Cool air caressed my back, sending

Cool air caressed my back, sending chills down my arms. My eyes drifted open at the draft, and an uncontrollable smile crept across my lips.

“You better not be asleep.” Jared rustled behind me as I lay in bed, probably removing his boots.

A silent laugh escaped my lips as I turned onto my back and faced him. Hovering over me, the moonlight poured over his beautiful face, and his hair glistened with droplets of rain from the light drizzle outside. I couldn’t get enough of the sight of him.

“You came through the tree…in a storm,” I stated as he crawled into bed and immediately positioned his body on top of me. He still wore his clothes.

My dad had arrived home last week, and it went without saying that Jared was not welcome for any overnight visits. Of course, Jared and I already assumed this. I knew my dad loved Jared, but he wasn’t going to put up with finding him in my room either. That was understandable.

Resting both arms on either side of my head, Jared gazed down into my eyes. “Yeah, we used to sit in that tree all the time when it rained. It’s like riding a bike. I never forget how good it felt.”

Tears welled in my eyes. The years that separated us had hurt, but how quickly they’d passed. We were together again. We’d never forgotten how to be together.

“Do you like your car?” He smiled and started nibbling my lips with soft, teasing kisses. Giving me little pause, I could only nod.

Last weekend, after my dad had gotten home, we all took a trip to Chicago and bought my G8. I’d owned the sleek, dark metallic silver car for only a few days so far.

Dad had decided to turn over the rest of the Germany project to his partner, so he could stay home with me. It’d been tough to face him after the video leaked, but after a couple of days and lots of talks, we got the situation under control. He came down on me for making such a dumb choice at a party, and he was slightly uncomfortable with Jared’s new role in my life. But, he admitted, he probably wouldn’t be comfortable with anyone at any time dating his only daughter.

Jared and I had been online constantly, taking down the video wherever we found it. Our classmates also seemed to be laying off the gossip. But I was sure it had more to do with their respect for Jared than their sense of decency.

A week ago, I thought I’d never live down that storm, but I was already concentrating on other things. I had a list of modifications to perform on my new car, and I hoped Jared, my dad and I could work on it together throughout the winter. Madoc seemed to think he’d be included, too, and I didn’t do anything to dispel his little brain fart.

My father agreed to let me take the money for Jared’s repairs out of my trust, but I’d have to get a job to replace it. He was very strict that my college fund wasn’t a snack dish that I could stick my hand in whenever I wanted. And that was fine. A job was a good idea. I needed something to take up my time now that Dad was limiting my time with Jared. I don’t think he was as worried about our intimacy as he was about me losing focus in school.

Jared started a slow grind between my legs as his soft nibbles quickly changed to devouring and caressing. The chill that came into the room with him was replaced by sweat and heat.

Oh. I breathed hard, the pulse between my legs twitched with the friction he was making.

“You know,” I gasped. “I want you here more than anything, but my dad will wake up. It’s like he’s still in the Army or something. He sleeps with one eye open.”

He abruptly stopped and peered down at me like I was crazy. “I won’t be able to stay away. Not with knowing that your cute little body is curled up in this nice, warm bed without me.”

“You would never disrespect my dad. Even I know that.”

“No, you’re right,” he conceded, and then his eyes widened. “Do you want to come over to my house?”

I folded my lips between my teeth to stifle a laugh.

As I guided my legs up and around him, he kissed me harder before whispering against my lips. “I love you, Tate. And I’m here for you always. With or without the sleepovers. I just needed to see you.”

I held the back of his neck as he raised himself to look down at me. “I love you, too.

The top half of his body slid off of me, over the side of the bed, as he searched for something on the nightstand. I ran my fingers along his back, barely noticing his scars beneath his shirt. He popped back up with a box in his hand.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Open it,” he urged gently.

I sat up, and he leaned back on his feet, watching me. Sliding the lid off, I pulled out a charm bracelet. Not the clunky, jiggling kind that makes lots of noise but a dainty, silver chain holding four charms. My eyes darted up to Jared, but he just sat silently, waiting for something.

Eyeing the bracelet closer, I saw the charms were of a cell phone, a key, a coin, and a heart.

A cell phone, a key, a coin, and…

“My lifelines!” I burst out, it finally hitting me.

