Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1

by Nikki Lane

  Jacob pulled back just a hair. “When can we go out on our date?” His lips found their way down my neck again, and it was making it hard to pinpoint an answer.

  “Whenever.”

  He started to undo the large buttons of my jacket. “How’s tomorrow night?”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “Too soon?” he asked, getting to the last button.

  “Well, being as though you’re attempting to undress me…I guess not.”

  He smirked as we both shrugged off our jackets and tossed them on the couch. He grabbed my hand and interwove his fingers with mine. He brought them to his lips and kissed each one.

  “So, tomorrow night. Seven o’clock?”

  I nodded, wishing for the undressing to happen more quickly. It was impossible to ignore this ache I felt for him. And his teasing wasn’t making anything any easier.

  I wrapped my free hand around his neck and brought him close to crush my lips on his. He released my other hand and wrapped his arms around my waist. Our tongues met and slid together. A shiver ran through me when I remembered just how good he was with his mouth. I lost all sense of hesitation and reached for the button of his pants. But something stopped me. His hand.

  I pulled back, my lips wet from his kiss. “What’s the matter,” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he said with a sympathetic tone. “I just think we should wait.”

  I scoffed. “You’re kidding, right?” He had to be fucking kidding.

  It was so ironic I almost laughed. Wait for what?

  “It’s okay, Jacob. Really.”

  I went for his button again but he held on to my hand.

  “I just don’t want you to think that’s all I want our relationship to be.”

  Relationship. Oh, shit. There was that word. My stomach twisted into a knot. He squinted his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the end of his mouth. A very small smile.

  “You mean more to me than that, Maeve. This is about more than just sex to me.”

  And that was my cue. I broke all contact.

  “I’m going to take a shower,” I said, turning my back to him.

  “Maeve, wait.” He let out a deep breath.

  “You’ve made your point. It’s fine.” I gave a little wave of my hand to be extra convincing.

  He walked in front of me, blocking my way to the bathroom. “Watch a movie with me.”

  I sighed and set my hands on my hips. “I’m tired.”

  “Please?” His eyes pleaded with me.

  “Fine.” He stepped out of the way, and I locked myself in the bathroom, trying to understand how the first guy to ever reject me could be Jacob.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I stood in front of my teeny closet, still wrapped in a towel, trying to decide what to wear for my first date. God, that sounded so lame. Jacob was patiently waiting in the next room. I’d showered, did my hair and makeup, but couldn’t narrow down an outfit. Why was I thinking about this so hard? I’d managed to dress myself since I was four without a second thought.

  I shuffled through the hangers, bypassing the usual shirt and jean combos I wore. Hanging in the darkest corner of the closet was the dress I’d bought on clearance a million years ago but never had a chance to wear. It was too pretty to put back on the rack, so I’d bought it, hoping I’d have a reason to wear it one day.

  It looked like that day had finally come.

  I released the dress from the hanger and slid it on. I found the only pair of heels that weren’t for work still in the shoe box and slid them on, too.

  Now there weren’t any more reasons to stay in this room. I was dressed. I was ready. I just had to work up the nerve to meet Jacob in the living room.

  Any minute now.

  A couple more deep breaths.

  Okay.

  One more deep breath.

  For real this time.

  I creaked open the bedroom and stepped into the living room. Jacob bolted up from the couch, his eyes wide.

  “Wow.”

  He cleared his throat while I tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear.

  “You look amazing.”

  When I finally had the courage to look at him, a new wave of heat flashed over my face. His dark hair was combed back, and he’d dressed up, too. As far as picking someone to go on my first date with, I couldn’t get any luckier than Jacob.

  “Thank you. You look very handsome.” Something fluttered in my stomach. Maybe it was the butterflies I’d always heard of?

  “Are you ready?”

  I nodded, and he reached for my hand. Jacob opened doors for me, let me walk through first, and pushed my chair in for me when we got to the restaurant.

  After we ordered dinner, I squirmed in my seat as Jacob stared at me.

  “What?” I asked. My hands sat in my lap under the table, my finger fidgeting with the mood ring.

  “Nothing,” he said with an impish grin. “Just admiring my date.”

  My cheeks burned, and I focused my eyes to a random spot in the dining room. “Stop.”

  He chuckled. “What? I thought women loved compliments.”

  “Where did you read that? In a handbook or something?”

  “Yes, a handbook. You didn’t get one?”

  I half laughed. “No.” But if there was one on how to survive your first date, then I could have used it.

  Jacob leaned closer. “Why do you look so nervous?”

  “Nervous?” Never. That was so ridiculous. “I’m not nervous. Just hungry.”

  Total nervous wreck.

  “It’s just me, Maeve.” He smiled, and it was almost enough to calm me down. But not quite enough.

  I wriggled in my seat, feeling like any second I could bolt out the door.

  Jacob folded his hands on the table. “I know I’m probably the most eligible bachelor in town but…”

  I smiled and feigned excitement. “The most eligible bachelor in town?” I fanned my face. “How lucky could I be?”

