Till There Was You

by Iris Morland

  “You’re terrible at counting. My fifth graders count better than that.” Heath chuckled as he pinched one of her nipples. “Keep counting or I’ll stop.”

  She counted as Heath touched her breasts, making them ache, the nipples swollen. Jubilee had never paid much attention to her breasts beyond being annoyed when they’d gotten bigger and she’d had to buy a new bra as a teenager. Now, though, all of her pleasure was centered there, the heat of Heath’s palms and the calluses on his fingers pleasuring her beyond anything she could’ve imagined.

  But it was when Heath bent down and took one nipple into her mouth that she forgot all about the counting. She gasped, her eyes flying open.

  He swirled the tip of his tongue around one peak, his lips and mouth relentless, and all Jubilee could do was hold on to his shoulders. I never knew, she thought, dazed. I never knew it could be like this.

  When he kissed the scar above her right breast, though, she wanted to crawl away in embarrassment. She didn’t know why; it wasn’t as if he didn’t know she’d had leukemia.

  “It’s from the port,” she blurted before he could ask the obvious question. “From the bone marrow treatments.”

  He rubbed his thumb across that small scar. “I’m glad you’re here, for what it’s worth. Scars and all.”

  “As long as you don’t say that you’re sorry. I hate when people say that. Why apologize for something you had nothing to do with?”

  His lips quirked. “Good to know.” He kissed her over her heart, which effectively banished all thoughts of ports and transplants and cancer from her mind. Thank God.

  “You taste like spun sugar,” he muttered. Standing, Heath pushed her blouse and skirt down her hips until all she wore was her tights and panties. Like he couldn’t wait a second longer, he cupped her sex, rubbing her clit with the heel of his hand.

  “Oh my God.” Jubilee tipped her head back as he licked down her throat.

  “You stopped counting,” he admonished, but he didn’t stop touching her. Instead, he pulled her tights down her ankles before delving below the waistband of her panties, spreading her, groaning at the wetness he found there.

  Jubilee felt like she was about to explode. She trembled and gasped as Heath circled her entrance as he continued to rub her clit with his palm like before. Her world tilted on its axis, and when he pressed a finger slowly into her sheath, it was like fireworks exploded inside her. She bit her lip to stifle her scream as she came, shudders wracking her frame, her knees giving out.

  It was only Heath’s arm around her waist that kept her from slumping to the floor like a puddle of mush. Jubilee felt Heath backing her toward the bed, where she landed with a thump before he lay down next to her.

  She kept panting as Heath rubbed her back in slow circles. Finally, she opened her eyes to see him looking down at her with a satisfied smile.

  “Like I said,” he said, “you’re terrible at counting.”

  She stuck her tongue out, which just made him laugh harder. Jubilee felt languid and sleepy, and when she yawned, Heath wrapped her in a throw blanket and kissed her forehead.

  “So we’re not doing anything else tonight?” Jubilee couldn’t help but ask. She’d come here to lose her virginity, which remained no matter how hard she tried to get rid of it.

  “Not tonight. You should be seduced. And a good seduction takes its time.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Spoilsport.” Except she found herself yawning a second time, and she struggled against falling asleep in Heath’s very warm and cozy embrace.

  “I want you, Jubi. Don’t ever think otherwise. But your first time should be special.”

  He kissed her nose as he whispered, “So let me make it special.”

  10

  The week before Thanksgiving—and days after her first seduction lesson—Heath sent Jubilee a text saying that he had to go out of town that weekend. A teacher training in Seattle, he wrote. Super boring. I’d rather stay in town with you.

  That last line made her heart flutter. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that night, or how amazing Heath had been. And they hadn’t officially had sex yet! She had a feeling when they got to the actual sex, she might not survive it.

  I wish you had stayed here, then, she replied after she arrived home from The Rise and Shine that Friday night. What am I supposed to do tonight? Netflix and chill by myself?