Jared exhaled a laugh. “Yeah, when you told me on our way to Chicago about how you always wanted your escape plans when dealing with me in the past, I didn’t want you to see me that way anymore.”

“I don’t—” I started.

“I know,” he rushed to assure me. “But I want to make sure I never lose your trust again. I want to be one of your lifelines, Tate. I want you to need me. So...” He gestured to the bracelet. “The heart is me. One of your lifelines. I took Jax with me today to pick it out.”

“How is your brother?” I ran the bracelet through my fingers, never wanting to let it or him go.

Jared shrugged his shoulders. “He’s hanging in there. My mom is working with a lawyer to try to get custody. He wants to meet you.”

I smiled. “I’d love to.”

I didn’t know what else to say. The gift was beautiful, and I loved what it represented. But what I loved more was that I was getting to know Jared. We’d missed time over the years, but he had found family in his brother, and I could see the love he had for him.

A tear glided down my cheek, but I brushed it away quickly. “Put it on me?” I handed him the bracelet and blinked back more tears.

He worked the clasp and secured it around my wrist, not letting go of my hand as he sat back and pulled me on top, straddling him.

He brushed the hair away from my face, and I came down, meeting his lips. He tasted like heat and man, and I wrapped my arms around him, savoring the reality of just being here with him.

“Jared.” My father knocked on the door, and we both jerked our heads up. “You need to go home now. We’ll see you for dinner tomorrow night.”

My heart thumped so hard it hurt.

Crap!

Jared snorted back a laugh and spoke to the door. “Yes, sir.”

The heat of embarrassment covered my face, my arms, my toes—hell, everywhere as I saw my father’s shadow under the door disappear.

“I guess I need to go.”

I clenched his black t-shirt and touched my nose to his. “I know. Thank you for my bracelet.”

“I’m going to spoil you.” His hands caressed my hair.

I smiled. “Don’t you dare. Just do me a favor. Leave your window unlocked. I may surprise you some night soon.”

He sucked in a breath, and I crashed my mouth down on his. His tongue touched mine, and he dug his fingers into my hips, bringing me hard against him. I could already feel that I was ready for him.

Damn it. Must earn father’s trust back. I repeated my mantra.

“Go on. Get out of here. Please,” I begged and stepped off the bed. He got up but grabbed me for one more kiss before he walked to the French doors.

I watched him climb safely back through his window, where he gave me one last look before grinning and turning off his light.

I stood there for a minute, watching the rain splatter through the tree.

The thunder rumbled in the night, reminding me of my monologue and how Jared and I had come full circle. We were friends again, and also more.

I was his. And he was mine.

We had never been gone from each other. Both of us were shaping the other even though we didn’t realize it.

