“Two.” I say, and a familiar smirk slips into place.
“Three.”
We both jump, and he hugs me close to him, our bodies remaining straight as we fall. My heart beats wildly inside my chest, but I don’t have enough time to react because in no time, we hit the water, and I feel his arms slipping away slowly, releasing me.
I immediately start swimming up, an insane amount of rush inside me. When I reach the surface, I take in the air and look for him, who’s right in front of me.
“I can’t believe we just did that.” I mutter, shocked, the slowest smile arising in my face. Rush is still driving me insane. I throw my arms around him, and he hugs me right back.
I pull back, beaming, and our eyes trap each other, no way of getting out this time.
“Jake?” I almost whisper, our eyes never betraying us.
He hums, coming closer.
“That day… When you kissed me.” I look between his eyes, his lips, and his wet hair. “I wasn’t mad at you. I was,” I feel like I need to take a deep breath. “Mad at myself. For wanting more.”
His eyes dig into mine, and I feel the weight of this confession down my spine.
“Yeah?”
Gradually and almost unnoticed, he comes closer to me, nothing surrounding us but the dark water and street lights in the distance.
I nod and bite my lower lip, my eyes not sure where to look. Our noses touch, and I feel his mouth closer to mine, a grain of sand keeping the distance between them, I’m sure.
“What are we doing?” I whisper into his lips, eyes closed, and his mouth touches mine.
“Something I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time.”
My legs falter beneath me, and my breath does too. His mouth covers mine, and my body gets infused with a rush of adrenaline I’ve never felt before, not even minutes ago, when we jumped. My legs wrap around his body just so I don’t sink, and his arms envelop me, not leaving any space between us. This kiss is different than the first one. It’s slower, not so rushed, or to prove a point. In my opinion, it’s even more breathtaking. Even though the water is cold, I feel my skin burning, my cheeks about to combust. He moves down to my chin, and then my jaw, and then my neck to just below my ear. I bury my fingers in his hair, and after one small bite to the earlobe, I turn his face to mine, not ready for it to be over. This time, I take matters into my own hands and leave a trail of kisses over his mouth, on his laugh lines, on his cheek, on his jaw, and because I can’t take it anymore, on his lips again. His hands grab my back like his life depends on it, and I refuse to let go of his hair.
He takes hold of my mouth once again and molds it to do whatever he pleases, and I let myself be. I’ve read a lot of romances, and I’ve seen him kissing other girls, but somehow it seems like this tops every scene I’ve ever read and everything I’ve ever seen. He does that thing with his tongue again, and I’m caught off guard and inexplicably laugh.
“I knew you liked that.” He grins against my lips, and I do everything in my power to stop laughing and let him go on. And so he does.
I’m about to lose myself completely for the third time since he kissed me when I stop us, foreheads touching, breaths faltering, greed wanting more.
“Jake, I think I lo-”
A flashlight blinds us.
We both stop, frowning and afraid to look at the light.
“Shit.” He utters, andI’m scared to look.
“I should’ve known it was you, West, but- Wait, is thatMadelaine Brown?” Sheriff Coleman points the flashlight between us, with apparent concern and cleartraumaon his face.
“Oh my god, this cannot be happening…” I look down, ashamed, my cheeks turning red for sure.
“Sheriff Coleman, long time no see!” Jake greets, and I push him.
“What?”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“Oh god, I knew this was a bad idea! There was a deep voice in my head telling me- But no! Amanda had to touch your arm and make me go all crazy!” I cover my face, and I feel Jake’s mouth close to my ear.
“Come on,you’ve never felt more alive.” I glance at his wild eyes. I hate how he’s doing something to me. And I can’t decide if I want to smile or drown him.
