Sarah let out an annoyed breath of air. “Come on, Meg. What do you take me for? I wouldn’t tell him that. Besides, it’s embarrassing that my best friend is eighteen years old and still a virgin.” She laughed, but stopped the moment she saw the effect her words had on Meg and she apologized.
Meg rolled her eyes and turned her head to look away for a moment and stared blankly outside the window.
“Come on, I was joking. Lighten up. Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. I just wish last night could have turned out differently, that’s all.”
After filling Sarah in on every last detail, Sarah shook her head at Meg with a frown on her face. “That’s it, I have to set you two up, and I have less than two weeks to do it.” Meg watched as Sarah’s mind went a million miles a minute trying her best to devise a plan.
* * * *
Dinner arrived. Both Sarah and Meg dug in right away. They were starving. Very few words were exchanged between them while they devoured the food in front of them. “I am so going to miss the food here,” Sarah blurted out.
Meg looked at her, “I know, right?” Their bellies were full, and Meg struck up another conversation with Sarah. “So, enough about me, how was your night?”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask. It was so good, I slept with Ethan,” she blurted out right away with a big sexy grin and her eyes half closed as she thought about her night. “He’s so fucking hot. I had no idea he would be that great in bed.”
“I kind of figured you would end up with him last night. He’s pretty hot and so into you. He’s also a really nice guy. He hangs out with Will a lot.”
”Yeah, well, he is freaking hot.” Sarah studied Meg with a peculiar look. “What made you think I would end up with him last night?”
“Are you kidding me? When you took off your clothes to get in the pool, did you not see him literally throw the girl he was carrying off his shoulders the minute he saw you in that bikini.”
Both Meg and Sarah laughed, and Sarah filled her in on the details of her night with Ethan. Apparently, they woke up naked in Will’s brother’s old bedroom. After lots of hot and sweaty sex, Sarah dropped Ethan off at home around five in the morning.
* * * *
The next week flew by like a blur. Sarah, Will, and Meg hung out pretty much every day. Will finally managed to get past the fact that Meg left the party early that night. He was pissed, and Meg sensed a little hurt. She didn’t dare tell him anything about John; Meg figured it would have annoyed the hell out of him. They spent all week packing and talking about moving on, promising to keep in touch with one another and to come home at least once every two years. Later during the week, Sarah confessed to Meg that Will did in fact find out she was with John the night of the party. But he didn’t say much to Sarah about it, other than how disappointed he was. He never did bring it up to Meg.
Meg was sad about leaving her family. She was definitely going to miss them, certainly miss her mom’s cooking and her dad’s big arms that wrapped protectively around her. Meg was equally close to both of them. Being an only child meant their entire world evolved around their daughter. Meg assured them she would visit as often as she could. Her parents sat her down a few days before she was ready to leave. They had opened a savings account for her when she was born and had been putting money away for her education since that time. Meg was thankful and hugged them both. She figured based on the amount they had set aside, it would get her through at least five years of university provided she was careful. She would have to look for a part-time job once she got settled in, but knowing she had some money available certainly put her mind at ease.
Meg was counting the days down when she realized she had only a few more days left before leaving. She couldn’t wait to see her cousin Eva again who was still playing the field, dating and enjoying her job and partying in between. Eva was one year older, and she had hung out with Sarah, Will, and Meg quite a bit before she left town over a year ago. She landed a job she really liked with a large corporation overseeing payroll and administration. Even though she was top of her class in high school, she had no desire to go to college or university. She seemed happy and content with her life and the direction it was going. She sang at a bar downtown on weekends which gave her a welcoming opportunity to show off her beautiful voice. Eva had dreamed of being a singer one day.
The phone rang, bringing Meg back to reality. It was Sarah. “Hey, Birthday Girl, what are you up to?” she squealed into the phone.
“Oh, hey, Sarah. Can you believe I’m officially eighteen years old now? I’m so excited. So what are the plans for tonight?” They always made the effort to plan something for one another on their birthdays.
“Well, as luck should have it, Ethan called me late last night and asked what we had planned. He’s having a get-together at his house around eight this evening. I told him I would check with you first and get back to him. He invited us over if you’re interested. What do you think?”
“Sounds good. Who’s going to be there?”
“Will, Jake, Joe, and a few others as well. He said we’ll know everyone there. It’s a small group, nothing too big.”
“Perfect. What time should I be ready for you to pick me up?”
“Eight will be good, it’s a hot one tonight, so wear very little!” They both laughed. Just as Meg was about to hang up, she yelled into the receiver, “Wait! Sarah?” Let your mom know you’re sleeping at my house tonight, my parents are away at the cottage and not back until Monday.”
“Oh, okay, sounds great,” she said before ending the call.
* * * *
At precisely eight in the evening Meg found herself sitting outside on the veranda. She smiled to herself at the realization that for once, she was waiting for Sarah! At the very last minute, she reconsidered what she was wearing and decided to run back upstairs and change. Maybe jeans are too heavy for this evening, Sarah was right, it’s stifling hot out there. She chose a black strappy sundress that hugged her breasts perfectly, her cleavage displayed nicely, thin spaghetti straps hung over her shoulders and the skirt hung midway between her thigh and knee. It was a sexy look. She grabbed her salmon-colored wedges and purse to match and made it just in time to meet Sarah as she pulled in the driveway.
