by Mika Jolie
Good to know she wasn’t the only one with nervous knots in her stomach. “I’m worried that…” Her voice dropped until it was practically inaudible. “I’m not going to live up to your past experience.”
“I don’t have any other experience to compare you to.”
Certain she misheard, Claire blinked, lips parting on a gasp of disbelief. He grinned, an almost shy grin. Forrest removed his glasses, walked past her and placed them on the desk. He rubbed his eyes, then looked at her. Absolute stillness in the room.
“You asked me to wait for you.” He scraped a hand through his hair. “And so I did.”
His words caressed her soul, smoothing it out and removing the jagged edges. The magnitude of the moment seeped through. That afternoon, doused with rain she had declared her love and begged him to wait for her. He had walked away with barely a glimpse back, but not only had he heard her, he’d listened.
He’d waited.
She’d be his first just as he’d be hers. Her hands shook. Her pulse thumped erratically. The edges of her eyelashes blurred with tears. He was quick by her side, cupped her face in his hand and wiped the tears away. “Some people are worth the wait, and you’re one of them.”
“You love me.” It wasn’t a question, but a realization.
He stared into her eyes, his own as hot as liquid steel. “I love you.”
Her heart flipped, desire spiked. Just as the longing became unbearable, Forrest tilted his head and kissed her until all insecurities and fear stopped in their tracks, replaced by this moment. His hands roamed over her dress, fiddled with the small knot around her waist and unsnapped the buttons. With a slight brush of his hands the cotton material fell to the floor.
After all these years of the crushing yearning, she stood in Forrest’s arms, covered only by a purple lace push-up bra with matching panties. Panic set in. What if she was too skinny? Without the extra padding of her bra, her breasts were only a handful. But he loved and wanted her. This much she knew.
Trepidation and excitement coiled in her stomach. He stepped back, eyes hooded, taking in her every curve. His face flushed with lust and love easing her feeling of self-consciousness.
“You’re so beautiful.” His lips were on hers again. There was an edge of urgency about his kiss, a hunger that might suddenly rage out of control, yet strangely tender and sensuous, setting her entire body aflame with desire. His hands explored, becoming acquainted with every inch of her body. Her hands drifted to the waist of his pants, undoing the button. So hot in the kiss, they stumbled on the bed as he stepped out of his pajama pants.
On top of her, he mouthed against her lips. “Tell me if I do anything you don’t like.”
She nodded, although she’d bet her whole wee-bit savings that she wouldn’t have any complaints.
His touch became firmer, more dangerous, going places he’d never gone before. With heated kisses, his mouth journeyed over her shoulders and breasts, sending electric shivers straight to her core. Her eyes watered when his tongue traveled the line of her flat stomach and finished with a little seductive suction action on her hip. She cried his name, her breath coming short and fast. He settled between her thighs, his straining erection pressed against the spot she needed him. Every muscle in her body tensed with expectation.
Their fingers laced. His eyes, dark with desire, locked with hers as he slowly pushed himself inside her. Claire sucked in her breath. The slight pressure and pain was expected, but still startled her.
Forrest swallowed and stilled, bracing himself on his elbows. “Good?”
The soft expression of concern was a pure benediction of his love. She knotted her hands around his neck and pressed closer to him. “Don’t stop.”
After a slight hesitation, he stroked her cheek and kissed her lips. Then slowly, he pushed deeper inside her, pausing once more to search her face for any discomfort. She leaned into him and kissed his tanned chest. He let out a low groan, rocking slowly into her over and over, breaking her barrier, inch by inch, until her body was taken by an overwhelming feeling of pleasure. It lasted only moments, but when he shuddered in her arms as he gripped her hips, she knew nothing would ever be the same between them. They had crossed that line they’d been teetering for the last year and now they were forever connected, body and soul.
Breathless excitement pounded in her heart as he showered her face, neck, and collarbone with gentle, soft kisses before rolling onto his back. She moved along with him, wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him close. “That was…” Her voice trailed as she searched for the right word. Perfect just wouldn’t do.
