The Keys to Jericho (36 page)

No longer attached to me, on the physical level at least, I don’t disturb Jared as I quietly get out of bed, and go to the bathroom before I return to my room. With the air conditioning on, my bed is much colder than I had expected it to be, so I pull the blankets up and huddle under them, hoping for a rapid fall into sleep, in which I thankfully do.

Dipping and moving over the bed jars me awake. The room is brighter, and before I am able to roll over to see who’s in bed with me, a hand yanks the collar of my shirt to the side, and proceeds to cover my shoulder with slow kisses. I cautiously ask, “Jared?”

He mumbles over my skin, “Why’d you leave, Kit Kat? You said you’d stay with me.”

“I thought maybe it’d be better for you if I didn’t.” I still wonder if we were heard last night.

Raising his head, his voice is still rugged with sleep. “You thought wrong. That wasn’t very nice. Maybe you should receive a demerit. What do you think?”

I smile against my hand, but my stomach tightens. “Like what?”

He bends his head and I feel his smile against my shoulder. “I’ll think of something.”

Jared’s kisses creep to my ear. “Are you going to take my road driving away from me?” I ask hopefully.

He shakes his head; his lips tickle me when he whispers, “Nope.”

“What then?” I’m afraid to ask because we’re most likely thinking of the same thing, and I should somewhat be hesitant before aspiring to be a prostitute.

His hand slides to my breast and my eyes close as he kneads his fingers into it through my shirt. “We have unfinished business. Don’t we?”

My head falls against his bent arm, and I try not to moan. “We do?”

He lightly bites my earlobe, whispering, “I’m not even close to being done with you.” His teeth then drag along the side of my throat, and his hand moves from my breast, down my stomach, tracing his fingers over the top of my underwear. “Why’d you put these on, Kit Kat? Did you really think once would be enough for me?”

I swallow and squeeze my thighs together, but not to keep him out, because that’s an unlikely development now. “It’s not?”

Jared inhales a breath next to my temple. “Fuck, no. You have me hooked.” His hand delves into my waistband. When his fingers bury into me, I shiver and lightly pant. He groans into my ear and whispers, “I’m fucking obsessed.” Pandora is shaking her head at me.

Doubtful, I ask, “From
one
time?”

“
Our
first time.”

“But, you can have any woman.”

He shrugs against me. “Who says? And I don’t want just any. I’ve always wanted you.”

I gasp as his fingers explore. “Why me? My pussy doesn’t glitter or glow in the dark.”

“It’s
yours
. That’s all I want.”

He finds a more intense rhythm, and arching my back against his chest, I sigh. “Oh, Jared.”

His lips next to my ear, he smilingly whispers, “What, Kit Kat?”

“Your fingers feel so damn good inside me.”

“You’re still slippery, but I think you need more. I’m going to be hard all fucking day, thinking about how wet you are because of me.” His fingers go deeper yet, and I moan.

He works me faster, and needing him to be closer, I push down one side of my underwear. Without taking his fingers out of me, he maneuvers his left hand to help push the other side, and I remove them in a rush. As soon as they’re gone, I turn toward him more, but still on my side. My legs open further, and Jared applies more pressure and speed.

I whimper and he whispers, “Shh. They’ll definitely hear us this time.” His erection prods my naked hip through his shorts. Reaching behind me, I tug down his waistband, and when he’s free, I take him in my hand and curl my fingers around his shaft.

He sharply sucks air in between his teeth. “Kit Kat. Fuck.
Your
fingers feel so good
on
me.”

“Shh,” I tease. “We should just be quiet.”

He responds by sliding his fingers in and out, and I gasp loudly, my hips lifting and falling with his tempo.

I counter his action with one of my own, gripping him more firmly as I glide my hand back and forth. He grunts and huffs into my ear, making me wetter. I notice his minty breath. Not fair!

He whispers, “Can you come quietly?”

I pant harder as I ride his fingers. “Jared. Fuck.”

Kissing the nape of my neck, he says, “Shh. You’re so hot. I could finger you all day.” I moan into my pillow and he says, “I daydreamed what it’d be like for you to come on my fingers. I want you to squeeze the fuck out of them, like you did to my cock.” He thrusts his hips against me, while I continue to rub him, finding my tempo, as well.

“You’re so sexy, Jared. I want you.”

He growls, “Tell me again, Kit Kat.”

Sounding too desperate, I say, “I fucking want you. You belong inside me.”

“Fuck right, I do.” He continues to move his fingers, and I feel the build approaching fast.

“You’re going to give me an orgasm,” I throatily whisper.

“I know.” Taking my hand from his dick, I put it over his hand, between my legs, pushing on it as he gets me off. “Kat,
you’re
the one who’s fucking sexy. You’re going to make me come all over you.”

“Go ahead.”

He shifts onto his knees, yanking his shorts down, and taking his cue, I move up with him as his fingers stay inside me. “Nope.”

“Jared, you’re getting me… Fuck.”

“Come on, Kitty Kat.” On all fours, I thrust against his hand and explode. As I do, he roughly takes me from behind. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” he loudly whispers, and sucks in a coarse breath.

I growl into my pillow as he bangs his hips onto my ass three times and stutteringly pants, and I again moan as I feel him jerking inside me.

