To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five - J. S. Cooper Page 0,42

“Jagger, stop it, put me down!”

“Yes, ma’am.” He sat down and placed me over his lap so that my legs were hanging off the sides of his thighs. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but a dare is a dare.”

“Kingston Jagger Scott, you better not!” I gasped as I felt him lifting my towel up over my ass. “Jagger!” I almost screamed as I felt the cool air on my ass. I kept my legs closed and tried to turn over.

“That’s my name,” he growled. “This is because you dared me.” He lightly slapped my ass.

“Oh, hell no!” I wiggled in his lap, then stopped when I realized that all I was doing was making my towel ride even higher. “Jagger, let me go!”

But he just slapped me lightly again and then rubbed my skin. I moaned slightly at his touch. It felt good, sensual and warm, and his fingers were kneading my muscles, making me relaxed. I was annoyed at how much I was enjoying his touch; after everything that I’d just found out, I didn’t want him to think I was actually like this.

“Are you sure?” He slapped me once again and his fingers slipped down over the curve of my ass to my thighs. He was now cupping my ass cheeks and caressing my inner thighs. My body stilled as I waited to see what he was going to do next. I wanted him to touch me more intimately. Every nerve ending in my body wanted it, and yet as his fingers moved back and forth they never quite hit that spot. I moaned slightly and turned over, looking up at his face. He was looking down at me with a funny expression on his face. His soulful eyes were focused on mine, his hair was flopping over his forehead, and he had a half-smile on his face.

“You’re beautiful,” he said softly as he readjusted my towel. I just stared up at him, not knowing what to say. I wasn’t used to this more serious Jagger, and it unnerved me. His fingers moved to my collarbone and then up my neck and to my lips. He shifted beneath me, sighed, and then grinned before lifting me off of his lap. “Next time I do that, it won’t be as gentle.”

“Excuse me?” I blinked at him. “Next time?”

“Yes, next time.” He laughed. “But I should go and let you get ready for your appointment.”

“You’re leaving?” For some stupid reason I felt disappointed, but I tried to hide it as I sat up and ran my hand through my hair.

“Yeah.” He nodded and stood up. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

“I don’t know.” I bit down on my lower lip. “I need to think about everything.”

“I understand.” He nodded. “Will you at least tell me what your note meant?”

“It was a clue, letting you know that you could figure out my phone number by reading all of the notes and adding the numbers together.”

“What?” He threw his head back and laughed. “How the hell was I supposed to figure that out?”

“I don’t know. I thought you were smart.”

“Touché.” He grinned and then headed towards the door. “Well, you know my number and you know my door. Call, text, or leave me a note when you feel like going to dinner.”

“Okay, I will.” I gave him a small smile. “I’ll be seeing you.”

“I’ll be seeing you, too, Magnolia.” He lifted his hand and waved and then opened the door.

I watched as he walked out and shut the door behind him, then I sank back into the couch, tears welling up in my eyes. I was overwhelmed by everything I’d just found out and I didn’t know what to think. How was I supposed to take this information? Jagger had been the one that had told Doug and Daisy to go to his room. He’d wanted them to see us in bed together. He’d known it was me all along. It was too much to process.

I got up off of the couch and wiped my tears away. I had too much to do today to think about Jagger right now and I also wanted to know what Tate had lied about. I wondered if Jane had slept with him and found out he was married or something. As much as I would hate that to be true, a part of me hoped it was someone else’s turn for some drama. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, though, I