Page 84 of Jesse's Girl
“So, what are we supposed to do?” She looks bewildered.
“We aren’t gonna do anything. Because this—whatever this is—stops here. Now. Before we fuck this all up. We have to be just friends, Ada. Nothing more.”
“Just friends?” She almost laughs, but there’s no joy in her eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yes!”
She tilts her head as she steps closer. “You need to sit down for a while after Marcus texts you a photo of his Halloween costume?”
“Ada…” Heat rushes up my neck.
She drifts toward me another step, frustration simmering in every line of her body. “You joke around with Kai about how he’s something you wanna do while you’re here?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Jesus Christ. This is exactly what I’m talking about. I should never have?—”
“’Cause I can text him right now.” She gestures with her thumb over her shoulder, presumably toward her phone. “Ask him to send you a dick pic. See if that gets you going.”
I ball my hands into fists. “Will you stop?”
She doesn’t let up. “Or was that just about me?”
“Ada.” My voice comes out louder this time. I grit my teeth and pace a few steps away from her, feeling like crawling out of my skin.
“Just friends, my ass,” she presses. “You want me. You’re just too scared to do anything about it.”
“Ada!” I shout, spinning to face her—finally losing my cool.
She startles, but her expression still burns with intensity.
“Oh, fuck it,” I mutter as I cross the short distance separating us, caging her against the wall between my arms.
“Jesse,” she whispers, wide eyes searching mine.
“Just shut up and listen.”
She nods tightly. The rise and fall of her chest is rapid, and the space between our bodies is filled with a vital, humming pull that claws me closer.
“Yes, I fucking want you. So no, we are not just friends. I dunno about you, but I don’t feel like this about my friends,” I say, my gaze dropping to her mouth. “Like I’m a goddamn addict being denied my fix. Like if I have to spend another second without having you, I’ll lose my fucking mind.”
Her shoulders sag.
“And I’m doing everything in my power not to fall off that fucking wagon, Ada. Not to haul you against me and breathe you in deep. Just to get one hit.” I lick my lips, suddenly unsure I can get through what I have to say without breaking. “’Cause I know, if I did that, I’d never be able to stop.”
God damnit, why does she have to smell so good?
Her sweet lips part in protest. “But Jess, I?—”
I cut her off with a warning look. “Touching you, being with you… would be a very, very bad decision.” My shoulders tense as I fight to keep my hands planted on the wall. “I can’t knowingly blow things up with my best friend.”
“But what if—” Her voice wavers.
Oh, fuck.
“Don’t,” I cut her off again, my voice almost a growl. “Don’t you dare tempt me.”
She exhales, her brows knitting together.
Unable to help myself, I lean closer—and the dam breaks. “Because my dick aches just looking at you. Just being this close to you right now is killing me. And all I do, all night long, is imagine what it would feel like to fuck you.”