Under My Skin (Skin Deep)

by Stone, J. M.

  I hit the reply button and typed: What’s wrong with your fingers, Jensen? Forget how to push the dial key?

  No, but I figured you must have been busy if you’d forgotten to call your best friend. Who is trying to plan her wedding. AND NEEDS HER MAID OF HONOR!

  I rolled my eyes at her. I didn’t forget that I was supposed to meet her at the bridal store on Saturday to try to find a wedding dress for her, and bridesmaid dresses for me, Leah, and Jenna, and a flower girl dress for Hayden. Emma had already bought her shoes, and the girls and I had ordered ours finally. We’d managed to find shoes that were similar to Emma’s, only ours were studded down the stiletto heel, and the shoes themselves were black with white skulls wearing hot pink bows on their heads, instead of the hot pink of Emma’s.

  Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re just fishing for details.

  My phone chimed again with her immediate reply.

  No shit, Sherlock. So????????? Spill it, woman!

  I laughed before replying. I think we need a special sundae night for this one! How about Sat. after we do the dress thing? My place or yours?

  Yours. No guys allowed, so you better tell them to get lost now. Lol!

  I shook my head at her, smiling to myself. I have missed Emma, even though it’s only been a few days since I’d seen her last. But what could I say? Jacks and Brandon had been keeping me busy ever since they finally got it through their heads that I was serious when I said I’d give it a shot.

  Things have been going great; they go do whatever they need to do in the morning, come back to me in the evening and, more often than not, wear me out completely before we finally all fall asleep.

  We all went grocery shopping together the night before last because Brandon kept whining that he’d waste away if I didn’t get some food in my fridge. Jacks and I could only laugh as he filled the cart with more food than I’ve ever bought at one time in my life. I can’t complain, though, because he actually has cooked up a couple great dinners for us. Jackson, surprisingly, doesn’t do too bad in the kitchen himself. I get by, but I’m no Paula Deen.

  Yet, even though things are going so well, there’s still that niggling doubt in the back of my mind.

  Dragging myself out of my thoughts, I grabbed the duster and started around the store, dusting and straightening shelves and displays as I went. I stopped here and there to greet customers that wandered in, and I even sold the quilt hanger my mom had brought in the other day.

  When six o’clock rolled around, I went through my closing routine and headed out the door, stopping in surprise when I saw Jackson leaning against my car. I look around, searching for Brandon, but didn’t see him anywhere.

  I quirked my eyebrow as I walked toward him, leaning in and giving him a brief kiss before asking, “Where’s Brandon? And where’s your car? How’d you get here?”

  Jackson smiled and kissed me again before answering. “Brandon actually dropped me off. He’s got some late appointments at the shop, so I figured I would take my girl out on a date.”

  Huh. Wasn’t expecting that one!

  “Sure…that sounds good?” I said, though it sounded more like a question. It did sound good; I was pretty stoked to spend some time with him, but I was just surprised, pleasantly so. We’d never been on a date; nor had Brandon and I.

  He smiled at me again. Gah! That damn dimple…I swear it makes my stomach drop and my lady parts moisten every time! The corner of my mouth kicked up in a half-smile and I handed him my keys wordlessly. He took them with a wink and, taking my elbow, actually walked me around the car and opened my door for me. His momma must have raised him right!

  I settled in the seat of my car and put a hand to my stomach. I mean, I’ve had this man rubbing his naked body all over me, I’ve had his penis in my mouth, he’s been inside me…why am I suddenly nervous? I have no idea why, but I was. It felt like I swallowed a pound of butterflies, and my heart was pounding out of my chest.

  I looked over and then quickly away as Jacks got in and started the car, pulling out of the lot and taking me to wherever he wanted to go, and I was okay with that. I didn’t think I could make a decision like that to save my life at the moment.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that he kept glancing my way, his beautiful lips curved in a smile that looked like it was permanently plastered across his face. Which didn’t help my nerves one bit.

  He reached over and grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers through mine and stroking my hand with his thumb.

