It's What You Do
Page 14
“What?” I smile bigger.
“You don’t hesitate when I kiss you.” His lips meet mine and I take every road, path, and trail to make sure it is Jensen I am kissing until I fall asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night screaming. Jensen sits up with me rubbing my back. “What’s wrong?”
“Nightmare. I dreamt I was back in the shed with Josh.” I tell him fully aware my heart is racing and I am sweating like I ran a marathon.
Jay pulled me back and into his arms. “You’re safe with me, Taryn. I promise.” I close my eyes and hope he’s right. I wake up the next morning to another note on the pillow.
If you see this before I come back- stay put.
J
I smile and grab my phone to check the time. 7:54AM. He’s almost out of the gym. I see six missed text messages and two missed calls from Noah.
N 9:57PM: I know I should have responded to your texts. I’m a little late but I am going to start responding now.
N 10:02PM: I miss you too and I’m sorry that you had to go through all that without me by your side
N 10:24PM: I swear I saw you here one day and my heart literally leapt out of my chest.
N 11:32PM: Thank you for everything you have done for me.
N 2:09AM: I got a second chance thanks to you. I’m coming back to OH
N 2:38AM: I love you
I roll my eyes and snuggle into Jensen’s pillow taking a deep breath. Yes we have only been sleeping together for a few days but I think we’ve been a little more than friends a bit longer when I think about it. I have a montage of moments between us and he has been here all along picking up the pieces. I pick up my phone and pull up Noah’s name.
Me: I’m glad you are getting a second chance with school and I’m sorry I was the cause of you losing your first.
Literally, I think before pulling up Jensen’s last text to me, taking a picture of me laying in his bed.
Me: I’m looking for a shower partner…
The response came rather quickly.
J: You better wait for me!
Two hours later, I find myself walking hand in wrinkly hand with Jensen to my class. It was nice to not have to get up at 8AM for Noah’s class as I’ve decided I’m done. He can take it from here when it comes to his education. We walk into Reverence Hall and we see people looking, although after the last blast on Instagram of us in the Commons, I am pretty sure we are going to be old news soon. Jay gives me a quick kiss before leaving for his own class that starts soon. This Principles of Marketing class was actually pretty interesting and usually kept my attention. Today, I couldn’t focus. Jensen asked me for a first date re-do tonight and I agreed. This time I am depending on him for a ride home so I kind of have to wait for him. I smiled as my phone vibrated thinking it would be him when I see Noah’s name.
N: I’m sorry I wasn’t there before but I will be from now on. You have nothing to apologize for.
Me: I’m in class.
N: I’m not giving up
Me: You should
N: Never
I finish my class, my fingers itching to respond, my head telling me to keep my phone in my pocket. I walk over to the Commons, grabbing a hot chocolate on my way to the library for an hour before my International Communications class. I was deep into Japanese customs when I reached for my imaginary Hershey’s Kisses. I miss Isabelle so much.
Me: I am missing my kisses all over the library table
I: Hey! I was going to call you after your classes. My parents said they’ll buy you a plane ticket for spring break ??
Me: I am actually going to OBX
I: His parents rented the beach house eh?
Me: Are you really okay with this, Iz?
I: Give me a minute
I open the picture she sent of her and WOW! It is a picture of Isabelle and a very hot, tall, dark, and handsome.
I: I’m really okay with it and he gets my issues because he had them once too. Been sober nine years.
Me: He’s really hot! Are you happy?
I: I am! I know I shouldn’t be and I left Jensen without closure but he’s got you now
Me: As long as you are okay and happy
I: Maybe you can visit me this summer. I’m staying here.
Me: That changed quickly
I: Well…I was sort of keeping this from you two
Me: LOL
I didn’t hear back from her the rest of the day as I went about my next two classes. I told Jay I’d meet him in the Commons since he was coming from the fieldhouse. I opened my book and heard a few snickers here and there but when Jensen came in later with half the soccer team all sounds stopped. He fist bumped Landon, the Storms leading forward, and came over to me leaning down to kiss my cheek. “Ready for our first date?” He asks.
