Patience (5 page)

Everything with Jenna is different, more intense, than it's ever been before. She has a way of seeing things, of showing things to me, that makes everything so much... better.

Take, for instance, the first time I saw her naked. Men are just wired to notice women, to be turned on by their soft curves and delicate lines, but when she slowly revealed herself to me, I was beyond turned on. It was like an out of body experience.

I had been trying to treat her like a lady, taking her to dinner, the movies, even a damn play. At first, it was a distraction, an insurance plan, to keep things from getting out of hand so I wouldn't lose the bet. The less time we were alone together, the easier it was. But I found that I truly enjoyed just spending time with her, getting to know her, and even sharing myself with her. There were times when things got heated, and the more time we spent together, the more I ached for her.

Like most stories, this one begins with alcohol. And like the two weekends before that, there was a house party, and Jenna met me there. I was already half lit when I heard her giggle. Leaning against the rail on the deck, I watched as she joked with Seth, her smile lighting up her face. When she turned and her eyes fell on me, it was as if the world slowed down, everything moved in slow motion.

I can remember every detail. As most summer nights in Tennessee are, it was hot and humid, a thin film of sweat already forming on my brow. I got hard the minute the corners of her mouth lifted, a secretive smile, reserved only for me.  She was wearing one of my plaid shirts and a pair of cutoff shorts that were frayed around the edges. Sexy as hell. My eyes were glued to her as she walked toward me, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. It was then, at that exact moment, that I knew I was in over my head. Jenna Ryan had caught me, and I fell for her - hook, line, and sinker. All she had to do was reel me in.

Throughout the night, I watched her as she moved through the crowd, mingling with my friends and their girlfriends. Each time she got near me, every light brush of her hand on my arm or of her hip against me, the fire grew more intense. It was like she'd cast a spell on me. My brothers were laughing and joking with me, but I couldn't focus. My alcohol-infused mind was so preoccupied that I barely knew what was going on around me. I had tunnel vision, and it led straight to her.

Afterward, when we'd gone back to my room, I was buzzing pretty hard when she pulled her shirt over her head. She wiggled her shorts down her legs and stepped out of them before reaching for one of my t-shirts.
No fuckin' way.

I stepped up behind her, taking the shirt from her hands and dropping it to the floor. She smiled at me over her shoulder, the playful gleam in her eyes giving me the green light. I reached for the clasp of her bra, letting it fall open. As I placed kisses along her shoulder, I slid the strap down her arm, and moving to the other side, repeated the process. I felt her shiver beneath my mouth and heard her breath catch in her throat as she arched her neck for me.

My hand slid around her hip to her flat stomach, resting right above her panties. My pinkie finger slid just under the waistband, and she trembled against me. Roughly, I pulled her backwards, into me, her hips lining up perfectly with my groin, my erection resting against her. She moaned, her lips parting, as she relaxed against me. When I moved my hand lower, between her thighs, she parted them too, allowing me access. As she rocked against my hand, she threw her head back, resting it on my shoulder. I had a perfect view of her breasts and stomach as they rose with each deep breath. Pure. Bliss.

Abruptly, she pulled away, turning in my arms. She began undressing me, and I raised my arms as she pulled my shirt over my head. When she unbuttoned my shorts and pushed them over my ass, they fell to the floor. I waited to see where she was taking things, and she surprised me by reaching for her panties rather than my boxers. As she shimmied them down her thighs, my life was forever changed. No one else would ever do.

The only light in the room was from the moon outside, but I could see her clearly. She had the most perfect body I'd ever seen. And she was offering it to me.

I pushed my boxers down and kicked them to the side. Her eyes blazed a trail as they skimmed down my chest and lower. She didn't seem shy at all. It was such a turn on, seeing her so confident, owning her body, instead of trying to cover herself.

She rushed into my arms, our lips meeting in a powerful, hard kiss. As our tongues explored one another, she wrapped her legs through mine, our hands roughly exploring each other. Her soft moans and sighs filled the room as I was consumed by hunger for her and the eager touch of her hands.

