“It’s not lice, babe,” I teased. “I kissed you—a lot. It happens.”
I’d lost track of how long we were in the club’s parking lot last night. She’d felt so damn good against me, on top of me, quivering from my touch. I smiled, remembering all three times she fell apart in my arms. We’d been full of God knows how much pent-up lust and need, but I wouldn’t let us go past a certain point. Our first time wouldn’t be cheap like that, although, after all we’d done last night, sex was only a technicality now. Another reason I hadn’t allowed myself near her until she was eighteen.
“Well,” she huffed, “it’s not on my lips. It’s … lower.”
“Hmm, lower you say? Where?” I teased. My mouth had been all over her body last night, and she could have beard burn almost anywhere. I shifted in my seat, my cock now swelling against the zipper of my jeans at the recent memory.
“The inside of my thighs. And there’s a big bruise there too, you freaking animal.”
A smile curved my lips as my chest swelled. I’d claimed her in every sense of the word and wasn’t the least bit sorry. “I may be an animal, but you love it.”
“I’m … well I’m a little surprised to hear from you so early.” Her words were unsure and tentative, not my PJ at all.
Yes, she wasmyPJ, and now that I finally had her, I wasn’t letting her go.
“It’s ten a.m., sleepy head,” I teased. “It’s not that early.”
“No,” she groaned. “That’s not what I mean. It still seems a little too surreal. One minute you’re itching to not be in the same room with me; the next, you’re telling me you want me. Last night, it was all wonderful, but today, it’s back to not making any sense.”
I hated how unsure she sounded, but I understood her hesitation. For the past few months, I’d put a ton of distance between us and hurt her. I’d taken a sharp one-eighty last night, and both of our heads were still spinning.
“You’re all I want and all I think about, no matter how I tried to stop. And trust me, I tried.”
“Yeah, I have no idea whatthat’slike.” I pictured her sour glare and eye roll and held in a laugh.
There was my girl.
“Baby, I’m not changing my mind. After everything last night, you still don’t believe me?”
A long silence dangled between us. She didn’t buy it, and I couldn’t blame her.
“I’ll prove it to you. Starting today. Do you have any plans?”
“Well, we were supposed to see Jack.” I noted the reluctance in her voice, but I wasn’t insulted as I felt the exact same way. I didn’t want to hide us, but once we were out, the sweet bubble we’d enjoyed all last night would be broken without repair.
Even though being with PJ no longer carried the risk of jail time, it still came with a shit ton of repercussions. I hoped in time they’d all accept it, but until “in time” came, we both had a fight ahead of us.
“Well, how about a birthday lunch instead? I mean, he still has a couple of months left there. No need to rile him up so early.”
We shared a laugh. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” PJ said, sounding as relieved as I was. “So, what did you have in mind?”
“Well, since you were celebrating with your friends last night and I …” I trailed off.
“Barged in like a caveman?”
My head fell back on the headrest, nodding at no one. “I don’t regret it.”
“You were cute, after I stopped wanting to punch you. How’s your cheek?” Her small voice was contrite, but she had nothing to be sorry for. My hand scrubbed at the stubble on the offended cheek. I adored that hot little spitfire.
“All right, I guess. You can kiss it and make it better on the way to the Charthouse this afternoon.”
“What?” she gasped. “My parents go there every year for their anniversary. Isn’t it … expensive? And two hours away?”
“You’re only eighteen once. And we need a date, don’t you think? I mean we can’t really count the parking lot—”
“It counts,” she whispered, making me still in my seat. “Itsocounts.”
“It does,” I croaked. “But, you deserve better. You deserve everything. Everything I can give you. So, get the hell out of bed.”
