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His free hand groped at my back, pulling my shirt up. His mouth was at my neck.

“Just relax,” he spoke gruffly in my ear. “You know this is what you want. It’s the reason you were waiting here.” His fingers traced my spine, under my shirt, past my bra and up to my shoulders, where they wrapped once again around the back of my neck.

Geery’s voice echoed in my head.

I tried frantically but futilely to free my hands. To stop his fingers from their awful probing. They pressed painfully into my neck. I was too busy trying to figure out what to do to respond to Geery’s urgent calls. I tried calling out loud to someone who could actually help, but only a gargle came out.

Then just as suddenly as he’d jumped on top of me, he was off, as if he’d been pulled away.

“Who do you think you are?” A voice boomed from above us both.

He still loomed over me, but faced the other direction, towards someone new in the room. The figure was just a shadow blocked by Everett’s frame. An arm swung around from the side and punched Everett. He swayed at the force of the hit and rubbed his jaw.

“You stupid idiot,” Everett snarled. “Get the hell out of my house!”

I jumped up and scrambled to the other side of the couch. Then dashed to the corner of the room, where I crouched behind a chair. A sob bubbled from my lips. I covered my face with my hands.

“If you ever come near her again…” The angry voice exploded across the room. “You…will…be…sorry.” He emphasized each word deliberately, his voice cold and angry. I thought I knew who it was. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to peek from behind the chair to verify my hunch.

Everett laughed. “Like anyone would take the word of a crazy kid over mine.”

Then I knew for sure.

“I didn’t say I’d report you,” Jesse said. “I’m just warning you not to underestimate me.”

Another laugh, menacing. “I guess I could say the same to you.”

I winced, but otherwise remained still, huddled behind the chair with my hands over my face.

There was the sound of scuffling. A piece of furniture overturned. A hit. A gasp. Muttering. Swearing. Then long, angry footsteps crossed the room in my direction.

My breath caught in my chest. Geery’s terrified screams were gone. The only other sound was my rapid heartbeat throbbing in my head.

The footsteps stopped near the chair.

I tried to pry my fingers apart but fear gripped me. I cowered further.

“Are you okay?” It was Jesse’s voice. I felt a wave of relief, but still scooted in the other direction, shaking and too confused to react coherently.

“Mira…” He stooped next to me.

“No,” I protested, pulling further away.

In one swift move he gently pulled me to my feet and swept me into his arms. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“No,” I repeated weakly, instinctively. But I no longer made an effort to resist.

Jesse’s face was just inches from my own. His eyes searched mine.

I felt a chill and looked away—my head light, spinning. I gasped in a small breath, and was overcome with a sensation…of…something…something…I’d never felt before—a feeling infinitely more pleasant than…than…anything.

My arms flailed around his shoulders, hesitant to embrace him like I should to keep from falling backwards. My hand touched his neck…his hair…ebony strands of silk. I was so confused.

Jesse moved swiftly, carrying me as if I were a child, out the front door into the dark night.

I should have protested. Instead, I inhaled again, deeply.

He…he
loved
me. That was it. Warm and soothing love pulsed fiercely from his every pore. Not the kind of proud love my parents had for me. Nothing like the deep friendship Geery and I shared. And certainly nothing like the vile lust of other males. This was something new. Something profound.

I closed my eyes and drank in his affection as if these were my very first breaths.

 CHAPTER TWELVE

Jesse’s car was parked in the circular drive just outside the front door as if he’d arrived at the party for the sole purpose of rescuing me. He opened the passenger-side door with me still in his arms and deposited me onto the front seat.

I didn’t even think to protest.

The door closed and I instantly felt a loss. He took long strides around the car and got in on the driver’s side. The sensation returned, though more of a whisper—not with the intensity of when I was in his arms.

He glanced at me, then started the engine.

I ached to scoot close to him, to feel what I had minutes earlier. But there was no way to do it without looking foolish. So I settled for a weakened version of this odd and amazing new emotion. Jesse pulled out of the driveway and turned left in the direction of my home.

We had only gone a short distance when I received a stream from Mom. I didn’t answer, studying Jesse’s face, as if I might wake up from this amazing dream at any moment. Why would Mom be trying to reach me this late? She couldn’t know anything. Seconds later I received another from Geery.
Geery
. I’d forgotten her.

I whispered, even though Jesse couldn’t hear.

She hollered in return.

I studied Jesse’s profile, his serious expression.

Jesse glanced at me again, worried, then looked back at the road.

I tried to smile but it came out as a grimace.

I slid down in the seat.

My face involuntarily registered alarm. I turned my head away from Jesse and tried to keep my eyebrows level. I could feel Jesse’s concerned gaze on me.

Geery streamed.

I replied, trying my best to stay calm.

I didn’t respond right away. If it was half as scary for Geery as it had been for me, I could understand. I wanted to stay mad, but knew that if we weren’t so far apart right now I would feel her fear and forgive her in an instant. I streamed.

It took a moment for that to sink in. I streamed. I didn’t like streaming in front of Jesse. But he didn’t seem to want to talk anyway. It took another moment to come up with a story. I’d never be able to hide a lie this big if it came up later. But I could only worry about the here and now.

Mom reluctantly let me go with instructions to be more careful. I breathed a sigh of relief and resumed studying Jesse’s profile in the dim light. Jesse glanced at me every few seconds but seemed content to ride in silence. So I opened Geery’s third attempt at sending a stream.