  “Did you have a good day at the store?” he asked.

  I nodded at first, then cleared my throat and replied. “Yeah, it was okay. Sold an antique lamp that I got at an auction and someone brought me in some kickass old records.”

  “Nice,” he said. “My mom actually had a huge collection of records at one time. She used to get them out and play them on this old record player…then she’d grab us up and start dancing around the living room. It was great…” His voice trailed off and he didn’t say anything more.

  “Does she still have them?” I asked.

  He shook his head no, but didn’t offer any further information.

  “So, who’s us? You and your sister?” I asked him. I knew he had a sister and it was just the two of them with their mom. He never mentioned his dad, and I didn’t know how he’d take my asking about it.

  “Yeah,” Jacks replied. “That was after the divorce. Mom always seemed to be a lot happier after Dad left. I think we all were, you know?” he asked, glancing at me before turning back to the road.

  I looked out the window, furrowing my brow in confusion as we pulled into a long gravel drive that looked a lot like the one beside Brandon and Luke’s house. I turned to look at Jackson, the question evident in my eyes.

  “I wanted to show you something, so I figured I’d surprise you a little. Yeah?” he asked, his voice husky.

  I nodded at him and started to get out but stopped when he said, “Uh-uh…let me.” I sat back and waited for him to come around and let me out.

  “Thank you,” I told him.

  He smiled and leaned in, kissing me sweetly. He pulled back, but his hand came up to cup my cheek, his fingers caressing my skin tenderly. He was being so attentive I wanted to melt into a puddle right there in the drive. Instead, I turned my head and laid my lips against the palm of his hand, kissing it before I nipped it gently with my teeth. I smiled at his gasp and looked up to meet his darkening gaze.

  “Allie, baby…God, you’re almost too much,” he whispered. Then he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the structure coming to life.

  I took in my first real look at what was going to be Jackson’s house. It was really big, but not over the top. They were a lot further along with it than I thought; they’d already started finishing the exterior with a gorgeous charcoal colored siding. The front porch was wrap-around, wide and inviting and I could picture some ferns and rocking chairs there, maybe even a swing. The front door was black with a large beveled window. It looked sophisticated yet inviting.

  Jacks led me up the stairs and opened the door, ushering me inside. He closed the door behind me and took my hand, leading me through the house. He showed me where the kitchen would be, with a large walk-in pantry, the laundry room off the mudroom where the door to the large back deck area. He indicated that he’d be putting an in-ground pool and hot tub in back there, too, which I definitely could see myself putting to good use!

  He showed me where the living room would be, and then the rest of the first floor that consisted of a bathroom, a guestroom with it’s own bath, and an office. Afterwards, he pulled me to the stairs and nodded with his head for me to precede him. I shook my head at him and complied, smiling when I heard his sharp intake of breath as he watched my ass sway in front of him. When I got to the top, there was a sitting/loft area that I hadn’t realized looked over the living room and foyer.

  Jackson turned to the left and led me through a doorway into a huge room that I had to assume was to be the m
aster bedroom. In the middle of the floor, he had spread out a large, thick comforter and had laid out a picnic complete with wine, fruit, cheeses, crackers, and bite sized meats. The sun was still shining through the windows, giving a warm glow to the room.

  To the left of the doorway was another door that, upon inspection, turned out to be a large, double walk-in closet. There was another door a little further to the right of the closet that opened up beside a glass fronted gas fireplace. When I walked through that door into a large bathroom, I didn’t want to ever leave. The fireplace was double-sided; the fire was visible through the glass front on either side, in the bathroom

  or the bedroom. There was a marble-topped, double sink vanity to the left, a separate toilet area to the rear that had it’s own door, a walk-in shower with a tiled bench seat and multiple shower heads beside that, and then to the right, in a little alcove that was perfectly placed to enjoy the fireplace at the same time, was a large garden tub with whirlpool jets.

  That did it. I wasn’t leaving. I’m a bathroom whore and this one made me want to take up residence ten minutes ago.