“It’ll get better,” he said in a promising tone.
She just had to take his word for it. She had no complaints. For first timers, the experience had left her breathless and wanting more. “It was beyond perfect,” she said, circling his chest with her index finger. “I feel complete.”
“It was you, Claire.” His voice had an unfamiliar tightness to it. “You made the experience perfect.”
Euphoric warmth flowed through her, causing her heart to expand. Not gonna cry. Not gonna cry, Claire willed herself as they lay in a sweetheart’s cradle position.
“This is for you.” He handed her a small velvet box.
“Where did that come from?” she asked as he handed her the box.
“My nightstand. It’s been here the whole time.” He smiled. “I told you I bought you a gift.”
She pulled herself to a sitting position and almost forgot she was naked until she followed Forrest’s gaze to her breasts. Heat seared through her cheeks under his scrutiny, and for a minute Claire thought her face was on fire. Feeling a bit awkward and coy, she reached for the navy-orange Rugby stripe duvet.
“Open your gift.”
With a slight nod, she opened the box and gasped. A white gold necklace with an infinity pendant gleamed at her. She held up the delicate metal with trembling fingers. “The infinity symbol.” She looked back at him, and her heart fluttered inside her chest. “I love it. I love you…forever.”
He yanked her to him and covered her mouth in a hungry kiss. “At this moment, we are infinite.” He stroked a finger over her temple, pushing back a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“We should get infinity tattoos.”
His brows went up. “You and me?”
Smiling, she nodded.
He let out a short laugh. “That’s so permanent.”
“Like us, forever,” she said breathlessly.
“All right then, we can go to Boston tomorrow and get tattoos before your birthday party.” His voice was firm. Decision made. No hesitation. For as long as she’d known Forrest he’d always been sure of the things he wanted and the people he surrounded himself with. And now he had given her the most precious gift, his love. “Tonight,” he continued, a faint smile on his lips, “we make love again, and again, and again.”
“I have to go back to the house.” But really she wanted to stay right here, in his arms, forever.
He grinned back and she could feel the excitement radiating out from him stronger than a hundred watt bulb. Pure energy. One of the many reasons she loved him.
“No chance. You’re staying with me.”
“But…”
“We’ll sneak you back in before anyone can notice. I’ve done it for Jason a few times. Then we can meet and go to Boston together for our tattoos.” He tilted her head to the side and kissed her, his lips demanding. Smoldering heat ran deep within Claire as his grip tightened. With a sweeping movement, he rolled her under him, crushing her body to his, gentle yet firm. He slanted her head further, deepening the kiss.
He was right. The second time the exquisite friction sent her flying.
Chapter Four
“You only hear the music when your heart begins to break.”
My Chemical Romance – The Kids from Yesterday
Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Ten Years Ago…
“Happy Birthday!” smiling
faces chanted.
Claire raised a hand to cover her beating heart as she took in the scene in front of her. Colorful balloons swayed in the soft breeze. A cupcake tower sat on a table at the far end of the yard along with other treats. Streamers covered everything. Her mother, Jason’s parents, Charles and Victoria, held a big banner that read Happy 18th Birthday Sweetie!
With quick steps, she crossed the well-manicured lawn into her mother’s arms. “Thank you.” She hugged her mother, then Jason’s parents.
“Anything for you, love,” Jason’s mother chimed in. Her pale, petite hands massaged Claire’s shoulder. “Nice tattoo, by the way.” She turned Claire’s wrist to examine the fresh ink. “I have one as well.”
“Thank you.” Feeling her mother’s inquisitive gaze, she glanced nervously at the newly acquired black ink. The infinity tattoo–a simple, yet elegant loop with a twist through its center mirrored the number eight on its side, curved seductively inside her left wrist. The permanent mark of her eternal love for Forrest gleamed from the A&D ointment she applied after treating the sensitive area.
Her mother took her hand and examined the ink. “So permanent.”
