Promising You (The Jade Series #4) (4 page)

“If I told you, it would ruin the surprise.”

“Okay, go get it.”
 

As he leaves, he turns on my blue ceiling lights. I stare up at them, remembering when he snuck in my room and put them up. It took him hours to do. Every time I look at them I think about how much I love him.

I can’t imagine my life without Garret. There’s no way I’m breaking up with him. I’m not following orders of some secret organization.

“You ready?” Garret pops his head in the door.
 

“Yes. I’m ready.”
 

He kicks open the door and carries in a large, thin box.
 

“You got me a TV?” I practically yell it I’m so excited.
 

“I had to. You’re sick, and when you’re sick you have to lie around watching TV. And I knew you wanted one.”

“I did, but Garret, that’s too much money.” I quickly cover my mouth with my hand. “Crap.”

He just looks at me and smiles.

I’m laughing. “Okay, what do you want?”

Garret and I made a deal that if I ever mention money again, in regards to him spending too much on me, I owe him a striptease or I have to wear lingerie or a skirt. He acts like it’s a punishment and I play along, but we both know I’d totally do those things for him anyway.
 

We made the deal a few weeks ago after Garret decided he couldn’t take any more of my complaints about money. I was getting tired of it, too. We always ended up arguing and it wasn’t worth it. Sometimes I still get annoyed when he buys me stuff but I try to let it go.

“I definitely want the skirt,” he says, coming over to kiss me. “But not until after you get off the crutches.”

“Okay, I can do that.”

My friend, Harper, gave me a denim mini skirt for Christmas and as soon as Garret saw it on me, we had what he now refers to as “skirt sex.” Now he keeps insisting I get more skirts. The boy really likes skirts. Then again, I think all boys do.
 

“Where do you want it?”
 

My head is still thinking about the skirt sex and I give him a funny look.
 

“The TV, Jade. Where do you want it?”

“Oh, yeah, the top of the dresser.”
 

I watch as he removes the TV from the box and hooks up all the cables. He has such a hot ass. His jeans fit him perfectly. His arm muscles flex as he maneuvers the TV and it totally turns me on. I haven’t been with him since I hit my head. Actually longer than that because before I hit my head we had a fight and didn’t talk for days. So it’s been almost a week, which for us is forever.

“It’s ready to go.” Garret hands me the remote. “It’s your TV so you get to be the first person to turn it on.”

I toss the remote aside. “The TV can wait. Come here.” I pull him down on the bed with me and press my lips to his.

“Jade. Not yet,” he says between kisses. “You know what the doctor said. No physical activity.”

“I can’t even kiss you?” I tug his t-shirt up to feel his ripped abs.

“You keep this up and there’ll be more than kissing going on.”
 

“I think I need that.” I undo his belt. “I think it would help me recover faster.”

“You do, huh?” He kisses my neck.

“Definitely. In fact, I think the doctor even mentioned that today.” I flick open the button on Garret’s jeans and yank the zipper down.

“Jade, stop.” He says it softly by my ear, making me shiver. “It’s too soon. You need to get better first.”
 

“It’s not too soon. I need this.” I slide my hand over his black boxer briefs as his lips return to mine. “And so do you.”

“Shit, Jade.” His eyes close as I continue to touch him, and then he speaks against my lips in a hoarse whisper. “You know I can never say no to you.”
 

So much for waiting. Guys are so damn easy.
 

I whip my shirt off while he does the same with his. Then he kicks off his jeans and boxers while I tug my jeans and panties down, letting him finish taking them off. Usually we take some time to kiss before moving on but not tonight. We’ve both missed being together and as soon as he gets on top of me he slips inside, rocking his hips in a fast rhythm that sparks small ripples of pleasure through my core. They continue to build until finally hitting a peak causing a release of all the tension in my body.

Yeah, it’s definitely been too long. That was just what I needed.

Garret carefully moves off me so he doesn’t hurt my knee. “Feel any better?”
 

“A lot better.” I kiss him. “Thanks, Dr. Kensington.”

He laughs as he kisses my cheek. “I recommend twice a day treatments.”

