"What choice did I have?" I asked. "I never really used the phone anyway."
"You will now," he said. "Especially when I go back to Connecticut."
"I can't accept this." I tried to hand it back, but he wouldn't take it.
"I insist," he said. "It's about safety too. You need it in case your car breaks down or you get stuck somewhere."
"I'm sure Max will pay for my service now that the class is over."
"He doesn't have to," he said. "This is paid in full. I've added it to my plan, so if you go over or something, it'll just be added to my bill. You have Internet too."
"Alex, I can't." It was a cool-looking phone, but I didn't think I should take it.
"Please."
"I'm asking you to," he said. "If you only use it to talk to me, then so be it, but it's yours."
I looked into his beautifully mesmerizing eyes and saw how much he wanted me to accept his gift.How can I argue?
"Thank you," I whispered. "This was very thoughtful of you."
"I need to feel connected to you," he said. "In every aspect of my life, and when I'm thinking of you during the day or at three in the morning, I want to be able to tell you."
"You can call me anytime. I'm always gonna want to hear from you." I smiled.
"You've totally taken over my life." I pressed my palm to his cheek, and he closed his eyes, leaning into me.
He slowly opened them, took the phone, placed it back on the dresser, then gently kissed my lips.
"Jocelyn, I . . . ." He stopped talking and moved in for a longer, deeper kiss. His hands were suddenly everywhere, and before I realized it, he had my shirt unbuttoned and over my shoulders.
I sat up and wiggled out of it; I was just as eager as he was to continue.
He got up and pulled me toward him, trailing his lips along my jaw, down my neck, and to the top of my shoulder. His warm breath made me tremble. He slipped my bra strap down over my shoulder and continued to kiss my skin, moving his body behind mine. Time seemed to be standing still. Alex's movements were slow and deliberate, and he left not one inch of my body neglected.
He moved his hands up and down my back as his lips brushed my neck. I felt him moving up to the clasp of my bra, and then it was off and on the floor with my shirt. He pressed his lips against my spine as his hands moved up to cup my breasts. He continued to move his mouth up my back and over my shoulder, then he turned my body so I was facing him. He placed his hand on my cheek as he stared into my eyes.
When I looked at him, I could feel how much he wanted to take care of me. His actions were soft and gentle. He slowly ran his fingertips under my breasts as he kissed me.
I couldn't take it anymore; my body was in overdrive. I reached for the hem of his shirt and slipped it up his stomach; he quickly pulled it over his head. I climbed into his lap and hooked my legs around his waist, longing to feel his skin against mine.
"Jocelyn," he said in a breathless voice. "I want you."
"I want to do it," I whispered against his lips.
He captured my face between his hands and asked, "Are you sure?"
I nodded.
He flipped me onto my back and reached for the button of my pants, then he lowered the zipper and pulled the tight jeans down my legs, dragging my panties along with them. My cheeks were burning with embarrassment; I felt so very exposed. I sat up and pulled him over me, attempting to cover my body with his.
"I think you're beautiful." He smiled. "You don't have to be embarrassed."
I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but my body shook against his. He slipped his hand down between my legs, like he had so many other times, and pushed his fingers inside me. He must have felt how tense I was.
"I'm gonna go slow, babe," he whispered. "We have all night."
"I trust you." I moaned as his fingers slipped deep inside me. He was so good at that, and over the past few weeks, my body had become accustomed to his touch. I immediately responded to him and craved his every move.