“It’s the infinity symbol, Rosa.” Victoria chuckled. “Our little girl is in love.”
“Who’s the lucky guy?” Charles asked, his blue eyes fixated on where Jason and Forrest stood talking.
Claire followed Charles’ gaze and rested on Forrest. He was laughing, probably over some lame story from Jason. She ached to wrap around his muscular form and nestle against him, as she’d done all night. But they were still new, still processing everything between them, and Forrest had insisted to be the one to break the news to his best friend that the two of them were officially dating. While the others had relented a bit on their big brother mode, Jason’s had heightened.
Forrest’s eyes wavered from his friend and locked into hers. Images of their naked bodies discovering each other flamed her brain, making her private thoughts roasting hot. Feeling her mother’s and Victoria’s watching her, Claire turned her head to the side, averting their curious stares.
“Let’s not interrogate Claire,” her mother chimed in. “Go enjoy your celebration with your friends. We can talk about the tattoo later.” She smiled, a silent message telling her daughter she could care less about the permanent ink.
Summertime, the go-to summer jam by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, blasted from the speakers in its exuberant beat, wooing the ears of the crowd. Boyfriends grabbed the waists of their girlfriends as everyone started to sway to the tune. Boyfriend, she officially had one of those. Not just any boyfriend–Forrest Montgomery Desvareaux, one of the Vineyard’s favorites, a hunk with a capital H. The one she’d always wanted. He was hers. Emotion coiled tight in her stomach. She turned to her mother and Jason’s parents again. “Thank you for all of this.”
Charles hugged her. “We love you. Have fun.”
Hours later, Claire scanned the crowd. A feeling of joy filled the air. Twinkling lights hung from tree limbs. Booming sound from the oversized speakers thumped in time with her heartbeat as though they were one. Chatter of voices and people moving around drowned out by the music.
Her entire senior class was here. Actually except for Blake and Adam, the whole island was here. Blake had chosen to start law school early and Adam was busy making a name for himself as a Formula One driver.
Claire pressed through the horde of people in search of Forrest. Through all the chaos and mingling, other than a wayward glance and short conversations surrounded by friends, they hadn’t been alone. She wanted to touch him, kiss him, breathe him. Anything. She wanted Forrest.
Her feet came to a screeching halt. A short distance away, Forrest stood smiling, chatting with two curvy and sharply defined college girls in very short shorts. With lust in their eyes, his admirers stared as if he were a god. The blonde’s head fell back in laughter as she pressed her chest a little closer to Forrest. He didn’t appear affected by either of the sexpots, but he didn’t push them away either.
Claire’s skin crawled. Forrest was hers.
She had bruises on her body as proof. Heart hammering in her chest, she swallowed the lump in her throat and tried not to think of the worst case scenario. But the thoughts nagged her mind. What if she hadn’t been good enough in bed?
Umph!
She stroked the infinity tattoo inside her left wrist and tried to ignore the jealousy burning her chest.
“Smoke is coming out of your head.”
Startled, she turned to Jason. “What?”
He looked at Forrest then back at her. His blond hair, similar to his mother’s, was as wild as the jungle, untamable and unruly. “No need to be jealous. He’s in love with you.”
Her brother-sister relationship with Jason was strong. At times overwhelming so, but she loved him. She opened her mouth to deny she'd been secretly hooking up with his friend, but Jason’s eyes, crystal blue, so much like his father’s, twinkled with a mixture of arrogance and badass, told her not to bother. She should have known he’d be onto her. He didn’t graduate top of his class, heading to Harvard Law, based on his looks and the Montgomery name alone.
“He’s flirting with them,” she mumbled.
Jason chuckled. “No, he’s not. He’s being polite. There’s a difference. He’s into you.” He slung one arm over her shoulder and squeezed her into a tight embrace. “Even when I told him you were a scrawny pain in the ass, it was all about you.”
Claire smiled a little. “How long have you known?”
“That he’s in love with you?” he chuckled. “Definitely before you started sneaking up to the tree house.”