“What are we doing?” I ask, packing up my bookbag.
“Something cool my Mom suggested.” He grabs my bag from me, takes my hand, and leads me out of the gossiping eyes. Jay kept his quiet about our location as we drove downtown to the Warehouse District. After finding parking, we walked a block to the brick building with one-way windows. I watch as he checks the address. “This is it.”
We walk through the double doors and Jensen checks in before a hostess leads us through another set of doors into a common area with a bar. “I feel so young.” I whisper at him as I look at all the couples ranging in ages from mid-thirties to their seventies if I had to guess. “What is this place?” I ask, holding his hand with a death grip.
“You’ll see. My mom said it would be a cool first date.” He smiles while ordering us a couple of Bud Lights. I love that he talks to his mom like that. I love that he told her he’s seeing someone else, AKA me! The lights dim and I see a lady dressed in a royal blue lace bra and apron appears through the double doors on the other side of the room. I look at Jensen with pure confusion and he looks just as confused as I am.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please grab your cocktails and follow me into the kitchen.” We could hear her over a sound system as she continued, “Please feel free to pick a station. This is where you will be cooking at tonight.”
“Oh how cool!” I smile as we choose a station in the middle of the floor. I look at the menu card laying on the table. Homemade Guacamole, Chicken Fajitas, Fried Ice Cream. “Hell ya!” I smile at Jensen while he still had a horrible look of confusion on his face.
“Welcome to tonight’s Erotic Cooking with Christa. I’m Christa and I am a professional chef and sexologist. I know a lot of you are here because you are trying to ignite a spark, do something fun, or rekindle that attraction you once had. No matter why you are here, cooking, especially half naked in a group of people is one of the most daring things a person can do and the sensuality it will build between you and your partner will be incredible. Food is sexy, people! So take off a top or a bottom, not both and place them on the table behind you. Any questions?”
“Your mom recommended this for our first date!” I laugh as Jensen’s face turns beet red.
“She recommended an Exotic Cooking Class.” He takes in a deep breath. “Hang on.” He raises his hand as the beauty in the blue bra walks over to our table and kills the mic.
“Well aren’t you two cute.” She smiles and points to her mic. “Nobody can hear you. What can I help you with?”
“I thought I signed us up for the Exotic Cooking Class.” Jensen asks.
“Oh honey, that was last night. Tonight it’s a little different. If you are uncomfortable, we can see about a refund up front.” She offered.
“It’s that this is our first date.” He tells her and I giggle at his embarrassment. I’ve never seen him so vulnerable.
“Jay, we’ve slept together already. Let’s stay. It will be fun.” I pull my shirt off over my head and toss it on the table behind us revealing my black lace push up bra that has my cleavage hanging out for all to see.
“Dammit. She’s sexy.” He tells the instructor as he pulls his t-shirt off tossing it onto the table.
The instructor turns her mic back on after asking if she can tell the group our cute story. Jensen laughs in embarrassment covering his face. “Cute young couple on their first date. He thought he signed up for last night’s exotic cooking class. Don’t be fooled, may be their first date but they’re a little closer than they let on.” She winks at us before heading up to her helm. “I’m glad to see all of you in your underwear, makes me less nervous!” She claps her hands before going over the menu. “If you gentlemen could please stand behind your partners.” She winks at the gay couple in the front left. “Slide your hands just past their ribs as you grab the avocados. Partners, you are going to cut the avocados, caged in with those chests pressed against you.” She demonstrates how to cut the avocados. I pick up my knife, Jensen’s chin resting on my bare shoulder as I slice through each one, pulling the large seed out, and scooping it into the bowl. She continues to talk us through making the guacamole while telling our partners this is a good time to give little kisses on the neck, shoulder, cheek, shoulder blades while we should continue to focus on two things. Putting the ingredients together and the way their touch feels.