I lifted her, carrying her to the bed. I sat her on the edge and pushed her back, leaning over her, our mouths fused together. Breaking the kiss, my lips trailed down her neck, to her breasts, giving each one attention before moving down her stomach and below. I pushed her thighs open, and my mouth finished the job my hand had begun. Her fingers dug into my shoulders as she writhed beneath me, and when she trembled against my mouth, I felt like I'd climbed Mt. Everest. Giving her pleasure was my new addiction.

When I slid back up her body, she wrapped her legs around my hips and tried to draw me into her. I resisted, lying down beside her and pulling her to me. But she wasn't finished. She began kissing me, more gently this time, as her hands roamed over my chest and down. When she reached for me, I almost came in her hand, and in just a few minutes, I did just that.

Dammit. I can't wait to get her alone in that hotel room.

Chapter 11

Jenna

Tonight, I'm going for sexy but not slutty. You know, hot but not hoochie. Not that I care what anyone thinks, but I do have some self-respect. In the morning, we leave for Asheville, but we still have to survive the night together first.

What started out as me wanting to teach Eric a lesson has turned into a quest to make our first time together really special, something neither of us will ever forget. I love that boy, and he's going to know just how much after this weekend.

I want what Quincy and Brody have, that kind of passion that becomes palpable, so thick in the air that you can almost taste it. That boy watches her, his eyes never leaving her for long, like he's worshipping at the altar of Quincy Priest. Anyone with eyes could see how he feels about her, and I'm really surprised more of the brothers haven't figured it out.

I want that. Well, except for the sneaking around part.

I'll give Eric a pass on this whole bet thing. To be honest, I don't even care about it. This is about having a little fun with the guy I love, and maybe creating something beautiful.

Quincy helped me choose the perfect outfit to drive Eric wild. I know he loves my boots, but tonight, I'm going for something irresistible, something that will make his mouth water the minute he lays eyes on me. My pink-painted toenails are perfectly displayed by the five inch silver strappy sandals I chose to torture him with. If they don't make him envision all kinds of kinky scenarios, nothing will.

Leaving my shoulder length hair down, I apply very little make-up. I add some pink to my lips and smile at myself in the mirror. Underneath, I'm wearing a black lace bra and panties that I know will blow his mind. Black is his favorite color.

For one insane moment, I contemplate ditching the panties, and then, I laugh out loud when I imagine what Eric would do when he made the discovery. It's a tempting idea, but in the end, I keep the panties on. You never know when you might fall victim to a wardrobe malfunction.

Quincy and I are meeting the guys at Club Bliss, and like me, she's dressed to impress. I watch as she nervously fidgets in front of the mirror, checking her hair for the twentieth time. She chews on a fingernail, and I resist the urge to jerk her hand out of her mouth. Standing there, looking like she might throw up, she is stunning. I mean, so natural, so poised, that she's absolutely beautiful. Of course, she'd never see that.

Sometimes, we can be so blinded by our own insecurities that we can't possibly see what others see, can't possibly believe someone else loves us for who we are and nothing more. I'm happy and, quite honestly, relieved that she's made a decision. Sure, Brody is a risk and Declan is safe, but life isn't worth living if you never take risks. I mean, how can a heart truly learn to love if it's never been broken? And how would you recognize joy if you'd never experienced pain? To truly embrace happiness, you often have to make difficult, seemingly impossible choices.

"You ready?" I ask, smiling into the mirror over her shoulder. It could mean anything. Are you ready to leave? Ready to face your fears?
Ready for the rest of your life?

Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and instead of the usual doubt and insecurity, I see her decision written there. This is a more grown up version of my sweet and shy friend. I smile widely, prompting a smile from her. For a moment, we stay just like that, smiling into the mirror. Her because she's happy that I'm happy, and me because I'm so darn proud of my friend.

"Yep, I'm ready. If we don't get there soon, Blondie's gonna be looking for you." She doesn't ask, and I'm not even sure if Declan or Brody will be there. We're celebrating the end of abstinence and the beginning of something wonderful. I giggle, resisting the urge to do my happy dance, as I imagine Eric's reaction to my new and improved look.

I check myself in the mirror one last time. "You think it's too much?"

