***

We kiss for so long our lips begin to ache. When we finally pull away, we look into each other eyes.

Talking, without speaking.

But something needs to be said, because I never want to go another day without him knowing.

“Jake, I am so much more than a lot in love with you.”

And then he kisses me again, but this time, it’s different. This time it’s less intimate and more passionate.

He dips his tongue in further as he positions himself on top of me. His weight held up by his forearms.

He kisses with so much passion I almost forget that this is our first time. His lower body pressed against mine and his hardness grinding into me.

His kisses move from my mouth and work there way to my jaw, then down my neck to my chest.

I’m trying to take his shirt off because I need to feel him, all of him. He sits up to remove his shirt and does the same with mine.

“I want you so bad, Kayla,” he whispers into my neck.

“I’m all yours,” I tell him. Because I am.

And then he reciprocates.

Three times in a fucking row, he reciprocates, and it feels so fricken good, I don’t know if I’m dreaming it. After the second time, I beg him to stop but he just keeps fucking going, with his mouth and his tongue and his fingers, and I know that everything before must have been done so goddamn wrong, because Jake Andrews knows. He knows how to do things so goddamn right.

Once he's inside me, I work it out, why I never felt like this before. Because if I compare my feelings for Jake to anyone else, then I know. I know I’ve never loved anyone before. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.

Chapter 49

*Mikayla*

*Age 8*

“Okay, sweetheart. What story would you like to read?”

“I want you to tell me a story, my own story please, Mommy,” she smiles at me. Her brown eyes softening when she sees my pleading face.

“Okay, I’ll tell you a very special story. It’s a fairytale, about kissing a Prince.”

“Yuck, Mommy! Kissing is gross.”

She laughs a little. I don’t know why, I don’t think it’s funny.

“This is about a special kiss. Are you ready?”

“Yep.” I nod.

“One day in the future Kayla, you’ll meet a handsome Prince. A Prince so handsome, he will make your heart skip.”

I giggle, so does she.

“Every Princess has one Prince to share the loves and joys of life, and do you know how that Princess knows which Prince is hers?”

“How Mommy?”

“From the kiss.”

“But how?”

“The very first kiss with your Prince will change your life. When your lips touch for the first time, the earth will feel like it stops moving, but in the same moment, the world around you spins. It’ll feel like fireworks in the night sky. Like a bright light in the darkness. You’ll feel your heart beat fast in your ears but silence will surround you. And when you pull apart and open your eyes and look at each other, and really see each other. You’ll know it in that moment, through that kiss, that you’ve just let someone own a piece of your heart, and you’ll live happily ever after.”

Chapter 50

*Mikayla*

"Jesus Christ, Kayla. Where the fuck have you been? Where is your phone?" His hands are out, asking me to hand it to him. I get it out of my purse. It's flat.

I've just walked into the house and everyone is here. Jake, Logan, Lucy, Cam, Heidi and Dylan.

Jake takes the phone off me and sees it's dead.

He walks to the bedroom in a huff, presumably to charge it.

When he walks back he seems pissed.

"Start charging your fucking phone, Kayla. I'm sick of this shit,” he growls out.

"Jake,” Logan says, its a warning.

I look at Jake, he's never acted like this before.

Only that one time when he thought me and Logan were fucking around.

Jake snaps his eyes to Logan, then looks to me, and his features even out. Something else takes over.

He walks up to me and takes my hands, I'm wary, because I don’t know what the hell is going on.

"I'm sorry, baby. I've just… we've been trying to call you. Has no one talked to you today?"

I look at him, brows furrowed, confusion all over my face. I sweep the rest of the room and everyone is watching me, waiting.

For what?

I slowly shake my head no.

"I'm scared, Jake. What's going on?"

He takes my hand and walks me to our bedroom.

He sits me on the edge of the bed and starts pacing the room.

He keeps looking up at me, and I know he's nervous or something, like he's trying to find the right words to say next. It's like the conversation is playing out in his head and he keeps restarting it.

He's opened his mouth three or four times already but keeps snapping it shut, changing his mind.

What the fuck is going on?

"What the fuck is going on? Just say it already. You're scaring me. Is it your parents? Did something happen? Julie?"

"Shit!" he says. "No, baby, shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. No, they're all good. It's not that, sorry, babe.”

"Then what is it? Just tell me. Just get it out. Please?”

He sits on the floor, on his heels, in front of me.

His head bowed.

His hands hold both of mine, playing with the rings on my fingers. My mom and dad’s wedding and engagement rings.