Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,122

the bathroom door and found Jared sitting on the bed, flipping through the limited number of channels.

He looked absolutely lickable, not that I was going to lick him, in his hot pink swim trunks. I didn’t see how any man could pull off pink swim trunks, but Jared definitely could. A sleeveless white top hid his tan chest.

“Ready?” he asked, focused on the TV, and not me.

“Yeah,” I said, moving across the room to grab my beach bag. I pulled the sunscreen out; rubbing it into the areas I could reach with my cover-up on.

“I talked to Holden, he said they should be here in about thirty to forty minutes.”

I laughed. “I still can’t believe you talked him into riding with Piper and Rollo. I’m sure he’s loving that.”

Jared shrugged. “It was stupid for us all to come separately, but I wanted to drive down here, just you and me,” he reached for my arm, pulling me against him. He leaned back so that I was lying flat on his chest.

“Jared!” I shrieked, my palms flat against his chest.

He was smiling at me, but there was seriousness in his eyes. He cupped my cheek. “What if I had never met you?” he whispered. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me? What you’ve made me feel?”

I shook my head.

He cupped my cheek. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said, “You make me feel worthy, Katy. I don’t like to talk about my past, but before you came along, what my father did to me, made me feel like the lowest scum on earth. But you showed me that wasn’t true. I’ve loved you for a long time, even before I said the words, and I think you felt the same. Even if you didn’t, it doesn’t matter, because I know you cared for me. What he did to me was horrible, but it was out of my control. Just like what Preston did to you wasn’t your fault. What we went through was tragic, horrible, but it’s made us stronger people. It has made us worthy of each other, Katy,” as the last syllable of my name was uttered; he crushed his lips to mine.

This kiss was rougher than any we had shared, almost desperate.

I gripped his shoulders, leaning into his mouth. My tongue flicked out, licking his bottom lip and he moaned in response, pressing against me.

My legs tightened around him and he gripped my thighs. My heart rate spiked in pleasure, not fear.

Jared pulled his lips from mine and I mewled in protest.

“Stop. We have to stop,” he was breathless. “If you keep kissing me like that this is going to lead somewhere I don’t think you’re ready for.”

“I am… ready, I mean,” I kissed his neck.

His hands tightened against my bare legs. “Please don’t say things like that to me where there’s barely any clothes separating me from your perfect body.”

“I want you, Jared,” I ground my hips against him, the friction sending shivers up my spine.

His fingers tangled in my hair and he opened his mouth to say something, when there was a knock on our hotel room door.

“Kaaaatttttyyyy? Jaaaaarrrreeee-Beeeeaaaarrrr? The party has aaaarrrriiivvveeeddd!” Rollo sang through the door. “Get your butts out here! I want to go to the beach!!! Katy? I know ya’ll are in there! I heard your voices!”

Jared sighed, running his hand through his hair. He lifted me off of him and sat me on the bed. “You,” he pointed at me, “are a temptress.”

“Just a second!” Jared called. He took a deep breath, looked at me for a moment, and then opened the door.

Rollo looked at Jared, then me, before his eyes settled on the rumpled bed. “Oh. I interrupted something.”

Jared chuckled and leaned against the open door, but didn’t say anything.

“Okay then…” Rollo looked embarrassed. “Uh, I’m heading down to the beach. Holden says he’s taking a nap and Piper is flirting with the check-in guy.”

“We’re going to the beach too,” I said.

“Uh-huh,” Rollo licked his lips. “That’s exactly what it looked like you were doing, baby cakes.”

I blushed and Jared groaned.

I stood, smoothing my cover-up, and grabbing my tote bag. My sunglasses were on top of my purse, so I added them to my already overflowing tote.

The walk down to the beach was quiet, which was surprising with Rollo in tow. I knew he was bursting with questions, but was waiting for Jared to leave.

We found an empty spot in the sand and I pulled out mine