Chapter 7

Ihad to steer Jesse away from the door. Once he noticed the window in it, though, he was in full agreement.

We even briefly discussed going upstairs to his room. But with his massive erection and security cameras posted along the hallway and over the elevators, that wasn't a good idea. The last thing I needed was for my boss to catch me sneaking up to someone's room.

So, he moved an exercise bike from the corner, lifting it like it weighed no more than a tissue box. Then he grabbed one of the yoga mats and lay it next to the weight bench.

Following his instruction, I lay on my back on the yoga mat, watching as he retrieved a condom from his wallet. Then he knelt between my parted legs, ripping open the packet and sliding it on his erection.

"Always prepared," I teased.

He didn't take his eyes off me. "Well, I have to admit that's been in there a while." He squinted at the packet, still in his left hand. "Just a few months or so. I hope it hasn't expired."

"I'm on birth control," I said. "So I think we're fine."

He tossed the packet aside and lowered his body, holding himself above me as he stared into my eyes. He looked like he was seconds from doing a push-up.

"If I got you pregnant, it wouldn't be the end of the world," he said. "Not on my end, anyway."

He lowered his face, drawing me into another passionate kiss. The kiss, combined with his words, sent warmth shooting through my body. Yes, the idea of having a baby with this man lit me up inside.

I hadn't planned on starting a family anytime soon, but I'd always been open to falling in love and getting married. Now, for the first time, I felt a stirring inside me to be a mom and a wife. But only if Jesse could be the husband and father.

When he lifted one hand and moved it between our bodies, I froze. This was the part I'd forgotten about. I should tell him I was a virgin, right? He probably assumed I was since it'd only been seven years, and he hadn't even tried to go further. Truth be told, I'd always been scared to make myself that vulnerable to a guy. I'd seen what happened to friends who lost their virginity to guys who didn't deserve it.

But I trusted this man. I knew even though he might hurt me at the end of the weekend, he was the right person to take my innocence. The only person.

He was still kissing me as he entered me, so I didn't have time to tense up in preparation. I just focused on the kiss as discomfort gradually settled in. I still couldn't bring myself to tell him I was a virgin.

Finally, he met resistance and pulled away, looking down at me. I'd waited too long to tell him, and now he'd figured it out.

"Are you a…"

His voice trailed off, his eyes searching my face. All I could do was nod. Finally, I managed to speak.

"I should have told you. If you want to stop, I'll understand."

He tilted his head slightly, his eyebrows knitting. "Do you want me to stop?"

"No!"

The word came out with far more force than I'd intended. The last thing I wanted him to do was stop. Not now. Not ever.

With a nod, he inched deeper. I winced. My mind automatically went to a phrase I'd heard over the years. "Pop her cherry." Was that what he was doing?

"I don't want to hurt you," he said. "I'll tell you what. Why don't I hold still, and you move? Then you can control how deep I go."

It seemed awkward at first, but that was exactly what I did. He held still in that upward push-up position, and I moved my hips, gritting my teeth through the pain until finally it eased.

He kept his eyes on my face as I moved. There was warmth in his eyes. Warmth and patience. He had to be beyond turned on at this point. He was holding back for me, and his restraint touched me in ways I couldn't fully comprehend.

Soon, the pain turned into a tingly feeling that was becoming all too familiar. I closed my eyes and took in the sensations. That seemed to send the signal that I was starting to enjoy this, and that's when Jesse gradually picked up his pace, moving his hips and letting me relax and enjoy the sensation of his cock grazing my clit with each thrust.

"Oh God, that feels so good," I whispered, still not opening my eyes.

I could imagine the heat in his stare as he watched me move toward climax for the third time in minutes. His breathing was getting heavy, so I focused on that as my body climbed upward again, heading toward that feeling that I could only describe as the most incredible experience of my life.

Nothing had ever felt as good as an orgasm. Not that first bite of my favorite food, not happy hour at the wine bar with my best friends, and certainly not making out with a guy. No, this was what life was all about.

A tiny squeak escaped my throat as my pussy contracted again, pulsing, wrapping itself even tighter around Jesse, whose thrusts increased. As I came down, I opened my eyes to see his eyes were closed, and he was trying to catch his breath while his cock began throbbing inside me.

Finally, he stilled, and I waited for him to kiss me again. But he didn't do that. He didn't fall to the ground next to me and pull me in his arms, either. Instead, he moved off me and stood.

A wave of panic swept through my body. This was it. This was where he'd make it clear that this was nothing more than a quick fling. He looked down at me, obviously working up the nerve to say something.

I couldn't take it. I wasn't sure which would be worse—for him to dump me now or say goodbye at the end of the weekend and ghost me as soon as his bike hit the interstate.

No, I'd make sure neither of those things happened. I bolted upright and pushed myself to my feet.

"I have to go," I said. "I can't be seen creeping out of here at all hours of the night."

It was already all hours of the night. And if anyone caught me on the security cameras, I might very well be asked what I was doing on the premises so late.

But deep down, I knew that I could just tell them I'd hung out with an old friend. It wouldn't be a lie. That was exactly what I'd done.

"Will you be at the parade in the morning?" he asked.

I was in the process of sliding into my panties, but something in his voice stopped me. A hint of disappointment. More than a hint.

He was just upset that I was ending this before he could. Nobody liked the feeling of being rejected. Once he thought it over later, though, he'd probably be glad I put an end to things.

"Not sure," I said. "I'll try to make it, but mornings can be a time crunch."

I avoided eye contact as I made my way around the room, gathering my clothing and getting dressed. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I saw him watching me, not moving at all.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

Something about his tone caught my attention. Sadness? Rejection? Maybe a mix of both. I told myself it was what I'd decided earlier. Jesse simply wanted to be the one to walk away from this.

"You live eight hours away," I said. "It's the same issue we had the last time we met in this town."

"You were just out of high school then," Jesse said. "Things are different now."

I pulled my shirt over my head and began tucking it into my pants. "So, you're just going to uproot your life and move here to be with me?"

There was another option, of course. I could uproot my life and move to wherever he lived—Ohio, Illinois, Indiana… It didn't matter. As much as I loved this little mountain town, I was new here. I could certainly relocate somewhere else.

But that wasn't the point. The point was that he was going to hurt me. If we did make it past the weekend, there was no way he was in for a lifelong commitment after only a day with me. Dump or be dumped. That was the mission here.

I shook my head, trying to shut out the sight of him wearing only his underwear. "I have to go."

He was not just hot. He was adorable in every way. I'd already developed real feelings for him. Getting out of here now would just keep me from sinking even deeper.

"Makenna," Jesse said as I opened my mouth to say my goodbyes.

My body was angled toward the door, preparing for a quick exit, but the sound of my name caused me to squeeze my eyes shut. There was so much emotion when he said that one word. Nobody had ever said my name like that before.

"You can't just walk out after we found each other again," he said.

Found each other again. There it was—the promise of a future beyond what we'd already shared. I couldn't buy into it, though.

"This is better for both of us," I said. "It would only get harder from here. Goodbye, Jesse."

The hurt in his eyes went straight to my heart just as the sound of my name on his lips had seconds ago. I shut everything out and focused on getting out that door. Tomorrow it would be easier, and the next day and the next. Eventually, I'd forget about him. I'd done it once, and I could do it again.

But deep down, I knew it wouldn't be that easy.