“I’ve never snuck…”
“Yeah, you did. Still doing it.”
She tried to push him off, but he tightened his grip and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
“Happy birthday, punk ass.”
“So loving,” she muttered, the usual banter between her and Jason relaxed her a bit.
“You snuck out of the house last night.”
She looked at him. Her plan had been foolproof…unless. “You weren’t in the house.”
“I left right after you.”
His voice had a solemn tone that pulled her heartstrings. Jason was more than the son of her mother’s boss. As much as she annoyed him, he always looked after her. Siblings didn’t always have to be by blood.
“Why do you sneak out?” she asked with concern.
“I don’t. I walk out.”
Again, she noted tightness in his voice. She turned her head and focused her attention on the man she loved like a brother. “Jason, what’s wrong?”
“Let’s just say, you’re lucky to live in the guesthouse.” It happened quickly, but for a brief moment anguish flickered through his eyes. Claire followed his gaze to his parents talking to Forrest’s parents. From the outside looking in, his parents looked happy and loving, but perception was not always reality. “You don’t have to listen to the constant bickering,” Jason continued.
Besides Forrest’s parents, Charles and Victoria, beautiful, rich, and loving, were Claire’s epitome of a happy, loving relationship. “Your parents love each other.”
Jason shrugged. “Probably, but there’s deep-rooted anger.” He caught her wrist, dismissing the topic as quickly as it was brought up. “Come on, let’s go chat with that boyfriend of yours. Cool tat, by the way.”
“Thanks. I like your eagle.” She often admired the eagle tattoo covering Jason’s left shoulder to bicep.
“Thanks. Dad hates it.” He peered at Forrest again. “I never thought he’d get one. He’s not really into body art.”
She knew that and the fact Forrest had chosen to be permanently inked for her made her love him even more. “Are you mad about me and Forrest?”
He shook his head. “You’re the sister I’ve never had, and he’s the brother I wish I had.” He squeezed her hand. “He loves you. There's no one else for him. It’s always been you.”
He flashed her one of his charming smiles. “Forrest is the type of guy who loves forever. You’re in good hands.”
* * * *
Claire said goodbye to the few lingering stragglers. Dusk had fallen, the mosquitoes were out, and goosebumps of anticipation spread across her arms. She stifled a yawn. She was tired, but also excited.
She focused on her boyfriend leaning on his Jeep, arms crossed over his chest. Her skin tingled with happiness. Their relationship was officially public, when she and Jason had walked to him and the two overly enthusiastic girls, Forrest had pulled her to him and planted a possessive kiss on her lips, claiming her in front of his best friend and everyone else on the island. His two admirers got the message. Good thing too, because she’d been ready to go toe-to- toe with them.
“I never thought I’d want my own party to end.” Claire twisted frizzy hair from the blistering heat into a knot. “Forrest.”
“Hmm…”
“You’re going to Dartmouth for medical school.”
“And you’re going to NYU.”
Moving away from the island, adjusting to college, the workload, the changes, all brought on different emotions. Excitement, fear, and now melancholy, over the distance that would exist between them. “What will become of us?”
He pulled back a bit and searched her face. “What do you mean?”
“I thought about it and I don’t know…you’re going to be in New Hampshire and I’m going to be in New York.”
He caught a strand of her hair between his fingers and gently stroked it. “Not a big deal.”
He sounded so confident, it was almost reassuring. But now that they were official, the distance presented a new obstacle. Claire pressed on. “We’re going to be even further apart. What if…”
“There are no ‘what ifs,’ Claire.” His eyes moved to her face in a slow perusal. “Stop worrying. You’re it for me. You have to trust us, or else we won’t work.”
“I trust us.” But her voice cracked on the words, and her stomach tensed with angst. Not that Forrest had given her cause to mistrust him. Her skepticism was an acquisition gained from birth. A gift bestowed on her since the day her mother gently explained to her why she didn’t have a father. Something her boyfriend would never understand. He was the epitome of a well-balanced life with loving parents.