“Now the sexiest thing you can do is feed each other in the kitchen. It involves your hands, lips, tongues, and if you get daring enough maybe that guacamole tastes good along some cleavage or a collarbone. Keep that in mind as we go through the process of making our chicken.” I look around after mixing the guac and realize that we are definitely the youngest people here by at least a good ten years. Jensen is by far the most ripped guy here earning looks from women and the men alike. I think he’s reading my mind when our eyes meet and we both smile.
Our partners were to cut the chicken into strips along with the peppers and onions while we learn the art of seduction. I walked up behind Jay and reached up in front of him scratching my nails at his chest before descending over each ridge in his abdomen. I kiss his back when I see the goosebumps form on his back and shoulders. He put all the ingredients together in the pan, seasoning them according to direction, before turning around and placing me on the countertop next to the prep area. “Are you having fun?” He asks with a smile before shuffling our chicken and peppers in the pan.
“This is a lot of fun.” I smile while he holds a chip full of guacamole in front of me. I go to take a bite when he pulls the chip back a little. I know this game all too well so I skip the chip and lock my lips to his. “Can I have my chip now?” I giggle. He puts the chip at my lips. I make sure I keep my eyes open as the instructor said when I used my tongue to pull the chip from his fingers into my mouth.
“Well our young couple here definitely has the art of seduction down. I could cook you dinner off their heat! Woooooo!” She screams into her mic as she runs up to her cooking station to show us the next step.
Once the fajitas were done we were encouraged to sit next to and not across from each other while we ate our masterpieces to promote intimacy and to make it easier to feed each other. We had such a good time laughing as people tried to feed each other fajitas. We opted to grab the chicken and peppers with our fingers instead nipping and biting at each other as we ate. When it was time to make the fried ice cream, the instructor told us to get creative with our desert. We were armed with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, strawberry glaze, and sprinkles. I turned around to face Jensen, a spoon of chocolate sauce in my arsenal. His eyebrow lifted as I extended my arm letting the chocolate drip down from just below his chest down over each ridge in his abdomen. I swing my hair over my shoulder and lean down licking the chocolate off his stomach, one toned muscle at a time. “Jesus Christ Taryn.” Jensen takes in a deep breath.
18
It’s been two weeks since our erotic food date and things between us have been amazing. Noah is still texting confessing his wrong doings and apologizing more than any one man should. I have been ignoring them to the best of my ability only replying if it had something to do with NEC. I know I should just block his number but I’m not quite there yet despite the handsome man sitting on the opposite side of the couch reading one of his engineering books with his glasses on. He looks up from his book, “What?” He smiles at me and those dimples just make me melt. I climb over my books and settle myself between his legs and against his chest while he reads. He leans down and kisses my head. “Oh, I forgot to tell you the team got invited to a clinic at Toledo next weekend. We leave Friday night and will return on Sunday night.”
“Okay.” I snuggle into him closing my eyes. I must have fell asleep because I was on a beach with Jensen playing around in the water and for the first time in a long time I didn’t feel stressed out. I hear Jay talking to me but he sounds far away, ‘I love you, Taryn.’ I smile and let the warm sun bask over me.
It was the Friday the team was leaving for Toledo and I was snuggled into Jay’s side as usual. It is where I find myself almost every morning I wake up. If I am not laying across his chest, I am snuggled into a pillow facing him, or he’s got his big ass arms cocooning me. “I left you a key on the counter. You can use it anytime you want.” Jay runs his hand down my naked back. Without comparing myself to Izzy in any way, shape, or form, I can see now why she had a motto. Jensen is fucking hot in bed and damn does he know how to take care of my needs first and foremost. My needs are met multiple times a day to the point it is almost ridiculous. I smile at the thought.
I turn my head so that my chin was resting on his chest, my eyes glued to his and I felt it. “I love you, too Jay.” The smile that spread across his face was beautiful.
“You heard me the other night?” He asks.
“I thought I dreamt it. We were on a beach playing around in the surf.” I giggle.
“You said my name while you were dreaming and you had the cutest smile on your face.” He tells me, pulling me on top of him so that my face was inches from his. “I love you, too Taryn.”