  Don’t you have twenty siblings you can hang out with? :)

  Jubilee laughed. No, thanks. I see them enough as it is.

  Besides, she thought, the last thing she needed was for one of her nosy older brothers to see how happy and distracted she was and put two and two together. Especially Harrison. He was still suspicious of Heath, and he’d tried more than once to get Jubilee alone to tell her how he disapproved.

  Okay, then what are you going to do tonight? Watch a movie? Read?

  Jubilee chewed her bottom lip, considering. Normally, she would do one of those things. Sometimes she cooked something nice for herself, or organized her closet. Something boring, usually. But tonight she was restless, her blood heating just from texting with Heath, and as she began to drink her glass of wine, she realized she didn’t want to organize her shoe collection tonight.

  I think I want to do something new, she sent.

  Like what?

  Taking a deep breath, she slid the strap of her tank down her arm, exposing her bare shoulder. With a seductive smile, she took a few photos, trying to find the best one. Then she sent the photo without any caption.

  Then she waited.

  And waited.

  Finally, Heath replied, You’re going to kill me.

  That made her laugh. Do you want to see more?

  Jesus Christ, yes.

  Then send me something in return.

  Instead of a photo, her phone began to ring.

  “A phone call isn’t a photo,” she admonished upon answering.

  “I needed to hear your voice.” His own voice was almost a growl, and it made her shiver in anticipation. “Now, here’s a classic question: what are you wearing? Describe it me.”

  “Couldn’t I just send you a photo?”

  “Tell me, Jubi.”

  She sighed, but it was a happy sigh. “Well, I’m wearing a purple tank top. It’s not very exciting—”

  “Come on, now.”

  “But underneath, I’m not wearing anything. No bra.”

  Heath groaned, and she heard what sounded like him falling onto his bed. “Send me a photo.”

  Jubilee had never taken a topless photo of herself, and she’d never thought she would. Yet right then, she wanted to be daring. To do something new. She pulled her tank top off, cupping one of her breasts as she took a few photos from different angles. Her nipples peaked, and she could almost feel Heath’s hands and mouth on them like when he’d touched her that night.

  She sent the photo and waited for Heath’s response. He swore.

  “Baby, are you sure you’re a virgin? Because you don’t take photos like one.”

  She snorted. “How should a virgin take topless photos? I didn’t know there were specific directions involved.”

  He chuckled, the sound warming her through and through. “Every night since that one we had together, I’ve thought about you. Under me, over me. Calling my name.”

  “What am I doing?” she asked, her voice breathy.

  “Everything. You’re riding me until I explode inside you. Or I’m pounding inside you as I hook my arms under your knees. Or I make you go onto your knees and take you from behind, your delicious ass pink from a spanking.”

  Jubilee was melting from head to toe. A flush began from her chest and climbed up into her cheeks, and she felt herself growing wet just from Heath’s descriptions. Closing her eyes, she trailed her fingers down her belly and below the waistband of her pajama bottoms.

  “Are you touching yourself?” he asked.

  She nodded before realizing he couldn’t see her. “Yes.”
>
  “What does it feel like?”

  She pushed her panties aside and found her curls drenched. “Wet,” she whispered, blushing harder. “Oh God. And hot.”

  “How do you like to touch yourself? Do you like to rub your clit?”

  “Yes.” She gasped as she began to circle her swollen clit with her thumb. “Sometimes I like a finger inside me, but sometimes it’s too much. Like it won’t fit.”

  “What are you doing now?”

  His voice washed over her as she began to touch herself in earnest. She could feel the edges of her orgasm gathering in her belly. She was no stranger to touching herself, but with Heath’s voice egging her on, it made it more intense. Wetness coated her palm as she rubbed faster and faster.

  “Are you close?” he growled.

  “Yes! Oh God, yes.”

  “Keep touching yourself, but imagine it’s me. That I’m pushing a finger inside you as I massage your clit. And then I’ll get on my knees and put my mouth on you until you scream and come against my lips.”

