Cross Check (Marriage Contract #1) (2 page)

“Damn,” I say quietly, “I was halfway expecting to find
something waiting for me. Way to let a girl down.”

“Are you kidding?” he says gruffly, “We haven’t used that
since we were, what, twelve?”

“I know,” I sigh, “Just muscle memory, I guess. You have no
idea how much I looked forward to your Top Secret Deliveries back then.”

“I think I can guess,” he allows, going along with my trip
down memory lane.

When Jay and I were still in elementary school, just
progressing from Dr. Seuss to chapter books, I used to pine after his family’s
extensive library. My nose was practically pressed up against the glass of the
Kings’ study, desperate as I was to get my hands on the classic stories locked
away in there. Looking back, I can’t even remember how Jay learned of my
unspoken desire to share in the wealth of knowledge contained in those tomes.
But somehow, we came to an unspoken agreement on the matter.

Using the remote gazebo bench as a “top secret” drop site,
Jay started lending me books from his family’s collection. I’d devour every
story he let me borrow. Soon, we began to discover that our taste in stories
was more similar than we ever could have imagined. We were both drawn toward
stories of fantastical adventure, hero’s journeys and classic science fiction.
Any story about feeling out of place in the world, about wanting to set off and
find where you really belonged, was totally our jam.

It surprised me to realize that Jamison King, golden god of
our school, felt like as much of an outsider as I did growing up in our small,
secluded town. Soon, we weren’t just sharing books, we were meeting in the
gazebo to talk about our newfound common ground. We’d sit for hours, geeking
out about the latest
Lord of the Rings
movie or
Harry Potter
book. During those brief windows of time, all our animosity was forgotten. We
entered into a fleeting truce each time we met here at the gazebo, a
name-calling cease fire. But the second we returned to our real lives, it was
understood that we’d never mention our meetings—not to each other, and
certainly not to anyone else.

“Thanks for never blowing my cover,” Jay says now, as I
lower the lid of the bench. “My reputation would have been shot to shit if
anyone found out I was as a big a nerd as you.”

“You’re welcome? I think?” I reply, perching on the edge of
the bench as Jamison sits down beside me.

Once upon a time, this seat was more than big enough for me
and tow-headed little Jay. But now that Jay is anything but little, there’s
barely room for us on this narrow bench. His muscled arm brushes against my own
bare skin, sending a pulse of warmth rolling through my body. I glance up at
him in the low light, bringing my honey brown eyes to his. He shifts his
weight, letting his strong arm wrap around my slight form. As if magnetized, my
body draws closer to his, craving the feel of him against me. Whatever qualms
my mind may have with Jamison as a person, my body has never been confused when
it comes to his.

A loud, raucous bellow rings out from the King house as
someone cranks up the volume on the music. The spell between Jay and I is
broken for the briefest moment, and I rise quickly to my feet, crossing to the
far side of the gazebo. My heart hammers against my ribcage, as if trying to
escape. God knows, I might be better off without it right now. Despite
everything I know about Jay and his high school playboy ways, my heart has
always held out hope for him. It’s crazy to think that way. Absolutely insane.

And absolutely unshakeable.

“You should get back to the house before they burn it down,”
I say to Jamison, crossing my arms once more.

“I’m not too worried about it,” he tells me, rising to his
feet. His voice has dropped low in his chest, and his blue eyes are locked on
my flushed face.

“No?” I reply, trying and failing to keep my voice breezy.

“No,” he asserts, shoving a hand through his dark blonde
hair, “As of tomorrow, I’m off to Boston. This is the last night I have to even
think about this place.”

“You’re leaving? Already?” I exclaim before I can stop
myself.

“Gotta go and get a lay of the land. Meet the team. Start
training,” Jay says, his voice rasping at the edges, “And let me tell you, the
last thing I want to do before I go is spend another second with those assholes
up at the house.”

“Those assholes are your friends, aren’t they?” I laugh,
surprised by his declaration.

“Yeah. Right,” he scoffs, “If ‘friendship’ means using me
for my family’s bank account, then sure.”

“I’m sure they’re not all like that,” I try and reason,
feeling the blood rush to my head as Jamison comes to a stop before me.

“They are,” he assures me, planting a hand on the wooden
beam beside me, “There’s only ever been one person in this fucking town who’s
ever been a friend to me.”

