Page 48 of XO

“I promised Nessie we’d arrange for another time. She did look rather disappointed the date wasn’t going to happen.”

I’m torn between finding it funny that Nessie was so committed to something she’s never alluded being interested in, and feeling horrible for her, given that she finally decided to tell Jesus to turn a blind eye to her human desires.

“That was really sweet of you to drive her home.” I trace my finger around his lips.

“It’s the least I could do. I think your mom put the fear of God back in her.”

“My mother was like a possessed madwoman. She even threatened to call Pastor Bryant and tell him his daughter was fraternizing. Fraternizing, can you believe it? She’s lost her damn mind.”

“She’s just looking out for you and Nessie.”

I don’t have it in my heart to tell him the spiteful words she said, so I sum it up. “She doesn’t want me seeing you.”

His thumb gently strokes my cheeks, a small melancholic smile playing on his lips. “There aren’t many who do want us seeing each other.”

I swallow hard.

“Don’t do that,” Jacob urges.

“Do what?”

“Don’t let others dictate your happiness.”

“I don’t. It’s just… if my own mother can’t support me being you with, then who can?”

“Rosie, we don’t need anyone to give us their blessing. This is our life, not theirs.”

“Do you promise?”

“On my life.”

Jacob pulls me close, wrapping my leg around his waist. He claims my mouth, gently at first before deepening the kiss, his hardness pressing between my legs. Everything within me wants to feel what’s like to have Jacob inside me. For him to claim not just my heart and every thought but to be the first—my first—but now isn’t the time and here is not the place. I want it to be on neutral ground where we don’t have the threat of being caught by unsuspecting adults. I also don’t want to be consideredeasy.

Jacob snakes a hand up my white tank top, the feeling of his skin against mine, arousing me beyond what I’m so far barely managing to control. His fingers graze the side of my breast and the sensation instantly hardens my nipples. I turn slightly so he can gain better access, and he accepts the invitation, gently kneading my breast, running his thumb over my aroused nipples. Jacob pulls away, leaving us panting with need.

“I think I better sleep on the floor,” he says, with ill-disguised lust.

“No! Stay in bed with me.”

“I can’t stay in bed with you if you’re gonna be teasing me like that.”

“I can behave.”

His smile is mischievous. “I don’t think you can.”

“I don’t want you to go, so I won’t do anything to tease you.”

“Turn around,” he orders softly. “Let me spoon you.”

“That will stop you from touching me?”

“Shit, no. But it’s gotta be better than what I’m wanting to do to you while you have your leg wrapped around me and nipples staring me down.”

Laughing quietly, I turn my back to Jacob, and he pulls me close, our bodies melding as one. Kissing my shoulder, Jacob’s breathing slows, finding comfort in each other.

“Jacob,” I start.

“Mmm?”

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