Sarah looked great, of course, in tight black shorts, a black strapless tank top, and flat black sandals. Her legs were long and tanned, Sarah hated wearing heels; she complained they made her taller than most guys, so she tried her best to stay away from them.
* * * *
Ethan met them at the front door and took one look at Sarah before he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close to his chest for a hug. He swept his lips softly over hers and placed his hand securely around her waist and took her inside. Meg followed closely behind. Ethan looked her way. “Hey, Meg. Happy birthday,” he said and pulled away from Sarah for a moment to give Meg a quick peck on the cheek. “Make yourself at home, the party seems to have started downstairs. I’ll be right down with Sarah, just give us a minute, if that’s okay?” He looked at Meg with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“Of course, go ahead. I’ll see you two in a bit.” Meg headed downstairs and thought of how lucky Sarah was to have someone like Ethan look at her like that. He was so into her. Too bad she’s leaving for New York soon. Meg thought they would have worked out. They were perfect together. She had to admit that although she was happy for her friend; something told her that for the first time since she’d known Sarah, that Sarah will have a hell of time breaking away from this one.
Just when Meg’s right foot was about to land on the tiled floor at the bottom of the stairs leading into the basement, she was greeted by Will and a bunch of other friends singing “Happy Birthday.” They all took their turn to hug and kiss her. Will handed her a vodka and cranberry, he knew it was her favorite. He curled his long fingers around her upper arm and led her directly toward the bar. “Holy shit,” Meg looked up at Will and laughed. “Who set t
his up? There must be at least twenty shooters sitting across this bar.”
Will gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Oh, these are all for you, but as always, you know I’m here for you. So let’s get started, shall we?” he said with a devilish grin. Time went by rather quickly, and just before eleven, Meg heard heavy footsteps thumping down the stairs. In walked John Lake. Her heart skipped a beat and then pounded in her chest. She stilled herself. Barely able to breathe, she took in the very sight of him. With tight fitted jeans and a black T-shirt, he was sexier than hell. Their eyes met across the room and they both smiled as he headed straight for her.
After absorbing the look of him, she noticed he was alone. He curled those big hands of his around her waist and stood back just enough to take her in with his gaze before lowering his head and whispering in her ear. “Hey, Birthday Girl, you look hot in that dress.”
“How did you know it was my birthday?” She felt silly for asking, but it was the only response she could think of at the moment. What she really wanted to do was crawl up that hot body of his and lay a kiss on those perfect lips.
“I have my ways of finding out things about you.” He leaned in closer and Meg’s heart raced in her chest again, she thought he was going to kiss her. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “How about we leave here and you meet me out back? My truck is parked on the side of the street.”
He moved back, loosening his hold on her waist and searched her eyes for an answer. Butterflies settled in her stomach as she watched him and realized what this meant. They would finally be alone again. “Give me two minutes. You go ahead. I need to let Sarah know I’m leaving or she’ll be worried if she can’t find me later.” He didn’t get a chance to answer before Meg took off up the stairs. Dizzy from excitement, she let Sarah know she was leaving with John. Sarah hugged her. “Happy birthday, Meg. Have fun,” she kissed Meg on the cheek and looked at her with a sheepish grin. “I hope you get what you wish for,” she said. “Did you let Will know you were leaving?”
“Actually, I didn’t think of it. I’m not even sure where he is. He might be out front. A few of the guys are out there. Can you let him know I left?”
“Yes, of course I will. Now get going,” she patted Meg on the ass, willing her to leave.
Meg was thankful that Sarah would let Will know she had left. Not that it mattered one way or another, but she kind of felt bad for up and leaving like this without saying a word. Meg walked away knowing full well that Sarah had set this up, and she made a mental note to thank her later.
It was dark and the traffic was minimal. Meg spotted John’s black pickup truck right away. She walked across the street and reached for the handle to open the door and realized he’d beaten her to it when the door swung open. She stepped into the truck and smoothed the dress underneath her bottom while she eased onto the seat. She buckled her seat belt and found herself unable to breathe. He did that to her. Meg felt his stare; she could always feel him staring at her when they were in the same room, no matter how much distance there was between them. She continued to look straight ahead and knew if she took one look in his direction her seat belt would come undone and she would be over there straddling him in no time flat. God, he’s so dreamy.
She was a little nervous and decided to remain quiet. In her head two thoughts took precedence. Tonight is my eighteenth birthday and I am definitely having sex with John Lake. After letting the pent up air out of her lungs, Meg inhaled slowly. She could smell him. He smelled like fresh air and spice, and she couldn’t seem to breathe him in quickly enough. They headed toward Meg’s part of town, and she was surprised when he turned in to her driveway. With a confused look on her face, she turned to him. The truck came to a complete stop. After cutting the engine and turning the headlights off, he turned to face her. “Sarah told me your parents are away for the weekend. I was hoping I could come in for a while, if that’s okay with you?”
