Wi-Fi on a plane? Maybe on a private plane, I guess."

  He laughed, his whole body vibrating underneath me.

  "Just listen," he said and handed me one of the ear buds, putting the other in his ear.

  Pressing some buttons on his phone, he moved too quickly for me to see what he pulled up. Then music filled my ear. A beat I recognized. Something I didn't expect.

  I glanced over at Jay and raised an eyebrow. "Is this Lady Gaga?"

  He laughed. "Yes. I listen to it before I get in the pool and sing it to myself whenever I'm swimming. Lame, I know, but there's something about “The Edge of Glory” that completely gets me in the zone."

  "I would have expected maybe some old school punk, hell, maybe even classical."

  He smiled, wrapping his arm tightly around my waist and drumming his fingers on my stomach. "I'm glad I can surprise you."

  I closed my eyes and tried not to focus on the plane taking off and just listen to the music, but my body was very aware of Jay's fingers slowly sliding against my bare skin where my shirt didn't meet my jeans.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I tried not to think and just feel.

  Slowly he unbuttoned my jeans, but stopped there, still running his finger along my panty line and leaving goose bumps everywhere his finger touched.

  One breath in.

  One breath out.

  He paused his movements, his fingers hovering just above my open jeans as if he was asking permission to continue.

  I bit my bottom lip, unsure of what the answer was to even give him. I wasn't the best at body language, but he took that as the go-ahead.

  His hand slid underneath my panties and I was thanking God that I actually shaved. I'd never had anyone this close to me, especially not down there. There was something about a man's hands, or maybe just Jay's hands, that were so different from my own. They were rough and chapped from hours in the chlorinated pool, yet smooth at the same time as every part of his hand swept over my sensitive flesh.

  His long fingers delicately slowly ran over my mound and I shivered. A mixture of wanting and pleasure trailed through me before he even really touched me.

  The chorus picked up, blaring through the ear buds as Jay hooked a single finger inside of me and I gasped, a warm feeling going all the way from my nose to the tip of my toes.

  Lady Gaga may have been on the edge of glory but I was definitely on the edge of something.

  I couldn't say exactly what he was doing with his hands but every movement of his fingers had me seeing stars and my entire body heating up. An intense wave of pleasure started low in my core. I bit my lip hard to keep from crying out as my body erupted and I saw fireworks and felt them through every part of me.

  Jay leaned over and kissed me, his tongue meeting mine as another soft moan escaped my mouth and my toes curled in pleasure. I didn't even know when the song ended or if the plane was still flying, because I was soaring. Above the clouds. Above the stars. This was the closest to heaven that I'd ever been and I never wanted to come down.

  "Jay, Lia, this is your captain speaking. We are going to hit some turbulence going over the mountains, so I'm going to suggest that you two get into the seats and buckle up.

  I whimpered as Jay pulled his fingers out of me, already missing the feel of him. He placed his hand on my stomach and broke our kiss. "I guess this means we have to move?"

  I sighed and opened my eyes, not wanting to ever move. Not sure if I could even move with my legs that felt like jelly. "Yeah. I guess."

  He kissed the tip of my nose and whispered, "Don't worry. We have plenty of time at the hotel before we have to be anywhere."

  ***

  When the plane landed, I was still coming down from the greatest high I ever felt.

  I couldn't concentrate on the California sunshine or the scenery. All I could think about was Jay's hand holding on to mine and where that hand had been and possibly would be again soon.

  A private car took us to a hotel downtown Los Angeles. I should have expected there to be a herd of people outside with cameras, but it still took me by surprise when we pulled up.

  Everyone in the wedding party was arriving and the whole thing was going to be a part of some reality TV special I guess, so every entertainment reporter in the area camped out in front of the hotel.

  "Just keep your head down and you don't have to talk to them," Jay whispered, squeezing my hand.

  "Yeah. I can totally do that. Let's just hope I don't trip over anything or do something else equally embarrassing."

  Jay smiled and kissed my forehead. "If you do, I'll be there to catch you when you fall."

  Another warm sensation went through me. This time it wasn't the turned on kind, but the feels kind. The one that had me thinking that if this guy didn't catch me, I was sure to break.

  Jay opened the door and a sea of people approached the car, barely parting for us to even stand up.

  Cameras and camera phones waved in our faces and Jay just smiled and waved as everyone threw out questions.

  "Jay, are you ready for your sister's wedding?"

  "Jay, have you and the other groomsmen took bets on how long the marriage will last?"

  "Jay, is this the waitress you were seen with in Texas? Sweetheart, can we get your name?"

  That one took me by surprise.

  I looked up and saw a very bubbly looking blonde, holding up a recorder. "Can we get a name? A quote? Anything?"

  I just stared, blinking, unsure of what I should do next.

  Jay put his arm around me and looked straight at the reporter. "Her name is Lia Conti and she's my girlfriend."

