City to Sticks

Chapter Nine

9—Holly P.O.V.

Jake hadn't told me where we were going or how to dress. So I pulled on a pair of designer jeans and a sweater, with a scooped neck. It was form-fitting and showed off the cleavage my favorite Victoria's Secret bra put on display. I knew it was risky to dress like that with how hot and bothered Jake seemed to get in the barn. Hell, I was right there with him, which is why I decided on this outfit. I was hoping to entice him into more kisses, at the very least.

I reached for my heels, but at the last second put them back and grabbed my new cowboy boots instead. They were a little worse for wear, since I'd worn them while working in the barn, but I figured Jake would appreciate them over my fancy heels. Outside, I found Jake leaning against his truck. He looked like he was ready for a photo shoot. I could picture him appearing in some Country Living calendar or something. Honestly, if he did, I'd buy every calendar on the rack and use them to make wallpaper in my bedroom. Somehow I'd become slightly obsessed with him, which still scared me a little, but I was done fighting it. I wasn't sure what the future had in store of us, but we'd figure it out as we went along.

"Ready, Stormy?" Jake asked and when I met his eyes, he looked amused. He must have noticed me checking him out. I nodded and he opened the passenger door of his truck. When I went to get inside, he stopped me and leaned down, speaking against my lips, "You look good, Babe."

"Th—" He cut off my words of thanks with a deep kiss. My God he was addicting. I never wanted to stop kissing him. He made me forget about every boy I'd ever had a crush on before him. Kyle was nothing but a distant memory and the few kisses I'd shared with Kyle paled in comparison with the feeling of Jake's lips on mine.

"We should go." Jake said and helped me into the passenger seat. When he was behind the wheel, he patted the bench seat beside him. So I scooted over and he instantly put his right arm around me. I felt so secure when I was with him. I felt so...loved. I know that was stupid to feel. I'd only known him a little over a month, but if this what it felt like to be Jake's girlfriend, then sign me up.

When Jake parked his truck, a few minutes later, and cut the engine I asked, "You brought me back to the waterfall?"

He nodded, "I wanted you to see it during the day."

I smiled, "If you're still trying to convince me there is beauty here, then you don't have to do that anymore. I'm looking at beauty right now."

Jake glanced at me and frowned when he saw that I was looking at him, "Babe, the waterfall is that way."

I blushed and looked at my lap, unsure how to behave around him now. Before, when I was a snarky, know-it-all, city-girl, I didn't overthink things. Now that I was beginning to like it here, with him, I was questioning my every move. I didn't like feeling unsure, but I didn't know what to do about it. With Kyle and my one other boyfriend before that, I didn't feel so nervous and I now know it was because my feelings weren't involved. I had real feelings for Jake and it scared me. He'd said it before. We were so different, so how on earth could we possibly make this work?

"Hey, what are you thinking about that has that frown on your beautiful face?" Jake asked.

"You and me."

Jake frowned, "Well, I don't know if I like the sound of that. If you're thinking about us, then I want you smiling."

I waited for him to ask me to be his girlfriend, but he didn't. So then I began to doubt myself. He'd kissed me several times now and he seemed to like it, but what if he didn't? What if that's why he wasn't asking to make us an official couple? If I sucked at kissing, then there was no doubt I would suck at other things. No wonder he didn't want to make me his girlfriend. Stupid Wendy probably knew every trick in the book to make a guy feel good and I was up against that? Me, Miss Virgin?

"Hey..." Jake said and when I didn't look at him, he used his thumb to nudge my chin up, "What's with the sad face? I brought you out here to make you happy, not sad."

"I just don't know how to act around you now." I blurted.

He chuckled, "Babe, be yourself, at all times with me, ok?"

"Am I a bad kisser?" Holy crap, I just couldn't seem to get the filter to my mouth to turn on, apparently.

"What? How could you possibly think...God lord, the way your mind works..." Jake trailed off as he suddenly wound his arms around my waist and pulled me onto his lap, pulling one of my legs to the other side of him, so I now straddled him. I gasped at the intimate position. He cupped my face and leaned in, "You are far from a bad kisser, and in fact, I can't seem to get enough."

Then he kissed me and all of my worries seemed to melt away. He moved his hands, moving one to the back of my head, getting tangled in my hair. His other hand moved down my back until he rested it on my hip for several moments, but then he moved it again and then he was cupping my butt with one hand. I moaned into his mouth and instinctively rocked my hips against him. I was rewarded when he growled and nipped at my bottom lip, before he began to trail kisses down my neck. I shivered, it felt so good.

"I could spend all day tasting you." He spoke against my skin, intensifying my shivers.

Feeling like I should say something, I teased, "You probably say that to all of the girls."

Jake suddenly lifted his head and glared at me, "I think we should get something straight, right now. I don't say that to all of the girls. I've never wanted anyone the way that I want you. You make me want to turn into a caveman, drag you off somewhere, and do very wicked things with you. I've never been jealous before, but another guy even looks at you and I want to scream that you're mine, after I punch his lights out. Do you hear what I'm saying? So never think that you're replaceable, because Holly, you're not. Not to me."

"Ok." I whispered, believing him. It wasn't exactly what I had been looking for. He still didn't ask me to be his girlfriend, but his possessive words would have to do for now. They did make me feel marginally better. Then he was kissing me again and I stopped thinking all together.