Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness Before Dawn Trilogy #1) - J.A. London

Provando el foro

We got in the car, both shivering, but I was still grinning like a fool. I noticed Jared was too.
We were both soaking wet and the fabric seats of his car quickly grew damp.
“I think I have a couple of shirts in here somewhere,” Jared said, leaning into the back seat and rummaging around. “Aha!” he exclaimed, pulling a black duffel bag out and resting it on the middle console. He unzipped it and pulled out two shirts. “Change into this,” he tossed one at me.
I grabbed up the huge green shirt with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on it and laughed.
“Don’t mock the shirt,” Jared said, pulling his tee over his head, giving me a glimpse of his model worthy body and replacing it with a red one.
I went to slip the shirt on and Jared scolded me. “Nuh-huh. Katy, it defeats the purpose of a dry shirt if you don’t take off the wet one.”
I blanched.
He wanted me to take my shirt off, in front of him? In his car where anybody walking by could see?
I glanced out the window and decided it was raining so hard that nobody would be able to see in, but that didn’t solve the problem of Jared.
“Close your eyes,” I pointed at him. “I mean it, no peaking.”
Jared closed his eyes and then covered them with his hands, “Happy?”
I didn’t answer him. I was already busy changing.
His shirt came to my knees because I was so short and I decided to risk removing my jeans. My legs already felt like popsicles.
“Katy, it doesn’t take that long to change a shirt… Oh God! Where are your pants?”
I blushed. “They were wet and your shirt is plenty long.”
He stared at my legs for a long moment and I heated under his gaze. Finally, after an eternity, his eyes flickered up to mine and he swallowed hard.
“Kitten, how do you expect me to drive with your sexy as hell legs bare to me?” His eyes flickered with a fire I rarely saw.
I choked. Jared had never been so… forward with me before. It was a bit shocking.
“I’m sorry,” Jared said, straightening and gripping the steering wheel, tightly in his hands. “I shouldn’t have said that. Ignore me,” he shook his head and I swear he was blushing.
“It’s okay,” I whispered as he put the car in drive and pulled away from the small town.
“No, it’s not, Katy. I was out of line,” he ran his elegant, long, fingers through his hair, making the wet strands stick straight up. With a frustrated groan, he reached over and turned the heat up.
“Jared, it’s fine,” I reassured him. “I’m not going to go running. I’m here to stay,” I took a deep breath.
He glanced over at me quickly and then his eyes darted back to the road. “Are you sure? I don’t want to push you away, just because I can’t keep my mouth closed. But damn-” he looked back over at my legs. Chuckling and shaking his head, he said, “You are really trying to kill me.”
I laughed. “I never realized my legs were so distracting.”
He grinned. “Kittycat, they’re the sexiest legs I’ve ever seen and to think, just five minutes ago, I had those beauties wrapped around my waist and your mouth on mine.” He squirmed in the seat and muttered something under his breath.
“Really? They’re so short. I always thought guys liked girls with long legs,” I stretched one out on the dashboard to inspect it.
I was not at all expecting Jared’s reaction to my innocent inquiry.
The car swerved off the road. “Fuck!” Jared exclaimed, but he managed to right the vehicle. “I swear to God, you must be trying to get us killed. Put your leg down before I do something I really regret and pull this vehicle over to check them myself.”
“Oh,” I said, and quickly lowered my leg.
Jared shook his head and kept his eyes firmly pinned to the road and nowhere near me. A good ten minutes passed before he spoke. “I don’t care if your legs are long or short, they’re sexy.”
I blushed.
“Katy,” he continued, “I don’t tell you enough because I don’t want you to run from me, but you are so completely beautiful. Inside and out. When I tell you that I love you, I mean it. I love you. All of you. The good and the bad.”
I opened my mouth to say something but Jared cut me off.
“There’s no need to say anything, Katy. Just listen to what I told you and remember it. Always remember it,” he looked at me sternly.
I nodded.
He picked up his phone. “I better call the hospital so we can get your cast changed.”
“Oh, I can do that,” I said, digging in my purse for my phone.
Jared put his hand on mine, stilling my movements. “I’ve got this, Katy. Let me take care of my girl.”
“O-o-kay,” I put my purse down.
He chuckled and started to make the call.
They were swamped at the hospital so they told Jared to take me to the emergency clinic.
Yippee. I was just dying to spend the evening with a bunch of sick people while I waited for a new cast. Every time I went to one of the emergency clinics near the campus, it always ended up taking forever. I was sure tonight, would be no different.
I looked down at my ruined cast and rubbed my fingers over the words Jared had written on it. Even though I was sure this was going to be a pain in my butt, I wouldn’t take back that kiss in the rain. It was perfect.
Jared pulled into the parking lot and I slipped my jeans back on before he helped me out. He surprised me when he enclosed my fingers with his. It surprised me even more when I didn’t have the urge to pull away. A smile lifted my lips.
I was healing.
~***~