And now we were complete.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Udara sejuk membelai punggungku, mengirimkan menggigil bawah lengan saya. Mataku hanyut terbuka di rancangan, dan senyum tak terkendali merayap di bibir saya."Anda lebih baik tidak akan tertidur." Jared berdesir di belakang saya ketika aku berbaring di tempat tidur, mungkin menghapus sepatu bot.Tertawa diam melarikan diri bibirku aku menoleh ke belakang dan menghadap kepadanya. Melayang di atas saya, cahaya bulan dituangkan wajahnya yang indah, dan rambutnya glistened dengan tetesan hujan dari Mendung di luar. Saya tidak bisa mendapatkan cukup dari melihat dia."Anda datang melalui pohon... dalam badai," saya menyatakan seperti dia merangkak ke tempat tidur dan segera memposisikan tubuhnya di atas saya. Ia masih mengenakan pakaiannya.Ayah saya tiba di rumah minggu lalu, dan ia pergi tanpa mengatakan bahwa Jared itu tidak diterima untuk setiap kunjungan semalam. Tentu saja, Jared dan aku sudah diasumsikan ini. Aku tahu ayah saya mencintai Jared, tapi dia tidak akan memasang dengan menemukan dia di kamarku baik. Itu bisa dimengerti.Istirahat kedua lengan di kedua sisi kepalaku, Jared menatap turun ke mataku. "Ya, kita digunakan untuk duduk di pohon itu sepanjang waktu ketika hujan. Hal ini seperti naik sepeda. Aku tidak pernah lupa bagaimana baik itu merasa."Welled air mata di mataku. Tahun-tahun yang memisahkan kita telah menyakiti, tapi seberapa cepat mereka telah berlalu. Kami sedang bersama-sama lagi. Kita tidak pernah lupa bagaimana menjadi bersama-sama."Apakah Anda suka mobil Anda?" Dia tersenyum dan mulai menggigit bibirku dengan lembut, menggoda ciuman. Memberi saya sedikit jeda, aku hanya bisa mengangguk.Akhir pekan lalu, setelah ayah saya sudah rumah, kita semua mengambil perjalanan ke Chicago dan membeli G8 saya. Saya telah memiliki ramping, gelap mobil perak logam hanya beberapa hari begitu jauh.Ayah telah memutuskan untuk menyerahkan sisa proyek Jerman untuk pasangannya, sehingga dia bisa tinggal di rumah dengan saya. Sudah sulit untuk menghadapi dia setelah video bocor, tapi setelah beberapa hari dan banyak pembicaraan, kami mendapat situasi terkendali. Ia turun pada saya untuk membuat pilihan seperti bodoh di sebuah pesta, dan ia merasa sedikit tidak nyaman dengan peran baru Jared's dalam hidup saya. Namun, dia mengakui, dia mungkin tidak akan nyaman dengan siapa pun Kapan saja kencan putrinya hanya.Jared dan aku telah online terus-menerus, mencatat video di mana pun kami menemukan itu. Teman-teman sekelas kami juga tampaknya akan merumahkan gosip. Tapi aku yakin itu lebih berkaitan dengan menghormati mereka untuk Jared daripada rasa kesopanan.Seminggu yang lalu, saya pikir saya akan pernah tinggal turun badai itu, tapi aku sudah berkonsentrasi pada hal-hal lain. Aku punya daftar modifikasi untuk melakukan pada mobil baru saya, dan saya berharap Jared, ayah saya dan saya bisa bekerja di atasnya bersama-sama sepanjang musim dingin. Utica tampaknya berpikir dia akan disertakan, juga, dan aku tidak melakukan sesuatu untuk menghilangkan otak kentut nya sedikit.Ayah saya setuju untuk membiarkan aku mengambil uang untuk Jared's perbaikan dari kepercayaan saya, tapi aku harus mendapatkan pekerjaan untuk menggantikannya. Ia adalah sangat ketat bahwa dana kuliah tidak sepiring makanan ringan bahwa aku bisa tetap tanganku di setiap kali aku ingin. Dan itu baik-baik saja. Pekerjaan adalah ide yang baik. Aku butuh sesuatu untuk mengambil waktu saya sekarang ayah yang membatasi waktu saya dengan Jared. Saya tidak berpikir dia adalah khawatir tentang keintiman kami ketika dia saya kehilangan fokus di sekolah.Jared mulai menggiling lambat antara kedua kakiku sebagai camilan nya lembut yang cepat berubah untuk melahap dan membelai. Dinginnya yang datang ke ruangan dengan Dia digantikan oleh keringat dan tidak panas.Oh. Aku bernapas keras, denyut nadi antara kaki saya twitched dengan gesekan dia membuat."Kau tahu," Aku terkesiap. "Saya ingin Anda di sini lebih dari apa pun, tapi ayah saya akan bangun. Hal ini seperti dia masih di tentara atau sesuatu. Dia tidur dengan satu mata terbuka."Dia tiba-tiba berhenti dan mengintip turun padaku seperti aku gila. "Saya tidak akan dapat untuk tetap pergi. Tidak dengan mengetahui bahwa tubuh kecil lucu meringkuk di tempat tidur ini bagus, hangat tanpa aku.""Anda akan pernah tidak menghormati ayah saya. Bahkan aku tahu itu.""Tidak, kau benar," ia mengakui, dan