I streamed.

I shifted in my seat and leaned in slightly closer to Jesse. I answered.

The shout was so loud it felt like my head might burst. I instinctively glanced at Jesse to make sure he hadn’t heard.

He looked at me and raised a questioning eyebrow.

Geery demanded.

I didn’t answer. I glanced at the exquisite profile of the boy who had just rescued me and took a deep exhilarating breath.

“You should call your friends,” Jesse’s deep voice broke into the silence, interrupting the conversation he didn’t know was happening. “To tell them you left.”

I nodded and cut the connection with Geery without even saying goodbye. Nothing I could possibly say would calm her anyway. I just had to hope Geery wouldn’t be thick enough to call Mom again.

“Do you have a phone?” he asked.

“Oh, yeah.” The call. My phone. My head was so muddled. I dug into my pocket and retrieved it. Fortunately there was good reason for my hands to shake as I searched the proper buttons to send Lacey a text message: >>Got a ride.

A response came back in seconds. >>Woo hoo! Who with?

I hesitated but couldn’t think of any reason to lie. >>Jesse.

>>What? You don’t seriously trust him?

Indignant, I pushed the red button, which made the screen go dark. Poor Jesse. No one understood him. I might not know everything about him. But I did know that he was a hard worker—I’d learned that from my job. And he liked music—I’d learned that in choir. Tonight I’d discovered he was brave and strong. And most of all, he loved me.

That was enough for now.

Jesse pulled the car up to the curb in front of my house and turned off the engine. I noticed for the first time that his car was a Ford, a Taurus. Very practical. Then it occurred to me that he hadn’t once asked for directions. I looked from the house to him, and back again.

He must have sensed my confusion. “Um…I…” He shifted in his seat. “I sometimes follow you home from work, just to make sure you make it okay. But…I’ve never dared offer you a ride.” He swallowed nervously. “I hope that doesn’t sound creepy.”

“No,” I said. It could have, if I hadn’t been able to sense noble intentions. “That’s sweet. Very sweet.”

He ran his hands back and forth over the steering wheel. After an awkward silence he cleared his throat. “I…I…hope you’re all right,” he said. “Did he hurt you?” He reached out and gently touched a tender spot on my neck.

Heat blazed at the site of his touch. “I’m fine,” I whispered in a husky voice. His calloused finger traced a path along my neck, up my cheek, looking for more injuries.

Every part of me wanted him to keep touching me, to maintain our fragile connection. At the same time, I feared what might happen if he didn’t remove his hand. I took in a deep breath. I could have bathed in it—soaked in that aroma for the rest of my life. Instead, I forced myself to speak words I didn’t want to say. “I should go.” My voice cracked. I lifted my hand to open the door.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

With a nod, I pulled hard on the latch.

“Is there someone home?”

I glanced up at him. Dark shadows covered half his face, but even in the dim light I was struck by the concern I saw in his eyes.

“I…I’ll be fine.”

“You’re alone, aren’t you?”

“I’m fine,” I insisted. I pushed open the door with my shoulder and forcefully pulled myself out of the car and the intoxicating power holding me there. “Thank you…thanks for…everything.” Not daring to look back at him, I slammed the car door closed—putting a wall between us—and walked slowly towards the front porch. I felt his love draining from me, leaving me more and more empty with each step.

“I’ll stay,” he called out.

I paused on the steps to the house. Looked back.

Jesse was standing with one foot on the ground, the other still in the car. “I can stay,” he repeated. “On the couch.” He added quickly. “Or here…in the car.”

I couldn’t speak the words I knew I should say.

“Just so you can sleep.” He didn’t move. Didn’t get in the car or back down from his suggestion in any way.

My supposed highly-evolved brain felt like mush. I took a step back and stumbled off the stairs onto the driveway. He rushed to my side. When I regained my balance, I looked up at him, my cheeks hot.

His expression was unchanged, serious, waiting for an answer. “You shouldn’t be alone,” he whispered.

I rubbed my arms, suddenly shivering—even though the air was hot and heavy—and studied him: the handsome creature standing in my driveway. My spine tingled with his intensity. I couldn’t consider letting him stay. If he slept in the car, one of the neighbors might think he was a prowler and call the police. And he absolutely could not come inside. The thought was pure insanity.

“What about your parents?” I heard myself ask.

“I’ll just tell them I’m sleeping at a friend’s house. They’ll be thrilled to think I have a friend.”

I turned away and found my keys. I had to say no.

A beep sounded that signaled Jesse’s car was locked.

A moment later I felt him behind me. I hadn’t meant to give him permission to stay.

Or maybe I had.

I could tell—could sense—he had no hidden agenda, no reason to stay besides assuring my safety and comfort. But knowing that wouldn’t absolve me of guilt if I were found out. I lingered at the door, though I shouldn’t have, hoping he would step close once more, before I had to pull myself away again.

 “Just get yourself to bed and don’t worry about me,” Jesse said. He stepped close, within inches. He was, perhaps, the most innocent boy I’d ever met—on any planet. But he was also the most dangerous. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you? Maybe we should call the police.”

I stepped inside the house, farther away from him than I wanted to be. “There’s no need. I’m fine,” I said. The sight of him stepping into the house both thrilled and terrified me.