Patience (12 page)

He moves quickly, one hand gripping my waist, the other cupping my face. He draws me to him, our bodies perfectly aligned, as our mouths meet in a frenzy. Biting my bottom lip, he draws it into his mouth, before releasing it. The slight pain makes me feel alive, and I flatten my palms on his back, my fingernails digging into him. He takes my cue, increasing the pressure of his lips against mine, his tongue exploring my mouth.

He breaks the kiss, his chest heaving with each breath he takes. "Lay down." I don't know who he is, or where he came from, but I like this bossier version of my boyfriend.

I don't even hesitate. My eyes find his, and as I lay back, wrapping my legs around him, I don't look away. I remind myself to breathe. I'm so caught up in this moment, that I find myself holding my breath, trying to commit every single detail, every single touch to memory.

I open my legs for him, and his eyes follow the movement. The way he looks at me makes me feel worshipped, as if he's been waiting for this moment all his life. His hand moves to me, touching me, building the tension, the familiar pressure begging for release.

I close my eyes, lost to everything but him, his touch.

When he pulls away, I want to scream in frustration, in desperation. He reaches over me, to the bedside table, retrieving a condom. He kneels, ripping the package and throwing it on the floor. I reach up, taking the condom from him and slowly rolling it on. My hands shake, not from nervousness, but from pure anticipation.

He watches me touch him, and I find it extremely empowering to take control. Of all the times I've touched him, I always knew he would pull away, knew that we weren't going any further. But tonight, there are no boundaries. Nothing between us.

He's not going to stop me.

His eyes travel up my body, finally meeting mine.

"I love you, Jenna." Unable to hear his words above the pounding of my heart, I read his lips and melt inside.

Patience?

It was so worth it.

Chapter 28

Eric

She reaches up, pulling me to her, and I settle between her thighs. When I brush against her, I shiver, feeling the pull her body has over mine. Hell, I'm so lost in this girl, I feel like I'm back in high school, getting laid for the first time.

Lying here, in the only place I want to be, I can't remember a single sexual experience I've had. It's as if my slate has been wiped clean, and Jenna Ryan is the only thing written on it.

Nothing.
Nothing
compares to this.

I can assure you that I've never been so aware of another girl. Of the way she looks at me, confident instead of shy. A woman who clearly knows what she wants. Of the way she moans when I touch her, her voice husky and sweet. Or of the way her eyes devour me, revealing herself instead of hiding. Knowing she wants me as much as I want her is like some kind of drug, a warmth spreading through me, so powerful I know I'll never be the same.

"I love you, Eric James. I do. But I really need you to shut up and show me." I almost laugh, a huge smile on my face as I cover her body with mine, still not giving her what she wants. My hands find her again, hot and moist, as she arches into me. I kiss her neck, licking the valley of her throat, as my fingers wreak havoc on her control. Her thighs tighten around me, and I can feel her orgasm building from the inside out. "Eric..." My name, whispered on her lips. Then she gasps and clings to me through her climax. She pants, catching her breath, before opening her eyes. Her eyes are glazed and unfocused as she reaches for me, her hand sliding between us. "Now."

There's something so refreshing about a girl who knows what she wants.

She guides me into her, and as I slowly sink into her body, everything slips away. It's as if we are the only two people who exist, now intimately connected, my body a part of her body. I close my eyes, dark spots circling my vision, and get lost in the moment.

Nothing could have prepared me for this. This total loss of self.

Her eyes close as she sighs in my ear. She brings her legs up, around my waist, drawing me closer. And when she arches against me, I give in, no longer able to ignore the pull of her body. I move, slowly at first, her body matching my rhythm thrust for thrust. I'm aware of every movement, the clenching of her muscles, the heat of her core.

My mouth finds hers, swallowing her sighs of pleasure, taking everything she's willing to give. As our tongues tangle together, our bodies fused from head to toe, I feel more connected to her than I ever have. My instinct is to hold on tighter, to push deeper, to own every part of her.

I shift my weight, my hands firmly gripping her hips as I pull her thighs up and over my arms, pushing them back into her chest. Slow, fast, gentle, hard. Lost.