  I heard Jackson chuckling at me and glanced at the doorway where he stood. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders at him. “What can I say? This bathroom is the shit!”

  “I’m pretty fond of it myself. But, I can’t take all the credit for the design. I had a little help,” he said.

  “Okay?” I said. “Who helped?” I asked, curious to see who it was and why he would have even asked for their help. He’s the architect, so…

  “Emma helped me,” he said, taking me by surprise.

  “Em? Why would you ask for her help?” I asked him, definitely wanting to know the answer to this one.

  “Because I wanted to know what you would like, what would make you happy here.”

  Uh…huh? ‘Scuse me? I shook my head, sure I didn’t hear him right. “What?”

  He reached out for my hand, pulling me into the bedroom area saying, “Let me show you the rest of the house up here first, then we’ll come in here and sit down. Okay?”

  I let him lead me back through the loft, into a short hallway that had a bathroom to the right, a bedroom beside it, and another bedroom to the left. I looked at each room, taking them in but not fully aware of what I was doing, still stuck on the words that Jacks had uttered.

  We walked back into the master bedroom and both sat on the blanket covered floor. He opened the wine and poured me a glass. I didn’t hesitate, throwing it back in two gulps and holding my glass out for another. He refilled it with a raised eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.

  I took my time with this one, sipping a couple times before addressing the elephant in the room. “Jackson…why would you even try to make your house suit me, to make me happy? It’s your house, so you should do it to suit you. “

  “I did, Allie. It suits me to please you. I sat back for all these months, not really sure of the welcome I would get from you. I thought you and Brandon had a thing going and I didn’t have a chance, but Emma told me not to give up just yet. And then I started noticing the way you looked at me…I realized that I didn’t want to give up on it. I wanted you, Allie…hell, there’s no past tense to it, I want you. Even when I have you, I want you,” he said, matter-of-factly.

  “But, Jacks-” I began, stopping when he interrupted me.

  “No, Allie, let me finish. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to have you, and I’m telling you now, regardless of what happens, you’re mine. Mine and Brandon’s, but he’s not here to give you his own words. But these are mine; yeah, we may not have known each other for years, but there’s something there. I know you feel it when you look at me. And then the last few days since you’ve finally given in…I’m falling for you, Allie. Fuck, if I’m being honest, I’ve already fallen for you,” he said raggedly.

  I could see the effort it took for him to open up and let me see his vulnerability and it felled me. I was completely floored by his words, my first instinct to tell him that it’s too soon, too early; he can’t feel that way about me already. But looking at him, really seeing him, I could tell that he was absolutely telling me the truth. It made my heart swell, and, if I was honest with myself, fall a little deeper for him than I already had.

  I sat my glass down beside me and moved towards him, leaning over him and tossing my right leg over his legs until I was straddling his lap. Looking directly into his eyes, I kissed him, trying to tell him with my lips just a sliver of what I wasn’t ready to say with words.

  We stayed like that, kissing for a while, before he moved me back and started feeding me. I reciprocated, laughing when his teeth nipped the tip of my fingers as I fed him a grape. I felt a lightness that I hadn’t realized was missing spread through me, and I relaxed into the moment, enjoying Jackson’s company. There was a part of me that felt slightly guilty for doing this without Brandon, but surely that’s how this whole thing works. I’d have alone time with him as well, right?

  When both of us were replete and my head was swimming mildly with the wine, Jackson cleared everything off the blanket and pushed me down, covering my body with his as he kissed me deeply. Moaning, I parted my lips for him, relishing the taste of wine on his tongue.

  His hands roamed my body, sliding up under my shirt to unsnap my bra and then pulling me up to remove both. I laid back down, staring up at him as he sat there unmoving, taking in the sight of me displayed before him. Slowly I raised my hands, cupping my own breasts before sliding them down my stomach to the fly of my jeans. A quick jerk and unzip and they were open, showing a pale triangle of flesh framed in the v created there.