kemudian matanya melebar. "Apakah Anda ingin datang ke rumah saya?"Saya dilipat bibirku antara gigi dapat menahan tawa.Sebagaimana saya dibimbing kaki saya bangun dan berkeliling dia, Dia menciumku sulit sebelum berbisik terhadap bibirku. "Aku cinta padamu, Tate. Dan aku di sini untuk Anda selalu. Dengan atau tanpa acara menginap. Aku hanya perlu untuk melihat Anda."Aku memegang belakang lehernya saat ia mengangkat dirinya untuk melihat ke bawah pada saya. "I love Anda, juga.Bagian atas tubuhnya meluncur dari saya, ke sisi tempat tidur, seperti dia mencari sesuatu di meja. Aku berlari jari-jari saya sepanjang nya kembali, hampir tidak memperhatikan nya bekas luka di bawah kemeja. Ia muncul kembali dengan sebuah kotak di tangannya."Apa ini?" Saya bertanya."Buka itu," ia mendesak lembut.Aku duduk, dan ia bersandar di kakinya, menonton saya. Geser tutupnya, saya mengeluarkan gelang pesona. Bukan kikuk, bergoyang jenis yang membuat banyak kebisingan tapi rantai mungil, perak memegang empat pesona. Mataku kecilpun hingga Jared, tapi dia hanya duduk diam-diam, menunggu untuk sesuatu.Mengamati gelang lebih dekat, saya melihat pesona dari ponsel, kunci, koin, dan hati.Ponsel, kunci, koin, dan..."Saya bertahan hidup!" Aku meledak keluar, itu akhirnya memukul saya.Jared dihembuskan tertawa. "Ya, ketika kau bilang perjalanan kami ke Chicago tentang bagaimana Anda selalu ingin rencana melarikan diri Anda ketika berhadapan dengan saya di masa lalu, saya tidak ingin Anda melihat saya seperti itu lagi.""Aku tidak-" saya mulai."Aku tahu," ia bergegas untuk memastikan saya. "Tetapi aku ingin memastikan bahwa aku tidak pernah kehilangan kepercayaan Anda lagi. Aku ingin menjadi salah satu jalur Anda, Tate. Saya ingin Anda membutuhkan aku. Jadi.." Dia memberi isyarat untuk gelang. "Jantung adalah saya. Salah satu Nadi-nadi Anda. Aku mengambil Jax dengan saya hari ini untuk memilih keluar.""Bagaimana Apakah Anda saudara?" Aku berlari gelang melalui jari-jari saya, tidak pernah ingin membiarkan itu atau dia pergi.Jared shrugged his shoulders. “He’s hanging in there. My mom is working with a lawyer to try to get custody. He wants to meet you.”I smiled. “I’d love to.”I didn’t know what else to say. The gift was beautiful, and I loved what it represented. But what I loved more was that I was getting to know Jared. We’d missed time over the years, but he had found family in his brother, and I could see the love he had for him.A tear glided down my cheek, but I brushed it away quickly. “Put it on me?” I handed him the bracelet and blinked back more tears.He worked the clasp and secured it around my wrist, not letting go of my hand as he sat back and pulled me on top, straddling him.He brushed the hair away from my face, and I came down, meeting his lips. He tasted like heat and man, and I wrapped my arms around him, savoring the reality of just being here with him.“Jared.” My father knocked on the door, and we both jerked our heads up. “You need to go home now. We’ll see you for dinner tomorrow night.”My heart thumped so hard it hurt.Crap!Jared snorted back a laugh and spoke to the door. “Yes, sir.”The heat of embarrassment covered my face, my arms, my toes—hell, everywhere as I saw my father’s shadow under the door disappear.“I guess I need to go.”I clenched his black t-shirt and touched my nose to his. “I know. Thank you for my bracelet.”“I’m going to spoil you.” His hands caressed my hair.I smiled. “Don’t you dare. Just do me a favor. Leave your window unlocked. I may surprise you some night soon.”He sucked in a breath, and I crashed my mouth down on his. His tongue touched mine, and he dug his fingers into my hips, bringing me hard against him. I could already feel that I was ready for him.Damn it. Must earn father’s trust back. I repeated my mantra.“Go on. Get out of here. Please,” I begged and stepped off the bed. He got up but grabbed me for one more kiss before he walked to the French doors.I watched him climb safely back through his window, where he gave me one last look before grinning and turning off his light.I stood there for a minute, watching the rain splatter through the tree.The thunder rumbled in the night, reminding me of my monologue and how Jared and I had come full circle. We were friends again, and also more.I was his. And he was mine.We had never been gone from each other. Both of us were shaping the other even though we didn’t realize it.And now we were complete.