“Oh, hey guys. I didn’t know you two were here,” a gruff voice said, startling me and making both of us stop in our tracks.
“What the hell, Jay! You scared the shit out of us. What are you doing in the dark?” Jonah responded, tugging on my hand lightly and pulling me over to the kitchen. Feeling the wall for the switch, he finally flicked it on. The faint buzzing of the florescent light in the kitchen began to hum as a muted glow was cast across the room.
And now we knew why Jay was in the dark.
Sitting beside him was a cute little brunette with short, straight hair and practically no clothes on. I mean, she was wearing a tank top and a mini skirt, but the tank barely covered her belly and her nipples poked out like it was twenty degrees in the apartment. Her lips were red and swollen like they had just been ravished by an animalistic mauling. I still couldn’t see Jay’s face. Jonah’s shadow seemed to be blocking most of his features from my view. But I could hear his thoughts as he tried to imagine what Jonah and I were doing back in his bedroom. His thoughts were becoming pretty vivid about me and I was surprised Jonah hadn’t reacted already. Not that I needed a man getting all worked up over me. But, it was odd he didn’t seem to mind the somewhat detailed envisions that were going through Jay’s mind. The girl? She must’ve been brainless because the only thoughts going on in her mind were about her appearance. Jay’s thoughts startled me a bit when he began thinking of joining Jonah and me in bed. If he didn’t stop, I was about to say something and it wouldn’t be nice.
Finally, he spoke.
“Sorry, Jonah. I didn’t mean to startle you guys,” Jay said with a hint of pride in his tone. “Pam and I were just spending some quiet time together is all. We can go back to my room if it will make you two more comfortable.” Although, Ella, I would love to take you back to my room instead. Or maybe you could join us? I know Pam wouldn’t mind.
Did I seriously just hear him right? “Um, no. That’s so not going to happen.”
“What?” Jay asked, completely startled by my rejection.
“Why the hell does she care what the fuck we do together?” asked this new Pam girl with anger seeping from her voice.
“What she means is—we’re leaving anyway. So, you two have the house to yourself. Don’t have too much fun,” Jonah said with a wink in Jay’s direction as he grabbed my elbow and quickly ushered me out the door.
“What was that all about, Ella?” Jonah asked as we dodged the now sprinkling raindrops and headed for the car.
“I should ask you the same thing!” I asked with anger. I was now livid. How could he let his friend talk to me like that?
“What are you talking about? Jay said he was going to his room and then it’s as if you snapped at him over it. Do you know that girl?” Jonah asked, pointing his thumb over his shoulder toward the apartment as he opened my car door.
“No, I could care less about the chick he was with. And obviously he could care less about her too,” I defended while climbing into the Charger’s passenger seat.
“Then why did you get upset with him about the whole bedroom comment?” Jonah pressed as he leaned into the passenger doorway and stared right into my eyes. It was just barely sprinkling and a light mist started coating his hair and shoulders.
“You mean to tell me you’re ok with your friend making comments like that about me?” I screeched, sitting up straight in the seat and wanting desperately to be on the same level as Jonah rather than beneath him like I was now.
“About you? He didn’t say... wait. Did you hear him think something?” Jonah asked as he pieced together the chaos that was this conversation. Me? I was just getting flat-out irritated with this mess.
You really mean to tell me you didn’t hear him? I projected. Jonah just shook his head.
“So, if he truly did think it instead of say it, then how come you can hear me but you couldn’t hear him?” I asked with a hint of skepticism.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t read either one of them just now, but I can read you clear as day,” he said as he backed away slightly and scratched his head.
“Can you get in please, Jonah? You’re getting all wet. I’ll tell you what he said once we’re on the road.” I knew that there was a very good chance Jonah would be upset with the thoughts going through Jay’s mind.
Once we were several blocks away, I heard Jonah think, Well?
Well, I thought he said it out loud, but it may have been projected very clearly instead, but...
“Come on, Ella. He’s my best friend. Just tell me,” he said out loud, getting frustrated with my hesitation.
“He said he would like to take me back to his room instead of that girl or that he would like me to join them,” I mumbled as I looked down at my hands nervously. Maybe Jonah wouldn’t give a shit. Maybe he did read him and didn’t think it was such a big deal. I thought it was pretty twisted of Jay to think about his best friend’s girl... well, in reality, I guess I wasn’t his girlfriend. Not yet anyway. I only hoped to be.
