Page 137 of Withered

He keeps staring at me, his expression not giving me any hint about what’s going on in that head of his. As if he just snapped out of a trance, he takes my face in both of his hands and kisses me.

This kiss is far from gentle. He seems to be pouring his emotions into this kiss. My legs tremble, and I sit on his lap, my legs on either side of his body. I return his kiss with equal passion and need. I could feel the heat of his body, which made me feel a twinge in between my legs. My body aches for him. We break the kiss, completely breathless, our foreheads pressed against each other.

The rest of the day passes, and we meet again at night when Jake helps me climb onto the roof of my house. That makes me realize how stupid I was to deny it when he asked for it. The adrenaline rush that comes with it is to die for. I’ve never done anything like this before, and it’ll be hard to stop now. We stay there, watching my favorite ornaments shine in the night sky while he strokes my hair.

Everyone at school is still celebrating the game’s win. Jake and I are on our way to class when we get a surprise visitor. My hold on Jake’s hand turns into a tight one.

“Hello. Jake. Congratulations on the win,” Olivia gushes. She’s dressed in a low-cut top and a skirt.

Jake clutches me close to him, his arm going around my shoulder and grazing the skin there. “What the fuck do you want, Olive?” He says it in the lamest tone ever, tinged with slight annoyance. I want to correct him, but I choose to remain silent.

The very sight of her takes me back to when she made it look like she and Jake were a thing in the janitor’s closet.

“What? Not happy to see me?” Olivia smiles, her perfectly manicured pink nails flicking her hair over her shoulder. Her glance shifts to me, finally noticing my presence. “I never thought you’d go for a nerd.”

She looks at my outfit. Even though one of my shoulders is off, it is nowhere near as indecent as hers. I decided to spice up my outfit, so I’m wearing a thick knit off-the-shoulder top, tucked in front of my jeans and black boots, with my hair tightly knotted in a high, sleek ponytail.

Her words get to me, and I bite on the inside of the cheek. Jake chuckles, mocking her. “Last I checked, your opinion doesn’t fucking matter.”

She doesn’t wander off and mock Jake. “Do you wear the same clothes? Don’t they stink?”

She’d only know what heaven smells like if she stayed close to him. I wouldn’t want Jake in anything other than his usual white shirt and black jeans with his signature leather jacket.

Jake rolls his eyes. “Glad you noticed. I don’t fucking care. And trust me, come near me, and I’ll show you I sting the same.”

A giggle escapes my mouth, and Olivia huffs in annoyance. “Couldn’t you pretend to be nice?”

“I’m all nice; you’re just not worthy of seeing it,” Jake answers.

She turns around and leaves, her heels clicking on the ground. That has to be the best conversation I’ve ever had the privilege to watch.

Our week passes by as we go to school in the morning and stargaze at night. It’s like a routine: Jake jumps in my room, and we sit on the roof, my head on his lap or his head on mine.

Today is different. Jake lies down, and I rest my head on his chest while I enjoy his familiar scent. Every night, it’s as if the moon and stars are watching us and looking down on us.

“I’m going to the mall tomorrow. Do you want to join?” I whisper loud enough.

“For what?” Jake asks as he runs his fingers through my hair.

“To get a dress for the fundraiser. You’ll have to wear a tux,” I say it and imagine him in a tux.Mouth-watering.

“Please tell me you’re fucking with me,” Jake says.

“I’m not.”

“I don’t want to wear a tux,” Jake whines, and I resist the urge to laugh at him.

“Hmm, how about I find myself another date?” I tease him. Deep down, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.

He stares at me with ayou’ve got to be jokinglook, but I don’t let my expression waver.

He groans, raking his hair. “Fine, a tux it is.”

We return to my room, and Jake wastes no time pinning me to my bed. He kisses me without giving me a warning beforehand. My hand gets lost in his hair, earning a soft groan from him. His fingers travel down and under my shorts in an instant. He then moves onto my neck while he rubs me down there. A series of moans escape my mouth as he continues to torture me with slow, steady strokes.

He suddenly retracts his hand, and I open my eyes. “What happened?”

“Sometimes you make me mad, as you did up there, and in moments like this, I almost forget why you made me mad,” Jake whispers, inches from my lips.

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