Beauty and the Brain: Say You're Mine

Chapter 2

“You really think I don't like you, Kor?”

A puff of breath hit her face, ruffling the flyaway hairs hanging down from her ponytail. James brought a hand down and used it to brush some of the stray hairs out of her face before cupping her cheek.

“Of course that's what you think. I've been treating you like s**t because it's the only thing I could think of to hide the way I feel about you.”

“The way you feel? About me?” her voice wasn't much more than a nervous squeak, and her skin felt hot. He was too close and not close enough all at the same time.

“I can't like you, Kore.” He sounded strained, and Kore couldn't tell if it pained him to admit he felt something for her, or to not be able to do anything about it.

“What's so wrong about liking me?”

“I'm too old for you. I'm graduating this year and who knows where I might end up for college. No one would approve. I'm damn sure your father wouldn't let you date me. And I don't ---

His nose was filled with the sweet scent of whatever lotion Kore was wearing as she pressed her finger to his lips.

“These sound like a lot of assumptions to me. First of all, you don't have any idea what my father would say. There's very little he says no to. Second of all, who cares what people think? You never have before. You practically run this school; as if anyone is really gonna question who you choose to date. And third, who said I even wanna date you?”

His head jerked back to find her lips fixed in a sly smirk, coaxing a smug one of his own.

“Oh you wanna date me.”

“Cocky for someone who doesn’t even have the balls to ask me out.”

James' face fell, full of turmoil once again, “I don't wanna get attached if we're gonna have to go our separate ways at the end of the school year; and I can already see myself falling hard for you.”

“You went from emotionally stunted to sappy in no time. You'd really rather just give up on something that might be really great just because it might be hard? You don't even wanna try?”

“Kore ---

“James.”

He looked down at her. At the rich, smooth tone of her skin. The subtle dusting of freckles across her nose. Those full pouty lips, and that blue speckled gaze that captivated him every time he saw her in the halls. The mesmerizing eyes that were tearing at his inhibitions and forcing him to throw sense and reason out the window. His mind was made up.

“f**k it.” James grabbed her waist and pulled them together, sliding the hand on her cheek back until it was tangled in her hair, “Can I kiss you?”

The words wouldn't come so she nodded yes, probably a little too eagerly, but what did that matter. James was leaning in, eliminating the last of the space between them. When their lips touched, it was like fire was licking through her skin. He was soft and gentle, but the feeling inside them both was still intense.

It might have been the built up tension between them, but the kiss felt like…finally. He used his grip on her hair to pull her in, tilting her head so he could deepen the kiss. It felt too soon when they finally pulled apart, still sharing breath as a heavy stare passed between them.

James used his free hand to tap her nose, “You're pretty when you blush.”

If she wasn't already blushing hard enough for it to show through her deep skin, then she sure was now.

“Shut up.”

“Was I your first kiss?” he flashed that smug smirk at her and she was all too happy to wipe it off his face.

“As if. You really think you were my first.” A deep scowl replaced the smirk he'd worn with such confidence only moments ago, “That's been gone for a long time, buddy.”

Suddenly, his features lit up again, and he grinned at her, “Well if I couldn't be your first, then I guess I'm just gonna have to make sure I'm your last. I warned you about me getting attached. You're mine now, baby.”

Here they were two years, and one attempt at breaking up later.

After breakfast, the girls had surrendered Kore to her boyfriend's whims for the rest of the day. Jamie took her go kart racing and then shopping.

Her family lived a very comfortable life thanks to her mom's job as a trainer for nurse managers and nursing staff, and her father's job as a high priced defense lawyer, so she was no stranger to nice things. Still, Jamie liked to buy her extravagant jewelry, bags, shoes --- oh the shoes --- and anything else Kore deemed reasonable.

After shopping came lunch. Thankfully, she'd been able to buy an outfit and some quick makeup products at the mall, so she didn't look like a freaking urchin. After shoveling in enough food to feed three teenage boys, Jamie dropped her off for a much needed nap, with the promise that she would wake up and be dressed and ready for a final surprise.

She woke up to a black garment bag hung on the back of her bedroom door, with a note from Jamie that said ‘wear me'. Inside, Kore found a gorgeous red halter dress, with a fitted bodice, a modest sweetheart neckline, and a short flared skirt. When she went to her walk-in closet to find a matching shoe, sparkling silver, manolo blahnik heels sat on the center table, calling to her like a glass slipper to cinderella.

He really was the perfect boyfriend.

Now it was 8 o’clock and she was shuffling across the floor, wrapped in Jamie's arms as he made sure she wasn't peeking.

“Almost there.” He whispered in her ear, making a shiver go down her spine.

The carpet they’d been walking along gave way to the hardwood floors, and she could hear the echo of her heels as they clicked across the flooring. About twenty paces in, Jamie stopped them.

“You ready?”

“I've been ready.”

His hands pulled away from her eyes and ---

“SURPRISE!!!”

'Happy birtday yah mi fren.

One more year pon dem.

Gwan hol’ ah vibe

Give tanks fi life

Next year wi doin' it again.'

Busy signal's birthday song roared through the speakers as at least 100 guests began to crowd around her. Jamie had led her straight into a surprise party in a moderate sized hall, filled with close family and all of her school friends. The cheer squad members, the basketball and football teams, some of the soccer guys, her English tutor.

Her parents stood closest to her, each giving her a hug and thanking Jamie for getting her there and keeping her distracted. Her dad knew Jamie well enough by now to give a playful lecture about Kore not having anymore space for whatever ridiculous purchases he'd let her make that day.

After her parents came Niko and the girls. The same girls who'd acted like they weren't gonna see her for the rest of the day, but had apparently been here setting up with her parents all day.

Niko gave her a tight hug and --- having heard her father's semi-serious lecture --- whispered in her ear about the exclusive new pieces that his mom had sent for birthday present.

Now that she was here, the party was in full swing. Food was served, they danced, cut cake, and when her parents ducked out at 11 to bring home her ridiculous pile of gift bags, there was more than a little lewd dancing and salacious kissing. Jamie was very handsy the remainder of the night, even on the drive home.

He'd been a very patient boy for the past two years. They hadn't had s*x yet. Kore was a virgin, and Jamie hadn't been in a very long time. She was nervous about giving up her innocence to someone so experienced --- and he had quite a bit of experience. They'd done damn near everything else under the sun at this point though. It took a while before Jamie was comfortable pushing s****l boundaries with her. The age thing really had him messed up in the head for almost a year and a half.

The first time she'd jerked him off with her tongue down his throat had been enough to make him see the light. If he wasn't away in med school at Harvard most of the time, they'd probably have done it already. But he was home for summer break this year (after a massive fight about him not taking any breaks last year to try and fast track his graduation), and every time they got alone together, Jamie and Kore inched closer and closer to that line.

He was walking her to her front door now, their fingers intertwined and they tossed coy grins and shy glances at each other along the way. When they reached the landing, he drew her in and wrapped his arms around her waste. There was nothing sweet or chaste about the way he kissed her; and he either forgot about the security cameras out here, or he didn't care when he ran his hand up her thigh and just underneath the hem of her dress.

When his hand started to wander too high, and Kore's panting got a little to heavy, he pulled away.

“Happy Birthday, baby.”

Kore gave a gentle press of her lips to his cheek, and then slipped inside. Jamie was stuck staring at the door for a few moments before he slowly backed away to his car. He pulled off, determined to head to his parents’ house.