Unwritten Rules

  My heart was about to leap out of my chest; the more his lips caressed mine, the harder it beat. It wasn’t chaste. His demand was clear. He opened his mouth deepening the kiss, then sucked on my lower lip. I moaned, clutching at his shirt. As his teeth grazed the inside of my bottom lip, his tongue stroked the area in an effort to soothe it. My mouth was in the midst of an erotic assault, and I couldn’t get enough.

  He began to pepper tiny kisses along my top lip before reconnecting his mouth with mine again. I shivered though my temperature continued to rise. My hand moved to his hair, he hummed in satisfaction as my fingers ruffled through with each pass. I tried to press my body closer to his, but his hands on my hips kept me in place. I couldn’t breathe, yet I couldn’t pul away.

  Jonah Quinn was addicting.

  I was about to deepen the kiss when Jonah retreated, placing a soft peck on my lips and one on my nose, before he lifted his head. He kept his hands on my hips, giving them a little squeeze.

  I gulped, blinking and trying to restore my equilibrium and heard his low, gravely chuckle.

  “Forgive me now?”

  I patted his face, smiling at his teasing. “That wasn’t fair, and you know it.”

  “Duly noted. Do not kiss Miss Sampson.”

  “That’s n-not what I said!” I stammered, panicking.

  He laughed, his amusement echoing off the walls in the corridor. His arms banded around me as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. I pretended to push him away. It just made him laugh more. A few seconds later I gave up protesting and wrapped my arms around his waist, under his open shirt. I could feel the toned sinews of his torso. Each time I stroked them they tensed.

  We remained in the embrace, just listening to each other breathe. When Jonah spoke against my skin I felt my nipples pebble, and I sighed.

  “So, what do you think, Elle? You gonna give me a second chance?” His false confidence was given away by the shudder of his torso.

  “A second chance at what? We didn’t speak to each other before my attack.”

  “I want us to be friends. I want to see where it leads. I’m drawn to you.”

  “Are you gonna walk out on me again?” I asked into his chest, inhaling his exotic scent.

  “We need to talk, but no Elle, I won’t walk out on you again. I won’t mess this up.”

  He began to kiss my neck, moving up until he reached my ear, grazing his teeth back down to my shoulder. I wanted to remain like this, tucked away in our own pocket of solitude. There would be no hurt, no need to worry about the morning after. This wasn’t possible, however.

  It wasn’t reality.

  I swallowed, then started to pull away when he pushed his fingers into my hair. It loosened the pins that held some of it up. He combed his fingers through until the pins pinged across the floor, and my curls bounced around my shoulders.

  “I like it down,” he uttered.

  I smiled back at him, as he entwined his fingers in mine.

  “Are you going to introduce me to your friends?”

  I nodded, following him as he opened the door.

  The noise of the smoke filled bar flooded the corridor. I didn’t know what this now meant, were we a couple?

  Friends? Or had we simply decided that the night we’d spent together was all we’d ever have?

  My self-doubt was blown apart as Jonah hugged me close and breathed, “I’m reluctant to share you, but I think I’ll cope for a short while.”

  His arm tightened around my waist, as we walked up to J.J. and Eli. I didn’t know how I was going to introduce him or what to say to J.J., but I was going to enjoy the moment while this lasted.

  This was a start. I refused to tarnish it with negative thoughts or doubts.

  As it turned out J.J. and Eli were too busy copping a feel of each other to worry about what Jonah and I were up to. They had followed one another into the bathroom after a lengthy public display of affection. I had no doubt that they were up to no good when they failed to return a few minutes after excusing themselves.

  “I think it’s time I went,” I sighed, placing my beer bottle on the high table.

  “Not alone, you’re not.”

  He placed his own bottle down and led me to the backdoor. After giving a short handshake to the doorman we stepped outside. The cold hit me instantly. My teeth began to chatter. I rubbed my biceps, wondering why the hell I hadn’t brought a jacket and had insisted on wearing a sleeveless tank.