With an abrupt jerk, the car came to a complete stop. The occasional swipe of the windshield wipers and the light patter of raindrops were suddenly magnified.
What the hell? he murmured in his mind. Jonah turned his body so he was facing me and reached out with his hand. Worried he would be upset, and out of pure instinct, I flinched away from his touch.
“Ella, look at me,” he said with strength, demanding my attention, although not in a callous way.
Realizing how stupid it was to be afraid of Jonah, but still on the cautious side that I had just upset him, I peeked around the messy curls that framed my face and met a pair of emeralds glistening in the glow of the moonlit night.
“I’m sorry, Jonah,” I murmured back. “I sincerely thought he said it out loud. It was dark and I couldn’t see him. I didn’t mean...”
His lips pressing against mine cut me off, effectively drowning out my whiny voice. God, he tasted heavenly. The way his mouth molded to mine and his warm tongue probed at me hungrily was nothing short of ecstasy. It was all the confirmation I needed in order to realize he wasn’t mad at me for my outburst.
Mad at you. You think I’m mad at you? he projected, never breaking our hold on each other. A few drops of moisture trickled from his hair and onto my face.
I couldn’t think. Christ, his kiss was mind-numbing. A desperate, almost painful moan emanated from my mouth as I quickly gasped for air and dove into him for more. The feeling of respect and adoration I received from him with every touch was agonizingly exquisite.
Jonah suddenly broke our lip-lock, causing every inch of my body to protest the separation. Keeping his hands around my head and fingers threaded through my hair, he backed away a few inches, closed his eyes, and took several deep gasps, obviously attempting to calm himself and catch his breath.
Me? I was panting like an excited little puppy just itching for more playtime. My eyes were wide-open, alert, and glued on his face. I absorbed every strong feature, especially enjoying the slow, methodical breaths making their way in and out of those lips that once touched mine.
“I’m sorry if I came across as angry with you,” he said, without opening his eyes and still clutching my head, rubbing his thumbs lightly on my cheeks. “I’m actually pissed with him, not you. He knows how important you are to me. He’s seen some of my drawings. He is actually the one who forced me to come out of my hole and take a look at you because, as far as he knew, I was fascinated with purple eyes. It comforts me a little that he didn’t voice his opinion out loud though.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, confirming that my voice definitely malfunctions when he leaves me so damn breathless. “I swear, I thought he said it right in front of us and his girl. It was dark, I couldn’t see his face, and it sounded so... direct,” I said with an apologetic tone.
“I know how that feels. I can’t tell you how many times I thought someone spoke directly to me. It’s very difficult trying to explain why you just answered someone’s thoughts,” he acknowledged.
“Does Jay know about... us? Does he know about our abilities?” I asked.
“No. I would be in deep shit if I let any normal know about me. Although, if he did know, his thoughts would make me a hell of a lot angrier because it would be like him saying it out loud in front of my face,” he said, reiterating my thoughts exactly. “Of course, I can’t blame him for his good tastes.”
“What? Why?” I gasped, perplexed by his statement.
His eyes found mine and explored the depths of my reaction. “Because, you’re stunning. A man would be a fool not to want you when he looks at you. I mean... look at you.” The last three words were almost a whisper as he stared directly into my bewildered stare.
Feeling a little awkward from his compliments, I tried to look down, away from his gaze. But he held onto my face with a steady, yet gentle, grip.
Dipping his face down to try and get my attention, he said, “Ella, I’m going to tell you you’re beautiful so often, one day you’ll actually start believing it. So, you better get used to the compliments, darling. ‘Cause they’re not stopping anytime soon.”
Looking into his eyes, I said the only thing that came to me. “Okay.”
Even though my response was weak, inside, my heart couldn’t help but jump at the idea I would have Jonah for more than just one night. So far, it hadn’t happened yet. We’re still on our first night. We’re still on our first date. Things could still go south just like they did several weeks ago with my unconscious visions of him. But, I had hopes. And the only way us dreamers survive through existence is to keep those hopes alive.
“You’re such a walking, talking distraction, Orella. I love it. But, we better head over to Lavendine if I plan to meet any of my deadlines,” he said, letting go of me and put the car in drive.