She pulls me tighter, her fingernails scratching my back. That little bite of pain pushes me over the edge, and calling out her name, I struggle to control myself. When she bucks against me, her body tightening around me, I let go. Wrenching my mouth from hers, I wrap my hands around her hips, and in several quick thrusts, find release.

I swear to god, I almost pass out. It's like I'm having some kind of out-of-body experience, as if I'm briefly suspended in the air before finally drifting back down.

I collapse on top of her, her legs still tightly wrapped around me. Her body is glistening with sweat, so hot, so damn sexy, I can't imagine letting her go.

Ever.

"Eric?" She breathes out my name.

"Hmm?" I can't even speak, much less say anything meaningful.

"So worth the wait."

Who knew when I made that stupid bet that making us wait was the best thing that could have ever happened to us? That I would appreciate her so much more, that I would learn things about myself that I didn't even know?

Well, obviously, Declan knew, but I never saw it coming.

"So worth my guitar." I'd give up everything I owned for a lifetime of Jenna.

"Well, about that..."

Chapter 29

Jenna

Here it is. The moment of truth.

Eric rolls over, pulling me against him and arranging the blanket over us. With my head resting on his chest, I try to hide my smile. I won.

I freakin' won!

"What's that?" He's so clueless. One of these days, probably not any day soon, he's going to learn that he should never underestimate a woman. Especially me.

I try to think of something serious to keep from laughing, but it's a struggle. Steadying my voice, I say, "Baby, you won the bet. Your precious guitar has been spared."

"What?!" His muscles tense beneath my hand and his hands still on my back. "I lost. It was only fifty-nine days." He sounds so sure of himself. And nothing like I expected. I thought he'd be happy.

I can't hold it in any longer.

Leaning up on my elbow so that I can see his face, I lay it all out. "No, sir. It was sixty days. Barely." I pause, letting it sink in. He's confused. "I looked at the clock, and it just so happens that it was 12:01 the minute we, umm, did the deed."

The look on his face is priceless. First, confusion, then disbelief, and finally... he gets it.

"Oh, hell no! It was not. I lost this bet fair and square, Sunshine. Don't you go screwing it up now." Now, I'm confused. He gets to keep his guitar, and I'm screwing it up?

"What are you talking about? You act like you wanted to lose the bet!" Men.

"I did! I wanted to lose the bet so you would know how I really feel about you. I didn't want you thinking I cared more about my guitar than I do about you." His face is so sincere, so determined. I don't know if I should laugh or cry. But I do know I have to get to the bottom of this.

"Now, why the hell would you think something like that?" Before he can answer, it clicks. "Oh, Eric, tell me you didn't." He looks away, a smile playing at the corners of his beautiful mouth.

"Seth." We say it at the same time. And that's all there is to say.

I am completely blown away. He wanted to lose. For me.

As the reality of it sinks in, I roll onto my back, laughing as I hold my stomach. I was working to save his guitar, and he was working to keep me.

Before I know what happened, he rolls on top of me, our legs tangled together, as he tickles me. "I won! I won!" I yell between gasps for air, pushing him away.

Suddenly, he gives up, and he gets very still. I'm slightly concerned that I may have accidentally hurt him, when he pulls his hand from under my pillow with a perplexed look on his face. "What the...?" That's when I notice that he's holding something in his hand.

His fingers unfold, and there in his hand is well, what looks like a... "Chicken wing!" We yell in unison as he chucks it over the side of the bed. For a moment, we are silent, shocked by his discovery.

And then, I begin laughing, and he begins laughing as we dissolve into a fit of delirium. It is the perfect end to a perfect day. "A fuckin' chicken wing!" He is outraged, and I find it all the more funny. I laugh until large wet tears roll down my face and I struggle to breathe. "Seriously, Jenna, we just had sex in bed with a chicken wing!"