Shaking his head, he looked through the front windshield with both hands wrapped around the steering wheel, he continued, “I tried staying away from you, I swear, but I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re leaving here in less than a week, and I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again. I need to be with you, Meggie, and I know firsthand how we respond to one another.” He tilted his head to the side and looked at her. “I know how good it could be. I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I want you.” The look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. There was no doubt in her mind he wanted her just as badly as she wanted him.
“Just one night,” he said. “That’s all I ask. I want to take you inside that house, lay you down on your bed, and feel every inch of you as I explore that beautiful body of yours. Hell, Meggie, I would be happy to just sit and watch you sleep if you’ll let me stay the night.” She held eye contact with him; excitement coursed through her body as she watched his knuckles whiten from his grip on the steering wheel.
Hanging off every word he said, Meg watched him carefully. He turned and stared straight ahead and she couldn’t help but notice how perfect his profile was. Meg knew John was a good person. What other young man would stick around for an entire year after high school to watch over his brother and sister? Their safety came first to him. Every choice he made was made for them. Now that Julie was going off to nursing school and his little brother off to university, he could finally move on. He gave so much of himself to his family. If I don’t go through with this now, I will never get the chance to know what it feels like to be with him. I always wanted him to be my first. Just this once, that’s all I want. As scared as Meg was, she couldn’t deny the need to be with him. She hadn’t as much as looked at another guy since that night two years ago behind the church. She reached out and touched his arm and he turned to her. “Come on, let’s go inside.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek but he turned in time to capture her lips. The kiss was gentle and soft, it felt right.
It seemed to take forever to get that damn key out of her purse. Meg cursed in frustration and finally managed to fit the key into the lock. She realized then that the door wasn’t secured. Although it was odd, she figured her parents must have left it unlocked. She thought wearily to herself for a brief moment before she let it go and reminded herself she was safe here. Crime was very rare in Door County so she put her mind at ease with that little thought and focused her attention back to John.
They both stepped inside and Meg turned to lock the door. She was about to ask him if he would like a drink when she found herself pinned against the door, his long body pressed into hers from behind. She could feel his erection straining against the small of her back and her head fell back to rest on his chest. His hands explored her body, and she reacted immediately to his touch.
John pulled her hair away from her neck and trailed a line of kisses along her jawbone down to the crook of her neck and across her shoulders. Nerve endings awakened in Meg that she never knew existed until now. Quivering from the sensation of the heat that escaped past his lips, her pussy throbbed in anticipation and warm liquid spilled between her thighs as he continued to explore her.
She lost herself completely. Submerged in pleasure, her only focus was John. His hand wandered lower and his fingers dug in to her ass. His other hand moved around her neck and he swept her up in to his arms and headed for the stairs. Meg panted for air. Barely able to think, she managed to whisper. “My bedroom is the second door on the right upstairs.” She returned the caresses, touching him wherever she could manage in the position he held her in. She kissed his neck and took in the smell of him. She was ready and had waited for this moment for what felt like forever.
The lamp in the corner of the room glowed softly and John carried Meg to the bed. His knee pressed into the mattress and dipped from his full weight. He gently laid her down before standing again. He stood there for a long moment and everything went completely silent between them. Passion filled the air and Meg’s heart skipped a beat as she took in every nuance of his gorgeous face
and the darkness of his lust-filled eyes.
He bent down once again and gently kissed her forehead. Without uttering a word, he removed his jean jacket, loosened the belt of his jeans and tugged the lower part of his shirt out from the waist before quickly and effectively pulling it up and over his head in one quick motion. Holy shit, he was perfect. Tall, with well-defined muscles, he stood before her.
His upper body was smooth with a light sprinkle of hair across his chest. His muscles were well-defined and so perfect! She imagined her hands splayed over his soft skin, exploring the hardness of every muscle. Meg lost her mind when he looked down at her; no one had ever looked at her with such hunger. His eyes were fixed on her and his desire evident by the bulge in his jeans. He loosened the top button of his jeans, and she almost swallowed her tongue at the site of him. She watched his every movement and slowly she drank him in. She wanted to remember every second of this moment, to relive every detail over and over in her head. Her heart constricted at the very thought of not seeing him again, but she was determined to make sure he was her first—the one she saved herself for, the one that would be a part of her forever.
He didn’t remove his jeans completely as she had hoped; her gaze followed the fine line of dark hair that trailed down and disappeared inside the denim. His stomach was flat, muscled, and well defined. Damn, he’s hot. His legs hugged the side of the mattress closely, and he pushed Meg gently back on to the pillow before he lowered his long hot body over hers. Resting his elbows on either side of her shoulders, he tucked his arms under hers. His hands reached up and secured both sides of her face, and he stared deep into the very soul of her. Meg found him intriguing, his dark hazel eyes were heavy lidded, and she could sense his need to devour her. The hardness of his erection was clear evidence of how much he wanted her at that very moment.
His thumb swept tenderly across Meg’s lower lip before pushing its way into her mouth. She took the single digit gently into her mouth and swirled her tongue around the tip of his thumb before letting go. He hissed and watched her mouth. His pupils dilated; the color darkened and almost disappeared.
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