We Were Here: A New Adult Romance Prequel to Geoducks Are for Lovers (Modern Love Stories Book 1) (26 page)

A mole on my inner thigh.

My hip bone.

A middle rib.

The hollow at the base of my neck.

A soft spot underneath my chin.

The shadow behind my ear.

I squirmed and sighed, needing more, but not wanting him to stop.

Soon the thin material separating us landed on the floor. He reached into his wallet for a condom.

“Are you sure?” he whispered against my lips.

I’d never been more sure in my life.

I inhaled at the moment we joined together. When he began to move, I wrapped my arms around his lower back, pulling him closer to me, angling my hips.

Slowly, I lifted my eyelids to discover him staring at my face. The reverence I’d felt before in his gaze greeted me again. His shy grin played on his lips for a moment before he bit the bottom corner.

I smiled up at him, happiness cresting over me with each movement of our bodies together.

An unfamiliar pressure built in my lower abdomen. I’d never had an orgasm during intercourse before. Ben shifted and small stars appeared behind my lashes.

“Again.” I wasn’t sure if he could hear my whisper.

He repeated the new angle and I tightened my legs around his thighs.

“There?” Restraint tightened his voice.

Afraid of doing anything to lose the promise of pleasure beyond my grasp, I barely nodded, hoping it would be enough to encourage him.

His thumb added enough pressure above where we were joined to push me over the edge into a whole new world of pleasure.

I gasped, still chasing the fading bliss he brought to my body. He faltered, his rhythm erratic before his face broke into ecstasy.

Joy bubbled out of my mouth as a giggle. I’d never experienced bliss before.

“All I Want is You” ~ U2

BEN’S CURTAINS FILTERED
the bright May sunlight. Like a cat, I lay in a pool of its warmth, my sociology textbook sitting open in front of me. Behind me, Ben ran his hand up my bare leg, distracting me.

I stared over my shoulder at him. From his expression, he knew exactly what effect he had on me. His fingers reached higher, skimming the hem of my boxer shorts. Well, his boxers I stole. I kicked my legs when he tickled me and rolled over to my back.

He crawled up my body to kiss me.

“No way. I need to finish studying for the test next week.” I gave him a closed mouth kiss.

He responded by wiggling his hand under my shirt. “You know you’ll wait until the day before to cram, and then you’ll ace it. Like you always do.”

I stopped his hand moving. Beneath my palm, he squeezed my breast. I closed my lids as the sensation flooded my body with warmth, concentrated in pulses between my legs.

“Ben.” I intended to chastise him, but my voice came out pleading and husky.

“Shh.” He quieted me with another kiss. “Study later.”

I would never have been able to focus with him so close, knowing he felt as turned on as I did. My willpower evaporated.

After our afternoon spent not studying, we napped and lay around. Ben wore his boxers and I put on one of his prep school T-shirts. It hit me mid-thigh, providing more decency than being naked all day like he’d suggested. I had my sociology book open again and took notes.

“I have a brilliant idea.” Ben leaned against the wall with my legs across his lap.

“Hmm . . . what?” I was starving and hoped he would suggest we order pizza.

“Let’s move in together.”

I jumped up, my head spinning with his words. “Are you insane?”

“Never been more sane in my life. I know. Without any doubts, I know I love you.”

“See? You say crazy things and expect me to believe them.” My heart raced and my palms felt clammy.

“You do believe me, because it’s the truth. Who cares if it’s only been a few months. This is different than anything I’ve ever felt. I know it’s the same for you.”

“Means we dated the wrong people. Like the stupid teenagers we were.”

“Exactly. My point is we know this isn’t anything close to what we experienced before.”

Memories of how his skin felt against mine flashed through my mind, causing those places to fire up with anticipation. “I’ll agree with you.”

“I love you. Never been more sure in my life.” He stepped close to me. “Now’s when you say it back, Jo.”

“I love you.” Finally saying the words out loud was as easy as breathing.

He touched my cheek. “I thought you might.”

“What are you proposing?” I hadn’t meant to use
that
word. No way would he have been proposing right now. That would be insane.

“If we do this, for real, it’s forever. Not some random college fling for a few weeks or a quarter. I’m talking lifetime. Marriage, kids, house, dog, family car, summers at the beach, ski trips, European vacations . . . the whole enchilada. Both feet, arms, and legs, all in.”

“I think you described the hokey-pokey.” I fought a smile struggling to burst across my face.

“Fine. If you want the hokey-pokey, that’s what I’ll give you.” He backed up and did a mini-version of the children’s dance. Putting himself all in, he kissed me, then jumped away.

I threw myself at him and he supported my legs under my thighs. Wrapping my ankles behind him, I held onto his shoulders while he kissed me. In a slow spin, he twirled me around, never breaking the contact between our lips, his hands resting on my naked butt.

“This summer I’m taking you to Europe. Then we’re finding our own place.”

“Europe?”

“Do you have a passport?”

I responded with a shake of my head. I didn’t. I’d never had a reason to get one before.

“Well, that’s the first thing we’ll do.” He kissed me. “I can’t wait for whatever comes next with you.”

“Heaven” ~ Psychedelic Furs

A WEEK LATER
a group of students staged a protest in front of the library over the scant number of books by female authors in the fiction section. I recognized Selah’s favorite combat boots amongst the group of women wearing gorilla masks.

“I found an apartment in Olympia where we can all live for the summer.” Quinn slapped a newspaper on the table. A big red circle had been drawn on the middle of the rental page. “Three bedrooms, plus a formal dining room, and a screened porch the landlady said we could use as additional bedrooms at no extra charge.”

“But there are seven of us.” Selah turned the paper to read the description.

“I figured whoever doubled up could have the biggest bedroom. Maggie and Gil spend enough nights sleeping in his bed in our room, they could even share.” He gave Maggie a devilish look, which she responded to with a blush and her middle finger.

Gil ignored him. “Quinn and I could share. I know how you girls like your privacy.”

“I call dibs on the sun porch. Unless it’s moldy. I want all natural light.” Lizzy claimed her room.

“What about Ben and Jo?” Selah asked the group, but looked at me.

“We’re going backpacking in Europe for the first part of the summer, and then we’ll move into an apartment in July.”

Maggie’s deep blue eyes widened, exposing more of the white. “Your place?”

I nodded.

“Wait a second.” Lizzy jumped into the conversation. “You two are going to shack up? Live in sin? Won’t Ben’s WASPy grandmother kick him out of the will?”

“We’re not telling her.” Ben rested his arm on the back of my chair. “It’s highly improbable she would ever come to Olympia. I’m not sure she could even find it on a map. The only Washington she’s concerned about is D.C. And as long as Republicans hold the White House, she’s content.”