The Thing About Love... (The Thing About... #1)

by J. M. Raphaelle

  He kisses me back and starts the car.

  I absentmindedly ask, "Isn't Mount Baldy around here?"

  "Yep, over that way," he points outside his window.

  I don't think about it again. I'm distracted by Marie and Sam, who are playfully arguing about the best frozen yogurt flavors, of all things. Their fights are very funny.

  I'm not sure if they're dating or just friends with benefits. Whatever it is, she certainly enjoys his company, but I don't sense she wants anything serious with him. I'll have to ask her about it later.

  I turn to Jack, and I notice we're not heading home.

  "Isn't the way to Culver City that way?" I point in the opposite direction of where we're heading.

  "Yea," he responds.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Mount Baldy," he grins.

  I smile overjoyed. He's doing this for me.

  Mount Baldy is not just over there, it's at least an hour and a half away.

  Only my Jack!

  CHAPTER 27

  I SUSPECT IT'S around 2:00 a.m. when we're just beginning to make our way up Baldy. It's dark and creepy — creepier than the camping grounds.

  The higher we get, the colder it feels. The road is sparkling. Although there isn't any snow this time of year, it's cold enough that it's glistening with what looks like hoarfrost.

  It's so beautiful!

  I should find this venture unnerving, but I don't even think about the possibility of any danger. I'm going on an adventure with Jack, and he'll protect me.

  That's the only thing that matters.

  Besides, he's driving slowly and carefully. He will make sure we get to the top safely.

  What is scary are the horror stories that Sam is recounting…again. This time it's beheaded zombies that dwell in the mountain.

  "See that light over there," he points to what looks like a fire burning in the distance. "That's where the witch that inhabits this mountain lives. She controls the zombies that are buried all along this mountain. They come out at night to hunt and kill those that disturb their peace. There's one right there!" he shouts.

  Marie squeals in horror.

  I'm laughing, pretending his scare tactics aren't getting to me. Jack kisses my hand from time to time to keep me calm and chuckles at Sam's childish tales.

  We make it to the top safely. I have no sense of time, nor do I know how long it's taken us to get here. Jack finds a place to park away from any prying eyes — not that there are any this time of night. I'm sure we're the only crazy ones up here this late.

  We get out of the car to take in the panoramic view.

  It's stunning!

  It's really cold and windy. Jack puts his arms around me to protect me from the biting chill. He's got a jacket on, but I don't. I should've worn jeans instead of this short skirt, but I would've never guessed we'd end up at the peak of Baldy. At least I'm wearing a long sleeve blouse and closed toe booties. But on this wintry mountain, I might as well be wearing a bikini.

  We're taking in the world before us through a whole new lens.

  Wow, the vastness!

  Rows and rows of gigantic trees now sit below us, the dark sky their blanket and the stars their nightlight.

  I feel on top of the world.

  "Let's go explore," Jack tugs at my hand.

  The rational part of my brain switches on, and I resist his invitation.

  "It's too dark and dangerous to go exploring," I say sweetly. I pull him into an embrace, slide my arms inside his jacket, and rest my head on his chest.

  I'm shivering.

  He holds me tightly and kisses my forehead.

  "You're right," he admits.

  Marie and Sam get back in the car. They'd rather be warm inside, than freeze out here, even if the view is breathtaking. I imagine they also want to give us some privacy.

  Jack walks me to the back of the car, opens the trunk, and grabs a large, very soft, light blue throw.

  Why would he have a throw?

  "My sister," he says, as if he just heard my thoughts. "Sometimes she borrows my car."

  I smile relieved and head with him to the front of the car. He helps me up on the hood, throws the soft material around my shoulders, and pulls me into him.

  He's standing between my legs, his hands on my hips. I take the edges of the throw, wrap it around him too, and hold it close with one hand. We're cocooned in an embrace.

  I'm secretly thanking his sister for borrowing his car and providing this warm blanket.

