When the day met the night

23

We had landed back in LA, I had walked slightly ahead of Jared while he talked on the phone confirming the car would be waiting for us. I heard a commotion in front of me and looked up gasping in surprise as a camera suddenly snapped in my face. Then another and another, it felt like they had surrounded me, I put a hand over my face turning away in a panic looking around for Jared. "Hey, cmon guys, that's enough" I heard his voice and felt his hand on my arm pulling me out of their circle, "give it a rest" he said to them firmly, he ignored their questions and led me away towards the exit. The reporters followed us but kept a safe distance, I could hear their cameras clicking furiously. I climbed into the waiting car and I breathed a sigh of relief, Jared got in the other side. "Are you okay?" he said, taking in the shock on my face. "I'm fine, they were... there was so many of them" I said quietly. "There was a few, not too many, I've had worse, someone must have tipped them off that we'd be landing" he said frowning. I supposed I'd have to get used to it, the thought made me anxious. "Hey, it's okay, they aren't always around, it's not like that all the time" he said smiling at me, sensing my uneasiness. I pushed the thoughts aside and smiled back nodding, "okay....so anyway, what do you want to do for the rest of the day Birthday boy?" I said grinning at him. His face broke into a wicked smile, "well I loved the way you woke me up, I could get used to that..." he said waggling his eyebrows. "Well I didn't get you a present so, I had to do something special" I said sweetly, recalling the feel of his hands buried in my hair, as he lost all control at the mercy of my mouth on him, he leaned over kissing my neck and he let out a soft groan remembering. "Well, my brother sent me a message, asking if we could go out for dinner, with him and mom?" he said waiting for my reaction. "Of course, whatever you want to do is fine with me" I said, the idea of dinner with his brother and mother made me nervous, but I'd do anything to make him happy. He grinned again, "okay great, I'll let him know" he took out his phone and sent off a text. I'd been in love before, but it had never felt this, such a strong desire please him, my heart pounded, the feelings were starting to scare me. How was I going to leave him? I felt sick at the thought. "Hey, what's wrong?" his voice broke through my racing thoughts, he must have noticed the look of dismay on my face. "Nothing.. I was just thinking... nothing really" I said quickly attempting to smile. "You're not a very good liar" he said frowning at me, the conversation had to wait as we had arrived at his house. Once we were inside I dumped my bags down, before I had a chance to move his arms wrapped around me and pulled me to him. "What's wrong? Why did you look so sad?" he said against my ear. I leaned into his chest, "I was just thinking about.. when I leave..." I said in a whisper. His arms tightened around me, "let's not think about then" he said quietly, I nodded, using every ounce of strength I had to hold back the tears that were trying to escape. "Come on" he said with a smile, "lets go up and get ready" he took my hand and led me upstairs.

I looked through my toiletries again, frustrated. "Jared?" I called out, he appeared at the door to the bathroom in just his jeans, he was barefoot and bare chested. My stomach clenched at the sight of him, a bolt of desire rushing straight down to my center. "Yes?" he said getting my attention, I mentally shook myself. He was grinning, he knew the effect he had on me, it was almost embarrassing at the amount of times he stunned me into silence with one look. "Um, have you seen my pills?" I said, he frowned shaking his head. "They were in that bag" he said coming over and looking into the bag I had just been searching. "Well they're not here now, did you take them..?" I said, suddenly remembering the conversation from the day before. He looked surprised, "no of course not, maybe you left them at the hotel" he said, I shook my head. "What did you do with them?" I demanded, I didn't quite believe him. "Are you calling me a liar? Harper I don't have them" he said defensively putting his hands on his hips, he looked annoyed. "No, I'm sorry... Fuck! Well it's only a few days, you've got condoms right?" I said frustratedly, he smiled again, "of course baby, don't worry" he said kissing my forehead, "I'm going to finish getting dressed" he said walking out a big smile on his face. I followed him out, "Jared.." I said suspiciously. He turned to look at me innocently, "yeah?" his smile stunning me. I suddenly felt guilty for suspecting him of trying to trick me. "Oh nothing, nothing.." I said shaking my head, he nodded looking at me curiously, then turned away to finish dressing and I shook my head at the fact that he was slowly but surely driving me crazy.