Chapter 7
1014 Words
When I wake the next morning, two messages from Alec are waiting. My heart skips a beat just seeing his name.
Message 1: Morning, beautiful. Let me know what time you want me to head over. I was thinking around 10 a.m. Where do I park?
Message 2: Hey babe, I’ll swing by the video store before I come. Any preferences?
It’s just after eight. Perfect — time to tidy up and get dressed. I text him back:
10 is fine. I’ll open the garage so you can drive in. Can’t wait to see you. P.S. I’ll watch anything, but if the Jumanji reboot is out, grab that 😉.
Shower. Perfume. Light makeup. Hair down. Black lace matching bra and panties — just in case. By the time I’m brushing on lipstick, I hear a car pull in.
I race to the door connecting the garage. Alec’s Jeep. And Alec, climbing out, gorgeous as ever.
---
Alec
Jess is standing there, smiling at me. God, she’s beautiful. Curves in all the right places, that tight top showing just enough cleavage to drive me crazy. How anyone could ever pick on this girl is beyond me.
I hop out, wrap my arms around her hips. “Sorry, was admiring the view.” A playful smack to her perfect ass. She laughs and leads me inside.
Her house is exactly what I expected — elegant, warm. Way nicer than my old two-bedroom apartment. Nerves twist in my stomach at the thought of her ever seeing my place.
---
Jess
I show Alec to my room so he can drop his bag. Watching him take in my bookshelf collection, I lean on the doorframe with a smirk.
“Having a stickybeak, are we?”
He frowns. “A what?”
I burst out laughing. “Aussie slang. Nosy. Also a prickly plant that sticks all over you.”
He chuckles, tugging me against him. “So, nosy and annoying. Got it.”
His forehead kisses always undo me.
---
We settle into the living room. Alec pulls DVDs from his bag one by one. “Jumanji, as requested. Don’t Breathe. Legend of Tarzan. How’d I do?”
I grin. “Perfect. Haven’t seen any of them.”
We start Jumanji, curled together on the couch — my back against his chest, his arms draped around me. Every time I giggle, he tightens his hold, like he can’t believe I’m here. I can feel it: this is different.
By the time credits roll, Alec’s stomach growls.
“Sandwich?” I ask, grinning.
He pulls me on top of him, nibbling my neck. “Tempting. I could just eat you.”
I roll my eyes, giggling. “Chicken salad okay?”
“Fine,” he pouts.
In the kitchen, I nearly put my foot in it. “Didn’t your mum ever tell you—” The word “mum” makes my chest seize. His face hardens, silent. I backtrack, apologizing, but he just comes up behind me, arms tight around my waist.
“You didn’t say the wrong thing,” he whispers. “I just… need time. I’ll tell you everything someday.”
Relief. I kiss him, then shove a plate into his hands. “Eat.”
---
Over sandwiches, I know it’s time. If I want him to open up, I need to show him I trust him too.
“Clay and I dated for six months,” I begin.
Alec stiffens, but lets me continue.
“At a party, Dean and Bonnie cornered him. They asked personal questions about me. He answered. About… everything. Taking my virginity. How insecure I was. The noises I made. They filmed it. Bonnie posted it online.”
My voice cracks. Shame burns all over again. Tears threaten. “I was humiliated. Betrayed. I ended it right then. Not long after, he was magically on the basketball team and in Dean’s group. Guess that was his price.”
Alec wipes my tears, jaw clenched. “Jess. He’s an i***t. His loss is my gain.”
Relief floods me as I sink into his lap, his arms wrapping around me.
“Do you see now? There’s nothing between Clay and me. Never will be.”
His eyes soften. “Like you said… it’s the last that matters.” His lips brush my ear, voice low, hungry. “I want you to be my last, Jess.”
Heat rushes through me. “And I want to be yours.”
---
The urgency hits like a spark. Our lips crash together. I straddle him, tugging his shirt over his head. His chest is sculpted, warm, his breath already ragged. His eyes are dilated, pupils dark with want.
“God, Jess,” he groans. “You’re stunning.”
Clothes scatter. Kisses turn desperate. My bra falls, and his mouth is on me — teeth, tongue, worship. I gasp, clutching his hair, urging him on.
“Take me to bed,” I whisper.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Now, Alec.”
He lifts me easily, carrying me to my room. I’ve never felt so wanted.
---
On the bed, his hands are everywhere. My jeans slide off. His lips trail fire down my thighs. His tongue makes me arch and gasp until I can’t take it anymore.
“Baby, I need you inside me.”
With a wicked grin, he rolls on a condom. The moment he pushes into me, slow and deliberate, a moan rips from both of us.
It’s overwhelming. Intense. Every thrust is deeper, harder, but still tender, still searching my eyes like he’s memorizing me. Our bodies move in perfect rhythm, need building until I shatter around him, crying out his name. He follows, groaning low into my neck.
We collapse together, breathless, tangled in sheets and each other.
As sleep pulls me under, I swear I hear it. His whisper, soft as a secret.
“I love you.”
Did I dream it? Or did Alec just say the words I’ve been terrified to admit I want to hear?
- Writer
