Unwritten Rules (31 page)

My heart clenched; my stomach sank, and I

reached out to take his hand. “Quinn, I’l be honest because there’s no point in lying to you. It’s true finding someone may be harder than most, but once you find that person she’l love you no matter what. The chair wil be of little significance. I assure you.”

“That’s what Mom says.”

“She’s right,” I replied, stroking his arm. “You’l see. I know it’s not my place to tel you what to do, Quinn, but talking to Jonah might help. He has more insight regarding this than you realize.”

He nodded, but I didn’t think he believed me. I decided to change the topic in the hope that he would brighten up.

“Have you seen your brother’s tattoos? The one on his side is a copy of his comic book character.”

Quinn inhaled sharply, before bursting into

laughter.

“What?” I smiled, his laugh was infectious.

“Jonah wouldn’t be happy with you cal ing them comic books. They’re graphic novels.”

I held my hands up in surrender, stil giggling at his reaction when I felt someone behind me. Fingers interlaced with mine. I sighed, relaxing into him. When he spoke, his words rumbled through me. I shivered decadently.

“Are you flashing your birthday present around already?” He muttered loud enough for Quinn to overhear.

“It’s your birthday? Does Mom know?” Quinn

questioned, already starting to twist his chair around. Jonah nodded. “I just told her. She’s not happy that she didn’t know before. She’s asked for your mom’s number so that she can make sure she has al the relevant dates, for future reference of course.”

“She what?” I responded somewhat hysterical y.

“Don’t panic, but to be honest, you’l need to get used to my mom wanting to know things about you. She’s only skimmed the surface.”

He backed me up against the side of the house, his hands cupping my face, as he uttered softly, “And so have I.”

Quinn sniggered, before rol ing his chair into the house. We heard him yel out for his mom. I grinned, but sobered when my eyes met Jonah’s.

“Is Quinn okay? He’s been somewhat short with

me. I mean, I expect it, real y I do, but I thought maybe-”

I stopped his ramble by placing my finger across his lips. “Quinn wil be just fine. Thing is, he needs his big brother. He needs someone to talk to about what he’s feeling. I’m certain you’l be able to help him. This could help move your relationship forward. Your parents wil feel more comfortable if you guys are getting along.”

“Thank you,” he exhaled, nuzzling my neck. “This whole situation was easier with you. Damn, who am I kidding? It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t met you. From that first day I saw you, I knew you were different. I knew you were special.”

“Is that why you avoided me?”

He kissed the skin beneath my earlobe, his chest pushing against mine. My right hand was on his shoulder, and the light glinted off the diamond.

“I avoided you because you scared the hel out of me! I was stupid. Forgive me?”

He shot me a sad puppy look, but the dimple on his right cheek gave him away.

“You’re not sorry at al !” I spluttered, giving a weak shove to his chest.

His arms tightened around me, whispering his

next words into my ear, “I am sorry, because time has been wasted. I’ve done that with you and with my family. I’m not doing it anymore. El e, I love you.”

“Good. Because I love you, too. Now we’d better go and help your mom with the party.”

Jonah interlocked his fingers with mine and led me into the house. Though it was my birthday, and I missed my mom, being with Jonah’s family as they healed and forged new bonds felt so right. I belonged here. For the next three hours I prepared food, mixed drinks, and helped decorate the house. We worked in perfect synchronicity, dancing around each other as we moved around the house. I laughed along with Emily as she told stories about when Jonah was a boy, and then grew solemn when she recounted the times when she needed her son but he was no longer there. Emily didn’t cry, however. She retold the stories with a smile on her face, but touched Jonah several times to reassure herself that he was real y back home.

It was heartwarming to watch.

When I went to shower and change my clothes I

could stil hear them talking in the kitchen. It confirmed that I’d made the right choice when I decided to push Jonah into reconciling with his family. He needed them, and they needed him.

I was in Jonah’s bedroom, drying my hair when

the first guests arrived. After that they came thick and fast. I wondered just how many people could fit into the house, because it wasn’t large by any means, and I was nervous about meeting their family and friends. I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time, hoping the dress I was wearing was conservative enough for Jonah’s family, yet sexy enough to impress the man himself. I fluffed my hair, and applied some more lip gloss, before slipping on my blue heels.

“Wel now, Happy New Year to me.”

“Is it?” I questioned, as Jonah wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“Has your mom stopped crying yet?”

He chuckled, the sound skittering across my body, breaking out the goose-bumps. “Can you image how emotional she’l be when I propose properly?”

“When?”

He turned me to face him and kissed the tip of my nose. “You know it’l happen, Red, and you’l say yes.”

I took hold of the col ar of his white shirt and tugged him back down to my lips. “Awful y, sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Only with you, and only
because
of you.”

We kissed with a slow, tender passion; his hands caressing my body with deliberate seduction. I wriggled out from his embrace, wagging my finger at him and smiling when he pouted.

“We need to join the party, especial y now that it has turned into a
pre-engagement
one.”

Jonah opened the bedroom door. He placed his

hand on my hip as he guided me into the hal way.

“And let’s not forgot your birthday,” he murmured.

“Do you have a party every New Years?”

He shrugged. “They didn’t when I was younger,

perhaps because I would have stolen the liquor. Then I would have caused a commotion.”

“Yes,” his mom confirmed, walking out of the

kitchen, glasses of wine in both hands. “He would have. But we won’t be here with Ben.” She patted Jonah’s cheek.

“This is my son. He changed himself when he changed his name.”

