September Rain Bk 2, Savor The Days Series by A.R. Rivera Read Free Book Online Page A

what?
    “ Maybe I want to ask you to
the movies or out to dinner. Maybe just over to my house. But only
if you promise not to lie to me anymore.”
    I shouldn’t have hesitated. What he
was asking was not so terrible. But I lied a lot back then. I had
to. It was how I got what I needed, the way I covered my ass when I
forgot stuff or found myself suddenly in a room I didn’t remember
walking into.
    Just then, Max and Andrew—who’d come
back at some point during our talk—came out of the motel room and
walked in between us. Jake stepped back and thumped Max on the head
as he shoved passed. “You’re driving, asshole.”
    Andrew winked at me as he called
shotgun.
    Once the path between us was clear
again, Jake stepped back in, picking up our conversation. “Look,
you’re taking the ride whether or not you make the promise. But I
need to know,” Jake pressed a finger against my cheek, turning my
face, making me look at him. “What else are you trying to
hide?”
    I froze, staring into the Atlantic
depth of his eyes, unable to find words.
    “Well?”
    The blaring burst of a horn broke his
spell.
    “Come on.”
    Taking my hand, Jake led me to the
side of the van. We had to cram ourselves in between stacked amps
and drums. But we both fit in the limited space that was a little
more snug than the night before since the guys duffle bags were now
crammed in there, too. We were about halfway back near the sliding
side door with our feet down in the well of the step.
    Jake set his arm around me and pulled
me closer. Pressing my hair back from my face, he set his palm
against my cheek. “Would it help if I told you that I don’t care
about whatever it is that you think is so bad? You don’t need to
hide from me.”
    I kept staring. His face was so close
and lovely, his presence so strong beside me. I had his undivided
attention and was smashed up against him and still didn’t feel
close enough.
    “Angel. If it’s what I think it is, it
won’t change my mind.”
    I wasn’t sure what he was saying and
still couldn’t form a response. There was so much he didn’t know
about me and I was afraid to tell him. I settled for placing my
hands in between our laps and staring into his hypnotic eyes,
hoping to find courage.
    Still cupping my cheek, Jake leaned
closer. I thought he was going to kiss me and felt heat bloom in my
chest.
    “Last night wasn’t your first time,
was it?”
    The petals of my desire wilted.
“What?”
    “You know, a guy can tell. And you
didn’t have to pretend. I’m not one of those assholes that’s gonna
judge you. Just be who you are.”
    I was mortified. And totally confused.
My neck suddenly felt very hot. “Wait. What are you
saying?”
    Jake dipped his head, speaking so low
I could barely hear. “Lack of pain . . . and or hymen?”
    My cheeks blazed in a chagrin fueled
inferno. I smothered my face in my palms. “Oh god. I knew it. Now
you think I’m a slut.”
    “Did you hear anything I just said?
Because if you did, you would know that’s fucking
ridiculous.”
    “You think I do this all the time.” I
wanted to disappear.
    “No. I don’t. Even if you did, that’s
none of my business. What the hell? Angel, I like you, why would I
think that?”
    I had to take a deep breath and let
his words sink in. Look him in the face and search his eyes. He
didn’t seem to be angry and I sensed no sarcasm. But his opening
the discussion on something so personal with such a casual manner,
it was painful.
    But it wasn’t his fault. All Jake knew
was I had already lied about my age. I knew he needed truth and he
didn’t trust me to give it to him. And that bothered me, but more
than my nonsensical irritation, I wanted to give Jake what he
wanted. Even though I feared, once I told him he wouldn’t want me
anymore.
    “Well, you’re right about one thing,
Jake.” I took a deep breath and exhaled, imagining the small breeze
from my mouth was pushing him away, like dry leaves in the