And, by the way, you are my girl. He projected, pushing his thoughts into my head and causing a proud smirk to spread across my face.
The engine of the muscle car roared to life as we headed in the direction of the studio; the tires splashed against the sea of black pavement and left a mist of water in our wake.
Moments before stepping into the doors at Lavendine, the sky began to fall and pelted the earth with heavy globs of water, causing us to run for cover. After the glass door clicked shut behind us, a flicker of lightning illuminated Jonah’s dripping hair and wild eyes.
“Come. I have a few towels in the storage closet we can dry off with,” he said as he grabbed my hand and led me further into the studio.
Standing in the darkened hallway with a towel in hand, he slowly dried my face and dabbed at my hair, which I’m sure looked absolutely stunning all matted down with rain... not. Continuing with his unhurried pace, he gently ran the towel down my arms and back up before heading to my neck and chest. He hesitated as his eyes guided over the curves of my breasts.
Boldly, Jonah brought his head down and pressed his warm lips against my cold skin, right on the swell of my left breast. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pressed me against him with force. The abrupt and passionate movement caused several drops of rain water to fall from his hair and cascade between my cleavage. Lifting me slightly, Jonah’s scorching tongue began to lick the water from my skin.
“Oh, Jonah,” I whimpered as I grasped the back of his head, tangling my fingers in his silky, wet hair, and wrapping my legs around his waist. He responded vigorously, supporting the back of my legs as I practically climbed him like a tree.
I could feel how hard he was between my legs as he pressed my back up against the cold concrete wall, hooking his hands below my ass, holding me up and continuing to kiss my chest while making his way to my neck. I tilted my head to the side and allowed his delicious scruff to take me away, my eyes fluttering shut and my mouth gasping for air like a fish out of water.
My insides clenched with excitement and I could feel liquid pooling down low. I knew I was just as turned on as he was. Yet, I still wasn’t sure I was ready for this. If I had to be honest, this intimacy, regardless of how mother-loving hot it was, scared the shit out of me.
“Fuck. Ella. I can’t – keep – my lips – off – of your – delicious – skin,” Jonah managed to say between kisses as he continued to ravage my neck and chest.
My wits were wearing thin. I was about to give in to this sexy man. Yes, I knew it was too soon. But it would be good, right? Oh, God, yes. I was certain making love to Jonah would be more than words.
Jonah devoured my lips and I knew at that point he had done me in.
“Jonah, please,” I begged between gasps of air.
“No, Ella,” he whispered against my lips. “Too soon. I’ll control myself. I promise.”
“Fuck control. I want you,” I affirmed before lunging forward, grinding myself against his erection, and melding my lips with his once more. I trailed my fingers through his soft, damp hair with one hand and dug my nails into his shoulder with the other, effectively pressing his body harder to mine.
One of his hands left my ass and began trailing its way up the side of my body beneath my blouse. Skin-on-skin, the feeling of his touch had me whimpering and begging for more. Just before he reached my breast, he began trailing his hand back down, continuing along my jean-clad leg and to the back of my knee.
The fiery action and wicked possibilities left me feeling lightheaded and weak. If I didn’t calm myself, I wouldn’t stay upright much longer.
Grabbing lightly at my leg, he started to bring me down, unwrapping my stems from around his waist. As he slowed our passionate kisses, Jonah projected, Not here. Not now. Christ, it sounds so wonderful to hear you say you want me. But, you deserve so much better.
“Goddamnit, Jonah!” I exclaimed as I lightly banged my fists against his hard chest and buried my face in the soft spot between his peck muscles. I knew he was right. When I lost all semblance of control, he made sure to find it. But geez. My clit was throbbing. And if I was this frustrated about stopping our near-sexual encounter, I couldn’t imagine how unsatisfied he must be. Can anyone say blue ballz?
Jonah chuckled as he set both my feet on the ground and backed away slightly. “Don’t you worry about me, love. Just knowing you’re here with me is satisfaction enough for a lifetime.”
Handing me the towel, he held out his arms and bowed his head as if he were waiting for me. Quickly catching on, I spread the towel in my hands and began running it through his hair. Jonah lifted his head, allowing me to make my way across to his face and down his neck and chest. He looked delicious when he was all drippy-wet, but the playful act of drying him was oddly sensual and made me grin from ear to ear.