Chapter Seven

Maggie

Dinner’s over, but I can’t bring myself to say goodbye. Sitting across from Jonah tonight, I’ve seen a side of him I never expected. He’s thoughtful, honest, and so much more sensitive than I could have imagined. The layers of the infamous “bad boy” persona I’d been bracing myself for have peeled back, and I’m left with someone raw and real.

I don’t want the night to end.

As we sit in the booth, the hum of the diner around us fading into the background, I blurt it out before I can second-guess myself. “Do you want to come back to my place?”

The second the words are out, my heart pounds so hard it feels like it might break through my chest. What am I doing? Is this too soon? Too much?

Jonah leans back slightly, his brows lifting in surprise, but then his lips curve into a slow, almost shy smile that makes me feel like I’m floating.

“I’d like that,” he says, his voice low and steady.

Relief and excitement crash into me all at once, leaving my head spinning. I pull on my coat, and we step outside together. The cold air nips at my cheeks, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except the fact that Jonah is here, walking beside me.

The first block passes in comfortable silence, the only sounds are the faint buzz of distant traffic and the rhythm of our footsteps on the pavement. My hand brushes against his, and a jolt of warmth shoots up my arm.

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, wondering if he noticed. Before I can overthink it, Jonah’s fingers wrap around mine, strong and sure. His hand is warm, and the simple gesture sends my heart soaring.

I look up at him, and he’s already watching me. His expression is soft, almost unguarded, and the intensity in his eyes makes my breath hitch.

Neither of us says a word. We don’t have to.

When we reach my building, I fumble with my keys, my hands shaking just enough to be annoying. Jonah chuckles softly, a low sound that sends shivers down my spine, and the weight of his presence behind me feels steadying.

Finally, the door unlocks, and I step inside, gesturing for him to follow.

My apartment probably isn’t what he was expecting. It’s nothing fancy. I’ve invested and saved most of the money I’ve made with The Pandemonium Pixies and have always lived with one of my sisters. This is the first time I’ve lived on my own and not just stayed in a hotel. It’s a cute two-bedroom, decorated in all of the things I’ve collected over the years. Its theme could only be described as a vintage yard sale. I’ve always thought it was perfect for me. With Jonah here, it feels different. Smaller, somehow, but not in a bad way.

“Can I get you a drink?” I ask, mostly to fill the silence, my voice still tinged with nerves.

Jonah shakes his head, stepping closer to me. “No. I want to be clear-headed while I’m with you.”

His words are like a lightning bolt, sharp and electrifying. My throat tightens, and I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Before I can find the words, Jonah moves closer, his hands finding my waist.

“You’re something else, Maggie Stone,” he murmurs, his voice soft and rough all at once.

His touch is gentle but firm, his thumbs brushing against my hips in a way that sends my pulse racing. I’m caught in his gaze, the intensity of it making the rest of the room fade away.

And then, he kisses me.

At first, it’s soft—tentative, even. His lips brush against mine, testing, teasing, and the sensation makes my head spin. My hands find his chest, and I can feel his heart beating beneath my palms, steady and strong.

He deepens the kiss, pulling me closer, and suddenly I’m not thinking anymore. I’m just feeling. The warmth of his hands on my waist, the way his scent—woodsy and faintly smoky—wraps around me, the way his lips feel like they’re pouring something unspoken into me.

I never knew a kiss could feel like this—like being caught in a storm and finding shelter all at once. His hands slide up my back, cradling me closer, and the butterflies in my stomach turn into something deeper, something more consuming.

When we finally pull apart, I’m breathless, my forehead resting against his. His hands stay on my waist, grounding me, and his gaze locks onto mine.

“I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you,” he says, his voice low and filled with something that makes my heart twist.

I can barely speak, but I manage a soft, “Me too.”

***

Jonah

Her words linger in the air between us, soft and unguarded, making my chest tighten in a way I didn’t know was possible. I’ve wanted her since the moment I saw her, but this? This is different. This is more.

I brush my thumb over her cheek, and she leans into the touch, her green eyes locked on mine. She’s beautiful, like a dream I don’t deserve, but she’s here.

I kiss her again, slow and deliberate, letting every ounce of how much I want her to pour into it. She melts into me, her hands gripping the front of my shirt, pulling me closer. My heart races as her body presses against mine, soft and warm and everything I didn’t know I needed.

