Page 54 of Four Simple Rules
Our eyes connect, dragging us together. The world falls apart. No one else exists when Jesse presses his lips to mine in a soft kiss. My breaths pick up when his tongue prods at the seam of my lips, gaining entry and dancing with mine in a frenzy. Sharp whistles sound throughout the crowd, pulling us apart. Jesse grins down at me, exposing all his teeth. One last time, he leans down and pecks my lips.
“I forgive you,” I murmur against his lips.
“I’ll keep earning it every day. No matter the distance. You’re mine, Tulip. We’ll make this work.” His eyes examine mine when I nod in agreement.
This will work. Whatever we are. It’s only been a week, but I’m already head over heels in quick-burn love.
“We should probably…” I trail off, pointing toward the people standing together, watching us like a hawk.
“Yeah. Let’s say our hellos. Then we can say goodbye. I need inside you,” he mumbles, discreetly adjusting himself before he turns around and pulls me toward his friend Rhett, Olivia, Nic, and another man I’ve never seen before.
I swallow hard when Olivia side-eyes Rhett, giving him her—I’ll dig a hole and put you inside it—look. Not sure what the heck has been going on with those two, but I want to find out. She’s let a few things slip here and there in our FaceTime sessions, mainly that she was staying with him. Or maybe not by the death glare she’s giving him. Something must have happened between them. Good. Bad. I have no friggin’ clue.
Jesse lights up at the sight of Rhett, his former best friend. With reluctance, Jesse lets go of my waist, pulling him into a manly bro hug, where they exchange a few words of relief at seeing each other. Jesse explained earlier that he wasn’t sure if Rhett would show up and that they hadn’t seen each other in a while. They stayed in contact, with Rhett being the only person from high school he could stand. And obviously, the only person who visited him in the hospital when he needed him most.
Surveying the little circle we've formed; I grin at the sight of our old friend Nic and a mystery guy standing beside him. I wave to Olivia in greeting, earning a tight smile back. My heart drops into the pits of my churning stomach, blaring warning signs of danger in the future.
Something is off.
She gives me a small wave in return and sighs. In her eyes, I see the pain of something that happened and let her leave toward the bar without saying a word. When my bestie is ready to talk, she’ll let me know. For now, I can tell she needs a moment alone. Or not… My brows raise when Rhett follows behind her like a lost puppy dog, cornering her against the bar. They exchange heated words, and tears sprout in her eyes. Then, Rhett takes my best friend by the arm and leads her out of the room.
I’m ready to charge after her and save her from the claws of her former bully. What the frick is happening right now? Last I knew, she was working for him and staying with him at the hotel. They’re together. Ish. She wasn’t sure how it was going. Now, she seems devastated by something. Did he screw her over again? Hurt her feelings? That bastard won’t know what hit him… Jesse must read the thoughts running rampant in my mind because he tightens his grip on me, kissing my temple.
“Easy, Tulip,” he murmurs barely above a whisper, chuckling when I try to pull free. “I have a feeling you don’t want to interrupt whatever they have going on.”
I shiver. Yeah, maybe not. Olivia is a big girl. She’ll text if she needs anything.
We say our goodbyes to the small group we were talking with and wander around the ballroom, making small talk with other people. I should say Jesse does. He’s polite in conversation and never takes his hand off me, showing me off to anyone he can. I politely stand by his side, silently greeting everyone with a nod and a simple hello. Crowds and people were never my forte. I guess that’s why I love plants so much. They’re fickle to care for, but they don’t require massive amounts of conversation.
In our distant past, I was the dark spot in his life. Someone he was ashamed of claiming that he knew. He avoided me in the hallways and made-up stupid rules to keep me safe—aka—he was embarrassed by me.
Not now. He tells anyone who will listen that I’m his girlfriend. Whether I like it or not. Butterflies erupt in my stomach when he leads us to the bar, wrapping his arms tightly around me. Posey and her gang of mean girls stare at us from across the room, whispering to each other.
I wish they’d get a life. How low do you have to be to act like that when you’re an adult?
I hum, taking a martini glass filled to the brim with some sort of bright concoction; Jesse insisted I try. Tipping back my drink, I take a small sip with a satisfied groan. Whatever this fruity mixture is, my taste buds are jumping for joy.
“I really want to do some bad things to you right now,” he murmurs in my ear when my back rests against his front. His hands rest on my stomach, slowly making circles over my swooping belly. “It’s too bad you didn’t wear a skirt. I could stick my fingers in your pussy and then lick them clean. No one would know.”
I sputter, choking on my drink. “Jesse,” I hiss, looking at him as he smirks.
“What? It’s true,” he chuckles, shrugging.
“You can’t say things like that in public.” I blanch, feeling the intense heat creeping up my neck, giving away our discussion.
“How about we head out, then?” he murmurs, jerking his head toward the exit. “We’ve said our hellos and made our appearance like we said we would.”
“And what will you do with me once we get home?” I whisper, leaning back into him and soaking up his body heat.
“First, I’m going to peel these clothes off you one by one. Then, I’m going to lick your pussy like a meal and make you cum at least four times before I fuck you so hard my dick makes a permanent mark inside you.”
I raise my brow. “A permanent mark? That sounds dangerous.”
He smirks at me, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “Live on the wild side with me, Tulip.”
I grin, weaving my fingers with his. “Okay. Let’s live a little dangerously.”
“Also, who said we were going home?” He wiggles his brows when he drags me out of the reunion with renewed energy.