  Jackson’s breath left him in a rush and he came alive, curling his fingers into the waistband of my jeans and jerking them down my legs. I had barely kicked free of them, toeing them off at the same time as my shoes, before his mouth was hot on me, his tongue parting my slick folds, tasting every inch of me. I arched my back and fisted my hands as best I could in his hair, pulling his face tighter against me, grinding my wetness into his mouth.

  He pushed his face into me even harder, flattening his tongue and rubbing it roughly against the hard bud of my clit, sending me flying without warning. I screamed out into the empty room, flooding his mouth with my release and shuddering as he licked every drop from me. When he raised his head, he stole my breath with the wildness blazing in his eyes.

  I’d never felt more wanted than right then and it made me even wetter than I’d been when I’d come. Using my fingers still entwined in his hair, I pulled him up and over me, meeting his lips with mine in a frenzied kiss, groaning at the taste of myself on his lips, his tongue, everywhere in his mouth. I pushed against his chest, rolling with him until I was straddled across his hips, tearing at his clothes in the process. I wanted him as naked as me so I could feel every inch of him against me.

  He sat up and helped me, moving me to the side in order to shove his jeans down and off, and then barely having time to lie back again before I mounted him again, sliding that dripping wet part of me against his straining hardness. The tip of him slid along my folds, parting around the blunt head until he was nestled between them. I could feel his pulse thrumming along my clit, and it was driving me insane.

  Without wasting another moment, I slid myself forward again until I felt the tip of him nudge against my opening, and then I was taking him deep, not stopping until I felt his balls slap against my ass.

  “Jesus, Allie…” Jacks moaned. “Baby, I don’t think I’m gonna last…you feel too good…oh, God, Allie…”

  “Just enjoy the ride, lover…yes…” I growled as I began moving on him. I didn’t bother moving up and down him; I wanted him to stay as deep as possible inside me. I began sliding myself back and forth, circling and rocking my hips against him, grinding my hips against his, which rubbed my clit perfectly against his pelvis. I braced my hands on his chest and arched my back, circling my hips faster and grinding harder against him until I imploded, feeling like every inch of myself was
sucked into an abyss before exploding outward into a million pieces.

  I screamed, long and loud, the sound wrenched from me as I felt Jacks follow me down, the hard column of him buried deep between my thighs spasming inside me, filling me up with his release.

  I collapsed against his chest, panting heavily and peppering his chest, neck, and face with kisses. “Fucking hell, Jackson!” I panted. “I don’t think I can move.”

  Jacks didn’t say a word, just wrapped his arms around me, holding me close against him. He was still buried deep inside me, but I could feel his hardness waning. I squirmed against him and smiled as I felt him jerk inside me, his breath coming out on a groan. “Oh, baby…don’t move yet. Give me a minute,” he mumbled.

  We laid like that for a time, coming down from the heights we’d ascended, watching the shadows grow around us. Finally he kissed the top of my head and patted my ass, signaling that our private moment was coming to a close.

  We got up and got dressed, cleaning up the picnic remains and returning to the car. I let Jacks drive again, and I loved that neither one of us could seem to stop touching the other all the way to my house.

  When we pulled up and went inside, Brandon was sitting on the couch.

  He smiled as I walked into the room, standing immediately and pulling me into his arms, kissing me thoroughly before asking, “Hey, baby. Did you have a good time on your date with Jacks?”

  I nodded and hugged him back, meeting his kiss as he dipped his head toward me again. “Yeah, I finally saw his house…it’s going to be gorgeous!” I said, grinning over at Jackson when I said it.

  “That’s cool,” Brandon said. “So, since tonight is Friday night, what do you guys say to going out and doing something?”

  His face lit up like a little kid’s, but that’s just Brandon. He’s always excited, always finds the fun in everything. I really love that about him.

  I shrugged and looked over at Jacks. “I don’t care. What do you think? We could call Emma and Luke and see if they want to go? Maybe hit up that new dance club that opened up a couple weeks ago?” I’m a sucker for dancing and, once you get a couple drinks in me, I could dance all night!