  With that, another slew of questions came out of different reporters’ mouths and cameras flashed, but Jay turned me around and we walked into the grand hotel lobby.

  We didn't even have to stop at the front desk, a man came to us with a plastic card, and Jay took it, without missing a beat, then breezed past him to the large elevator.

  As soon as we got in and the doors shut behind us, Jay slid his key into a slot above the buttons. Then he turned, cupping my face in his hands before putting his lips on mine. Ravishing me. Tasting me. Making me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

  I didn't even want the elevator ride to end, but when the doors dinged, Jay broke our kiss with an eager grin on his face. He took my hand and pulled me out of the elevator.

  With one fell swoop, he had the key out of the elevator door and into another door.

  Holy. Balls.

  This wasn't a hotel room. This was like a freaking apartment.

  Floor-to-ceiling windows faced us and looked out onto the skyline of the city. In front of those windows was a large seating area with plush furniture and off that was a large, formal dining room.

  I barely had time to look over everything because Jay was pulling me toward another door that led to a large bedroom with an even better view than the living room and a king-size bed.

  Jay sat down on the bed and pulled me down with him, his lips back on mine, and his hands exploring every part of my body as he rolled over so that he was on top of me.

  This was the first time I'd ever felt so wanted and even sexier than seeing myself in lin
gerie.

  "I’ve been thinking about having you in this bed since I first heard your little moans on the plane and felt you come on me," he murmured between covering my neck with kisses.

  I stiffened. I'd never had a man want me this much or been this close to sex.

  Jay stopped kissing me and sat up, hovering over me. "Babe, if you don't want to do this, say the word. I'll understand. I may need some alone time in the bathroom, but I'll understand."

  I mustered up all of the courage I could and sucked in a deep breath before I sat up slightly and pulled my t-shirt over my head.

  This was it. This was the moment I was going to give all of myself to a man I had fantasized about before I'd ever met him and now that I'd gotten to know him, I was falling head over heels for.

  Jay swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as his eyes roamed over my body before his hands slid underneath my bra, his thumb gently caressing the curve of my breasts.

  With one fell swoop, his other hand was at the back of my bra, unclasping it and throwing it to the ground. My nipples perked, hitting the cold air, but then they were immediately covered by Jay's hands then his mouth.

  His tongue swirled around each little bud and I leaned back, my body shaking and so close to the brink of eruption from every new sensation.

  Jay's mouth moved down to my stomach, leaving small kisses down to my belly button before he sat up and peeled his shirt off.

  Damn the man has an impressive body. Every ridge and tightened muscled. I couldn't help but lean forward and run my tongue along that eight-pack, which unleashed his own shivers.

  I moved back, meeting those crystal blue eyes of his and that brilliant smile.

  He licked his lips before pulling my legs out so I fell on my back and he quickly unzipped my pants, tugging them off with my shoes and socks.

  There I was spread out for him to see. Nothing between us but his jeans and my underwear.

  He leaned over and lightly kissed each one of my thighs then a trail to my center, before he tugged off my panties and threw them to the ground next to us.

  This was it. This was the moment I was going to lose my virginity.

  Jay stood at the end of the bed and spread my legs, his finger tracing a line down my ankle to my center. I was so ready for that finger to be somewhere else, but he stopped and put my legs together.

  "Um, Lia?"

  Shit. He knew I was a virgin and didn't want to be with me.

  "Is everything okay? Am I doing something wrong?" I tried to sound confident, but my voice broke with each word.

  He shook his head slightly. "No, it's just, you're bleeding."

  I sighed. "Okay, I guess this is probably the time to tell you that I'm a virgin. I haven't had anything inside of me from the opposite sex. That time on the plane was my first time for...anything..."

  He smiled slightly. "As flattered as I am to hear that, no matter how long my fingers are, that wouldn't cause you to bleed. Um, I think you got your period."

  Holy. Mother.

  I sprang from the bed and didn't even bother gathering my clothes as I ran into the bathroom, and closed the door behind me. I tried not to focus on all of the white around the room with the tile, sinks, and toilet. That only made me think of the white bedspread, which my damn body probably ruined.

  No. This couldn't be happening.

  I sat on the toilet and sure enough, there was my Aunt Flo to greet me.

  Holy Hell.

  I didn't plan for it. My period was always off, so I never exactly knew when it was coming and now it was here at the worst time.

  Tears pricked my eyes. I didn't want to cry, but it wasn't like I had anything else to do. I was naked, still a virgin, and sitting in the largest bathroom I'd ever been in.

  A knock came at the door.

  Oh, God, Jay. I'd probably mortified him. He was probably going to tell me that he chartered a plane for me to go back to Texas.

  "Hey, babe, um, I'm going to go for a swim down in the hotel pool and let you have some alone time. Do you, um, need anything?"

  I didn't answer. I didn't even know what I was supposed to say, so I just stayed silent.

