Free Before by Nicola Marsh Page B

down position on the couch.
    “And you’re obnoxious,” she said, an insult defied by her sliding a fraction closer so I had no option but to rest my head in her lap.
    Bad move. Catastrophic move. Being so close to nirvana and not being able to go there.
    “But I kind of like you anyway.” She ran her fingers through my hair, grazing my scalp, and a shiver shot through me. Who knew having her fingers in my hair could be so frigging erotic?
    “Pity you can’t emulate Patrick.” She continued her rhythmic stroking and it felt so damn good I would’ve told her anything to have her continue.
    “That’s fictional, sweet thing, and sorry to say, this bad boy isn’t about to turn good.”
    She stopped, her hand resting on my forehead, like she was testing if I had a fever. “What if this good girl turned bad?”
    That would be the ultimate turn on. Watching Jess shed her innocence and go wild. With me.  God, I could see it so clearly. I’d strip her naked. Lay her on my bed. Spread her legs. And go down on her. She’d taste divine. I’d lap and lick her until she screamed. Then I’d enter her. She’d be wet and tight. So tight…
    Not. Going. To. Happen. Dickhead .
    So I did the only thing I could. Pushed her away. Again.
    “I like you as a friend, Jess, but that’s it—”
    “You’re so full of it.” She leaped to her feet so fast I got whiplash.
    Rubbing my neck, I sat up, in time for her to shove me. “I’m sorry—”
    “You can stick your apology up your ass.” She towered over me, hands on hips, chest heaving. “I know what you think of me, Jack. Shy little virgin dabbling in a holiday fling so she can tell all her college buddies when she goes home.”
    She shook her head, but not before I glimpsed the sheen of tears. Fuck.
    “But that’s not me, and I thought you would’ve figured that out during the time we’ve spent together. As friends .” She spat the last word as if it meant nothing. “Not that I think you know the meaning of the word, asshole.”
    I watched her storm out of my shack, torn between wanting to run after her and turning up the music again so I could drown out my thoughts. The main one being, I’d fucked up majorly and it was a good thing.
    So why did I feel so goddamn bad?

 
     
     

Chapter Fifteen
     
    JESS
     
     
    I wanted to kill Jack.
    Though I’d settle for maiming. Anything to inflict the same amount of pain he’d just put me through.
    Every look, every touch, every word, implied that he liked me. Seriously liked me. As more than the ‘friend’ spiel he kept giving me. But he continued to push me away. And I knew why.
    He had a major hang-up about our differences. To him, I was a good girl, the pristine little virgin he couldn’t deflower.
    Well screw that. And screw him.
    If only I could …
    “Hey, Jess.” Chantal’s heavily made-up face popped up on my laptop screen via Skype. “How’s it hanging Down Under?”
    “That sounds vaguely obscene,” I said, an instant, vivid memory of Jack, naked, popping into my head.
    My cousin waggled a finger at the screen. “Some of the hottest guys are in Australia and if you haven’t had any action yet, I’ll be seriously disappointed.”
    “You know me, Cuz. Not much to report.”
    Chantal wrinkled her nose. “That’s what I was afraid of.” She leaned closer to the screen. “Sweetie, when are you going to pop the cherry?”
    I blushed. “Surely we’ve got more interesting things to talk about than my virginity?”
    Chantal’s smile faded. “Actually, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
    My cousin rarely looked serious. She sashayed through life, confident and bold. To see her concerned made me worry.
    “What’s up?”
    She grimaced. “I hate to bring this up on your vacation, but you might like to know I checked with UNLV and that creep has transferred out. Already left the campus.”
    I sat up straighter. “That’s great news.”
    The thought of not having to face Dave again