Page 35 of Steel & Jenna
Her jaw dropped. “Where did you get that?”
Jack placed it on the floor next to his leg and by her knee. “It’s mine. My life savings. Everything I’ve worked for and towards. The sum of all my blood, sweat, and pure stubbornness.”
Without knowing the denominations of the bills, there was no telling the total, but that stack was big enough for Jenna to think several hundred, maybe even a thousand dollars. “That’s a lot of money, Jack. Why are you showing it to me?”
“Because I’m torn and my decision in the next few days drastically affects my future.” He looked up at her, catching her eye. “And since I plan for that future to include you, I wanted to talk to you about it before I made my decision.”
Her heart swelled. Jenna reached for his hand. “You have no idea what that means to me. That you would even consider talking to me about such a big decision.”
“I wasn’t kidding, Jen.” He turned his palm over to lace their fingers together. “I need you in my life. I need to know that you’re in this for the long haul. No matter what we face, it’s you and me.”
She nodded eagerly. “You and me.” Carolyn’s words from their talk the night before came to the forefront of her mind, but she pushed it aside. Now was not the time to be worried about such things.
“We’ve only been dating a month?—”
“Almost two,” she corrected.
His smile was indulgent. “Almost two,” he amended, “and we haven’t even managed to go on anactualdate yet. I know we’re young and things happen, feelings change, but not this.” He squeezed her to signify what he was talking about. “Not you and me. No matter what, Jenna. I need to know thatthis,” he lifted their hands, “will always be.”
Jenna moved up onto her knees, careful of the stack of money between them. She leaned over and kissed him.Reallykissed him.Kissed him like this was the first time they were truly alone—because it was. Jack opened up, met her with enthusiasm.
Jenna scooted closer. She’d never taken the lead before, and she found it invigorating, new, and exciting. Her knees touched his jean-clad leg. She felt his hand on her right hip. He was neither guiding nor encouraging, yet she felt a surge of womanly confidence at the intimate touch. Before she lost her nerve, Jenna lifted her right leg over his two and straddled him.
Jack pulled back in surprise. “Jen?—”
She kissed him, cutting off her name. Knowing how much she loved when he cupped her face, she released her hold of his hand to bring her palms up to his cheeks. There was just a touch of scruff there. At fifteen, he could be shaving already. She wasn’t sure, but she liked the feel of the prickles on her sensitive palms.
His hands encased her hips. Though his grip was tight, he was not pulling or pushing her. While inexperienced in anything like this, instinct told her that he was letting her control what happened next.
Moisture pooled between her legs, making her very aware of just how suggestive a position she was in. Her butt was back towards his knees. There was room for her to move forward, but Jenna wasn’t sure she had the nerve to do that yet. It seemed too…sexy. Just being on top of him was intimidating enough.
His tongue swept across her bottom lip. A shiver ran up her spine, making her nipples harden in her bra.
Her lungs protested the lack of oxygen and yet everything in her was encouraging her to deepen the kiss. It was so tempting to ignore the needs of her lungs, but she was starting to get lightheaded.
Jenna lifted her head. Jack was gasping for breath just as heavily as she was.
“’til we’re old and gray.” His words were choppy with his shortness of breath.
“What?” she gasped out.
He opened his eyes to reveal his pupils were huge. She had no idea why the sight of him like that was so hot. His hands gripped her hips tight enough that she wondered if she would bruise. Not that shecared if she did. “I want you to kiss me like that until we’re old and gray.”
She smiled down at him. “Pretty sure our dentures will fall out if we kiss like that when we’re old and gray.”
His eyes flared with heat, warming her skin like she’d stepped into sunlight. “Wouldn’t care in the slightest, so long as you are still mine.”
When their breathing finally slowed,Jenna made to get off of Jack’s legs, but he stopped her. “Stay,” he encouraged. “I like you here.”
She glanced down between their bodies and then back up at him. A blush heated her cheeks. “It’s not exactly appropriate.”
He looked around the empty room. “Who is here to judge?” Though she knew they were alone, her eyes still flicked around too. “Stay,” he repeated. “But only if you’re comfortable with it.” He ran his hands up and down her upper thighs. “You feel good on top of me and we have a lot of things to talk about. When we’re alone, I want us to talk like this. Even if it’s not a pleasant conversation.”
Jenna stared down at him for a long moment and then settled herself back down on his legs. “You have a power over me, Jack Duncan. You make me feel caged and energized at the same time.”
He moved his hands up to touch her face. “I knowexactlywhat you mean. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Jenna.”
She understood what hewasn’tsaying. The broadness of his statement left it open for interpretation and could be easily abused. Thankfully, she wasn’t the sort to want for much, preferring the simpler things life had to offer. A vow like that could be dangerous in the wrong hands.
