Unwritten Rules (5 page)

It was futile. I knew I was going to see him; I needed to hear his voice.

I realized, as I exited the elevator and walked up to his door, that I had no idea what I looked like. I’d been rol ing around in bed and must look utterly disheveled. I supposed now was not the time to worry about vanity. Pushing my nerves down, I knocked on the door and held my breath when the piano stopped. When Meow hissed, I noticed how tight I was clutching him and loosened my hold just as Jonah opened the door. He looked confused, rubbing at his naked chest, frowning.

“Hey,” he said on an exhale.

His voice was rough but smoothed my raw edges, and before I had a chance to stop myself I said, “I don’t want to be alone, Jonah.”

He nodded in acknowledgment and opened the

door, al owing me to enter. I stepped nervously inside, not real y sure why I’d come to him. Then it hit me. It was the right thing to do.

I cradled the mug of coffee in my hands, trying to ignore the way my body tingled from Jonah’s proximity. He’d been so sweet, letting me into his apartment; bringing me a drink; and sitting next to me in silent comfort. We’d said very little since I’d knocked on the door. I wondered if that was because he didn’t know what to say or if I made him feel uncomfortable. The air was thick with tension, and even though it was turning sexual on my behalf, I doubted it was the same for him.

I couldn’t even believe I’d come and knocked on his door at midnight. I knew I should’ve cal ed J.J. or my mom, but Jonah was the only solace my body wanted right now.

It was crazy. I didn’t know him, and yet, I couldn’t deny the reality. It was sitting next to me in the form of my handsome neighbor. I stole a quick glance, only to see he was picking the same invisible fluff from his sweats as I was from my leggings. I knew I should feel embarrassed for going to him, but I didn’t.

I felt better.

Meow had raced across his apartment, and out

onto the fire escape almost as soon as I’d entered. Jonah had cal ed him back, and in the cat’s usual style, he turned and did what he wanted anyway. I should have gone after him, but al I could think of was seeking comfort. I just wanted to be held. I gulped every time Jonah shuffled in his seat, as it brought his thigh into contact with my own. Even though we were both clothed the connection was as intimate as if we were naked. My skin was electrified, my thoughts al jumbled. Jonah Quinn had me confused as hel .

“Do you feel better?”

I jumped at the sound of his gravel y voice. It seemed too loud in the quiet room, and my heart thundered against my chest. Al I could do was nod. I didn’t trust my own voice. My reactions to him were never what I thought they’d be.

“I don’t want to question you too much. I just need to know you’re okay.”

I swal owed before admitting defeat and

speaking, “I didn’t want to be alone, and I heard your music...”

His fingers touched my wrist, sending little pulses up my arm. His eyes went wide, tel ing me he felt it too. What was I supposed to do about that? I was at a loss for words. He proceeded to take the mug from my grasp and sat it down on the table. I nearly lost my ability to breathe upon his touch.

His dexterous fingers took hold of my hands,

pressing them between his own as he turned in his seat to face me. I squeezed my thighs together at the intensity of his expression, feeling guilty for my response. Would my body always give me away?

“I...um...I waited up for you. I could hear

you...crying. I just wanted to know you were sleeping before I turned in.”

His cheeks flushed the sweetest shade of pink. I smiled. I couldn’t stop it. We were mere strangers, and yet he’d stayed awake because he knew I was upset. Acting on pure instinct, I rested my head on his shoulder and inhaled his scent, closing my eyes to absorb the connection. Our breathing was steady, deep; our heartbeats both throbbing rhythmical y, but his constant shuffling gave him away.

“Do you want me to leave, Jonah?” I questioned, my voice low.

I felt his throat constrict, but continued to focus on our hands. He hadn’t let go, so that had to be a good sign, didn’t it? I studied his fingers in the low light. I’d always expected them to be smooth, but I could see, as wel as feel, the smal cal uses along the tips. I deduced that they were from his guitar playing, though from his huge desk in the corner, they very wel could be from his drawing. I was stil pondering those rough fingers when he spoke, his lips moving against my hair.

