Their Broken Pieces by Jessica Gomez
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jasmine
When I wake up with a smile plastered on my face, all I can think about is my dream. My very delicious dream.
As warm sensations fill my body, I realize the blankets have nothing to do with it. The dream was not a dream at all. I’m in Alex’s room, in his bed, wrapped in his arms. I refuse to open my eyes; afraid the moment will end.
“Jasmine.” His deep voice vibrates against my ear. “You awake?”
I smile against his chest. “No.” He chuckles at my response. “How’d you know I was awake?”
“Your breathing changed.” How long has he been awake listening to me breathe?
Suddenly, realizing how close we are and the paltry amount of clothes that separate us, I become self-conscious. Had last night only happened because we’d been drinking? Did he want me to leave, but wanted to avoid being rude? Feeling all kinds of confusion, I try to pull away.
He tightens his grip, preventing any movement. “Don’t,” he whispers in my ear. “Stay with me.”
“You really want me here?” I want him to say it again, to make sure I heard him right the first time.
“Sí I want you here. Andrew moved out for the rest of the week. Why don’t you move in?” I lean up and search his eyes, thinking about his offer. “You don’t have to sleep with me. We can get housekeeping to put new sheets on that bed.” He strokes my hair reflexively, glancing at Andrew’s bed. “I would much rather you sleep with me. I could get used to this.”
Tilting my head, I offer him my lips. I want him to make the first move, since my confidence left my system, just like the alcohol. Liquid courage… HA! More like liquid stupid!
He understands what I’m offering and leans down to press his lips to mine. His kiss is even better now that the numbness is absent from my lips. His hands stay in one place, worried about traveling. Giving him approval, I trace my fingers over his side and dip the tips of my fingers in his waistband. He’s excellent at picking up my signals and slips his hand under my borrowed tank. His fingers are warm against my body, tracing slow, searing patterns along my ribs. His tongue glides over the part of my lips, enticing me to open for him. I protest and tease for a moment before meeting my tongue with his. When they touch, soft and slippery, a soft sigh escapes, encouraging him to pull me tighter to his hard, muscular body, a place that I very much enjoy. If I died right now, the After wouldn’t seem so bad.
Right then, a flash of Margret smothering my father flashes before my eyes, causing me to pull away from Alex and gasp.
“Alex, I can’t do this.” I’m shaking my head, on the verge of tears.
“Sí we can.” He nestles me tight against his chest, burning away any objections with his body heat.
“What if she finds out?” Saying her name hurts too much, but he knows who I’m referring to.
“A couple of my guys are the only ones who know I helped you home. Nobody knows you’re in my room right now.” His smirk is mischievous. “No one needs to know. We can be a secret, at least until we figure out what to do about your mom,” he growls.
My mind is spinning. If I stayed in Alex’s room the entire week, Molly will surely blab. She doesn’t know where I am, but she could tell the chaperone I’ve been missing, and they would check. If they called Margret and told her, my father would be doomed.
“Jaz, you’re overthinking.” He speaks into my ear, reading the worry on my face. I can’t believe he’s not taking this as seriously as I am.
Before I think about my words, they’re out into the air. “You’d be overthinking it too if it was your dad being threatened!”
My mouth drops open, and instantly, I’m ashamed of my words. That was not how I meant that to sound.
He moves me off his chest to turn away and sit up on the side of the bed. One of my hands is still touching his back. I scoot to him and straddle his back as if we were on his motorcycle together and wrap my arms around him, placing my cheek between his shoulder blades. His breathing changed from slow and even to quick and agitated.
“Alex… I’m so sorry. I cannot believe I just said that. You know that’s not how I meant it. She’s threatening to smother my dad to get back at me. Please understand what I mean?” My words grow thick and uneven. “Please, Alex. I’m just so scared.”
He turns to me, picking me up somehow and placing me on his lap, my legs wrapping around him. I burry my face into the crook of his neck, breathing him in, wondering if he’s going to kick me out now.