“Twice a day? I could do that.” I smile.

“I’m kidding, Jade. We probably shouldn’t have even done that.”

“Why? I feel better now than I have all day.”

His face gets serious. “You’re still not going to class tomorrow. Or the next day. And that’s Dr. Cunningham’s orders. Not mine.”

“I know. I’ll stay here.”

“I only have one class tomorrow. The other one was cancelled so I’ll be here with you all day.”

“Really?” I pull his face to mine and kiss him again. “So I’ll be able to get my twice a day treatments?”

 
He laughs. “What’s gotten into you? I mean, not that you ever turn down sex, but you usually don’t ask for it.”

“I love you.” My fingers trail over his chest and down his abs. “And you’re hot. I can’t help myself.” I lean in and whisper in his ear. “I want you.”
 

“Are you trying to get this twice a day thing going yet tonight? Because this new side of Jade you’re showing me is really turning me on.”

“If you’re up for it.” I glance down at the boxers he just put back on.

He flashes his cocky smile. “Give me a couple minutes.”
 

We kiss until he’s ready to go again, after just declaring this no-sex-until-Jade’s-better rule.

I’ll say it again. Guys are so damn easy.

After our second round, I try out the TV. The picture is crystal clear, almost 3-D. “Garret, this TV is awesome. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I would’ve got a bigger screen, but I
knew you’d complain if I spent too much so I tried to limit my spending.”

“Good. Because I don’t need some $1000 TV set.”

His eyes dart away.
 

“Garret, did you spend that much on this TV?”

“I got it on sale. And you like it, right?”

“Yes, but still.”

He squints his eyes, waiting for me to say it.
 

“You spent too much money.” I say it on purpose.

“Yes! Okay, this time it’s a striptease. I’m keeping track of these by the way.”

“I know you are.” I scoot back into his arms and watch my new TV.
 

I should probably be spending the night thinking about Sinclair and worrying about what happened earlier. But I don’t. Ever since I met Garret I don’t worry about stuff as much. He has a way of taking my mind off all the bad stuff and making me focus only on the good.
 

The next morning when I wake up Garret’s already at class but he left a cup of coffee and donuts next to my bed. I sip the coffee, which is still hot, and read the note he left.
A little something to help you feel better. I’ll be back at 10 for your morning treatment. I love you.—G

His note makes me laugh. But I think his sex treatments are actually working. I do feel better today.
 

It’s 9 and normally I would be at class right now. It’s weird not to be there. I never miss class.
 

I take the bag of donuts and turn on the TV. I can’t believe I have my very own TV!
 

Morning talk shows are on and I stop at one that I used to watch last summer. It’s hosted by a guy and girl duo who both have bright blond hair, deep blue eyes, overly tan skin, and super white teeth. They’re practically identical and they’re way too chipper for this early in the day.
 

I listen to their celebrity gossip as I eat my donuts and sip my coffee. This is so great. I don’t even feel sick and I’m being forced to take a sick day.
 

After a commercial break, the blond girl introduces the first guest. “Fans from all over America have been anxiously waiting for it and now it’s finally here. The Prep School Girls’ Reunion debuts next week and we have one of the stars of the show with us today. Please welcome the beautiful Ava Hamilton.”
 

“Are you kidding me?” As I say it I realize I’m talking out loud to myself.

Ava goes to school here at Moorhurst. She used to live on my floor but got an apartment off campus this semester. She dated Garret for a few weeks when they were 15 and acted as his fake girlfriend last semester, as ordered by Garret’s parents. She was on Prep School Girls, a reality TV show, during her senior year of high school. While she was on the show, she pretended to be dating Garret and now she’s pretending to date him again for the reunion show. Her made-up fantasy world has caused paparazzi to follow Garret around and celebrity tabloids to make up stories about him. And his dad won’t get his lawyers involved because he doesn’t want the bad publicity of a lawsuit. Plus the reunion show only consists of three episodes and Pearce thinks Garret’s popularity will end once the show does.

“Ava, welcome to the show,” the male host says.
 