“…Oh?” I breathe, overwhelmed by the nearness of him, “And
who’s that?”

“You, stupid,” he laughs, a wide grin erupting across his
gorgeous face. “I’m talking about
you
.”

“Gee, you sure know how to make a girl feel special,” I
shoot back, giving him a playful shove. But as my hands press against the firm
planes of his chest, I can’t help but let them linger for just a second too
long. Before I can withdraw my touch, Jay brings his hands firmly to my hips,
rustling the white fabric of my full skirt. The laughter hanging in the air
between us gives way to earnestness. We can’t hold the moment at bay any
longer.

“I came out here looking for you, you know,” Jay murmurs,
circling his arms around my waist. “I don’t know how, but I just knew you’d be
here. Waiting for me.”

“I wasn’t
waiting
for you,” I insist, even as I let
my hands trail down his bare chest.

“Fine,” he smiles, his blue eyes boring into mine, “But you
can’t tell me that part of you wasn’t hoping I’d show up, too.”

“Maybe,” I allow, savoring the sturdy, immovable feel of his
body. “But why wait for your last night in town to come looking for me? I’ve
been right next door this whole time, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Because I’m a fucking idiot,” he says firmly, pulling my
hips flush against him, “That’s my only excuse, Leah. But trust me, I’ve kept
my eye on you.”

“That doesn’t really cut it,” I tell him, “After all this
time—”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing now? Making up for all that
time?” he presses, tucking a lock of red hair back behind my ear.

I stare up at him in the darkness, every inch of my body lit
up with wanting him. God knows he’s not the only guy I’ve wanted in my life.
But never have I felt like denying myself a taste of someone would be enough to
drive me insane. Since the time I started noticing boys
that
way,
Jamison has been the standard bearer of male beauty in my mind. I just never
thought I’d actually get a chance to act on that feeling. But now…

“Where’s that flask?” I ask him, my voice low and lusty.

His firm lips pull into a grin as he lifts the silver vessel
from his pocket once more. I take a long, eager swallow of the scotch, savoring
the burn in the back of my throat. Handing the flask back to Jamison, I wrap my
arms around his broad shoulders as he takes a slug and lets the container fall
to the ground with a clatter.

“So you’ve really wanted me all along?” I smile, hooking my
hands behind his neck.

“You’re fucking right I did,” he growls, running his hands
up along my back. “You too?”

“Yeah, me too…” I murmur, “I just thought it was part of our
game, not admitting it.”

“Well,” he laughs, “If that was the game, I guess I lost.”

“You mean you guess I beat you,” I tease, ever the
competitor.

“Just this once,” he says, catching my face in his hands,
“I’m happy to let you have it.”

My breath catches in my throat as Jamison brings his lips
firmly to mine. I catch his kiss earnestly, pressing myself to him as our lips
meet for the first time. For years I’ve been wondering what this might feel
like, taste like… But I never would have been able to dream this up. I let my
mouth fall open to his as he wraps his arms around the small of my back. Our
tongues sweep against each other as the novelty of finally touching gives way
to urgent need.

Raking my fingers along his bare back, I moan softly as I
feel his cock pressed hard against me. He lets me feel the full strength of his
want, grinding his hips against mine as he kisses me hard and deep. Our kiss
tastes like scotch, and summer, and years of waiting as I give myself over to
this long overdue moment. Jay’s hands run down my slender slides, brushing over
the swell of my breasts beneath the starched linen of my dress. I feel my
nipples go hard as he runs this thumbs over them, sending a deep pang of need
ringing out in my core.

“Jesus, Leah…” he groans, as I let my hands drop down to
that hardness between his legs, “Do you have any idea how sexy you are?”

“I think I can
feel
how sexy you think I am,” I grin
breathlessly, running my hands all along that impressive length. Nothing but
the thin fabric of his trunks is holding that staggering desire in check. But
I’m not sure how much longer they can do the trick.

“Don’t tell me you’re not turned on too” he murmurs, closing
his eyes as I play with the waistband of his swimsuit.

“Oh, I am,” I promise, feeling a sweet pressure building
between my legs.

“I want to feel turned on you are,” he breathes, kissing
along my neck, “Can I?”

