“Hey,” he says, leaning in to kiss me softly, then resting our foreheads together.
“Babe, please talk to me.” I touch his bruised cheek again, feather-light. “Did your dad do this?”
“Yeah.”
I knew that was what he was going to say, but I’m still pissed as hell. Part of me wants to run to Fallon and beg him to do something. I’m half afraid if I do, JD’s dad will end up dead in a dumpster. My brother can be a tad ruthless when it comes to protecting his family, and JD being my boyfriend makes him part of our family now.
“But I stood up to him and walked out.”
I had told JD to never allow his father to hit him again. “I’m so proud of you, JD.” I kiss his cheek and cup the sides of his neck.
He blows out a hot breath and shakes his head. “I don’t know what to do. I mean, a part of me hates the man with a passion, but the other part of me still wants his love and approval. It’s so fucked up.”
I could go into a story about my screwed-up relationships with both my mother and my sister, but I don’t. I can’t make what happened to JD about me, not even in a comparison.
“I want to leave. The thought of living in that house and under his thumb for one more day just…” He exhales again. “Other than asking my mother’s cousin if I can live with him and Elijah or asking my aunt if I can come live with her in Oregon, there’s nowhere else for me to go. Besides, I don’t want to leave mid-year our senior year and have to start over somewhere else. I have football and Dustin and Prez.” He meets my eyes. “I have you. The thought of ever leaving you kills me. I won’t do it,” he declares with vehemence.
“Then don’t. This weekend, we talked about going to college together and finding our own little place. Why wait? We have our own place right now. Stay with me.”
JD hugs me tight. “Thank for you asking, sunshine, but I can’t impose on your family like that. My dad was right when he said that Fallon wouldn’t want to take in another stray.”
“Your dad is a piece of shit for saying that. Have you not noticed all the people that live with us? Fallon wouldn’t mind one bit. Besides, you’d be sleeping in my room. With me. In my bed.” I punctuate that last part with kisses to his nose. “JD, I love you. I’m in this relationship thing with you for the long haul.”
A smile blooms across his face, then disappears. “God, I love you. I just wish his words didn’t hurt me so much. I wishhedidn’t hurt me so much. But no more. I’m done with his bullshit. I just need to figure out what to do next.”
“Please let me help you. What can I do?”
JD puts his hands under my ass and lifts me so that I’m straddling his lap on the seat. “Just be here with me.”
“Always,” I tell him, but I have a better idea that will help him forget this morning, even if it’s just for a little while.
I kiss him like the world’s about to end while I sneak a hand down to his waistband. Deftly popping open the button of his jeans, I slide the zipper down.
“Aurora, what are you—” he starts to ask, then moans when I push myself as far back as I can go on the motorcycle and bend across the saddle to take him in my mouth. He doesn’t ask any more questions.
JD wasn’t even close to being hard, but as soon as my tongue licks up his shaft, his dick is as rigid as a steel pipe. I give control over to him, allowing him to grab my hair and move me up and down his length, taking what he needs. He’s cursing and throwing the f-bomb all over the place as I go down on him, giving him everything I can to help take his pain away. I feel when he starts to get close by the pulsing of his cock. His hand, which is fisted in my hair, spasms, and then he explodes inside my mouth, a guttural cry of my name falling from his lips as his body goes taut, then gradually relaxes.
“Fuck, baby. So damn good,” he mutters as I help tuck him in his underwear and jeans and zip him back up. I sit up and he enfolds me in his big body, a sated grin tipping the corners of his mouth.
I feel overjoyed that I was able to replace his sadness with that grin. Taking his hand in mine, I clutch it to my chest. “Not that I really want to go, but are you ready to get to school?”
“No. I want to push you up against that tree over there and fuck you.”
I look around. We’re in the middle of nowhere and unless a tractor or a cow happens upon us, I don’t expect anyone would see us. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and check the time. I figure as long as we get to school by lunch period, we should be golden. I peer up at the sky. The day is partly cloudy and chilly, but not too cold. Okay, then.
Getting off the bike, I undo my pants and inch them down so that they are hugging the sides of my hips.
I look at JD who’s now watching me with curiosity and a lot of heat.
“I really like your idea,” I tell him, crooking my finger at him as I back up toward the tree.
He’s on me before I can take another step.
Chapter 27
“Thank you for being so amenable. I am so sorry for this morning,” I tell Austin when he walks into the diner.
Tonight is one of the nights I work a shift at Ruby’s, and after missing our tutoring session during my free period at school since JD and I were off having sex in a field, Austin said he could come by while I was working. I lead Austin to one of the booths at the back.
