Providence

Jared’s voice pul ed me out of my daydream. “You were determined today. I’m impressed.”

“Anything’s possible with an angel and a little ingenuity,” I said, settling in beside him.

Jared let me sleep for an hour, and then we left early to grab a bite to eat before meeting my friends. I descended the stairs in a black satin corset and jeans, with a pair of ruffle-toed pewter pumps. To my extreme pleasure, Jared stood frozen by the door, dropping his keys and then catching them before they hit the floor.

“Wow,” he whispered.

“Thank you,” I smiled, letting him help me with my coat.

By the end of dinner, I’d already had three glasses of wine. We arrived at the pub at nine sharp, and the various vehicles of my friends were already in the parking lot. I noticed Claire’s Lotus parked beside the curb down the street.

When Jared and I walked in, my friends cheered and whistled at our arrival.

Kim yel ed over the music. “I brought a CD!! We’re going to be dancing queens for the night!”

“Okay!” I yel ed over the upbeat song blaring over the speakers.

Tucker brought over shots—al of them different colors—and the group howled. Everyone held up their shot glasses and Chad pushed one ful of something green in my direction.

We al yel ed in unison, “TO THE BIG BROWN BEAR!”

With that, we al tipped our heads back, kil ed our shots, and glasses slammed to the table at different intervals. Tucker yel ed for Tozzi to bring another round, and everyone cheered.

Thirty minutes later, most of us were on the dance floor jumping around like maniacs. My head felt a bit heavy, already feeling the effects of the wine and whiskey. Ryan and Jared watched us from the table and I waved to both of them as I bounced up and down.

I returned to the table and sat on Jared’s lap. He pul ed me toward him to talk in my ear.

“I love you, but there is no puking in the Escalade.”

I laughed and planted a kiss on his mouth. “I’m fine! I’m Irish, remember?”

Jared nodded and leaned into my ear again. “Even the Irish throw up, Nina.”

It seemed like the night had just begun when Tozzi announced last cal . I lost count of the drinks I’d had, and my eyes struggled to focus.

Jared supported most of my weight as he escorted me to his SUV. He lifted me effortlessly into the passenger seat, and I leaned my elbow against the console, resting my head against my fist.

By the time we arrived at the loft, my head felt too heavy to hold up. Jared pul ed open my door and I slipped in and out of awareness as he carried me up the stairs.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I said, stumbling to the bathroom.

Jared fol owed me. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I don’t want you passing out in there.”

“Why don’t you join me, then you can make sure I don’t?” I said, steadying myself against the door jamb.

Jared raised an eyebrow, and I frowned at him before grabbing a towel and shutting the door behind me.

I fought with my clothes in slow motion. My eyes wouldn’t stay open, and I was incessantly giggling for no good reason, which made me giggle more. I turned on the shower and stepped under the water, letting it rush over me, plastering my hair onto my face. Every movement I made felt like it was at a snail’s pace, but I managed to exit the shower before my palms pruned.

I ran a comb through my hair and clumsily brushed my teeth. I giggled again at my blundering of the most mundane of tasks and I heard Jared chuckle outside the door in response.

“Everything al right in there?” he asked, knocking on the door.

I giggled again and spit loudly in the sink. “Everything’s fantastic!”

Jared laughed again, and I opened the door and stumbled to the bed.

“I’m going to hop in the shower. Don’t try to go downstairs or look over the railing or anything like that, okay? Just stay put until I get out.” I understood his words, but they seemed to blur together.

I fel onto the bed face down and moaned into the comforter at how perfectly wonderful it felt. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my eyes sealing shut.

Jared reappeared in less than five minutes. “Did you plan on sleeping in your towel?”

“Maybe,” I said, feeling melted to the bed.

Jared walked over to his closet and pul ed a t-shirt off its hanger. “Okay,” he said, sitting me up, “raise your arms.”

I complied, and he slid the oversized t-shirt over my head. I buzzed my lips as the neck line went over my mouth making Jared erupt in laughter.

“You are something else,” he said, covering my legs with the blanket. He stepped away for a moment and then returned, throwing a piece of light blue fabric onto my lap. It took me a moment to realize that it was a pair of my panties.

“I’l let you…take care of that.” He started down the stairs, and I spoke up.

“Jared?”

He turned around, immediately catching the panties I clumsily shot at him. I burst into a delighted cackle, knowing if he had been merely human I would have caught him square in the face.

Jared smiled with inexhaustible patience. “These are for you, not me,” he said, tossing them back. They landed perfectly in my lap.

I giggled again as he descended the stairs, feeling exhausted and wide awake at the same time. I could hear every step and movement Jared made downstairs, yet the fog in my head kept the sounds blurred together.

I was already settled on my side of the bed when Jared returned, and he wasted no time nestling himself next to me. Though the rest of my senses were lacking, my skin was aware of the heat created when his skin touched mine. Every part of me felt content and peaceful in his arms, as if I was meant to be there. I kissed his chest, but my lips didn’t want to stop there. I continued until I reached his neck, and Jared took a deep breath, wasting no time to hold my shoulders far enough away to look into my prurient eyes.

“Nina….” Jared warned, but I put my mouth on his to stop any further protesting.

I skipped over our usual cautious beginnings and let go of al my inhibitions. I leaned over him, lifting my knee at the same time to straddle his hips.

Jared’s lips were not as urgent as mine, but I persisted.

I felt Jared’s torso rise against my lips as they left his chest to slowly kiss my way up the midline of his throat. When my lips reached his lips again, his mouth was less cautious. He turned, rol ing over me, positioning me on my back. I smiled at my imminent victory.

Jared pul ed away from me, his breath disparate from just moments before. “Nina, we can’t do this tonight.”

I let out a gush of air I’d been holding in anticipation of my triumph. “Why not?”

Jared kissed my nose and smiled. “Wel —although I’m incredibly tempted by the slurring and stumbling—I’d like for you to remember our first time.”

I relaxed my legs, letting them fal to the bed. “Why do you have to be so freaking noble?” I complained, pounding the mattress with my arms for emphasis.

Jared chuckled and curled up beside me. “Yes, I’m so noble that I struggle with it every second I’m alone with you. Don’t give me too much credit.”

“I’m sorry….” I sighed, knowing I would feel guilty in a clearer state of mind.

“Don’t apologize. I can’t say I don’t enjoy it,” he chuckled. “…Nina?” he said, whispering my name.