When we break apart, she’s breathing hard, her lips swollen and pink from my kiss. I slide my hands to her waist, my fingers brushing the soft fabric of her sweater, and I take a shaky breath. “Maggie,” I say, my voice low, “tell me if this is too much. Tell me to stop if you’re not ready.”

Her cheeks flush, and she bites her lip, looking up at me with an expression that’s equal parts nervous and determined. “Jonah, I… I’ve never done this before.”

For a second, I don’t understand what she means, but then it clicks, and the realization hits me like a freight train. She’s a virgin.

“Never?” I ask softly, needing to be sure.

She nods, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of pink. “Never,” she whispers.

My stomach tightens, heat coursing through me at the thought. But more than that, there’s a weight to her confession, a trust she’s putting in me that I don’t take lightly.

I cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing over her cheekbones as I meet her gaze. “Thank you for telling me,” I say, my voice steady. “I want this to be perfect for you. You’re sure, Maggie?”

She nods again, her eyes shining with something that makes my heart ache in the best way. “I’m sure,” she says. “I want this. I want you.”

That’s all I need to hear.

I kiss her again, slower this time, savoring every second. My hands move to her sweater, and I pause, giving her time to stop me if she wants to. When she nods, I pull it over her head, revealing a black and gold lace bra that makes my pulse skyrocket.

“You’re stunning,” I say, my voice rougher than I intend. She lets out a nervous laugh, but I shake my head. “No, I mean it, Maggie. You’re perfect.”

Her hands fumble with the buttons of my shirt, and I help her, letting it fall to the floor. The feel of her hands on my bare skin is enough to drive me wild, but I keep my focus on her, on making her feel cherished.

I let my hands trail down her sides, taking my time, watching the way her chest rises and falls with each shaky breath. Every inch of her is captivating, from the way her hair spills over her shoulders to the curve of her hips in those jeans that are driving me insane.

When I reach for the button of her jeans, I glance up, silently asking for permission. She nods, her trust in me lighting something fierce and protective in my chest.

We move together, slow and deliberate, peeling away the barriers between us until she’s standing in nothing but that impossibly sexy lingerie. I can’t help but let out a low groan as I take her in, every detail of her seared into my mind.

“You’re killing me, Maggie,” I murmur, my hands sliding over her bare skin, memorizing the feel of her beneath my touch.

Her laugh is soft, breathless, and filled with nervous energy. “I could say the same about you.”

I guide her to the bed, taking my time, kissing her softly, and whispering words of reassurance and affection as we go. Every touch, every kiss is meant to remind her that this is about her —that she’s the one who matters.

I trail kisses down her neck, and her collarbone, savoring the way she responds to every movement. Her hands find my shoulders, her fingers digging in slightly as her breaths quicken.

“Maggie,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers, “tell me what you need. I want to give you everything.”

Her eyes meet mine, filled with trust and something that feels like the beginning of forever. “Just you,” she says softly.

I kiss my way down her body, learning every hill and valley. She’s a work of art. When I get to the edge of her panties I gently pull them down and work them off her body. She tightens her thighs together.

“Baby, spread those beautiful thighs for me,” I say. “Let me see you.”

With a shuddering breath, she relaxes and opens her legs. My cock grows impossibly hard with my first look at her virgin pussy. I can’t wait another second. I run my tongue up the length of her. It’s heady knowing I’m the first man to taste her this way.

“Jonah…” she moans.

“That’s right,” I growl against her pink lips. “This is mine now.”

I feel her hands running through my hair as I make love to her with my mouth. I pull the tight bundle of nerves into my mouth at the same time I insert two fingers up to my first knuckle inside her tight body. God, she’s going to strangle my cock.

“Say it.”

“What?” She asks.

“Say you’re mine,” I demand. I know it’s crazy, but I need to hear her say it before I make her come.

“I’m yours, Jonah,” she yells as she explodes on my hand.

I slowly make my way back up her body. Ready to feel her tight heat around my cock. I kiss her deeply, allowing her to taste herself on my lips.

I reach over and grab the condom I put on the nightstand before I took off my pants. Maggie takes it out of my hand.

“I want to put it on you,” she says shyly.

I lay back, my dick pointing straight up, eager for her to do whatever she wants to him. Slowly she rolls the condom on and I almost come just from the feel of her hand on me. I have to take back over.

I flip her back onto her back. “Are you sure this is what you want? If you want to slow down it’s okay.”

“Jonah, please. I need you.”

And so I give her all of me, with every touch, every kiss, every whispered promise that she’s perfect just as she is.