A tear escapes without my permission and runs down his chest like a raindrop. He wraps his hand around my neck and pulls me back, staring directly into my soul. “It’s all right. You’re safe now. We’ll figure something out together about Margret.”
“Are you mad at me for what I said?” Searching his face, I see no anger or animosity. All I see is desire, lust, and maybe something else that neither one of us is ready to admit. On that thought, flashes of last night bombard me, and I suck in a shocked breath. Did I tell Alex that I loved him? I think I also might have told him I was a virgin. OH. MY. GOD. I’m an idiot.
He notices the sudden change and questions, “What’s wrong?”
“Do you remember last night?” I ask bashfully.
“Sí Do you?” His eyes are playful and he’s smiling.
What else did we do? I remember kissing and touching, trying to reach the next level when he stopped us, but am I missing anything else?
“Some. Can you fill me in?”
“We didn’t have sex, if that’s what you’re worried about. I would never do that to you… at least not while you’re drunk.” His smile is ear to ear, and I think I catch a bit of pink on his tan face.
“That’s part of it.” I put my face in my hands, the warmth already consuming my features. “I’m such an idiot.” I shake my head.
He laughs, pulling my hands down at the same time. I’m glad he finds this so amusing. It’s not like I drink, as in, ever. The last time alcohol touched my lips, Jace told me it would be fun. I ended up throwing up all night.
“Don’t hide from me, mamacita. You don’t have to be embarrassed about anything with me.”
I study him, and I know he means it. His jaw’s set and his eyes are serious. “Did I say anything stupid?”
He laughs again. “Would you like a recap of the night?”
I nod, hiding my face against his neck again. “Yes, please.” I laugh softly. “I remember Andrew, walking on the beach, running into someone, and trying to get around him. From there, it’s glimpses, but they have you in them.”
“All right, I’ll start from when I kicked Mario’s ass for messing with you.”
“You did what?” I remembered some guy trying to… I’m not sure what he was trying to do.
“I warned him and everyone else not to touch you again… Ever. He failed to listen to an order, and that’s how we take care of business.” He’s waiting for a protest, but I know nothing about his world, so I stay quiet, waiting for him to finish. “After I took care of him, you went over and slapped the shit out of the girl I was with.”
I couldn’t help it. I laugh hysterically. “I can’t believe I did that. You know, I’ve always wanted to do that to someone.”
He’s laughing with me, jostling me around on his lap. “Yeah, I’m surprised you didn’t yell out, ‘I’m Rick James, bitch!’ and then slap her.”
My laughing slows as I think about Alex with another girl. I’m jealous. The girl from last night is the same one from the bathing suit store, the one that was talking about him sexually.
“Alex, can I ask you something?”
“Anything. Always.”
“Did you have sex with her? The girl at the fire?” I explain before he answers. “When I went to get my new suit, she was there at the store. She was talking to her friends, telling them about what you two had accomplished. I just…” I just, what? I have no control over him. He can do and be with whoever he wants.
“No, muneca. I didn’t sleep with her.” He pauses and looks directly into my eyes. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He traces his pointer finger from the bottom of my ear, down my jaw, and softly traces my lower lip.
I breathe out a sigh of relief. I may have been holding my breath. I’m not sure at this point. “Okay,” is all I can think of to say?
“So, after you slapped her silly, we went for a swim.” My eyes grow wide. “Hey, you’re very strong-willed. I tried to talk some sense into you, but you went anyway.” A glare of warning crosses my feature. “Don’t worry, I went in after you. I mean, you stripped your shirt off and told me to come and save you.”
“Oh, no! Can last night get any lamer at this point? I’m so sorry… for all of it.” I’m such a total dumbass.
Alex leans back to lift my chin. “Don’t be shy with me.” His smile reveals more than his words ever could, and then he has to ruin it. “I mean, who would have thought the first time I’d see you topless would be while you’re wasted and in the ocean swimming.”
I slap his chest. “Stop teasing.”
He laughs. “Let’s see… where did I leave off at? Oh yeah, you topless in the water.” He smiles again. “We stood in the water for a while, then…” His smile falls fast remembering something from the night before.
