I put my hands on my hip and cock it out. “That’s ridiculous. I don’t feel right taking that money from you… especially now.”
“What do you mean, especially now?”
I get all flustered. I can’t tell him because I have feelings for him, or that I always have. “I just can’t. It’s not right.”
He’s quiet for a long time and when I look up into his face, I see the vulnerability there. This massive, strong handsome man is vulnerable. “Are you mad at me?” he asks me.
“No,” I whisper. “But I’m going to give you some of that money back.”
His shoulders drop and he walks to the door. He takes one last look at me before walking out. “I’ll see you in the morning, Krissy. Sleep well.”
As soon as the door closes, I stride over to it. I reach for the handle to pull it open, but at the last minute, I stop myself. What am I going to say to him?Wait… don’t leave. Stay… take my virginity?
Yep, that’s right. I’m a twenty-two-year-old virgin. Not that I haven’t had the opportunity. I’ve just never found someone that I was really attracted to, no one that makes my heart race like Jared does.
Walking to the bed, I toss myself onto it, grab the pillow and groan into it.
Chapter4
Jared
We’re at the church again the next morning and I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s taken all the shots of the groom and groomsmen and the bride and bridesmaids. Now we’re just waiting on the bride to show up. When she doesn’t, it seems that all hell breaks loose.
Jason is a mess. Luckily, our other brother, Jack, Jason’s twin, showed up this morning and he is exactly what Jason needs. They’ve always had a connection. I send them on their way and I take care of letting the guests know that there won’t be a wedding today.
Around mid afternoon, once I have the parents calmed down and the guests have left, I take Krissy back to my house, but I don’t know how to process all of this. Anyone that knows Chelsey knows how much she loves Jason. None of it makes sense.
“Jared.” Krissy clears her throat. “Uh, I understand if you need to be alone. I can get an earlier flight.”
“No.” I realize she probably thinks I’m upset with her and soften my voice. “I’d like for you to stay with me. If that’s okay?”
She stares back at me for a second and then nods.
We walk into the house and I sit down on the couch, my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. For a person that doesn’t do emotions well, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.
I feel the heat of Krissy’s body as she sits down on the coffee table in front of me, her legs fitted between mine.
Her hand goes to the back of my neck, and I feel her knead the muscles there. A deep groan escapes my lips, but she doesn’t stop. If anything, she deepens the pressure.
I lift my head to look at her, wanting to tell her so much, but not knowing how. “Can I hold you, Krissy?”
I don’t even recognize my voice when I ask her that. Her eyes widen, but she simply nods her head. I lean back on the couch and pull her hands to tug her into my lap. She sits sideways on me and the feel of her against me fills me with a satisfaction that I haven’t felt before. It just feels right.
I wrap my arms around her and bury my nose against her neck. She’s holding herself tightly, and I’m worried that I’ve pushed her too far, or maybe made her uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry, honey. Is this weird for you? I just needed to hold you, but if you’re uncomfortable…”
She interrupts me, lifting her eyes to look at mine. “No. No, I’m fine. I just don’t want to hurt you.”
“Hurt me? Honey, you couldn’t hurt me,” I tell her honestly.
She looks at me and I can tell that she’s trying to see if I’m being sincere. When I don’t look away, she must read it in my eyes or maybe she feels the way my grip on her tightens, because finally she seems to relax, and she wraps herself around my body.
It isn’t long before she’s asleep in my arms, and I sit there staring at her with hope rising in my chest.
Krissy
We must have been asleep for a few hours, because the sun is already starting to set. My stomach growls and I hold in a giggle because I’m now sprawled on top of Jared on the couch.