  He laughed, and it prickled the skin on the back of my neck. Hearing him laugh sent me back to my childhood. The good parts, anyway.

  “You always did think you were hot shit,” I said. My stomach was finally starting to loosen up, and I reached for a piece of bread.

  Jacob’s eyebrows shot up. “Did not,” he said with a full mouth.

  I shook my head. “You always had about three or four girls following you around like disciples. It was kind of creepy.”

  “And how would you know that? Kept a close eye on me? Who’s creepy now?”

  I playfully threw a piece of bread at him. “It was kind of hard not to notice.”

  “Nah, they weren’t interested in me…just wanted to copy my homework.”

  I took a sip of wine, not sure how much of that I believed.

  “And you’re one to talk,” he said.

  My eyebrows pulled together. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Jacob gave me an eye roll. “Don’t play stupid.”

  I laughed. “I’m not.”

  “Travis Thompson.”

  “Who?”

  “Travis. The kid who used to sit with us at the lunch table all the time.”

  I scrunched my face, trying to remember. “Oh, that Travis Thompson. What about him?”

  Jacob scoffed. “He was, like, completely obsessed with you.”

  “What? No way.” I took another sip of wine. The waiter came to the table to deliver our meal.

  “Why do you think I beat him up?” Jacob said when it was just the two of us again.

  “What are you talking about? You didn’t beat him up. Kyle McGregor did,” I said, fork in hand.

  Jacob took a bite of his food and shook his head. “Nope. It was me.” He swallowed whatever he was chewing and then smiled proudly.

  My hands hovered over my plate. “Why would you beat up Travis, and why would Travis say it was someone else?”

  Jacob looked down at his plate and continued to eat. “Because I heard him l
ying to some other guys in the boy’s locker room about you. So, after school one day, I beat the crap out of him and told him to stay away from you.” He took another bite of food. “Oh, and to tell everyone it was Kyle since he beat up people all the time. Couldn’t ruin my nice guy reputation.”

  My mouth hung open as I put the pieces together. Travis had become my shadow eighth grade year. He finally got the nerve to ask me out, but I politely declined. A few days after that, he was sporting a black eye and wouldn’t come within ten feet of me. I’d just assumed it was because I’d rejected him.

  “Why would you do that?” I sputtered.

  Jacob looked up as he cut another piece of steak. “You were my best friend, Maeve. I couldn’t let him lie to all those guys and let them think you actually did all things he said you did with him.”

  Holy shit. He was defending my honor.

  “Well, how did you know he wasn’t telling the truth?” Why did I say that? I stabbed at a piece of food.

  “Because that’s not the type of girl you are.”

  “You mean were.”

  “Were. Are. Whatever.”

  I lowered my head and wracked my brain for a reason to change the subject.

  “When are you leaving for Florida?”

  “Day after the semester ends.”

  “For how long?”

  “Just a few days.”

  We finished dinner talking about how ready we were for finals. I was looking forward to getting them done and out of the way in the coming week.

  Jacob reached for the check in the black book the waiter left at the table.

  “Let me help you with that,” I said, reaching into my purse.

  Jacob wrinkled his face. “No way. That’s not how a date is supposed to work.”

  “Jacob…”

  “Besides,” he said, flopping the cash next to the bill. “I’ve been saving up for this.”

  “You saved up enough money between last night and today?”

  “No.” He got up from his seat and came around the table to reach for my hand. “I’ve been wanting to ask you out for the last few weeks.”

  My heart fluttered in my chest. I rested my hand in his and let him lead me back to the car.

  “So what did you think?” he asked as he drove us back home.

  “I had a great time, Jacob. Thank you for dinner.”

  He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “Thank you for saying yes.”

  I smiled. “Thank you for asking me.”

  I used the ride back to the apartment to settle my head. My first date, and it wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated. But I suspected that it had to do with Jacob. Everything felt so effortless. I should have known something I’d managed to avoid all this time would seem so natural with him. Not to mention, I’d come to enjoy this hand holding. He let go when we reached the apartment complex, and I was actually disappointed when he didn’t reach for my hand again as we walked back to the apartment.

  The elevator ride up was silent, but I caught a few lingering stares from Jacob. My eyes gleaned over his body, soaking in the feeling of knowing Jacob didn’t expect anything in return once we were behind closed doors. The thought turned me on so bad, I considered taking him right there in the elevator. If only I lived higher than the third floor.

  The elevator dinged open, and I managed to get the door to my apartment open without fumbling with the keys. My trembling fingers were channeling all of my nervous energy. The first thing I did when we were inside was slip off my shoes. We shed our coats, and I wrapped my arms around Jacob’s neck.

  “Thank you,” I murmured.

  His hands grazed up and down my arms, sending the goosebumps flaring along my skin.

  “You already said that.”

  “I know,” I said, returning his smile. “I just wanted to say it again. As first dates go, that went better than I’d expected.”

  “Just so you know, I plan on doing many firsts with you.”

  “So, what’s the next part of this date?”