“N-no,” he stammered, nerves getting the better of him. “I’m glad you came to me. I’m not a real social person, so I’m sorry if I seem rather strange.”

I huffed then smiled, patting his knee. “Strange wouldn’t be on my top-ten list of descriptions for you.”

“Oh? What would?”

His voice was stil low, yet I couldn’t miss the slight lift to his tone. So taking his lead, I kept mine light and teasing.

“Hero.”

“And?”

“Fishing for compliments, Jonah?”

“El e, please look at me.”

It was a demand rather than a request.

Regardless, I did as he bid and tilted my head to meet his gaze.

I gasped at what I saw. The sound was captured in his mouth as his lips met mine. I was frozen in shock, al owing his lips to caress my own, and when the tip of his tongue touched mine I responded.

Jonah’s hands clasped mine tighter as our

tongues slid seductively against one another. He tasted of toothpaste with a hint of the coffee he’d taken a smal sip of. It was intoxicating. I moved closer for more, he released my hands so that he could hold my face and deepen the kiss. If I’d have been standing my knees would have buckled; his kiss was so startling. He was making the butterflies in my stomach go wild. This was a first kiss like no other, and one I didn’t want to end anytime soon. When he moved a hand to my waist and tugged a

little, I could only hope he wanted what I did. Our connection was severed for a moment while he sat back on the couch, but pul ing at my hips. He wanted me to straddle him. My head was yel ing for me to stop. I knew nothing about him. I was vulnerable, but then he seemed just as sad as I did tonight.

I bit down on those thoughts and sat on his thighs, facing him. His fingers squeezed my hips as I gazed down at him. His lips were swol en from the kiss, and his blue eyes sparkled. I liked his brand of comfort, getting lost in Jonah was exactly what I needed.

I had so many questions for him. I wanted to know where this was going, but when I opened my mouth to ask, he stopped me by placing a finger across my lips. He shook his head before moving his hand around to cup the back of my neck, then pul ed me back down into a searing kiss. Our lips progressed from slow to gentle to crazed and desperate in a matter of seconds. Our steady breaths became short pants as the silence was fil ed with purrs of approval.

This was spiraling fast, and when he moved his mouth to my neck I knew that this was the time to stop him –

to take stock of where this was heading. I forgot what I was thinking the instant his fingers pushed underneath the back of my sweater. They rippled across my rib cage at the same time his teeth started to nibble on my col arbone. My hands pushed into his hair, gripping the strands, hoping to gain an anchor in my twisted little world. Jonah only made the insanity worse when he rol ed his hips, thrusting his arousal against me, clarifying exactly what he wanted. I had two choices. Flight or fuck.

My loud moan when his tongue slid against the

column of my throat gave me my answer. I couldn’t run now. I wanted this – wherever it was going.

“Jonah?” I gasped.

He kept his face level with my chest; his fingers stil tickling my back, when he spoke.

“So long,” he whispered with reverence. “Too

long.”

I frowned, perplexed by his short ramble. It was quickly forgotten the instant he raised his hips again. At that moment nothing could have stopped me.

Nothing at al .

“El e. I need you.”

I blinked, but knowing a smal smile was playing across my face. In tomorrow’s light of day this may seem like a mistake but right now it was dark, and I was consumed with lust. Things had never looked better.

“Please,” I begged, rol ing my hips against him. His reply was a predatory smile shortly before he began to pul my sweater over my head. I went along with it, shaking my hair and letting it cascade down my back and across his fingers. I heard a low rumble, so I repeated the action, filing away the fact that he enjoyed the soft caress of my hair.

I sat partial y naked before him, a perfect stranger. I should have been embarrassed, but I wasn’t. In fact, I felt bolder knowing he wanted me. We’d danced around each other for far too long. If tonight was al we had, then I would embrace it with open arms.

I refused to think about the morning.