  I waited forever before I finally decided I had to leave the bathroom, get dressed, and probably find a drug store to get tampons.

  I had just finished washing up and getting dressed when a knock came at the door.

  I thought it might be Jay and I wasn't sure I was ready to see him yet then a voice yelled, "Room service!”

  I ran and opened it, seeing a man in a suit with a wheeled cart. Our bags were delivered and sitting near the couch, so he steered the cart next to them. I didn't know what I was supposed to do since I'd never had room service before so I kind of bowed and said "thank you".

  The man nodded and then left.

  Slowly I walked toward the cart and looked at the array of covered silver dishes and a large brown bag, sitting next to them.

  Oh God, I hoped it wasn't a giant box of condoms and things to use for sexual foreplay and now Jay was very turned off by my lady parts.

  I kept staring and psyching myself up until finally I opened the bag. Instead of condoms, it was a variety pack of tampons. The good kind, not the cheap, cardboard ones I always ended up buying.

  "What the hell?"

  I set them down and then opened the different silver trays, which revealed every single chocolate dish I could imagine from cake to crepes.

  The last tray I opened was a chocolate tart with an envelope on the top with my name written sloppily on it.

  I opened it and read it slowly.

  Hey, Lia, wanted to make sure you had what you needed before we head to USC then my parents. See you soon. -Jay

  I held the note close to my chest. It wasn't what I expected. I shouldn't have been so emotional, or maybe I should’ve since I was on my freaking period.

  But I held that note to my chest and let the tears fall from my eyes.

  Holy Hell.

  I wasn’t just falling in love with Jay Morningstar, I was there.

  And maybe, just maybe, he was too.

  Chapter 17

  When Jay came back up to the room, he was in a sweat suit, his hair still wet from the pool.

  I was camped out on the couch.

  Jay glanced at the tray of chocolate then back at me. "So...I hope that didn't piss you off."

  I stood up, shaking my head. "No. That was probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you. I figured you would’ve just left and instead of chocolates there would be a plane ticket home."

  Jay stepped forward, closing the space between us. "I would never do that to you, Lia."

  He tipped my chin up and gently kissed me. "But I’m going to have to leave you to shower. I don't think you want to walk around USC's campus with a boyfriend who smells like chlorine."

  "Wait. What? When are we going to USC? When did you plan this trip?”

  "You said you wanted to go there, so we're going to check it out and you can see your future home for the next two years. And I thought I'd go with you, unless you're embarrassed of my smell."

  I kissed him again. "I like the smell of your chlorine."

  He grinned. "If you ever want me to get in that shower, you'd better stop that or I'm going to take you down on that bed."

  I blinked, stammering and trying to gather my words.

  He kissed me again before squeezing my hand and stepping back. "Don't think too hard, okay?"

  I just smiled. That was easier said than done.

  ***

  The entrance to USC was even more beautiful than the pictures online. All of the cardinal red and gold flowers were in bloom, surrounding the cement sign that read "University of Southern California."

  Jay held my hand, not saying a word as I kept staring at all the Roman architecture of various buildings.

  I'd dreamed about going to school for music business for years. I didn't want to be in front of the microphone, but behind the music? Tha
t was what I wanted. To make the magic happen. To discover those new artists and bring them to everyone's ears. And USC had the best program.

  "Not too bad, I guess. There aren't as many cows here, though," Jay said, nudging my side.

  "I think I've seen enough cows in Friendship to last a lifetime."

  I couldn't help but marvel at everyone around me. They just walked along doing their normal business, not realizing they were literally walking in footsteps that I'd wanted to walk in for so long.

  My senior year of high school, I faked a call in sick to school and drove into Dallas to go to an information session on USC. The first time I talked to a counselor, I knew it was where I wanted to be.

  Of course my parents didn't agree.

  Dallas did have its great amenities and it was a lot closer to home. But I didn't want to live in my parents’ house and under their rules for my entire life.

  The option was also thrown out for Nicky’s alma mater of UT in Austin, but that was where Christy went and just about everyone else from our small high school that went on to college.

  No way in hell I wanted a repeat of my sucky high school years in college, no matter how big the campus was.

  "So...what's the plan? Do you want to keep walking around? See any of the buildings?" Jay asked.

  "Maybe I could talk to one of the admissions counselors? See when is the latest I can get signed up for fall classes as a transfer? Then maybe they can give me something that I can bring home to my parents so they won't hate the idea of me going here so much."

  Jay grinned, letting go of my hand and putting his arm around me. "I think that sounds like a great idea. I'd like you staying here. Maybe you could even get a co-ed dorm so I wouldn't have to sign in all the time to come visit you."

  A lump formed in my throat.

  I'll admit that I had some brief moments where I thought about a future past this weekend with him, but I didn't think he was actually planning on it. Thinking about my dorm and seeing me in the fall.

  This was a big deal.

  And I had no idea how to handle it, so I just stayed silent, mulling over everything while we walked to the building.