"You look amazing as always. Since when have you worried about things like that?" She laughs and rolls her eyes. She's right. It's just that I'm starting to feel like a virgin on prom night. I know what I want, but I don't know if I'll go through with it.

"Since never. And I'm not going to start now. Let's go, chick."

Quincy and I walk to the car, singing
Lean on Me
at the top of our lungs. A few people watch us, curiosity and amusement on their faces. A few people gawk at us, their displeasure obvious. Those people... well, they just don't get it, do they?

And we're not even drinking.

Yet.

Once we're inside the club, I take Quincy's hand, pulling her along behind me. It's unusually crowded because UT had a big football game against Florida today, and everyone is celebrating the win, excitement spreading through the masses. Go Vols!

A few guys stop to stare at us. This time, for an entirely different reason. I get it. Two hot girls walking through the club holding hands with each other? Yeah, they can't help but 'go there'.

Eric sent a text letting me know where they are in the club, so I push through the crowd, growing more anxious with each step. I saw him earlier today, and yet, it feels like so much longer. I love that man, and I can't wait to tell him. The music is loud, and bodies press against us as we try to push our way toward the stairs. The floor vibrates with the movement of the people dancing around us, the beat of the music tempting me to sway my hips. But I'm a girl on a mission.

When I finally spot him sitting at a table in the corner, my heart stutters, pounding in my chest as he takes my breath away. With his chin-length blonde hair and stunning blue eyes, he is the epitome of perfection. His eyes scan the crowd as he lazily tips his beer back, his throat smoothly gliding up and down with each swallow. He sits there, watching the crowd while he talks to the guys, and has no freakin' idea how much I want him. It should be illegal to look like that.

When I move into his line of vision, his eyes narrow on me, piercing, as if he's mentally undressing me. I walk to him, slowly, swaying my hips seductively. He can't tear his eyes off me. I wanted to drive him wild, and I succeeded.

"I've been waiting for you." I can't really hear him over the music, but I read his lips. There must be something about wanting what you can't have because his lips are suddenly more appealing than they've ever been. I can't look away, even when they turn up in a knowing smile. He caught me, and he knows it. "Now I see what took you so long." His eyes slowly move down my body, lingering on my feet, before traveling back to my face.

When he wraps his hand around my waist, his thumb grazing the exposed area, I look into his eyes. They are smoldering, filled with promise, and I know this little plan of mine is backfiring.

I so suck at revenge.

Quincy pulls out a chair and sits, her movement bringing me crashing back to reality. "You like?" I ask, holding my hands out to my sides and turning in a circle.

"Like? Sunshine, if we weren't right here, right now, I'd say to hell with the bet and then I'd show you just how much I like." He lifts a hand, slowly wrapping a strand of my hair around his finger and releasing it. "I think I still might."

I laugh, taking his hand, and ask, "Quince, you need a drink?" When she nods, I tug Eric's hand, pulling him in the direction of the bar. His eyes linger on Brody who is sitting at the other end of the table, some half-clothed chick sitting beside him. Brody's watching Quince, his eyes stalking her as she takes a seat. I tug again, distracting Eric.

This isn't our deal, but we're right in the middle of it.

Standing at the bar, Eric hails Drew over by lifting a hand in the air. "A Corona and two Coors Lights." Drew works here, and on busy nights, he can be counted on to serve us even though we're underage. If I had another friend, he's exactly who I'd fix her up with.

When he turns away and reaches into the cooler, Eric runs his hand up the back of my thigh. I jump, a pulse of electricity shooting up my leg, targeting my girly parts. As his fingers settle on my waist, I turn in his arms, wondering what his game is. For about two seconds, I feel myself melting, entranced by his dirty mouth. But when Declan walks by and sits across from Quincy, I turn, watching as the two trains almost collide.

Brody is sitting next to her, his emotions written all over his face. He looks at her almost possessively, like he's staking a claim, while his fingers slowly tickle her shoulder. Suddenly, he jerks his hand away, as if burned by fire. He notices Declan and angles his chair away from Quincy. I'm so glad this is almost over. Secrets have a way of coming out, and I don't want to be around for the aftermath.