  She panted, rubbing harder, until her orgasm slammed into her. She let out a little screech of surprise and collapsed back onto her living room couch. When she realized she’d knocked her phone onto the floor, she laughed.

  “Are you still there?” She wiped her hands on her pajamas as she picked up her phone. “You got dropped on the floor. Sorry.”

  “The only thing you should be sorry for is how hard I am right now and you not being near to do anything about it.”

  “Why can’t I do anything about it? I want to see you. Show me.”

  He was silent for a long moment. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure. Fair is far. Show me the goods, Heath DiMarco. Otherwise I’m going to assume you’re too much of a scaredy-cat. And here I am, the actual virgin.”

  “Then turn on video chat. I want this to be live.”

  * * *

  Sitting up on his hotel room bed, Heath pushed away the voice in his head that said this was a bad idea. All of it was a bad idea. He’d said he’d leave Jubilee Thornton alone, and here he was, sexting with her and looking at topless photos she’d sent him. If Harrison found out about this, he’d skin Heath alive.

  Jubilee’s face came onto his phone. “Can you see me?” she asked.

  “Yes. Can you see me?”

  “Yes. But I didn’t think I was doing this just to see your face.”

  He chuckled. He should’ve known that Jubilee would be a force to be reckoned with, no matter that she was, technically, still a virgin. Seeing her now, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glassy from her orgasm, his cock hardened until it was painful. He unzipped his jeans and grasped his cock.

  “What are you doing?”

  He gritted his teeth. “What do you think?”

  He smiled as her blush increased, but undaunted, she said, “I want to see you. Please?”

  Heath wasn’t sure the logistics of video sex—holding the phone in his hand was awkward as it was—so he set his phone against a stack of books.

  “How about that?” he asked as he palmed his cock once more. “That enough of a view for you?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  She fell silent, and he worried that he’d scared her. Cracking an eyelid open, he saw that she was watching him intently, her lips parted.

  “Baby, you’re gonna have to keep talking. Otherwise I’m worried you’re not enjoying yourself,” he rasped.

  She let out an embarrassed giggle. “I’m sorry. I am. I just wish I were there with you, right now. What do you want me to say?”

  He groaned. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and God Almighty, he was already so close. Jubilee crying out in her own orgasm had been enough to drive him completely crazy.

  “Say whatever you want.” He swirled his thumb over the tip of his cock, which made him shudder.

  “Then I’ll tell you that the first time I met you, I thought you were gorgeous.”

  That startled a laugh out of him. “What?”

  “It’s true. I loved your smile, and how kind you were. You didn’t treat me like I was a little girl.”

  “Jubi, I appreciate everything you’re saying, but this kind of talk isn’t what I meant.”

  “Then I’ll say that you’re even more gorgeous—no, handsome, how about that?—than you were then. I love the way your hair falls across your forehead. I love your hands. I love watching your hands right now.”

  Considering his hands were wrapped around his cock, he could appreciate that statement. He closed his eyes as let Jubilee’s voice wash over him in a heated, sensual wave.

  “I wanted you to touch me with those hands for ages. I dreamed about you, you know. That you’d strip me and then you’d tease me. I had a dream once where you bent me over the arm of my couch and took me—”

  With a muffled shout, he came, jerking and shuddering for long moments. His heart pounded in his ears, and he could just make out Jubilee, still talking.

  Finally, he turned and picked up his phone to see Jubilee smiling like she’d won first prize.

  “Enjoyed that, did you?”

  She nodded. “I’ve never seen a man do that before.” She licked her lips. “It was…good.”

  “Good? It was fucking amazing, at least for me. I’m just annoyed I’m stuck here, without you.”

  “Heath,” she whispered, “when do you get back into town?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Come see me right when you get in. Right when you get in.”

  He didn’t need a translator to understand what she meant. Swallowing, he nodded, his mind whirling with the mere thought of finally taking Jubilee Thornton to bed. Really taking her. Seeing her naked, parting her legs, and plunging inside her tight, wet heat.

