Page 169 of Withered

“The old lady said it was a moonstone,” He says, then snatches it from me. “Turn around.” He clasps the necklace, and it sits perfectly near my collarbone.

“Why do you spend so much on me?” I ask, even though I’m touched by the gift.

He shrugs. “I’ve never had anyone worthy of it. I wanted to give you something different because the one I got you last time isn’t something you can wear every day.”

“Thank you.” I lean in and peck his lips.

“I was going to get you my initial, but then I found this,” he says this, twirling the stone in his fingers. “It would have kept other motherfuckers away.” That makes me laugh.

When my laughter fades, the room falls silent. After a few seconds, I say, “Jake, you’re okay, right?”

His eyes hold an unknown emotion, and he holds my face in his hands. “Don’t worry about me.”

“Is Ace still bothering you?” I ask, remembering the chills that guy gave me.

“I’ve got you, Rose.” He kisses me softly, and the sensation spreads throughout my body.

He lowers my body and crushes me deeper into the mattress, prolonging the slow kiss as though reliving every memory.

“You are my everything.” He speaks softly against my lips.

I come to a complete halt. His eyes are so genuine that I believe him. His body is hard and warm against mine. “You are my only way out; without you, I am lost. I was never afraid of anything until you came along. I’m terrified of losing you. I just can’t lose you.”

I lower his head so our lips can connect in a passionate kiss. I kiss him with all my might. I take the initiative, leaving his lips and following his jawline down to his neck.

He’s propped up on his elbows beside my head. I break away and hurl his shirt over his head across the room. He does the same thing to me and doesn’t waste any time squeezing my nipples.

I moan loudly. “Shit, Mom’s home.”

He arches a brow at me and smirks.

“What?” I ask.Why isn’t he kissing me?

“You saidshit,” he says and chuckles, “You just cursed.”

“I did?” I didn’t realize it.

“I’m rubbing off on you,” he says while pushing his hips against mine. “As for your mother, keep quiet unless you want her to come in on us.” Humor dances in his eyes as if Mom will walk only on me.Crazy idiot.

I tease him by raising my hips to meet his. When his erection is exactly between my thighs, I gasp. To keep my moans at bay, I dig my teeth into my lower lip.

Jake groans as well. “You feel it, Rose. That’s all for you. You make me so fucking hard.”

I grasp his jeans button in my fingers, eager to release him, but his hands stop me, his large palms covering my knuckles. “Today is all about you.”

He doesn’t waste any time pinning them over my head, one hand holding them as the other slowly and agonizingly moves down, hovering over the thin underwear. He takes them off and slides them down my legs. His fingers slide inside me, and I immediately clench around them. He frees my hand as he goes down on me; my hand goes to his hair, keeping him still. When I look at him, he looks back at me. He flicks his tongue out to wet his lips, and the mere movement looks so erotic that my hips plead for more by lifting them.

“Tongue, now,” I demand, and he chuckles at my eagerness, but I need him.

The burning ache between my legs is increasing, and I need more of him. When he refuses to give me what I need, I take the matter into my own hands and press his head down. He blows out a breath, plays with my clit, and eases the finger knuckles deep.

He finally gives me his tongue, and it’s the best feeling in the world. When I feel his warm and soft tongue exploring every inch down there, the ache cools. He is so skilled that he knows exactly what I need, where I need it, and how much I need it. I’m sweating hard by the time my body stiffens. The orgasm rushes through my body like a powerful wave. I come undone against his tongue, and I see white dots everywhere.

As I struggle to control my breathing, my head collides with the mattress. I feel the bed shifting and a soft kiss against my forehead. I don’t open my eyes and just relive everything that happened here, right now.

When I open my eyes, Jake is beside me. I snuggle closer to him, and he says, “Please don’t leave me.”

“I won’t,” I promise him. “There’s no other place I’d rather be.” As he holds me tight, I kiss his chest. If only I knew who he is and what my future holds for me.

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