Page 49 of Jumping In

MJ steps out of the tent and wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head on my back. “This is going to be perfect later tonight. Thank you for setting this up.”

I spin around in her arms. With two fingers, I tilt her chin up and capture her lips in a quick kiss. “Of course, baby.”

I drop my hand and take hers again, lacing my fingers through hers. “Now, let’s go have some fun with our friends.”

Austin gets a fire going for light and warmth as the sun disappears and the temperature drops. Pop-Its and firecrackers echo throughout town, and fireworks are already lighting up the sky. These are just pre-show bursts of fun before the high school starts its official show in an hour. The show usually lasts about an hour, culminating in an impressive grand finale. Last year they made the mascot, an eagle, appear in the sky in blue and yellow.

As the night winds down, MJ sits in my lap with our friends around the fire. We’re sipping from paper cups filled with some concoction Shannon came up with. It’s blue with a red cherry and is actually pretty delicious. Idle conversation fills the air, and I take a deep breath, relishing the peace of being surrounded by friends in one of my favorite spots.

Charlie interrupts my peace when he loudly and drunkenly yells, “We should play a game!”

A chorus of groans follows, but MJ looks back at me with a smile. “Come on, it’ll be fun,” she says. I roll my eyes but shrug. Fine. I’ll play.

“Since it’s been a bit since MJ has been around, why don’t we play Never Have I Ever,” Charlie suggests, which elicits another groan from me.

Charlie kicks things off, and I try to be a good sport, drinking when I’m supposed to and offering silly things like “Never have I ever drunk texted someone.” The game is lighthearted and mostly fun, and I relax with MJ still in my lap.

The game continues for a few rounds, Charlie drinking more than he probably should, and then it’s his turn again. “Never have I ever robbed a liquor store.” He laughs and points at me, oblivious to how my actual friends have all gone quiet. I grind my teeth, my jaw ticking. I’m thankful MJ is still in my lap; otherwise, I might have launched myself at him and punched this dickwad in the face.

MJ must feel me tense underneath her. She clears her throat and stands, reaching for my hand. “On that note, I think we’re going to head to bed. Night, guys,” she says smoothly.

I take MJ’s hand, shoot daggers at Charlie, and toss my cup into the fire, causing a whoosh of flame to kick up.

MJ leads me to our tent and unzips the roof like I had earlier. I flick on the lantern light hanging outside the tent, the glow warm compared to the deafening silence. Annoyance and frustration roll off me in waves. I head to the other side and start unzipping the other half, meeting MJ in the middle. She hands me the wad of tent material and I fold it up, still grinding my teeth.

“Hey.” She places her hands on my chest, and I look down at her. Her hair falls in loose waves, still air-drying after swimming. Her freckles stand out in the dim light. She smiles softly. “Charlie is a dick. Let it go,” she says gently.

I look away from her and back toward the fire. “I should really go back and introduce his face to my fist.”

MJ snorts, sliding her hands up my chest until she’s cupping my face. She uses that leverage to turn my head back to her.

“He doesn’t matter, honey. Please, just let it go. I want to enjoy this night with you—that you worked hard to make special.” Her hazel eyes sparkle, shifting from me to the tent, and I nod.

Leaning down, I capture her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply while she slides her hands to the back of my neck, playing with my hair. My hands snake around her waist, fisting her oversized T-shirt, and I let out a groan. Maybe Austin was right—I didn’t plan for sex tonight, and I would honor whatever she wants, but the surroundings are perfect. Maybe I did subconsciously create a little love nest for us.

I break the kiss and grab her hand, pulling her toward the tent entrance. I hear rustling behind me as MJ settles in and I zip the tent back up. Glancing up, I’m greeted with a beautifully clear sky, and I smile. Firecrackers are still going off in the distance and I have a feeling the high school show is about to begin. Perfect timing. I turn around and almost trip over my jaw when I see MJ lying on the bed in just her bathing suit. I close my mouth, feeling like I just gulped down a mouthful of sand. Finally able to swallow, I croak, “Uh, do you want to get into your pajamas?”

Her lips curve into a smile and her eyes fill with heat. “Want to come help me?”

I remove the surprise from my face, trying not to drool all over myself. Wherever this confidence came from, I’m here for it. Stepping toward the air mattress, I lower myself onto it gently. I’m always afraid these fuckers will pop if you’re too rough on them. I crawl my way up to MJ and kiss her lips softly.

“We don’t have to do anything. I just wanted you to have a cozy space for tonight.” MJ shakes her head, and her body jumps when the first pop of fireworks explodes overhead. I kiss her again. “Look up, baby.”

We both look up through the tent roof and see the remnants of purple and blue fireworks falling through the sky.

“Mac, please. I want you. This feels—” She slides her hand down my chest and over my swim trunks where my cock is throbbing for her. “Right. This feels right.”

I groan as she grips my cock. Leaning up, I tear my shirt off over my head. She continues to stroke my cock and her other hand scores down my chest like molten lava. Leaning down, I nip at her lip and kiss down her jawline, her neck, her chest. I lick over the swell of her breast, sliding the triangle of red fabric to the side, and suck her nipple into my mouth. MJ arches her back, removing her hand from my cock and gripping my shoulder instead.

I lick and suckle her nipple into a tight peak and then move over to do the same to her other breast. She lifts her hips against me, grinding against my thigh.

“Needy girl.”

She moans. “Mac, please. I need you.” She gasps.

I chuckle as I swirl my tongue aroundher tight nipple. “I’m right here.” Sliding my hand up and down the outside of her thigh, my feather-light touches make her skin pebble beneath the pads of my fingers. “Gotta make sure you’re ready for me.”

MJ lifts her hips again, a guttural moan coming from her throat. “I’m ready, I promise.”

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