We made it home just past dinnertime. My arm was now enclosed in a hot pink cast.
I liked the blue one better and I had detested that thing.
“Hey,” Karlie said, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she sat up on the couch.
“I picked up subs,” Jared held the paper bag aloft. “I’m tired and don’t feel like making dinner.”
“That’s fine,” Karlie yawned.
Jared sauntered into the kitchen, placing the bag on the table and then grabbing plates.
“I’m –uh- going to go change,” I muttered, pointing my thumb over my shoulder at the stairs.
Karlie looked at me. “Are you wearing one of Jared’s shirts?”
“We got caught in a downpour,” Jared answered her for me.
I nodded in agreement and made a mad dash for the stairs. I really hoped Jared didn’t tell her about me practically mauling him. I doubted he would though; after all, she was his sister. Plus, Jared didn’t strike me as the kind of guy to kiss and tell.
I changed into a pair of sweatpants and one of my own tees. I was going to have to ask Jared where the washer and dryer were; I really needed to wash my clothes.
Jared and Karlie were fixing their food on plates. I saw my sub already out and fixed for me. I glanced up at Jared and smiled.
“Thanks,” I said, sitting beside Karlie.
Jared shook his head. “There’s nothing to thank me for. I just put your sub on a plate. It’s not that hard.”
“It’s the thought that counts,” I shrugged, taking a bite of my sub. Mayonnaise dotted the corner of my mouth and I hastily wiped it away with a napkin.
“So…” Karlie said, filling the sudden silence. “What did ya’ll do today?”
Jared raised an eyebrow at his sister. “Nosy, much?”
“Sorry,” she laughed. “I don’t have much of a social life. I have to live vicariously through everyone else.”
“Even your brother?” He eyed her.
“Even my brother,” she put her sub down. “You don’t have to tell me. I was just curious.”
“We had a fun day, we went… exploring,” He supplied.
I snorted. Exploring each other’s lips more like it.
Jared grinned over at me and then went back to talking to Karlie. “So, you have no social life? What about school? Rodney?”
Karlie waved her hand. “I hate school and don’t really talk to anyone. And Rodney…” she trailed off. She looked up at her brother with big, pleading brown eyes, “Promise, you won’t get mad?”
“What did he do?” Jared growled.
“Calm yourself,” Karlie glared. “He didn’t do anything,” she sighed. “He’s just made his… feelings known.”
“Did he touch you?” Jared was about to turn into the Hulk in five seconds if she didn’t calm him down. The veins in his neck had popped out and his hands were clenched into fists.
Karlie snorted. “We’re dance partners, Jared, he kind of has to touch me,” she rolled her eyes.
“I swear, if he did anything inappropriate-”
“Jared, it’s fine. He just wants something that I can’t give him,” she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her brother.
Jared paled and his eyes threatened to pop out of his head. “Damn straight, you’re not giving that to him.”
Karlie laughed. “Not that, Jared. He just wants to date and I’m not ready for that.”