  We stay like this for what seems like hours, kissing and admiring the beautiful view. We're in the clouds, floating above everyone and everything, in our own little piece of heaven. One that I'm lucky enough to enjoy thanks to this spontaneous, adorable, loving guy I've fallen in love with.

  It's so peaceful up here.

  The only sound is the wind singing with the trees and our breathing.

  "How do you do it?" I look at him adoringly.

  "Do what, baby?" he asks bemused.

  "Make me so happy," I stroke the back of his neck with my fingers.

  "Do I make you happy?"

  "Of course you do," I say candidly.

  I hope he can see it.

  "I'm glad I make you happy. I want to experience new things with you, Ellie. Create unique memories that are just ours. You inspire me."

  "And so you brought me to the top of a mountain?" I giggle. "Only you, Jack Milian."

  "Is that a good or not so good only me?" He frowns.

  "It's a fantastic only you. It's a perfect only you. I'm in awe of you, Jack. I'm in awe of how you make me feel, of what I feel for you," I say sweetly and kiss him softly.

  He gazes at me uncertain, like he has no idea I've fallen irrevocably in love with him.

  "You're right here, Jack," I take his hand and place it on my heart, holding it tightly against my chest.

  He sighs. "You're in here too," he takes my hand, kissed it, and then places it against his heart.

  I fall for him even harder…

  "Please never doubt how important you are to me," I plead.

  "You may have to remind me once in a while," he says with an uneasy grin.

  "Why? You don't believe me?"

  "I just like hearing you say it," he says.

  But his tentative eyes tell me there's more to it, another reason he's not sharing with me. I thought we had put the incident at Marie's party behind us. That he had forgiven me for pulling away from him. If that's not the reason for his trust issues, then what is it?

  "I will remind you. Only because I like the sound of it leaving my lips," I kiss him softly, "which belong entirely to you."

  He stares at me, searching my eyes for the truth. I hope he can see how absolutely sure I am of my love for him. How he's turned my world right side up. That he owns my heart.

  Please believe me, Jack, please.

  He doesn't respond. He just kisses me softly on the lips over and over and crushes me to him. I hope it means he believes me.

  We look like the cutest couple tenderly embracing. What only he and I know is that his hand has made its way up my skirt, between my thighs. His expert fingers have moved my panties out of his way, and he's there, exploring. His other hand is on my back holding me tightly in place.

  I've unzipped him too, and one hand is on his erection, the other still around his neck, holding the throw securely around us.

  We're loving each other with our hands and lips, in the quiet of the mountain, under the privacy the throw is affording us.

  He's intent on pleasuring me, on returning the favor, like he promised.

  He moves slightly to one side of me, so he can get a better grip. I'm forced to release him. I take my hand from inside his jeans and place it on his shoulder.

  Sam and Marie have a clear line of sight to us, but I dismiss my embarrassment at the thought that they might know what's happening inside our bubble. />
  He slides two fingers inside me and starts thrusting, pushing and circling them hard, fast then slowly, putting pressure on my most sensitive spot again and again.

  "Mmm," I moan quietly, my forehead resting on his shoulder. I'm trying hard to muffle my moans, but the feeling is intense.

  I lift my head and kiss his earlobe, nibble it and bite it.

  "Ahh, baby," he reacts quietly to my assault but doesn't halt his fingers.

  I kiss his cheek, then the side of his mouth, then take his lower lip with my tongue and lips. He responds by kissing me as deeply and passionately, as his fingers are working me. His mouth is absorbing my moans, as his fingers are thrusting inside of me.

  "Feel it, baby," he whispers between kisses. "You're mine, Ellie. Come for me, baby."

  A few more thrusts and I explode gloriously on his fingers.

  "Yours," I sigh on his lips satisfied and open my eyes to look at him.

  He's grinning, proud of himself, and kisses me gently again.

  He takes his fingers out of me, brings them to his mouth, and sucks.

  "Mmm," he praises, "my sweet, mouthwatering Ellie."

  I stare at him, grinning. He has indeed returned the favor, splendidly.

  Sam approaches slowly and breaks our enthrallment. "Dude, I'm hearing strange noises, and I'm not kidding this time. We should leave."