Jonah moved back slightly, taking in my bare

chest. He licked his lips and circled a nipple with a single finger as if he were seeing one for the first time. I watched and waited, although my hips had a mind of their own and rocked gently against his erection. Neither of us spoke as his hand trembled on my body. The silence was seductive. I placed my hands on his torso, skimming my

palms across his toned abdomen.

“Now,” I breathed, only trusting myself with the one word.

His lips met mine again in a deep, thorough kiss. They demanded; they devoured; and they left me gasping for breath.

I yelped when he lifted us up, spinning us around and placing me on my back across the couch. He held onto the waistband of my leggings and paused. It was a silent question, one I answered with an action of my own; I lifted my hips al owing him to remove them. The black fabric was flung over his shoulder. I heard a low moan that emanated from his chest. It made me smile. He obviously liked what he saw. Excited by his reaction, I spread my legs and drank in his tattooed torso. The black images stood out on his pale skin as the shadows highlighted the muscles of his abdomen. I fought to stop my thighs from clenching. The ache that had begun to grow in my center became more intense as I stared at his glorious body.

Jonah seemed to read my mind, because he

stood, ridding himself of his sweats before climbing on top of me and blanketing me in his warmth.

“Please,” I whimpered, knowing I was only

repeating my earlier statement.

“El e...I don’t...I don’t know where this-”

I stopped him by kissing him with a deep kiss. I didn’t want him regretting this before we’d even done anything. He seemed to understand and reciprocated with just as much lust. He skimmed his hand down my body, cupping my ass, and moving my leg around his hip. It brought his erection in line with my sex. I bucked against him, hoping he’d ease my ache soon. He seemed to enjoy my delirium and rol ed his arousal against me once more. It slipped between my folds, eliciting a sigh. I was going to beg again, when I felt the tip of him touch my entrance. I shifted my stance, grasped his hips, and pushed against his shaft with al the force I had.

I whimpered.

Jonah hissed.

Elation flooded my body, head to toe. I felt so ful , so utterly consumed by him. He remained stil , al owing my body to adjust to the invasion. His body, his warmth, his lips; al teasing mine. Every part of Jonah was connected to me. It was sending my need into overdrive. As if reading my thoughts, Jonah pul ed away slightly, and waited a second before thrusting back into me. Gasps fil ed the apartment; each of us being carried away in this blissful moment. My thoughts dispersed around his third thrust, leaving behind nothing except a body desperate for things only he could deliver. Urging him on, I squeezed my thighs tighter around his hips and was rewarded with a low hum. His fingers dug into my ass, pul ing me as close as he could, as his hips sped to keep up with my pace. I was having difficulty breathing and reluctantly moved my lips from his, burying my face in the crook of his neck. His scent was stronger there. I felt myself become wetter with each breath I took. Jonah felt it too, because he groaned and began to pump into me with force.

We became a mixture of thrusts, moans, kisses, and sighs. I couldn’t get enough of him; couldn’t feel him deep enough. Our breathing was labored. I was clawing at his back desperate for my release. My stomach began to clench, showing just how close I was to completion. Jonah stared down at me, and breathed one word before I shattered into a thousand pieces, “El e.”

I arched against him, throwing my head back and moaning as every cel in my body was flooded with happiness. Jonah shuddered and grunted above me as his hips slowed and eventual y coming to a stop. We were left fighting for breath and struggling to right our equilibrium. Neither one of us could move, though his weight was crushing me. As Jonah became responsive, he shuffled us awkwardly around. We lay side by side on the couch facing each other. His stunned expression mirrored my own. My skin was stil buzzing as aftershocks wracked Jonah’s torso.

What were we supposed to do now?

I opened my mouth, but again, he had other ideas and began a luscious, thorough kiss. He held my neck with his hand, tilting me into a much deeper position. His tongue and teeth teased my lower lip, eliciting incoherent whimpers from me. I went along with his arousing demand and eventual y moved my face back to his neck. I nuzzled the crook of it, feeling his rumbled sigh reverberate down his throat.