“That bad?” I ask.
He tightens his grip and rubs my arms protectively. “Then I saw your bruises. Looking at you like that…”
Tears well and my eyes drop, ashamed. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Jasmine, look at me.” I do, without hesitation. “This is not your fault.”
“No, Alex, I could have stayed away. I could have avoided talking to you.” I’m a whimpering mess.
“No, I don’t think you could have.” A sad smile lifts the corner of his lips.
I know he’s right. He’s like a magnet, an unseen force pulling us together; I have no control over myself when he’s near. “So what else happened?”
He thinks for a moment before continuing. “I gave you my shirt and had Carlos kick Andrew out for the rest of the week.”
“I remember that.”
“When we finally made it back, I gave you the clothes you’re wearing now and tucked you into bed. I was going to offer to sleep on the floor, but you didn’t want me that far away from you.” He pauses. “We enjoyed each other’s company for a while before I stopped because I knew we were too drunk. Then, you told me you loved me, and that you’re a virgin.”
I may spontaneously combust with how red my face is turning. The headlines would read, GIRL DIES FROM EMBARRASSMENT! So dumb. “I’m sorry you had to deal with me. I don’t drink.”
“You think?” he teases and laughs. “Even though people were getting beat up and slapped around, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I’m glad we ended up here.” He strokes my cheek softly with his finger.
“Do you mean that?” I’m insecure, and I hate feeling out of control. Alex has the capability to create chaos in my world.
“Sí” His voice is low, seductive. He slips me off his lap and leans over, pressing his body to mine as he trails his lips across my sensitive skin.
My eyes close on their own accord, savoring this moment forever. The warm tingling sensation that’s filling my body makes it seem as if I’m floating. When he pulls away, it’s too soon. It’ll always be too soon.
“What time is it?”
He rolls to the side and flips a pillow out of the clock’s way. “Wow. It’s 1:42 pm.”
“Oh, no.” I sit up.
“What? You have somewhere you need to be?”
It’s hard to think, staring at his bare, tan, muscular chest. “No. No place but here.” I run my fingers down his abs suggestively, leaving a fiery trail of goosebumps behind. I’m only satisfied when I elicit a shiver from him.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Flipping my hair off my shoulder, he examines my still lightly swollen ear. He kisses my cheek softly, and then my jaw, and right after his smooth lips kiss my wounded ear, he whispers, “I’ll always protect you. No one will ever hurt you again.”
A small whimper escapes. I’m caving already. “I love you, Alex. I’m tired of fighting against us. Life is too short to waste by not being honest with the people in your life, so I love you, and I’m glad you came back to me.”
His chocolate eyes are melting my insides like lava as they soften and smolder, reciprocating, but refusing to speak the words. In his life, he hasn’t reached that point of acceptance, the point that I, myself, hadn’t found until he returned to my life. It’s hard to trust anyone, to let them beat your game. The game only works when you shut everyone out and push them away. It was easy for me, except for Grandma and Dad. Now Alex has infiltrated my walls of resistance, burrowing himself so deep he’s permanently embedded, shattering any good intentions. I haven’t been this free since Jace was alive and my dad healthy and whole.
When his lips trace mine, tearing at every emotion I’ve tried to hide to the surface, I realize I’m scared.
“What is it?” he asks, sensing my distress.
“What if something happens to you? I couldn’t handle losing you too.”
“Nothing’ll happen to me. I’ll always come back to you.” His lips slam to mine with urgency, as if he’s worried he’ll lose me too. I guess that’s how real life works. You can lose anyone… we know that better than most.
The same aggressive desire thrums through me as we take turns flipping each other over, kissing, and tracing our fingers over bare skin. Every time he touches my body, euphoria shocks like lightning, blocking out the world.
Alex slots himself between my legs, running featherlight fingers down my thigh and then pulling it up and around his waist, nestling his thickness solidly against my softness.
A moan breaks through our kiss when he lands perfectly, placing him exactly where I’ve wanted him since our reunion, and then he bucks his hips. My eyes roll, body arcs, receiving an overload of pleasure only he can deliver.