  Jacob scratched the side of his head. “Um, I’m not sure. Didn’t think to plan past dinner.”

  “So, if we didn’t live together than this would be the part where you’d try to kiss me goodnight?”

  Jacob locked eyes on me, a little blush coloring his cheeks. “Yeah, I guess it would be.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  He smiled and leaned in at a deliberate pace. I stood on the tip of my toes, the anticipation buzzing every cell in my body. Technically, it wasn’t a first kiss. Not even a second. But that moment trumped all others. And when his lips met mine, it had first-kiss-zing written all over it.

  I pulled Jacob closer to my body, letting my tongue curl around his. My hands un-tucked his button-down shirt, and this time he didn’t stop me. I undid the buttons with skilled speed and peeled his shirt off his shoulders. We broke away from the kiss, and our foreheads met as I went for his buckle. The muscles in his stomach tensed as I gave the belt a few good tugs and threw it on the floor.

  Jacob ran his mouth down my neck, his tongue skimming my skin. I felt the blood rush though my limbs. I undid the button of his pants as we walked toward the bedroom. He guided me as I took backward steps, not wanting to tear myself away from him for even a moment. I tugged his pants down, and he lost them along the way.

  When we got to the bedroom, Jacob grabbed at the hem of my dress and pulled it over my head.

  He cradled my face. “Promise me something.”

  My eyes flickered over his face. “What?”

  “And don’t get upset when I ask you.”

  I wrapped my arms around his waist, clinging to the hope it was something I could follow through with. “Okay.”

  “Promise that it will just be me and you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

  His eyes searched my face. “Just me and you. No one else. I want you all to myself.” His lips fell on mine, a kiss so soft and gentle I almost fell back on the bed when he pulled away. “Please, Maeve.”

  My heart pounded in my chest. My body ached so bad for him it was painful. I knew that I never wanted to see Jacob with any other girl. Never wanted him to make anyone else feel the way I felt with him.

  “Okay,” I muttered. I kissed his chest, inhaling the scent of his skin. “I promise.” I reached my hand past the band of his boxers and grazed my hand along his hard-on, dealing soft kisses along his collarbone. “Just you and me.”

  He groaned and tilted my head to face him. He reached his hands around my back and unclasped my bra with little effort.

  “You’re pretty good at that,” I said.

  “I’ve had lots of practice.”

  I cocked one eyebrow as he tossed my bra on the floor.

  “Kidding,” he said with a soft laugh. “Just a lucky try.”

  His gaze flickered from my eyes to my lips and to my eyes again. “I want you so bad, Maeve.”

  “I’m yours, Jacob.”

  His mouth made its way over my breasts again, making my toes curl. He kissed his way down my legs to my toes and then slowly made his way back up, his lips barely leaving my skin for more than a few seconds. My heated skin tingled in every spot his tongue touched. A slow ache coiled throughout my body.

  I let my legs fall open as he wedged himself in between me. He used one hand to brush the hair from my forehead. His ardent focus on my face refused to waver as the other hand helped ease himself inside of me. I closed my eyes and gasped when I felt our bodies connect. Could I open them again? I wasn’t sure. This feeling pummeling me was too powerful. It took my breath away, and I had to take a deep breath.

  I clutched at his back and used my legs to pull him in closer. Jacob braced an arm on either side of me and burrowed his head into the crook of my neck as he pumped his hips.

  My body shuddered as I fell over the edge. Jacob met his lips with mine as he fell with me, and I carefully pulled on his bottom lip. H
is body trembled as he rocked a few more times until finally resting the top of his head on my chest. My shoulders heaved up and down. I tried to steady my sprinting pulse while running my fingers through Jacob’s hair. His soft beard tickled my sensitized skin.

  He shifted his head to peer up at me, my fingers still grazing through his hair. His body lay lax on top of mine.

  “I’m going to miss you when I leave for Florida.” He reached his hand out and twirled a piece of my hair.

  I sighed, still reeling from the intensity of the last few minutes. “I know.”

  He scrunched his face and tugged my hair a little harder.

  I chuckled. “I’ll miss you, too. This place is going to feel empty when you’re away.”

  “Are you going to go to Meg and Jim’s for Christmas?”

  “I don’t think so. Not after how the last holiday went.”

  “Then where are you going to go?”

  I shrugged. “I’ll just stay here.”

  “By yourself?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  Jacob readjusted so that he was lying beside me. “You can’t spend Christmas by yourself.” He leaned his head into his hand.

  “Sure I can. I don’t always go back home for the holidays. It’s fine.”

  A few quiet beats passed before Jacob asked, “Why don’t you come home with me?”

  “What?”

  “Come home with me to Florida.”

  “Are you insane?”

  He considered the thought. “No,” he said, looking back at me.

  I focused my eyes on the ceiling. “I can’t do that.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” I searched the ceiling but the answer wasn’t there. “Because I can’t afford the ticket. And…” There were plenty of reasons. I just had to pick the worst one. “And it would be weird to bring me home.”