  “Oops, wait. I need my jacket and guitar,” he said smiling.

  He kissed my nose. My heart skipped a beat as he reentered the club. I didn’t like being out here at night, alone. My mind began to work over time, making my skin prickle in awareness. small noises were making me jump. I could see how fast I was breathing by the quick blasts of mist exiting my mouth, shuddering as my teeth crashed together.

  I was staring down the black alley when there was a loud creak. It was only when I heard a shushing in my ear that I realized what the noise was.

  “Hey, Red, you okay?”

  I shivered in his arms, allowing him to wrap me up in his comfort. He had buttoned up his shirt. He tucked his jacket around me, filling my nostrils with the scent of worn leather and pure Jonah.

  “R-red?” I stammered. “N-not very original.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe not, but cute nonetheless.

  Let’s get you home. You need to warm up.”

  “You going to do that?” I tried to tease.

  His smile was huge, spreading across his face and making his brilliant blue eyes dance.

  “If you’re lucky.”

  I never left his side as he escorted me home.

  Jonah, my hero once more.

  The cab ride home was a whirlwind.

  We hadn’t been able to find J.J. and Eli before we left the club. Jonah didn’t even take time to introduce me to the other members of his band. Not that I cared. I’d set out to grab his attention, and as we slid into the backseat of the cab, I was pretty sure I’d done just that.

  I’d hoped it would give me some time to compose my thoughts. I wanted to calm down enough to demand more of an explanation about the night he’d walked out on me. As it turned out, all I had done was stare at his profile and smile when he grinned my way. Our hands rested on the seat between us; our pinkie fingers entwined.

  I turned to look at him again. He exuded happiness, so unlike the shy guy I’d gazed at each day at the mailboxes. Though his shy blush was missing, I liked the confident Jonah. I lost my nervousness around him when he was this excited, and without the awkward stuttering, we managed to hold a normal conversation.

  When the cab dropped us outside our building, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I began to twist my hair nervously, inhaling the deep musky scent of his leather jacket as it still rested on my shoulders.

  To my surprise, Jonah took my hand and led me toward his apartment. I was confused as we walked passed it heading for the stairway leading to the roof.

  “Where are we going?” I asked anxiously as he pointed upward. “And what’s up there?”

  “The sky, Red. Let me show you.”

  His hand gave mine a short squeeze as we climbed the stairs. Once we reached the top, he pressed the bar across the door and opened it. He let go of my hand, walking out onto the rooftop holding his arms out in greeting. He spun around, his face turned upward to the dark clouds.

  “Look at it all from here!” He shouted.

  His voice echoed off the nearby building and reverberated around us. His gaze locked on mine. Though he had let go of my hand moments before, sparks flew between us. I couldn’t deny it. It was as if my body knew the only thing that could make it whole, was him. This is the thing J.J. was searching for; this complete connection. I started to chastise myself, after all, I didn’t really know him.

  Yet here I was basically deciding he was the man I was taking home to meet my mom. I needed to chil out a little, to just have fun.

  I needed to allow
whatever I had with Jonah to develop, and not force or mold it into what I wanted.

  “Hellooooo!” Jonah waved at me, making me realize I’d zoned out.

  He was still giddy, his eyes twinkling brightly.

  “Jonah, are you high?”

  He snorted, shaking his head.

  “Not at all. I get a little pumped after a gig. I get excited; it makes me feel alive.”

  I hummed as if I understood. In truth, he did look a little jumpy. I swallowed, feeling stupid for thinking he was lying. I had no reason to think otherwise.

  I pulled his jacket tighter around my shoulders and stepped over to the edge of the roof. “Why did you bring me up here?”

  “I come here a lot. I just wanted to share it with you.” I heard him move closer. “I messed up, and I should have said I was sorry sooner.”

  I gazed out at the other rooftops as I felt his hands rest on my shoulders. The heat radiated from his body burning through his jacket into my back. I fought not to lean into his touch. I refused to make this too easy.