“Thank you, Kurt,” Ava says, smiling at him. She, too, has overly white teeth. She’s wearing a tight red dress with a plunging neckline that shows off her fake breasts. Kurt seems to be having a hard time keeping his eyes off them.

“So tell us what we can expect on the reunion episodes,” Cassie, the female host, says.

Ava pivots her body and talks directly to the camera. “Well, I’m not supposed to say too much but I
will
tell you that the fans who’ve been waiting for Garret to come back to me will be very pleased.”

The audience oohs on cue.
 

Cassie clasps her hands together. “What else can you tell us about Garret? Because I have to say, I have a HUGE crush on him.”

Seriously? Cassie’s like 35. What is she doing crushing on a 19-year-old? I turn the volume up.

“I probably shouldn’t say this on TV but…” Ava leans over like she’s telling Cassie a secret. “If you think Garret’s hot with clothes, you should see what he’s got going on under those swim trunks.”
 

The audience oohs again as Cassie pretends to fan herself.

“Ugh. Gag. I can’t believe this!” For some reason, I’m talking out loud to myself again.

“So I take it you two are back together?” Kurt asks. He looks disappointed. He was probably hoping to get Ava to sleep with him after the show.
 

“You’ll have to wait and see.” Ava faces the audience as she says it. “The first episode airs next week, so don’t forget to watch. And afterward, go to the show’s website and you can rate Garret’s hotness and download photos of him.”

Rate Garret’s hotness? What the hell does that mean? He’s either hot or he’s not. Where does the rating come in?

Cassie asks Ava about the other girls on the show and then Ava finally leaves the stage. The interview makes me so ill I shut the TV off and go take a shower.
 

Around 10:15, Garret comes back from class. “How’s my patient?”
 

“Good. Thanks for breakfast.” I kiss him as he sits down on the bed. He always wears this cologne that smells so incredible on him I just want to sit there and breathe him in. His face is smooth from his morning shave and his bright, aqua-blue eyes are wide awake. Today he’s wearing jeans and a fitted gray t-shirt, a combo that would seem boring on most other guys but Garret can make anything look sexy. And his t-shirts are the softest I’ve ever felt.
 

I smooth his shirt with my hand, feeling his tight abs underneath. “I think it’s time for my treatment. You said 10 o’clock right?”

He laughs as I undo his belt. “Is this from your head injury? Because ever since you hit your head you’ve been—”

I put my finger to his lips. “Are you complaining?”

“Shit, no.” He kisses my finger, then pulls my hand away and replaces it with his lips. His tongue tangles with mine and his warm breath tastes like mint.
 

Hearing Ava and Cassie talk about Garret that way makes me want him even more. He’s hot and other girls want him, but he’s all mine and there’s something really sexy about that.

I unzip his jeans and slip my hand down them, taking him to the edge as we kiss.

“Jade, slow down. I’m supposed to be doing this for
you
.”

“You want me to stop?” I start to pull my hand away.

He nudges it back and talks softly against my lips. “I didn’t say stop. Just slow down.”

He always tries to go slow for my sake but today I don’t need to him to. I’m more than ready for him.
 

I break from his lips. “We can kiss later. Get naked. Hurry up.”

He’s laughing again. “You’re supposed to
want
me to go slow. Give you time to warm up?”
 

“Yeah, well, I’m warmed up so let’s go.”

I yank back the covers on the bed as he strips his clothes off. I let him undress me, then pull him back over me to finish what I’ve been wanting to do since I got up this morning.

When we’re done, he collapses on his back next to me. “You’re wearing me out, Jade.” He says it kiddingly.

“If you didn’t want it you shouldn’t have walked in here looking all hot.”

He feels my forehead. “You’re definitely sick. You want sex all the time and you just gave me a compliment. I’m taking you to the doctor.”

I laugh and take his hand off my forehead. “I don’t need a doctor. I feel a lot better today. No headaches. No dizziness.”

“That’s because you’re not racing off to class or doing homework. You’re going to rest here all day.”

We get dressed and then I snuggle back into his arms.
 

I really like sick days.

4

“Did you try out the TV today?”