  Jack looks at me, and I nod in agreement.

  "Okay, give us a minute," he says to him.

  Sam gives us a knowing gaze and gets back in the car.

  Jack fixes my panties and skirt, then zips up his jeans. "Are you ready, baby?" he asks with a gratified smile. I nod yes.

  He steps out of the throw and wraps it around me. He hugs me tightly, gives me a long kiss on the lips, and then lightly spanks me.

  "Let's go," he whispers in my ear.

  CHAPTER 28

  INSIDE THE CAR I take off the throw and set it on my lap. Jack's turned on the heat, and I decide my hands have a much better use. I place one on his leg, so I can run it up and down as I please. We have a long drive off this mountain, and my hand on his leg should help keep him alert.

  "Dude, want me to drive?" asks Sam.

  "I got it, thanks," replies Jack.

  Of course he does, my strong, self-sufficient, resilient man. I smile at him, blissful that he's mine.

  He leans over and whispers, "Keep your hand on the prize, baby. I need to stay awake." He gives me a brief kiss on the lips and starts the car.

  I'm trying to stay awake, but it has to be well past 4:00 a.m. Jack must be exhausted. That thought helps keep my eyes half open and my hand on his manhood.

  Marie and Sam are passed out.

  This time of morning, traffic is very light, and we make it home in record time.

  "Do you want to stay over?" I ask.

  We're parked outside my place, and Sam and Marie are still sleeping in the back seat. I'm hopeful he'll say yes, so we can finish what we started on the mountain.

  "Baby, your hand's been on me all this time. If I stay, we won't sleep, believe me," he kisses me.

  My belly is yearning with desire for him.

  Then stay!

  "And we have that voter registration thing in," he checks his iPhone, "two hours."

  "What!" I retort, eyes wide.

  "Baby, it's 7:00 a.m.," he chuckles, grabs my hand, and kisses it.

  "Hmm, I don't know if we're going to be there by 9:00."

  "We may be a little late," he jokes. "I'll call you to wake you."

  "That's okay. You sleep and don't worry about me. We'll be there," I assure him.

  "I'd pick you up after, but I promised my dad I'd have dinner with him. Will you be okay getting home?" He's caressing my cheek.

  "Of course, I'll Uber it, since Marie is heading to a concert."

  We kiss again, and then I wake up Marie and Sam.

  ●●●

  The alarm is buzzing. I keep touching the snooze, but the damn thing won't stop. It goes off again, again, and again!

  Fucking piece of…

  "Crap, Marie!" I shout, as I realize why the alarm's been going off.

  It's 10:00 a.m., and hell, I feel horrible! A sleep hangover is so much worse than an alcohol one.

  I drag myself to Marie's room and nudge her, until I wake her. She can barely open her eyes.

  "Get up, we're so late. I'm going to take a quick shower."

  "Okay, wake me when you're done," she replies woozy and closes her eyes.

  An hour later, I text Jack.

  Ellie: Hey sweet baby you there yet? We're just leaving

  Jack: You're sweet

  Ellie: Yea but you're HOOT!

  Jack: LOL! I'm a Hoot?

  Ellie: Funny! Hoooootttttt… My hottie!

  Jack: And you're MINE!

  Ellie: Damn right!!!

  Ellie: We're so late

  Jack: Lucky there are 3 other peeps there

  Jack: Do you know your location?

  Ellie: No Marie's dropping me off. I think Mike texted her the location

  Jack: He didn't text you?

  Ellie: Nope. She says I'm in WeHo

  Jack: Ok good

  Ellie: What's your location?

  Jack: Near UCLA

  Ellie: Careful with all those hotties

  Jack: Hotties what hotties…

  Ellie: Jack…

  Jack: Ellie…

  Ellie:

  Jack: I only have eyes lips and hands for you!

  Ellie: Good ditto!