  “It was embarrassing, Jonah,” I stated. “I just don’t understand why.”

  His fingers tightened on my shoulders at my words. I was about to turn around and repeat myself when he spoke. It was low and husky, enough to set the butterflies off in my stomach again.

  “I explained why – I got scared. We had barely spoken, and by the time my mind caught up with my body, I was already all over you. I didn’t want you to think I’d taken advantage of you. When I woke, the reality of what we’d done hit me like a sledgehammer. I was a fool. I’m sorry. I should have stayed to explain it all.”

  I turned, my eyes meeting his intense blue ones.

  “But that doesn’t explain why you avoided me. I think you would’ve continued to avoid me had I not tracked you down at the bar.”

  His eyes closed for a moment, and I wondered if he was trying to think of an excuse. I couldn’t see Jonah being the type to use the attack on me as a way to get me into bed. He had to be telling the truth. Didn’t he?

  “Oh, I’ve messed this up.”

  His hands moved forward to rest on my hips; his thumbs caressing my hipbones. Sparks shot to the apex of my thighs. I gritted my teeth to stop a sigh exiting my lips.

  “I want to get to know you. Will you let me?” His voice was like some magic spell, weaving its way into my heart and dissolving my determination.

  I exhaled, pressing my forehead against his chest.

  His arms moved up almost immediately, hugging me close.

  My world was engulfed in the scent of leather and Jonah. I nuzzled closer wanting more.

  “You said we could have a do over. Can we, Red?”

  I smiled at the new endearment. I was about to nod in agreement, when I remembered my head was still buried in his chest. Lifting it, I met his gaze again. “I’m giving you a chance. Don’t screw it up.”

  Jonah crossed his heart, grinning before enveloping me in a tight embrace.

  “So did you like the band?” he asked, his voice lighter than before.

  “You guys are crazy! I loved it, but I’m surprised you didn’t get mauled by those groupies.”

  “Yeah, they’re up front almost every damn gig.

  Dan thinks it’s funny. I find it tiresome.”

  “I’m sure you do,” I replied, my tone laced with sarcasm.

  I’d barely spoken the words when his lips met mine. He kissed me with a slow, delicate reverence. He was so gentle that my legs turned to jelly and almost gave out on me. I clung to him, his shirt balling in my fists. The jacket he’d placed around my shoulders earlier fell to the floor. I shivered.

  His lips were slightly swollen, and his hair was standing in haphazard spikes from where my fingers had combed through it. My heart skipped a beat; his cheeks flushed pink. I adored that small reaction.

  He looked amazing. I wanted more.

  I sighed as he placed his hands on my bare shoulders.

  “You’re cold. Let’s go inside.”

  “In a little while,” I breathed, not wanting the moment to end it.

  The air around us stirred with an intense electric charge that couldn’t be ignored.

  “Elle?” He hummed as he traced my collar bone with his finger. “You feel it, right?”

  I smiled, tilting my head to the side. Jonah took it as an invitation and placed a small peck there. His pull on me was undeniable; thoughts of him consuming me day in and day out. When I was near him my body made demands I didn’t want to deny.

  Jonah sighed and tunneled his fingers into my hair.

  “Definitely down,” he exhaled, referring to his earlier request to leave my hair free from restraints.

  As he swept his lips across my neck, I felt the first drop of rain fall. Jonah didn’t seem to notice, or he was too absorbed in kissing my neck to care. I giggled, feeling him grin into the crook of my neck.

  “We should go inside,” I whispered. “It’s starting to rain.”

  “No. Stay. The city looks beautiful when it rains.

  Wait and see.”

  There was a loud crack of thunder. I jumped, squealing and shivering. He roared with laughter as I slapped him playfully on the chest.

  “Why is that funny? I hate the thunder.”

  “Bet I can make you like it,” he whispered, wiggling his brows.