“Shit,” he quietly says with a relaxed sigh.

Raising my head from the pillow, he slowly pulls out of me and I return to the curled position I was in as I hear him pulling up his shorts with a snap of his waistband.

Leaning down, he whispers, “Still phenomenal. I gotta go. See you later.”

I roll over to face him, but he’s already out my door, shutting it softly behind him. I stare blankly at it as the tears sting my eyes.

Jared just nailed and bailed me.

This is not boding well for Dash’s theory, or rather Rio’s, that sex may be the key to Jared’s heart. If so, I must have the wrong set.

Hearing voices downstairs, I gingerly sit up, wiping the sudden tears I shouldn’t be crying.

Decidedly needing some time on the beach by myself, I get out of bed, and make it pretty so I don’t have to see the crumpled sheets, reminding me of what happened. I change my clothes, putting on my bathing suit, then a green sundress over it, and head to the bathroom.

When I come out, I hear Dash downstairs, asking, “Did you talk to Kat when you came in to get a shower?”

Jared says, “No. She was in her room. Why?”

“Just wondered if she said why she went to bed so early.”

“One in the morning is early for you.”

“Have you talked to her this morning then?”

“She’s still in her room, Calder. Do you really think we should go fishing? It looks like it’s going to storm.”

“It’s not supposed to. Why? You afraid I’ll catch more than you this time?”

“You know you won’t. You’ll be in the ocean as usual.”

Rio says, “We need to be back before Liberty gets here.”

Dash says, “Why? Where will Kat be?”

I go down the stairs and say, “I’ll be at the beach.” I try to avoid looking at Jared, but since he’s standing behind Dash, it’s hard to not to look at him. Jared’s lips quirk into a faint smile, but I don’t return it. I say to Dash, “You can leave the key with me. I’ll let her in. What time is she supposed to be here?”

Sitting at the breakfast table, shoving a bowl away, Rio shifts and stretches his legs out, crossing them at the ankle. “She doesn’t know for sure.”

“Text her my number. She can let me know when she gets here and I’ll come up to let her in, if she doesn’t mind waiting for me.”

Rio smiles. “That’s fine. Thanks.”

Dash comes over with a mischievous grin, and nudges me in the arm. “You just want to go down there to check out guys.”

I smile as Dash and Rio laugh, but notice Jared doesn’t as he bends, putting his arms on the kitchen counter facing the breakfast nook. With his head tilted, his anxious gaze studies me, but then darts away as Dash turns to him.

“Kat could find herself a new driving instructor there. Huh, Jericho?”

Jared’s entire face hardens at a grinning Dash. “She’s already with me.” But not
with
him.

Dash spins around again. “Kat, according to your horoscope today, you’re in for an eye-opening experience. So, make it count.”

With my heart stinging from earlier, I roll my eyes. “I can’t imagine that happening
here
.” Brushing my ponytail over my shoulder, I surreptitiously glance at Jared, whose mouth twists, and eyebrows furrow at me. That somewhat makes me feel vindicated for his leaving the room, as well as Annapolis again. However, when his eyes drop to the counter and he clenches his teeth, I wonder if he’s even marginally regretting using me like he did.

I doubt that.

Dash says, “Don’t let any man sweet talk you just to get in your pants, and don’t sleep with them on the first date.” I glance at him as he knowingly smirks, but when I see Jared’s reaction at the counter, his expression says he didn’t find it funny.

Jared irritably pushes off the counter and yells, “Quit telling her that shit, Calder! Jesus!”

Dash fakes ignorance. “What, Jericho? Just some sage advice.”

He snaps, “From a moron. She shouldn’t be going there alone. I’ll go with her.”

“I’m standing right here, and I’ll be fine. You’re not my boyfriend anyway. I can take care of myself,” I calmly say, but I’m anything but on the inside. I glare at Jared, and then putting on a smile, I say to Dash, “I hope I find a man with a slick ride. And yes, no sex on the first date. I’ll save it for the second, just as I normally do.” I keep my gaze on Dash, so Jared doesn’t see through my act.

Dash laughs, approving my dig. “Good girl, Merrick.”

The back patio, sliding door slams, rattling living room walls, and Dash and I notice Jared is no longer in the kitchen.

Smiling, Dash says, “That went well.”

Rio sighs. “He’s going to be a joy to be around, fishing today.”

“Well, have fun with that,” I say, going to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water.

Dash asks, “You’re not going to go talk to him?”

Taking a granola bar from the counter, I look at him, confused. “About
what
really?”

Dash scratches his head and glances at the kitchen doorway. “He’s jealous.”

I grimace. “Of what?
Not
wanting me when I offered? Makes total sense.”

Rio chuckles. “You have a point, but both of you, go easier on him. He’s already sinking and taking on water. Don’t throw him another anchor.”

Making sure I have my phone, Dash grabs the keys from the counter, handing them to me. “We’ll take the spare hidden in a rock outside.” He turns back to Rio. “What the hell does that mean, Yoda?”

Gathering my beach bag, I say, “I’ll try not to, Rio. Good luck fishing, guys.”

Hearing Rio and Dash debate his comment, I go out the front door, hoping Jared isn’t hanging out on the porch, waiting for me. When he’s not, I’m strangely disappointed.

I wish I could get my shit together.