Committed to You

Chapter 13 Confessions

Moonlight hadn't filtered through the canopy of trees. The heavy shower pelted through the leaves, dripping rain into the swollen waters of the creek. Jet and Sloan sat on their favorite rock, submerged up to their shoulders, when the water usually was no higher than their waists. They surely would not get any sleep. It was already 3:30 a.m.

Sloan was facing Jet with her arms and legs wrapped around him. Despite the cool waters, her body was blazing. Jet was kissing her as if she were about to become extinct. He probed the depths of her mouth, exciting her. It was not a gentle kiss. It was an intensely desperate one. His head turned, keeping her mouth firmly anchored to his. The vigor of his lips raged against hers, sending volts of pleasure up her spine. Her core wound tighter and tighter, throbbing. Everywhere he played inside her mouth spread like wildfire across her limbs.

She'd pull back long enough to get air and then went desperately with him again to a place that her emotions had never known. This was only a kiss. Her imagination wanted to drag her where this intensity could really go if she hadn't committed to helping him with his vow. But for a moment she saw it, the tall grasses around the creek hiding their passion—Jet on top, sending her into merciless oblivion. The fire in her core roared, and she rocked against him, wanting the ache to go away. He kissed her harder, the sweet pressure of his tongue making her moan. Her mind wanted to say, "I love you." She so desperately wanted him to hear it, but was so caught up in the pleasure of his kiss that she pulled him even closer and he went deeper still.

Her breasts under the very thin fabric of her shirt pressed hard into his chest, sparks flew everywhere. He slipped his hands up her back, splaying his fingers. Everywhere he touched, flames lit. She couldn't take it anymore. "Oh, Jet." Her head went back. The rain battered her face, making her more sensitive. He cupped her face and kissed her everywhere the raindrops splattered. Then he went back to her mouth and took her again. She was drunk with his kisses. He pulled back breathlessly. "I don't want to stop, Sloan."

Please don't. "But we must," she whispered. She wanted to tell him so badly that she didn't want him to stop. She wanted to tell him to place her on the banks of that creek and make love to her until the sun came up, but she didn't. Her body was still throbbing. She leaned her head on the part of his shoulder that was not submerged. He was breathing as heavily as she was. For Jet, celibacy was his penitence for what he perceived he'd done to her. She wouldn't mess that up for him. It was too important.

Jet stroked the top of Sloan's matted hair, while his other arm was draped tightly about her waist. "Sloan." She couldn't move. The way her body was feeling, all she wanted to do was to stay quiet and bring her body way, way down. He kissed her on the top of her hair and called her again.

Sloan answered him gently. "Jet, I need a moment to cool off."

He grinned, thinking about how much havoc he was working in her world as well as his. "I want you to know my intentions toward you."

She gazed up at him, happy to see him smiling. She stretched up and kissed him on the cheek. I love this man. "What are your intentions?"

"I intend to keep you. I intend to erase all of the pain that I have caused you in the past. I intend to marry you—if you will give me a second chance. Please say that you'll marry me, Sloan. We'll figure out later on how all the pieces can fit together about where I live and where you live. I need to know if you will have me as your husband."

"That was so sweet." As she thought about everything she loved about Jet, she began to tear up. He'd been her best friend. The one who had been there for every up she'd had and every down she'd had. He was the shoulder she could lean on. His words were the ones that encouraged her to be all that she could be. They knew each other's secrets. His hand held hers at her grandfather's funeral. He gave her the first kiss she'd ever had. Even though he'd switched places with Justin on prom night, his intent was good. If he couldn't be there, he'd make sure she wouldn't miss it. Did it make it right? No. But it was Jet doing what he did best—looking out for her. As she leaned against him, she could have sworn that he hadn't exhaled since he'd asked the question. "I want to thank you for asking me to marry you a second time. Yes, I will marry you."