“Alex…” His name leaves my lips like a plea.
His tongue swirls with mine once more before breaking away and peppering kisses down my neck. The large armholes on the tank are easily moved to the side, exposing my breasts for his attention, allowing his lips to seal around my peeked buds. He continues south, tickling my belly with his breath, when his fingers wrap around the edges of his borrowed boxers. His melting chocolate eyes lock on mine, asking for permission without words.
When I desperately nod, it’s all the approval he needs, and slowly draws the cotton down, until he’s tossing them to the floor without a care as to where they land.
When I’m completely bare, he leans back to admire his work, and then buries his nose and inhales, growling his approval. My cheeks redden with the intimacy, but my legs widen with excitement, anticipating his next move.
“Are you sure, querida?” His words vibrate my delicate skin, ripping away any response. Instead, I show him, and grab his hair for encouragement.
It’s answer enough, because he dives in without hesitation, eating at me as if he were a starved man. As soon as his tongue hits my center, I bow, the touch overpowering all senses. He wraps a muscular arm around my hips to hold me in place while the other plays at my entrance.
Alex murmurs in Spanish while burying his face between my legs. The added friction of his words and the deep timbre of his voice has my legs clinching his head, pushing me closer to salvation as my hand grips his hair harder, grounding the exhilaration that threatens to steal my next breath.
The whimpers leaving me are growing louder, telling him how close I am to falling, and he interprets them perfectly. His playing digit slams home, hooking just right, and shattering any resistance within me.
“Alex!” I shout as a guttural groan explodes from my chest, tightening every muscle in my body as Alex continues to work me through every drop of satisfaction.
When I sink into the mattress like mush, Alex kisses my center and each of my thighs before locking his eyes with mine, licking his lips like my pussy’s the best dessert.
He slowly crawls to me until his hand tangles in my raven locks. “You taste good, querida.” He slowly licks his lips again, before fusing them to mine.
I can taste myself, and it’s not as unpleasant as I thought it’d be. It’s quite the opposite. We’re holding on tightly, tethering ourselves together as if we’ll float away, when my stomach growls loudly.
Alex pulls away with a cocky smirk lifting his glossy lips. “Are you hungry?” When he mentions food, my tummy grumbles again, causing us both to laugh. “I guess that answers my question.”
“What about you?” Boldly, I reach down and rub against his hardness, causing him to close his eyes and groan.
Gently, he pulls my hand away, pinning both of them above my head. “I already ate.”
My cheeks flame, enlarging his smug smile. “You know what I mean.”
He chuckles, “Sí, I do.” Then pecks me once more before sitting up. “Let’s get up and get you something to eat.”
“I have to go back to my room and grab some clothes.” I toss the covers aside and climb out of bed. An extremely unfeasible thing to accomplish when I am so warm and comfortable against Alex’s body, not to mention my legs are noodles.
“I’ll go get them.”
“No. It’s all right. I can do it.” I turn to go, but he slides his fingers down my arm and takes my wrist gently, stopping me.
“Jaz, you’re not going anywhere looking like that. Plus, the shirt doesn’t cover your…” He trails off, pointing to my back.
I glance in the mirror. “Oh! You’re right.” The armholes hang down, showing off the bruises on my ribs, the buckle marks on my back, not to mention the curve of my breasts. For once, I feel good about someone seeing my body, even if it possesses imperfections. I enjoy him looking. I only wish these hideous marks would disappear.
“Stay here, okay.” He slides his hand into mine, tangling our fingers for a moment before letting go. “I’ll grab your stuff. Is it all in bags?”
“No. I put some stuff in the dresser, but my bags are next to it on the floor. You can just shove everything into them.” I reach down for my wet shorts and pull out my card key. “I’m surprised I still have this.” I hand it to him and he laughs.
“Me too.” He kisses me briefly after dressing and walks to the door. He turns around to look at me before he leaves, like he wants to say something. “I’ll be right back.”
That wasn’t it.