Cherished (Wanted #4)
Author: Kelly Elliott

High School

I’d gotten tackled four fucking times during football practice because I couldn’t take my eyes off of Jessie Rhodes sitting in the bleachers.

Damn it. Why does she affect me the way she does? I could have any girl in this school. Why Jess?

Dewey walked up to me and hit me on the shoulder. “Hey, asshole. Stop eye-fucking my sister, or I’m going to kick your ass,” Dew said before he started laughing.

“Fuck off, dickhead.” I put my helmet back on and tried to forget that Jessie was sitting there, watching me.

I looked up a few minutes later to see Michael Smith talking to her on the sideline. I instantly felt anger building inside me. That asshole only wants to get into Jessie’s pants. She is way too good for him. Stupid-ass baseball player doesn’t even deserve a second look from her.

Jessie pulled her beautiful blonde hair back into a ponytail before turning and sitting back down with her friends. Once coach got done talking, I stalled for as long as I could until I saw Dew heading into the locker room. Jessie was standing up to leave, so I ran over toward her, calling out her name.

“Jess! Jessie, hold up. Hey, can I talk to you for a minute before you go?” I flashed her the smile that I knew made all the girls melt—well, all the girls except for Jessie Rhodes. I could never read her—ever.

She turned and nodded her head. As she made her way down the bleachers, I walked under them to meet her on the other side. She walked up to me, and she gave me that sweet smile of hers that made my stomach do all sorts of messed-up shit.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey, I, um…I wanted to ask…do you have the notes for the history test next week?”

I watched as her expression fell for a second. Shit. Was she expecting something else? Could Jessie actually like me? Shit, just do what you’ve wanted to do for the last three years.

“Um…yeah, I have them. Did you want to borrow them? Or are you gonna try to cheat off my paper again?” she said with a wink.

I watched her lips as she talked, and I instantly felt my dick jumping in my pants. I’ve had a crush on this girl for as long as I can remember. I looked up into her eyes, and I swore they turned gray. I moved my eyes down to watch her chew on her lower lip. She had the most beautiful bee-stung lips, and I had to fight the urge to stare at them every time she talked.

“Scott? Are you okay? If you want the notes, they’re at home, so you’ll have to swing by my house.”

I didn’t even know what she was saying. I couldn’t pull my eyes from her mouth.

“Scott?” She walked up to me and snapped her fingers in my face.

I shook my head and tried to calm my beating heart. What in the hell is this girl doing to me? I can’t even think when I’m around her.

I quickly glanced back to her eyes. They seemed so different, and I couldn’t really pinpoint what her eyes were trying to say.

“Jessie…I…”

She looked at me and tilted her head. “You, what?” She let out a giggle. “Scott, what’s wrong with you? Did you get hit too many times out there today?”

Nothing came out. I couldn’t talk.

“Okay…well, I’m going to take off. You know where the notes are if you need them.”

I watched as she turned to leave. Fuck. It’s now or never. I ran after her and grabbed her by the arm. I turned her around and slowly backed her up against the bleachers. I dropped my helmet and cupped her face with my hands as I leaned down and lightly brushed my lips against hers. She let out a soft, sweet moan, and my whole body shivered.

Oh God…what would she taste like?

I slammed my lips to hers and kissed her with as much passion as I could. When she reached up and ran her hands through my hair, something instantly happened. I wasn’t really sure what it was, but it scared the shit out of me.

I pulled back and looked into her eyes. What is that look in her eyes? It almost seems like…love?

She smiled slightly, and then it hit me full force. I felt things for Jessie that I’d never felt before.

What is happening to me? My hands started shaking, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I looked up and saw Chelsea Mason walking by. She licked her lips with her tongue, and she smiled. She’d been trying to get me to sleep with her for the last few weeks, but I hadn’t been the least bit interested…until now.

I quickly glanced back down at Jessie, who was just about to say something.

I smiled and said, “Thanks for the kiss, Tiny.” I backed away from her as I reached down and grabbed my helmet before turning and walking toward Chelsea. “Hey, Chels, wait up.”

As I turned away from Jessie, I felt sick to my stomach. I’d seen the look in her eyes after I kissed her. She liked me just as much as I liked her, and she must have felt the same connection I had. She’d smiled that sweet smile, and I’d just walked away, like a prick.

I tried to clear my head. What did I just do? What am I so scared of?

Chelsea skipped up to me and glanced over my shoulder. “You and, um…Jessie Rhodes got something going on?”

I quickly turned back and looked at Jessie standing there. Oh shit. Are those tears rolling down her face? Oh god…Jessie. I started to head back over there when Chelsea grabbed my arm and pulled me to her.

She leaned up and whispered in my ear, “I’m not wearing any panties under this skirt.”

I snapped my eyes down to her, and she wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

Last thing I’m going to do is sleep with Chelsea.

I glanced back to see Jessie walking away as fast as she could. Motherfucker. I just hurt the one girl I didn’t ever want to hurt.

I watched as Jessie walked up to Michael. They’d been talking earlier, and the way he’d kept touching her arm had driven me mad. After she said something in his ear, he reached out, grabbed her, and spun her around. He set her down, and she gave him a weak smile before they walked away together with his arm draped over her shoulders.

What in the fuck? Is she leaving with him?

I quickly turned back to look at Chelsea, and I smiled. “Let’s go. My parents are out of town for two days.” I grabbed her hand and practically pulled her to my truck.

It didn’t take me long to get Chelsea back to my house and up to my room where I fucked her hard and fast.

I’ll do anything to forget how I just hurt the girl of my dreams.

After we were done, Chelsea quickly got up and gave me a full-on smile. She said, “That was so worth the wait. I think I’ll go take a shower. Feel free to join me if you’d like.”