Page 16 of Forbidden Ride
“But I’ve been keeping a little secret from you.”
Her eyes grow wide. “You have?”
“Uh-huh.” I nod. “I had a crush on you when I was in middle school. You were a senior.”
“Wow. Thanks for putting our age difference into perspective.” She narrows her eyes and props her hand on her hips, switching to detective mode. “But how, exactly, did you know me?”
“I went to school in town. Ended up going to the same high school as you. Of course, you were gone by the time I got there.”
“Thanks for rubbing it in.”
“But I used to go to the football games, and you were a cheerleader. The prettiest girl in the school.”
“No way. Really?” She purses her lips and looks up at the ceiling. “William Jay, William Jay,” she says softly. “I don’t know why your name doesn’t ring any bells.”
I hate what I’m about to say because I know Jenny is attracted to me. She sees me for who I am, without any preconceived notions. I’m afraid once I tell her, she’ll change her mind about me. But I can’t keep this a secret any longer, not from Jenny. My feelings for her are too strong.
“You know me, Jenny. Well,ofme, anyway. My last name is Johnson.”
***
MY HEART SCREECHESto a stop. “Did you say Johnson?” I squirm out of his hold, sick to my stomach. “No,” I whisper. “That can’t be your last name.” I back up, looking him up and down, searching for a major flaw that I must’ve missed.
“I thought you’d want to know. Although I’m not anything like my family—”
“So that’s why Sheriff Gunner was acting so weird around you.” My heart tumbles and lands in a big fat pile of cow dung.
Damn it.
I can barely squeak out the words, but I ask miserably just to be sure. “The J. stands for Johnson?” I knew he was too good to be true.
His eyes flicker, and I know he sees my disappointment. There’s no way I can hide it. “Yes. I’ve used J. for years, but because of our families’ history, I thought you should kn—”
“Why?” I shudder as all my sexy thoughts about William pop like a shredded balloon. “Why did you have to tell me? Why couldn’t you have let me live in a fantasy for one day?”
He straightens, focusing on me with the confidence of a man who knows exactly who he is. “Because I think that before you fuck someone, it’s a good idea to know their full name.”
“Fuck?”
“Ah.” The corners of his lips turn up in a knowing smile. “You’ve forgotten the name part of this equation so soon... And that’s good, because I’m crazy about you, Jenny. Wearegoing to fuck, and you’re going to love it so much you’ll never want to leave my side.”
He slides his hands around my waist and tugs me against him. I don’t put up a fight. When he cups my face in his hands, I’m lost in all the sparks in his eyes. “The way I feel about you has nothing to do with your family or mine. This is about you and me.” His lips sear against mine, and I should run like hell, but I don’t.
All my instincts are telling me not to be afraid, because it’s William holding me close. It’shisdelicious lips I’m tasting, and he’s right. What’s happening between us has nothing to do with anyone else, and truth be told, I’ve never been more turned on in my life.
Helplessly, I arch my back, melding against his rock-solid chest. I don’t know which ripple to touch first. I run my hands up his arms, feeling the taut curves of his biceps, glide up to his broad shoulders, and then clasp the nape of his neck, tunneling into his thick hair, pulling him down into me, starving for more of his lips. How long has it been since I’ve been kissed like this?
I let out a moan as my knees start to buckle. William holds me firmly in place, not letting me slip. I part his lips with my tongue, desperately exploring his mouth, savoring his clean, minty, coffee taste. His warm woodsy heat envelops me, and I dissolve, whimpering against his lips. Now that we’ve started, I can’t get enough.
His hands move up and down my back and curve around to the side, outlining my hips, and then skirt around the front to cup my breasts. “Let me show you how much I appreciate every inch of you. You had me so hard, I got off just listening to you touch yourself. I couldn’t sleep. I was up all night imagining what it would be like to fuck you, just the way you want it.”
Oh God. No one has ever talked to me like this. I’m in a sweat, writhing, ready to come from just the low sound he makes as his rough hands tuck under my shirt and find my breasts. I moan into his mouth, feeling his fingers pluck my left nipple and tug. “Oh, you like that,” he whispers, tugging harder this time and kissing me ferociously.
I’m too far gone to think about the ramifications of his last name, or the future. The only thing on my mind is the here and now, and there’s no stopping this train.
He grunts, savagely cupping my breasts and kneading them before dropping to his knees. He lifts my sweatshirt and suckles my nipple. The sounds of his groans and licks fill the space, his rough morning stubble scrapes against my skin. It’s ecstasy. I grab his shoulders for balance, and he lifts me off my feet and carries me to the couch.
My heart’s in my throat. It’s broad daylight. The fire’s still blazing, and bright white light pours through every window as the snow tumbles over the treetops. A jangle of panic races through me, and it has nothing to do with his family name.