"Ohmigod! I can't wait to tell Quincy. She's never gonna believe this shit!" I wipe the tears from my face, trying to recover. My sweet, sweet Eric. He tried so hard to make this night special for me. Our hotel was overbooked. We ended up in a shithole, him with a black eye and me wishing I had cotton stuffed up my nose. He finally got over the odor only to find that damn bone under the pillow.

Would he ever believe me if I told him that what makes it so special is that it's so memorable? Of course not.

He looks so depressed. I reach up, my fingers lightly grazing his jawline. His face is rough with light stubble from not shaving. Perfect. The whole night was perfectly perfect.

Sometimes, love is a beautiful mess. It isn't perfect or scripted. It isn't always smooth and easy, and not everyone gets the fairytale ending. Sometimes, love is a kind of quiet chaos, the perfect calm in the eye of a storm. And always, it is what you hold onto at the end of the day.

His eyes meet mine, and gazing down at me, the truth echoes in brilliant pools of blue. He gets it. And then, he shows me again how much he gets it. Again and again.

I don't know if the guys I was with before just didn't know what they were doing or if it's because I love Eric so damn much, but there are no problems with the big O here. In fact, I have so many, I lose count.

Afterwards, when we're both too limp to move, I lie in his arms, as he draws circles on my back.

I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U-2

I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
He knew.

A loud noise wakes me, and I reach for my phone. Quincy. "Hey! What's up?" I hear muffled cries as she gasps for breath. I sit up in bed, Eric's arm sliding from my waist. "Quince?" It's the boys. I knew something was up. I shouldn't have left her. I knew it.

"Jenna." One word, and it cuts me to my soul.

"Quincy, what's going on? What's wrong?" My heart rate picks up, and I hold my breath. Eric sits up next to me, placing a kiss on my shoulder. I close my eyes, knowing that when I open them, this precious time will be over.

"Jenna, I need you." Her strangled words tell me this isn't about Brody at all. And deep down, I know exactly what it is. Her deepest fears have come to life.

"Are you OK? Quince, you're scaring me." I close my eyes and pray as hard as I ever have. Please, don't let it be. Please. Please. Please. No.

"Jenna, it's Katie." A knife twists in my gut. "She killed herself."

I jump out of bed, gathering my things and throwing them in my bag. I promise her I'm on my way and hang up, turning to Eric. His eyes are filled with concern, and I almost fall apart. A tear rolls down my face, and I wipe it away.

Yes, love is a beautiful mess. Sometimes, it's chaos. And sometimes, it's downright heartbreaking.

I'm going home to put my friend back together.

The End

Don't worry! If you want to read more about Jenna and Eric, they will make appearances in the other Choices books, but be patient... the rest of their story will be released later this year!

Please leave a review where you purchased this book or on Goodreads- all honest reviews are much appreciated! I personally read them and take your comments to heart. The best thing you can do to support indie authors is to leave those reviews.

Feel free to contact me at [email protected] or on facebook @ Author Sydney Lane. I can also be found on twitter @SydneyLane7. Would love to hear from you!

Patience Playlist

Beyonce - XO

Ciara - Body Party

Lorde - 400 Lux

Tegan and Sara - Closer

Ed Sheeran - Kiss Me

Acknowledgements

I can't believe I'm here again, now finishing the third book with my Choices gang. It's been a wild and enjoyable ride, and I hope we can stay on it for a very long time.

First, I thank you- the readers- for everything! If not for your love of these characters, they would never have become who they are. Your love and support mean so much. Indie authors often struggle with finding a faithful audience, with finding a place to fit in, and I'm so thankful to have such loyal followers. Your kind words of support help me rally when I'm not sure where I'm going, and I take all of your input seriously.

Sharon McGauley, you continue to be the best beta reader ever! There are no words for the endless words of wisdom and faithful emails.

Melissa Storm Allen, you did it again! Your beautiful covers bring my characters to life, and I associate them with my books as much as I do the words. What can I say? You are awesome!

A huge thanks to Julia, , Kristyn, Kelly, Katherine, Whitney, Maty, and all of my undercover operators. Having partners in crime make it all the more real.

Sarah Kay Bacle and Drew Richards, thank you both for the wonderful cover shot! Beautiful!