Jonah hugged her. Tears prickled my eyes at the sight of the two of them embraced. I wasn’t going to disturb them. I turned to go help in the kitchen, but Jonah reached out and hooked my pinkie in his. A couple of minutes later, Tom came through holding a platter of finger food.

“Can I join the love-in?” he laughed.

Emily tittered, and let go of Jonah. “You two go and watch the fireworks with Quinn. Mr. Driver sets them off every hour until midnight.”

I walked to the door, but Emily stopped me,

tapping me on the shoulder and pul ing me into a hug. She kissed my cheek and whispered, “Thank you for making my family whole again.”

Word failed me, so I gave her a shy smile.

“Stop daydreaming, and come outside, Red,”

Jonah teased as he passed my sweater to me.

He pul ed me out onto the porch, smiling at the other guests that littered the garden. The people accepted Jonah without question, welcoming him into the community. I wondered if the Samuels had spoken to any neighbors that remembered him, or if they simply introduced him as Jonah, their son.

Quinn seemed happier after our chat. He was

talking and joking with his Jonah again. I hoped that in the next three days they could strengthen and mend their broken bond.

“You’re in your own world tonight, baby. What’s wrong?”

Jonah’s warmth seeped into my back as he stood behind me, cuddling me close. I rested my head back onto his chest, feeling his breaths ruffle my hair. I was utterly content.

“Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking.”

“About?”

“How everything is about to change.”

His lips tickled my neck as he exhaled and then spoke, “It is, but remember one thing; I love you. That wil never change.”

“That’s good, because you promised to put this ring on my other hand, and apparently I’m going to accept.”

His arms tightened around me. “Oh, you wil . Now tel me you love me too.”

I smiled, lifting my hand to stroke his cheek. “I love you, Jonah. I real y do.”

I was utterly content being in his arms as we stood on the porch watching fireworks. And though it wasn’t a fairy tale, I had no doubt that everything would be just fine for Jonah and I. Our story was just beginning, with the rules yet to be written.

Six months later.

“So? Do you like it?”

Jonah hummed, peppering my shoulder and neck

with kisses. He wasn’t looking at the monitor; he was far too interested in seducing me. Normal y I wouldn’t mind, but today I was showing him the result of al my hard work. I was showing him the website I had created for his graphic novels.

It had been difficult, and sometimes frustrating, but it was the best work I had ever created. It was a basic black and gray color scheme, with pencil sketches of his characters bordering the main menu. Clicking on each character would take you to a new section of the site, each having its own soundbite. I was incredibly proud of it.

“Jonah, you hate it, don’t you? Oh God, I’l scrap it

– start again.”

He held the seat of my chair, spinning me around to face him. He blockaded my body by placing his hands on the arms of the chair, then he leaned in low. “I love it. It’s perfect. I’m blown away by your talent. I guess I’m just overwhelmed that you wanted to do this for me.”

“So you’re doing what you always do?” I

questioned, quirking a brow at him.

He shook his head; his longer hair whipping at his cheeks. “I’m not hiding behind sex with you, baby.”

“Good.” I wound my arms around his neck.

“Because you have enough therapy classes to attend without adding sex to the list.”

His chuckle skittered across my skin, and a

delicious shiver wracked my body. Jonah’s lips moved back to my ear as he whispered, “You are an addiction I would never want a cure for.”

“Oh, Mr. Smooth. You have al the right words, don’t you?” I teased.

His teeth grazed my lobe, amplifying my lust

tenfold. He was evil, sent to Earth to torture me with his nimble fingers and seductive drawl. Pure evil. He brushed aside the question, sucking my

earlobe into his mouth, then whispering, “I cal ed Mom. She got the flowers and has the guest room ready for next weekend.”

I tried to concentrate on his words, rather than his lips but it was impossible. Jonah knew it, and he was keeping the conversation light on purpose. Did I mention he was evil?

I tried to pul him closer, wondering if I could overpower him enough to switch places and straddle his lap. It was futile though, my man wouldn’t budge.

“Problem, baby?”

I shoved at his chest, standing up when he

stumbled back. “Nope, not at al . Hadn’t you better get going to
Cellar
?” I replied dismissively.

“Yeah, in a bit.” His arms came around my waist, and he pushed his hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “I want some attention from you first.”

He pouted, putting on his best sad puppy face

and eliciting a light giggle from me. “I give you far too much attention. Meow feels pushed aside.”

“Meow needs to find himself a female. Everything wil fal into place when he does that.”

I snorted at his innuendo, though the expression on his face told me he had no idea what had amused me. I lifted my hands, combing my fingers through the front of his hair and watching as he closed his eyes, reveling in my touch.

“Did everything fal into place for you then?”

Jonah hummed, lowering his head without

opening his eyes, and kissed me. He poured every ounce of love and devotion he felt into it. I was left breathless. I was always left breathless. I worried I would become complacent with him, because I had with Nathan, but Jonah was always a revelation.

“My life was dark, tortured, and empty before you found me. You brought the light, Red. I love you.”

I hugged him tightly, wanting to stay in his arms forever. I could never get enough of him, of us. I grumbled when he removed his hand from my pocket, unhooking my left arm from his neck. I thought he was about to lock his pinkie with mine, but instead he skimmed his thumb across the base of my left ring finger.

“Looks a bit bare, doesn’t it?” He rasped.

I swal owed, not wanting to get excited,

murmuring, “I suppose.”

Jonah reached for my right hand, making eye

contact as he slipped the diamond ring he’d given me off my finger. Butterflies began rioting in my stomach. I had to mental y tel myself to breathe.

“I bought you this for your birthday, promising you that when the time was right I would move it onto the other hand. That time is now.”

He bent down on one knee, gazing up as tears