Chapter One
Jenna
Seven years ago …
I wait for my parents to fall asleep before running out of the house and hopping into my boyfriend’s blue Chevy pickup truck.
Jax Morrison and I began dating the summer before our senior year, and we’ve been attached at the hip ever since. He isn’t like most of the boys I know in our small town.
At eighteen, Jax already has the build of a man—broad shoulders, muscular arms, and rough hands. He works at a lumber yard after school and on weekends. Now that high school is over, it feels like our real life together can finally begin.
Jax parks the truck in the empty lot behind our high school. I love summertime in Tennessee. All of our friends get together on Fridays and chug beer in the back of their pickup trucks. Or we lie on a pontoon at the lake—tanning, flirting, and having a blast.
That’s all ending soon, though. Most of our friends are going away to college, but my parents want me to stay local. Since Jax isn’t going to college, I didn’t fight my parents about going away to school. As much as I want to leave our small town of Bourne, population 500, I want to be near Jax more.
I can see the stars twinkle in the midnight sky from inside the truck. It’s as if they appear only for us.
“It’s a beautiful night,” I comment.
Jax grabs the plaid blanket from the cab of the truck and steps out. He peeks his head down at me.
“You’re beautiful.”
Magical tingles run up and down my limbs. The lights from the football field are bright enough for me to see the deep blue of his eyes. He always says things like that. I hop out of the truck and meet Jax around the back. He unlatches the tailgate and spreads the blanket down on the truck bed.
Jax jumps onto the truck with ease, showing off his athleticism. He reaches for my hand and pulls me up. I’m not quite as agile as he is because I’ve always been a bigger girl. No matter how many diets my parents put me on, I stay the same. I’m sure it doesn’t help that I have a secret stash of food in my room since their idea of dieting is to starve me.
It also doesn’t help that Jax always insists I eat something other than a salad. Not that I ever complain. Jax never encourages me to lose weight.
“Sorry,” I say self-consciously as I step onto the truck.
I look down at my flip-flops and fidget with my hands.
“For what?” He looks at me, confused.
“I probably threw your back out.”
He huffs out a frustrated breath and places his hands on my hips.
“Did your dad pick on you today?”
He knows I always feel down about myself when my father makes a comment about my weight. I stare down at the space between us and shrug my shoulders. Jax picks up my chin so that I’m looking into those eyes I love so much.
“Please don’t ever change a thing,” he growls, placing his hand up my skirt and slapping my ass, causing it to jiggle.
I squeal in surprise. He pulls me closer and kisses me—slowly and lovingly. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my head into his chest. He runs his fingers through my brown curls.
“We’re going to get out of this town, Jen. Just you and me.”
“Promise?” I ask, looking up at him.
He flashes that cool smile of his.
“Promise. I know that I have nothing to offer you right now…”
“I don’t care about money—”
“I want to take care of you and give you the life you deserve. I don’t want you depending on your father’s money.”
“I want you to have the life you deserve, too, Jax. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re no good.”
Jax grips my hips in his hands and kisses me again. This time, the kiss has more need in it.
While I am self-conscious about my weight, Jax’s insecurity lies in his social and financial status. His family is dirt poor. To make matters worse, his family doesn’t go to church and is certainly not what you would call Christian-friendly. In our small Southern town, that’s a big problem.
As we continue to make out, Jax’s hand reaches under my dress again. He squeezes my ass gently before moving his hand lower. His fingertips trace the line of my panty-covered crack to my lips. I jump at the contact.
“I need you,” he rumbles urgently.
Jax bites my bottom lip as his fingers lightly massage me. I can’t speak. The contact is barely there, and I want more. I hold onto the collar of his button-down plaid shirt and dip my head back. He devours my neck, tonguing my sensitive skin as my legs tremble.
I knew tonight would be the right time. We’re both eighteen and out of high school. I’m ready to spend the rest of my life with Jax Morrison. I want nothing more than to give myself to him completely because resisting him is no longer an option. I’ve fantasized about being with this man since the day we met.
But since I was raised in a conservative family, I’d initially felt dirty for my impure thoughts. Jax didn’t understand my hesitation, since his family is the exact opposite of mine. Still, he has been patient and respectful, but he never fails to tell me how badly he desires me. My panties are always soaked after a date with him, even though he has barely touched me. I’m eager and nervous to feel him inside me … and tonight’s the night.