Patience (7 page)

I can't put my finger on it. Call it intuition, call it crap, but something doesn't feel right.

Eric reaches for my hand, and I tangle my fingers with his, seeking the comfort I find there. It's scary how easy it was to fall for him. I mean, the first time he spoke to me, I just knew. I could've tried to talk myself out of it or tried to rationalize it, but I just felt it. Why waste time trying to make up my mind when my heart already knew?

Those moments of hesitation, of trying to be careful, they can cost you. Big time. So, I went for it, and I'm on this ride for as long as it lasts. I figure the only way to find out if it's going to last is if you try to make it last.

I'm all in.

"You alright over there?" He squeezes my hand, and I turn to face him. For several, deafeningly quiet moments, I just stare at him, unable to take my eyes off his perfect profile... his blue eyes, chiseled jawline, and full lips. As the sun plays off his blonde hair and his lips turn up in a smile, I am overcome with emotion. He's so freakin' hot. If he were an ice cream cone, I'd eat every delicious bite right now.

Finally, he glances at me, his eyes briefly studying my face before returning to the road. The look in his eyes is one of raw hunger, born from many nights of resisting temptation. This bond between us is heating up, threatening to burn me from the inside out.

Something like this just can't be ignored.

"I'm feeling better by the minute." He knows I'm staring, analyzing every detail of his face, committing it to memory. In a room full of men, with my eyes closed, I think I could find him just by smell and touch alone.

And just like that, the lingering effects of my hangover evaporate. I'm drunk on Eric James, so lost in him that nothing else makes sense.

"What happened last night? I remember you leaving the room, and I remember Seth pouring more shots, but after that... nothing. Did I pass out?" I've never been that drunk before, and while I apparently had fun, it kind of scares me. Quincy must be rubbing off on me.

"Something like that." Something, a hint of strained amusement, in his voice catches my attention. Weird.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Please, God, don't tell me I did something stupid or embarrassing. Shit, shit... shit!

"You passed out in Seth's lap. He was holding you like a baby." Reaching out, he pats my knee. I'm not sure if he's comforting me or preparing me for something worse. "And, then-"

"No, wait. I did what!?"
Seth? Really?

He laughs, and I can tell he's totally enjoying this. "You heard me. You curled up in Seth's big lap and went to sleep. No telling what you would have done if you hadn't passed out." There's not one hint of jealousy there. Only amusement. He is so messing with me.

"Yeah, I know. I'm so sex-starved, it's just a wonder I didn't attack him." Stiffening next  to me, his hand grips mine tighter than before. "I mean, he is kind of hot in that football player kind of way." No smile now. It serves him right.

"Yeah? Well, something else I found out... you like to talk when you're drinking." It's my turn to be horrified. My heart actually skips a beat in my chest, restarting with a bang. I take a deep breath, holding it, wondering if he's serious or just messing with me.

"You're so funny. If I was passed out, I wasn't talking." There. He thinks he's so smart.

"Jenna, they call it 'talking in your sleep' for a reason." He smirks, actually smirks at me, keeping his eyes on the road. And that's his weakness. He has to drive, and I'm free to do whatever I want.

I withdraw my hand from his, pretending to be upset. Inside, I'm really going crazy. Thoughts crash around inside my head, answers that don't really make me feel better.

Is he telling the truth?
Probably not.
Could I have said something I'll regret?
I'm not the kind of girl to harbor regrets.
Why the hell is he so smug?
He's just playin' me.
Right?

And why the hell can't I keep a straight face?

I reach across the console, my hand resting on his jean-clad thigh. His response is immediate, his heat warming my hand. His thigh twitches as my fingers inched higher and higher, closer to the glory land. Turning in my seat, I lean closer to him, until my lips just graze his jaw. "So... what, exactly, did I say?" I use my sexiest voice, low and sultry.

His eyes flick to me and back to the road before he answers."I'll never tell." Another panty-dropping smile. Big mistake.

Impulsively, I lick him, my tongue darting out to taste him as it moves up his neck to the base of his ear. I slowly exhale, releasing my breath across his skin and drawing goosebumps from him. He shivers as my hand inches upward, cupping the bulge in his pants.