  Jack: Be good baby don't fall asleep on the job

  Ellie: LOL! TTYL baby

  Jack: Remember I'm having dinner with my dad I'll text you after xoxo

  Ellie: Yep xoxo

  ●●●

  On the way to my station, we stop to pick up coffee for ourselves and the six other souls that we're sure made it to their post on time. Maybe they'll forgive us, if we come bearing gifts.

  It's noon when we finally arrive at my post in West Hollywood. Marie drops me off and heads back to her station closer to home in Century City. She'll only be there until 3:00 p.m., and I will finish the day at 5:00.

  The three other people at my station are great, and don't give me any grief for arriving late. I tell them I had been working on a "special project" until 7:00 a.m., and they all praise me for actually making it to this event.

  "I would've totally ditched this thing, if I were you," a blonde with a valley accent says to me.

  If she only knew my "special project" was getting mind-blowing finger-love from Jack, at the peak of Mount Baldy.

  Freaking best night ever!

  It's a beautiful, sunny LA day, and while at times I feel like taking a nap, other times I'm thoroughly entertained by my colleagues' approach with people. They're super friendly with random people, as they explain the importance of registering to vote.

  I stick to handing out the registration cards and pens and filing the signed ones. I'm in no shape to small talk with anyone — I'm afraid I'll fall asleep mid-sentence.

  ●●●

  It's finally 5:00, and I'm ready to get the Uber, head home, and sleep until tomorrow. That's my plan anyway, but something makes me look up from my iPhone, and I see Mike approaching.

  What the hell is he doing here?

  "Hi," he grins at me, like he's my boyfriend here to pick me up after a long day at work. "You're done? How was it?"

  "Yea, it was good. I hope I helped. I'm just getting an Uber to head home," I reply, flabbergasted to see him.

  "No, I'll take you home."

  What!

  I look at him bewildered, and he makes an attempt to explain himself.

  "I thought I'd come by and pick you up," he says, leaving me more confused than before.

  "Why?"

  "I mean, you don't mind if I take you home, right? No big deal," he shrugs, as if picking me up is the most natural thing for
him to do.

  I want to bark at him, "Ah, yea, it's a big deal! Until not too long ago, you weren't even speaking to me. In fact, you were being a total asshole walking away every time you saw me approaching, you fucking rude SOB!"

  But I'm too tired to waste my energy on someone who means so little to me, and hell, he's going to save me the Uber fee.

  "Okay," I follow him to his car.

  He's smiling at me, genuinely smiling like the nice, charming Mike I once knew.

  "I just have to drop these documents off at my office. Do you mind? It'll be a quick stop," he checks with me.

  I shrug and continue following him.

  I'm quiet most of the ride. I have no idea what this is, what to make of it, or what to say to him. Does he want to be friends now? Does he want me back or something? He doesn't stand a chance. I love Jack. Why the sudden change? Maybe he's bipolar, and he's finally on meds. I smile at the thought.

  He parks outside his office in downtown LA. "I'll be right back," he leaves me to wait for him.

  My house is completely out of the way from his office. This is quite a detour. What is up with him and this new accommodating, cheerful Mike?

  He's making small talk on the way home, asking me about work and how I like living in LA. I'm giving him the bare minimum. I'm polite and civil, but I'm not giving him an inch. I don't want him to think I'm still interested. If Jack thought I was, it could ruin things.

  Jack, shit!

  Should I tell him Mike drove me home? It'll piss him off, for sure, even if he doesn't say anything. What if Mike mentions it to him? What if he doesn't? Maybe this odd incident will remain just a ride home. That's all it is. It's probably best not to say anything.

  I text Jack as soon as I walk in the front door.

  Ellie: I'm home miss you

  Jack: Ditto baby

  Jack: Just arriving at the restaurant

  Ellie: Ok enjoy

  Jack: I'm going to be thinking of you

  Ellie: Me too A LOT!

  Jack: Sweet things or dirty?

  Ellie: DIRTY!

  Jack: Tell me more…

  Ellie: You, me, the front passenger seat of your car…

  Jack: MORE!

  Ellie: Kissing, touching, thrusting, hard…