“God yes,” I gasp, all the more excited by his asking.

My knees begin to tremble as I feel his fingertips brushing
up along my inner thigh. Clinging onto his shoulders, I catch my breath as I
feel him push aside the thin cotton of my panties, drawing his fingers all
along my pulsating sex. He sucks in a quick breath as he feels just how wet I
am for him. How ready.

“See?” I breathe, barely able to remain standing as he
strokes my pink flesh.

“Fucking right I do,” he murmurs, backing me up against the
railing as he holds me tightly against him.

I grab hold of the weathered wood beams, steadying myself as
he lets his fingertips roll across the aching nub of my clit. Christ, he knows
what he’s doing. My mouth falls open in amazement as he works me over, sending
shockwaves of pleasure ricocheting all through my body. This isn’t my first
time ever being with a guy, but it’s sure as hell the first time it’s been so
damn
good
.

“You like that?” he murmurs in my ear, his soft lips
brushing against my cheek.

“God yes,” I breathe, bringing my mouth back to his.

He lets his tongue glide into my mouth as he slips two
strong fingers inside of me. The doubled sensation nearly levels me, leaves me
teetering on the edge of bliss.

“Oh my god…” I gasp, grabbing hold of his shoulders,
“I’m…I’m so…”

“I know,” he says, holding me close as he pulses his fingers
against that sweet spot inside of me, laying his thumb flush against my clit as
he goes. “Just let go, Leah…”

As if I needed any prompting. The sensation that’s been
brimming to overflowing spills out through every inch of my body, flooding me
with warmth and light. I come under Jay’s masterful touch, amazed at my own
response. No one’s ever made me orgasm like this…well, no one that isn’t
pocket-sized and battery operated, that is.

As the feeling passes through me, I lift my amazed face back
to his. He grins down at me, pleased to please me.

“How’s that for making the most of our last night?” he asks,
sliding his hands over the rise of my ass.

“Well…” I breathe, stepping out of my underwear altogether,
“It’s a start.”

His eyes gleam as I bring my hands back to the waistband of
his trunks, tugging them down over his finely sculpted ass and toned thighs. As
I ease them down his legs, I see the corner of a condom wrapper peeking out
from his back pocket. I like a guy who’s always prepared. I swallow hard as his
cock springs free, amazed to see that he’s grown even harder. I take his member
in my hands, working them along his shaft. The pulsating length of him in my
eager grasp makes one thing perfectly clear to me: we’re not leaving here until
we’ve had each other in exactly the way we’ve wanted to for so, so long.

“Hold on,” he murmurs, stepping away for just a second to
grab the soft towel from the gazebo railing.

As he turns away for the briefest of moments, I can see his
cock standing straight out at attention, very much as the ready. While Jamison
lays out the towel for us on the well-worn gazebo floor, I carefully ease down
the zipper of my dress, draping it lovingly over the railing behind me. The
tight bodice makes wearing a bra beneath unnecessary, so when Jamison and I
turn back to each other, it’s without a stitch of clothing between us.

“Leah…” he murmurs, shaking his head, “You’re—”

“Come here,” I reply, taking a step toward him.

At the same moment, we each step forward onto the towel. Our
bodies come together, as we wrap each other up once more in an urgent, fervid
embrace. If this is going to be our one and only night together, we’re sure as
hell going to make it count.

***

The sky over the bay is just lightening from gray to blue
when I finally open my eyes. Blinking up at wooden rafters overhead, it takes
me a moment to remember where I am. The morning is quiet and calm, undisturbed
this early in the day. I pull myself onto one elbow, glancing all around me as
my head throbs insistently. My eyes fall upon the abandoned silver flask, the
pile of hastily gathered towels and blankets wrapped around me, my abandoned
dress hanging over the gazebo railing.

“Oh, shit…” I whisper, sitting up like a shot.

Last night comes ringing back into my mind’s eye all at
once. Jamison appearing out of thin air beside me, the sensation of his hands
on my bare skin, the way it felt to have him sink into me, at long last. Only,
there’s no one to share in the morning-after glow. Jamison King is nowhere to
be seen. I’m all alone out here, naked beneath the layers he fetched for us the
night before. He was right beside me as we fell into a tipsy, spent sleep. But
now…?