"Jenna-"

"What? If you'd just stop playing these games and tell me what I want to know..." I don't finish the sentence. I don't need to. The bulge is growing in my hand, pressing against his zipper, even as he struggles to act indifferent.

Some things, a man just can't hide.

"It was nothing, Jenna." He gulps, swallowing hard as I watch him struggle. "I was just playing with you."

Just knowing I have this effect on him makes me feel warm and tingly inside. Powerful. I close my eyes, breathing in his intoxicating scent mixed with a hint of my favorite cologne as a familiar ache builds within me.

Whoever said 'good things come to those who wait'... well, they can go to Hell.

Chapter 16

Eric

"I don't believe you," she whispers against my neck. "What did I say?" She knows exactly how to push my buttons, knows exactly what turns me on. I swear I almost ran off the road when she grabbed me like that. Jenna Ryan is a whirlwind, tossing my world upside down and rearranging all I thought I knew. Since I met her, I've been living with a perpetual hard-on. One permanent erection.

"Jenna, if you keep touching me like that, I'm going to stop right here and make you believe me." My voice hitches, catching in my throat along with the breath she's stealing. I'm her hostage.

Taking my ear lobe into her mouth, she gently sucks, then bites, before abruptly sitting back in her seat. Instantly, I feel the loss of her heat, leaving me cold and bereft, an emptiness where she touched me. I steal a glance in her direction, and she smiles slyly, her playful side on display. When she pulls her bottom lip into her mouth and bites it, I want to slam on the brakes and pull over. "Fine. I'll just stay on my side of the car," she pouts.

"Fine."
Not fine
. I want her over here, in my lap, touching me and letting me touch her. She's only a few inches away, but it's too far. She acts so damn unaffected, but I see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the pink stealing across her sun-kissed cheeks.

Now, more than ever, I know she's the girl for me. She makes me feel good, like a breath of fresh air on a warm spring day, makes me crave her more and more every day. I want to know everything there is to know about her.

More than anything, she makes me want to be her everything. I want... no, I
need
, to be the one who earns that devastating smile, who makes her new with just my touch. I. Love. Jenna. Ryan.

At the next exit, I leave the interstate. Gas and caffeine. I adjust myself and will my hard-on down, trying to think of anything besides Jenna's hands on me, her antics having left me hot and uncomfortable.

Fifty-nine days. It ends tonight.

"I need coffee. You want anything?" Jeez, even her innocent question turns me on, a new rush of blood flowing to my nether regions.

"A Pepsi."
You
.

"Gotcha." I watch as she walks away, my eyes following her until she disappears inside. I reach for the gas cap and notice the guy across from me. He's still watching the door of the gas station, waiting for another glimpse of the hot chick in the red boots.
Too bad she's taken.

I get lost in my head while I wait. I've got it all planned out. Every detail. Every word. I want to do this right. The only wild card is Jenna. I'm just not sure what she's thinking or if she's even ready for what I have planned. Despite how right this feels and despite how much I want it, I don't want to screw things up.

Tonight's the night. I'm going to lay my heart on the line and prove my love for her. In a weird version of reality, Seth made sense. I have to lose the bet. That means I have until midnight to carry out my plan.

"How do you manage to make pumping gas look so sexy?" Jenna wraps her arms around my waist from behind. Her breasts press into my back as her hands grip my waist, teasing me in public where I can do nothing about it. Naughty girl.

"I'm just good like that," I laugh, replacing the nozzle and gas cap. Then, I spin in her arms, pushing her against the car. Surprise, then desire, flit across her face before I lower my lips to hers. My tongue flicks her plump bottom lip before drawing it into my mouth and gently sucking. Her eyes flutter closed as her breathing deepens and her hands move up my back to the nape of my neck, tangling in my hair. Taking that as my cue, I deepen the kiss, my tongue plunging into her mouth and exploring every inch of it. My hands find her hips, lifting her and lining her up against my groin. A soft moan vibrates across my lips as her body presses into me.