“Thank you, Jesus!” Jared visibly relaxed. “I think, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” he put a hand to his chest, over his heart.
“Sorry, you asked,” she picked her sub back up. “I was just being honest.”
“You’re giving me gray hairs,” Jared pointed to his head. “I’m too young for this.”
“It’s not my fault that you’re a worrywart and misconstrue everything I say,” she gave him a look that clearly said he was crazy.
Jared took a sip of his Gatorade. “No more talking about, Rodney. My poor heart can’t take the stress.”
Karlie giggled.  “Jared, you do realize that one day I’m going to have a boyfriend and I might have… sex,” she gasped for dramatic affect.
Jared slapped his hands over his ears. “No, no, no, no, no! That word will never be uttered from your lips, again! At least not in my presence! Nope!” he shook his head. “Never. Oh God,” he hung his head, “I’m going to have to lock you away. No one is ever touching you.”
“It’s going to happen someday, Jared,” Karlie wiped at the condensation that had formed on her glass of water. “I am going to get married and have kids.”
Jared looked up at the ceiling. “And I pray I’m dead when it happens because I will kill the bastard.”
“You’re worse than most dads,” Karlie huffed.
“Maybe,” Jared glared at her, “that’s because not only am I your brother, but I’ve practically raised you. Double whammy.”
“Woohoo, lucky me,” Karlie dead panned.
I just sat there, watching the siblings banter back and forth. My head swiveling from side to side like someone watching a tennis match.
Suddenly, Karlie broke protocol and looked at me. “Katy, you’re gonna have to help me with this one. I do plan on dating sometime before I’m thirty.”
“Not going to happen, Karls,” Jared growled. “You’re too young to date.”
Karlie rolled her pretty brown eyes. “You’re not the boss of me, Jare.”
“Actually, since Dan and Patsy signed rights over to me, I am your ‘boss’. You’re my responsibility, Karlie. I won’t let you ruin your future by getting involved with some douche and ending up pregnant. What happened to you wanting to go to Joffrey?”
“Joffrey is my plan, Jared, you know that. I was just joking around. I certainly don’t plan on throwing my future away for a one-night stand. Stop getting your panties in a bunch,” she said, softly.
Finally, I interrupted. “What’s Joffrey?”
Karlie and Jared both turned to look at me.
“It’s a ballet school in New York City. They’ve already been scouting me, which is highly unusual. Julliard has taken a look too, but I doubt I’ll get in there. They’re highly exclusive,” Karlie explained.
“Wow, that’s incredible,” I truly was in awe. “I didn’t realize that you were so serious about ballet. I guess I thought it was just a hobby.”
Karlie tucked a piece of bright red-orange hair behind her ear. “I guess ballet has always been an escape for me, just like MMA is for Jared. I love it and I’m really good at it. I’m very fortunate that some of the best dance schools are interested in me. It makes it more real, that maybe I really can live my dream.”
“That’s awesome,” I said, lacking for anything better to say. But it really was incredible. Seeing Karlie perform, I knew she was amazing, but hearing this made it all more real.
Karlie smiled. “Thanks, hopefully nothing changes in the next two years. I want it so bad.”
“As long as you don’t give up, it’ll happen,” I told her, smiling reassuringly.
“Thanks, Katy,” she smiled.
We finished our dinner and I helped Jared wash the plates and glasses before heading upstairs for a shower.
Dressed in sweatpants and a tank, I made my way to Jared’s room. Butterflies descended on my stomach.  I thought about asking him to sleep on the couch tonight, but if I was honest with myself, I really didn’t want him to.
I opened his bedroom door and found him stretched out on the bed in plaid pajama pants and shirtless. His arms were crossed behind his head, leaving his chest completely open to my view.
My eyes roamed over every dip and curve, marveling at how smooth his skin was. My eyes stopped when the reached the light dusting of brown hair below his belly button.
Bring your eyes up, Katy. Up!
Jared chuckled and my eyes immediately darted up to meet his.
“Like what you see?” He grinned crookedly.
“What’s not to like?”
Did I seriously just say that? Who am I?
He chuckled and patted the empty space next to him that had become mine. “Bedtime, kittycat.”
With my heart racing, I got in the bed.
Jared stood, rummaging through his dresser door.
“What are you looking for?” I asked, sitting up.
“Aha! Found it!” he declared, turning back around with a bag from one of the stores we’d gone in.
He rummaged around in the bag and pulled out the dream catcher. He deposited it on the dresser and then climbed in bed, with the bag still in his hand.
“I got you something,” he grinned like a little boy, holding out the plastic white bag that said ‘Thank you’, in teal and pink letters.
“What’s the special occasion?” I asked, taking it from him.
He smiled at me, the smile that reached his eyes and made them crinkle at the corners. “Katy, I don’t need a special occasion to give you a gift, because every day with you is special.”
I gasped a little at his words. No one had ever said something so sweet to me.
“I- Jared-”
“Katy, please don’t sit here and stutter for five minutes,” he grinned. “Just open the present.”
I nodded, and turned the bag upside down. A small white box fell out, onto my lap.
I picked it up, turning it around, and gave it a small shake. It was small, and fit in the palm of my hand.
“For the love all that’s holy, open it!” Jared was about ready to jump out of his skin. Somebody liked to give gifts.
With a small smile, I lifted the lid off the box.
Inside, nestled between tissue paper, was a bracelet.
It was wine colored, made of some kind of cord, with a gold clasp. A single charm dangled from the clasp and said, ‘Made with Love.’ There was a twisted knot on top, which I ran my thumb over.
“I love it. It’s beautiful,” I looked up at Jared, with awe in my eyes. Would this man ever cease to amaze me?
“It’s called a Forget Me Knot, bracelet, at least that’s what the lady at the store, said,” he shrugged. “But I want you to look at it every day, and when you do, I want you to think about how much I love you and never forget it.”
I swallowed thickly and glanced over at Jared, my lashes sticking together with moisture.
“I will,” I rubbed the material of the bracelet, “this is the best gift I’ve ever been given.”
“It’s just a bracelet,” He whispered, like if he spoke any louder I might crack.
“I know,” I said, “but the meaning behind it? That’s priceless. You are priceless,” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
I undid the clasp and began to struggle to get it on.
“Here, let me help you,” Jared breathed. His long fingers flicked out and in no time he had the bracelet secured to my wrist. He stared at my wrist for a long moment, a determined gleam in his eye. He bent his head down, his warm breath caressing the sensitive skin of my arm. “You are mine,” he declared, before pressing his lips to my wrist, right next to the bracelet. A shiver ran up my spine as he brushed his nose along my arm. “I really want to kiss you,” his voice was husky.
“Then kiss me,” I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper.
He cupped the back of my head.
“Are you sure?” he questioned, looking my face over for any indication that I was about to flee.
“Yes,” I said, breathlessly. If he didn’t put his lips on mine in ten seconds, I was going to attack him and cling to him like a spider monkey. “Kiss me, Jared.”
With a growl, his lips met mine.
Heat exploded across my body.
He pushed me back, so that I was lying flat on the bed and he was hovering over me.
My fingernails raked his back as his mouth devoured mine. It was like I was his oxygen and he needed more.
I felt his tongue flick out and my mouth opened in response.
When his tongue flicked mine, my heart stopped.
Not because I was scared, but because an emotion consumed me that I’d never felt before.
Passion.
Jared made me feel things that no one else could.
My fingers dug into his skin and he moaned in response.
I realized in that moment, that Jared owned me, body and soul.
Forever.

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