  I moved past him and started to walk back toward the entrance to our building, but he caught me around the waist and pulled me back against his chest. A huge drop of rain landed on the swell of my breast, above the edge of my tank. Jonah’s eyes glistened in excitement before he lowered his head, his tongue darting out and to lap it up. I moaned, lust flooding my system.

  His tongue laved my breast as he backed us slowly against the wall. The rain began to fall harder, before a flash of lightning came, as his lips fixed to mine. His tongue dipped into my mouth, sliding seductively against mine. I heard another clap of thunder, although I wasn’t scared this time. I was too lost in what we were doing to care.

  Our mouths caressed with urgent need as the heavens opened and the rain pelted down. The water sluiced along the wall, trickling down my back, making me gasp. I had to pull away, but only to gasp louder when I saw the look on Jonah’s face. Lust. Pure unadulterated lust, directed at me.

  My fingers danced across the buttons of his soaked, black shirt. I really wanted to take it off him, but I was unsure how to proceed. Was he intending to have me here? On the roof?

  My tank and jeans were stuck to my skin, and the rain felt so good against my heated flesh. It was just what I needed to cool the flames.

  “Still want to go inside, Elle?” He asked.

  I licked my lips, tasting the tang of the rain and shook my head. I was rewarded with a low chuckle seconds before his hands thrust into my soaking wet hair. He devoured my lips. I pushed my fingers under his shirt feeling his muscles bunch at my touch, but it wasn’t enough.

  Jonah wanted more.

  He separated us and quirked a brow as he began to unbutton his sopping wet shirt. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Feeling bold, I began to pop open the fastening that ran down the front of my tank.

  Our clothes swiftly landed in a wet pile on the ground, the rain cascading down onto our newly naked skin. He stared at my breasts, transfixed by the way the rain hit them, leaving them slick and shiny. His stare alone made me whimper. I wanted to look at him, really look at him. I got no further than his abdomen before my body him. I got no further than his abdomen before my body started to pulse with an intense need for him.

  As I took a step closer, his hands cupped my breasts, flicking a thumb across the erect peak.

  My eyes rolled back as a hum escaped my lips. I shivered again.

  “Red, answer me. Do you still want us to go inside?”

  I took a deep breath and decided to say exactly what I was thinking. “You promised to show me how beautiful things were in the rain. I can’t see that from inside, can I?” I teased, hoping he’
d play along.

  Jonah didn’t reply. He pushed me against the wall and pressed his wet body against mine. I immediately wrapped a leg around his thigh; his arousal nestling against my center. Craving more of him, I moved his hands to my ass. He sensed my need and lifted me into his arms.

  I found myself sandwiched between the wall and Jonah, both my legs wrapped tightly around his hips. My hands gripped his forearms, and I squeezed my thighs. The closeness made us both hiss with pleasure. Teasing him further, I rocked against his arousal.

  “Elle,” He bit out. “There’s no going back from here.”

  “I know.” I blinked, dislodging the beads of rain that rested on my lashes.

  “Sure?”

  “Yes,” I begged. “Yes.”

  He pinched my ass making me yelp before he ground his hips into mine. A ball of searing heat began to grow low in my belly.

  “Please stop teasing.”

  He flashed a crooked grin, knowing he’d pushed me just far enough. I only needed one thing, one person.

  His hand moved across my ass, underneath us, so that he could align his arousal with mine.

  “I promise, no more,” he rumbled as I tried to spear myself onto him.

  “Nuh uh... ”

  I let out a whimper as he took the lobe of my ear between his teeth and continued to rock his erection across my sex.

  I needed him inside of me. Though it wasn’t the first time we’d had sex, it felt different. It wasn’t just the rain.

  I was worried about the morning, but I refused to let that ruin this. I buried it and gave Jonah my full attention. He hadn’t seen my mental argument as he was licking the water from my neck, whispering into my ear.

  He licked the water from my neck and whispered,

  “Though we were only together a short time, I’ve missed you.”

  I bit back the urge to tel him that that was of his own doing, not mine.