"Keep it PG, guys." We jump apart at the sound of the voice over the intercom. We're both stunned as we look toward the store and see a young guy waving at us. Looking back at each other, we begin laughing as we scramble to open the doors of the car and jump in. Jenna laughs uncontrollably, her face flushed, as she doubles over and holds her stomach. I can barely catch a breath as I fumble to start the engine and speed away.

Nothing is ever boring with Jenna.

We're still laughing when I hit the interstate. "Holy shit! That was embarrassing!" She's always gorgeous, but in this moment, she takes my breath away. Her cheeks are still pink, her hair blowing in the wind, as a huge smile lights up her face.

I'm not embarrassed. Not at all. I want everyone to know she's mine, to know I want her no matter where we are.

"We almost gave that little shit a show." I say between gasping breaths. "How old was he anyway?"

"He looked about sixteen," she coughs out. "Oh my God, Eric!" Then, she bursts out laughing again, doubling over in her seat. Her eyes widen as she turns in her seat and stares out the back window.

"What?" I laugh with her. Her full throttle, no holds barred, carefree giggle is so contagious. For once, I don't care about my parents' expectations or the Brody and Declan saga.

All I care about is in this car with me. Right here. Right now.

"You are not going to believe this... I left our drinks sitting on the gas pump!"

Chapter 17

Jenna

All I've gotta say is it's a good thing I took some Advil. I forgot the caffeine I so badly needed, and my head hurt after laughing so hard.

When I walked out of that store and saw Eric leaning against his car, I couldn't help myself. I admired him as I walked across the parking lot, and before I could talk myself out of it, I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

It had nothing to do with the little game I've been playing. But I think I got played. My skin is hot, feverish, and I shiver when the air conditioner blows over me. My lips tingle from the ravaging of his lips, and my core pulses with longing as I recall the pressure of his thigh between my legs.

Damn, that man makes me horny.

Last night was just cruel. I planned on stripping for him, had even rehearsed the whole routine. Now, I'm not going to claim to be an expert, but I just knew I was going to blow his mind. And then, I got drunk.

It's all Seth's fault. What the hell was I thinking?

"Hey, Eric, what did Brody say when he called?" I've just had a nagging feeling all day, like something eating at the pit of my stomach. Call me crazy, but I just feel like Quincy might need me.

He sighs, his shoulders sagging, before answering me. "Jenna, just promise you won't be mad." His knuckles grow white as he grips the steering wheel with both hands. I knew it. Something happened last night.

"Just tell me before I decide to kick your ass." My pulse becomes erratic, and I can feel my heart fiercely beating in my chest as I silently pray that nothing happened to Quincy.

"Basically, he was calling to tell me that Quincy was with him and everything was fine. He didn't want you to worry in case you heard..." He gulps, his tongue wetting his lips before continuing. All it does is make me more nervous. "In case you heard that Declan found out about them."

"What? Why didn't you tell me? How could you?" I'm about two seconds away from making him pull over and turn this car around. My best friend needs me, and I'm not there for her. I'm such a shit.

"I know I should have told you, but he said he was taking care of things. You know her, Jenna. She would have called you if she needed you, and he said she was with him. Just this once, let someone else take care of her." His words cut deep. She's my BFF, like a sister to me, and we're always there for each other. I feel like I've abandoned her.

"What else did he say?" I ignore his comment, afraid I might say something I'll regret.

"He just said Declan knows. Honestly, he wanted to take care of her himself. You know he'd never hurt her, right?" He lets out a deep breath before continuing. "Jenna, we're only going to be gone for two days. You can call and check on her later. Just don't let this ruin our plans." I can hear the resignation in his voice, like he knew this would happen if he told me.

"Eric, he may love her, but she's my best friend. I only have one. I will physically hurt someone if she's not ok." I feel helpless, and I hate it.

"Yeah, well, I have two best friends, and one of them is going to be hurt no matter what happens. How do you think I feel being thrown in the middle of them, knowing that somebody has to lose? She may be your only friend, but at least you still have her. When we go back home, I can't say the same for me. Can't we just have this weekend? Just this one night for us?" His emotional plea stuns me. I had no idea how much he was affected by this screwed up situation.