My heart was still fluttering in my chest. “Yeah…” Holy hell. I’d forgotten what it was like with him. “I’m going to be sore.”

His hand caressed over my thigh and dipped between my legs. His lips moved against my shoulder as his fingers started to rub me. He didn’t slide inside, but rolled around in a soothing circle. It was relaxing, tender. He asked, quietly, “Has it been a long time?”

I heard the soft question and rolled over. Wrapping my legs tightly around him until we were plush against each other again, I leaned back on the pillow, gazing up at him. “Since you.”

Relief swarmed over him. “Good.” Then he dipped back down and met my lips with his.

I curled a hand around his neck, holding him close until he settled all of his body weight onto mine. It was a welcomed weight and left me heady. When I grew heated again and moved against him, he chuckled as he pulled back. “Shit, Alex. Why didn’t we do this the first night?”

“Because Cord got arrested. Again.”

“Oh yeah.” The small smile was gone, and his eyes grew somber. He moved to lie on his side and looked down at my body. As he ran his hand up and down, touching every inch of me, he murmured, “And then we got into that fight.”

I remembered what he said before. He was right. Jesse had always been a dick, but when we got into bed, it didn’t matter. It was only the two of us. Towards the end, I was starting to feel maybe he was ready for more than that, but I wasn’t sure. And I had listened to Angie. Why had I listened to Angie?

I gazed up at him. “Are there others?”

His hand froze. His eyes went back to mine. He knew what I was asking.

“Jesse.”

“No.” The word was so soft, so quiet.

I strained to hear it. My heart was pounding against my chest. “Are you sure?”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

My throat was suddenly full, too full to speak, and I moved my head in a nod. I couldn’t tear my gaze away. A flash of irritation flared in his but was gone in a heartbeat. His hand moved to cup the back of my head and his thumb rubbed against the base. “Are you still in contact with Nathans?”

I shook my head. My heart kept pounding, harder and harder. Eric Nathans had been so long ago, a faint memory compared to Jesse.

“Good,” he whispered as he bent for my lips again.

His hand slid across my stomach and between my legs again as he turned me to my back. With his lips against mine, he positioned himself above me. When I began to writhe around, needing him against me, he held himself up. Only his lips touched me. I was a wanton mess in moments, reaching for him. “Jesse.”

He chuckled against my lips and then slowly moved to slide inside of me. After a few thrusts, taking his time, he gasped against my lips, “Are you protected?”

I nodded. “Are you clean?”

He groaned, “God yes.” Then he started pounding into me again.

Closing my eyes, all thought fled as the sensations took over.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BAM! BAM!

I jolted awake, sprawled out over Jesse’s naked chest. His hand was resting on my back and his head had been nestled to my neck, under my hair. His hand tightened in reflex and a curse spilled from him as he lifted his head. “Striker, if that’s you, you’re going to get hurt.”

“Whatever,” Jamie’s voice came through the door, muffled. “You ditched the picnic. Not cool.”

Jesse’s head fell back to the pillow with a groan. When I started to get up, his hand held me in place. He murmured in my ear, “The door’s locked. He can’t get in.”

I relaxed. Slightly.

“Come on, man,” Jamie whined now. “Listen, we’re doing an after-party. You coming out of your hole for that?”

“No.”

I lifted my head enough to get a good view of Jesse. There was no regret in his voice, but he was giving up time with his friends for me. He had never cared before, but this was college. These were his roommates and teammates. I needed to make sure. When his gaze caught mine, there was nothing there. No hesitation. No torn emotions. Nothing. He just looked back and asked, “What?”

I shook my head as something close to relief spread in me. Then I laid back down where I’d been in the first place. My head went to his chest and his hand cupped the side of me again to hold me in place. As his fingers started to rub behind my head, my eyes closed and I felt real relief go through me now. This was the type that went to the bone, it mingled closely with feeling content. I should’ve stirred as I realized that, but I didn’t. Jesse was weaving a spell for me, one that felt intoxicating. I was being pulled down to the abyss and I didn’t want to fight it. It felt good. It felt right.

Jamie wasn’t taking no for an answer. He banged on the door again. “Come on!” His frustration came across loud and clear.

“Jamie, what’s your deal?!” Jesse sat up again. He had a bit more bark this time. “Leave me alone.”

“What the hell! What are you even doing in there? Come to the after party.”

“No. Leave it alone. You’ve never given a damn before. Why today?”

“Because—” He stopped abruptly. Then mumbled, “Never mind. You’re right.” There was a moment of silence before he asked, “You got a girl in there?”

Jesse leaned over, picked up a shoe, and hurled it at the door. It smacked against the door with a resounding thud.

We heard a mutter from the other side, “Shit. Fine. Jeezus. Have it your way.”

When we finally heard him leave, I bit my lip from laughing as I saw Jesse’s stormy expression. My hand splayed out over his chest where I could feel his heart beating fast and I frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Hmmm?” His eyes jerked to mine. “Yeah, I’m good. You?”

“I’m fine.” Why was he asking me? It was obvious he wasn’t good. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. You sleepy?” He didn’t wait for my response as he slid out of bed and grabbed some clothes. “Want to get some food or something?”

“Uh...” I was confused. Something had occurred that I wasn’t privy towards. He hadn’t cared about Jamie waking us up, but then it changed. It was swift and sudden and now he wanted to get out of there. But I swallowed my words. His movements were precise and quick. I knew this Jesse. This was the one that didn’t want to talk about whatever was bothering him. He’d get snappy, even a little bit rude with me, but he’d be fine later. It had taken me two years to understand that he still wanted me around him, even though he didn’t like to voice whatever was bothering him.