  Just the thought made him hard again.

  They said their goodbyes, Heath promising he would drive straight to her place when he got into Fair Haven.

  You should leave her alone. You told her you would. What happened to that promise?

  He argued that she’d approached him. She’d made it clear this was nothing but sex, anyway. If they kept to that understanding, nobody would get hurt, and nobody would have to get overly involved. If Jubilee was just a fling, there was no reason she needed to know about all of the details of Heath’s murky past.

  The following morning consisted of a last training session before Heath could get on the road. As he drove back to Fair Haven, he practically vibrated with anticipation.

  By the time he was only a few miles from Jubilee’s, his phone rang. To his surprise, it wasn’t Jubilee, but Seth. Frowning, he answered the call.

  “Hello?”

  “Where are you?” Seth practically barked. “I need you to come to my place now.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because Rose was attacked by none other than your guy Rich.”

  The bottom of Heath’s stomach dropped out. “Is she okay? What happened?”

  “She’s shaken but unhurt. I stopped him before he could do anything, but he ran off. Rose wants to talk to you. God only knows why, but I told her I would get a hold of you.”

  “Of course. I’m on my way.” Heath swore when someone honked behind him, and he realized he’d been sitting at a green light. He drove without seeing, his mind in chaos.

  Rich had tried to hurt Rose—again. His vision went red with rage, his fists clenching around his steering wheel.

  He only remembered his promise to Jubilee when he arrived to find Seth, grim-faced and enraged, reminding Heath of his promise to Seth’s younger sister.

  Something came up, Heath texted. Sorry, need a rain check. Talk to you later.

  He didn’t stop to wait for Jubilee’s reply. When he saw Rose sitting on the couch, dry-eyed but pale, he embraced her.

  “What the hell happened?”

  11

  “Rich attacked her.” Seth stood over them both. He looked like a grim specter, and Heath knew the only reason Seth wasn’t out there hunting R
ich down was because Rose needed him to stay close by.

  “I was walking Callie,” Rose said, the dog in question lying at her feet. “She started barking right when Rich tried to—” She swallowed. “I don’t even know. Kidnap me? Scare me? He tried to drag me away, but Callie attacked him. She bit him in the leg right when Seth arrived. I’d left my gun at home. Stupid. I know better.”

  “Not your fault. You should be able to walk home without being afraid.” Heath wrapped an arm around Rose, although he wondered if he was comforting himself more than he was comforting her. “What happened to Rich?”

  Seth narrowed his eyes. “He ran. Only reason I didn’t break his fucking neck was because Rose told me not to.”

  That caused Rose to smile slightly. “I’m so sorry I stopped you from murdering someone.”

  “For you, I’d kill anyone who’d try to hurt you.”

  Heath silently agreed. Rose had been hurt enough, and the thought of Johnny trying to mess with her through Rich sent waves of anger flowing through him. If Seth wouldn’t break Rich’s neck, Heath would. With relish.

  “Before Callie got him, Rich said that he wanted to send a message. To you, Heath.” Rose turned to look him in the eye. “This is about the threats you’ve been getting, right? Rich must’ve wanted to hurt you by hurting me.”

  Guilt threatened to overwhelm Heath, but he swallowed it. Guilt wouldn’t keep his sister safe. And if Rich goes after Rose, who’s to say he won’t go after other people I care about? Jubilee’s face came into his mind right then, and the mere thought of her getting hurt because of him almost broke him in two.

  “He’s a cowardly piece of shit,” Seth growled as he started pacing like a caged predator. “He thinks that if he scares us enough, we won’t tell everyone what his boss has done. God knows Johnny probably put him up to this.”

  “Then this just means I need to testify against Johnny more than ever.” Heath squeezed Rose’s hands. “I don’t care what Rich does to me.”

  “What is he saying he’ll do? I don’t understand,” said Rose. “What are you not telling us?”