I went to Jensen’s apartment after work on Friday night. I had talked to him on my last break but they had a 4AM call time this morning so instead of calling him, I snuggled into his bed where I woke up this morning at 9:02AM to a FaceTime request from him. “Good morning.” I smile.
“Hey, I had a minute. I wanted to say hi. What are you up to?” He asks, his face red and sweaty but still so handsome.
“Laying in your bed.” I smile. “See.” I show him his room.
“Awe, you stayed in my bed last night?” He teases me, smiling.
“Yes sir.” I decide to be playful. “I am also in your t-shirt.” I move my camera as I push down his blankets revealing his NEC t-shirt and my dark green boy short panties.
“Taryn, behave baby. I am in a room full of guys.” He smiles and I couldn’t help but giggle as I raised up my shirt over my tummy. “Taryn, stop.” He laughs. “What are you doing today?” He changes the subject and I cover back up.
“I work the lunch shift at OG and then I’m going to my parent’s house for dinner.” I tell him nuzzling his pillow.
“That’s a lucky pillow.” He smiles and it reminds me of Noah saying the same thing before Landon steals his phone. “Hey girlie!” I hear a few ‘oh shit’ and ‘fucks’ before I see Jensen’s green eyes again. “I gotta go baby. They’re calling for us.”
“Okay.” I blow him a kiss.
“You should think about being in that exact spot when I get home tomorrow.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” I disconnect the call and smile. I don’t think I’ve been this happy in months.
Sunday afternoon was the best. I had my parents make extra lasagna for me to warm up at Jensen’s place, I packed something sexy to wear while I served him dinner, a little tidbit from our erotic food class, and I changed my screensaver to a picture that he took and I found after he left this weekend. I love that I can be playful with him and not worry if it’s something he will like or dislike. I am halfway to his house when my phone rings. “Hey, are you home already?” I ask, probably with a little bit too much excitement.
“Well, I have a few things in my car that may peak your attention. I’m about halfway to your place.” I let him know.
“I can’t wait to see you.” He takes a deep breath. “So, what’s going to peak my attention?” He asks.
“Good things and all that jazz.” I giggle.
“You are up to no good aren’t ya, baby?” He teases and I can picture the dimpled smile on his face.
“Maybe.” I full out laugh. “I can imagine your smile and your devilish dimples.”
“Taryn, I have to tell you something.” I swear my heart stopped beating when the tone of his voice went serious.
“I don’t want any bad news. If something happened while you were away just tell me.” I ramble out before he shushes me.
“Oh hell no! You are amazing! I’d never cheat on you.” He takes in a deep breath. “Landon’s girlfriend ran into Noah in the Commons. He’s back on campus.”
“Good for him. I’ll be at your house when you get home.” I tell him wanting off the phone. “I love you.”
“Love you too, baby. See you soon.” He hangs up and my heart continues on like Secretariat in his final race so loud that I can’t hear anything else. Noah is back. The one thing I wanted for months up until four weeks ago. I sat in my car in Jay’s parking lot for what seemed like forever staring at absolutely nothing. Noah’s here. He’s twenty minutes from me…right now. I’m an emotional wreck. I’m happy he is back so that I don’t feel guilty for ruining his future. I’m pissed he’s back because I am happy with Jensen and I know Noah, he will try to make good on his texts. I’m confused as fuck because I love them both in my own way. I love Noah, but I am in love with Jensen and that is where it gets fuzzy.
I finally go in and put the lasagna in the oven to warm up. I didn’t change into the outfit I had for tonight as my mood totally tanked in the last hour or so. I hear the door lock and round the kitchen counter. Jensen drops his duffel bag and I jump right into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist, and holding on for dear life. “It will be okay, baby. You’ll see.” He squeezes his arms tighter around me. “Whatever you are making smells really good.” He says. Normally by now we would be half naked and in, on, or against any surface in this place but tonight we sat side by side on the couch, eating my parent’s lasagna, and watching Netflix while he told me about the clinic. Around the third episode of Sons Jensen was getting antsy. “Taryn, I have to be honest about something because I don’t want us to end up like Izzy and I did.”