" Why the hell would you do that?!" Sadie shrieked after I told her about my encounter with Jackson.

" Wha—?" I fumbled for words. " I'm sorry I didn't know he was a freaking genie"

The line was quiet for a second. " So what do you think he'll do?"

" Sadie!" I whisper yelled over the phone.

" C'mon he's an ass but he's hot and you guys have chemistry" I could practically hear her smiling, if that's possible.

" Speaking of chemistry...I need to speak to my professors about my homework next week" I paced the room.

" What?" She laughed. " You actually do your assignments a week before its due?"

" Well how else am I supposed to keep up with all this maf— stuff" I almost let it slip that Jackson was in the mafia but Sadie didn't seem to notice.

" Remind me to get you drunk, or high, or both," Sadie muttered on the other line. " You seriously need to chill"

" Definitely not," I firmly corrected. " I may have a glass of wine but no drugs. Never"

" You know I used to say that before I got roofied" She stated honestly.

" You got drugged?!" I gasped.

" Shhh! Ashley," Sadie shushed. " Jeez, didn't you say Jackson and Aiden was with some guy out there?"

I Paused. " No. I said they were with a friend...how do you know it's a guy?"

" Oh, uh, seriously?" She let out a weird laugh. " You didn't say he was with that bitch Stacy and i'm pretty sure you're the closest person to a female friend Jackson Miller has right now"

" You're right" I admitted a little disappointed. I haven't seen him with any girls other that Stacy a few times and that's it. I guess off limits is our new friend zone.

" Uh Ash? I gotta go" Sadie announced after a distant male voice said something. " Sorry bye! oh and remember once you pop you can't stop"

"Wha—?" the line went dead.

My cheeks turned red. I can't believe she just said that! I sighed and sat on Jackson's soft bed. I guess her words have double meaning because she could be talking about my virginity or the possibility of a condom breaking. Either way is wrong.

So wrong.

I can practically hear my mom saying you need to be cleansed over and over even though she's not very religious. She can't be, I mean she has way too many sins. I covered my face with my hand and played the waiting game. The truth is I only called Sadie because I needed to talk to someone or I would lose my mind in this room. I haven't turned the lights on because I can't find a switch and his lamp is missing a bulb.

I'm forced to sit in here another hour listening to the ticking of a clock I can't even see and the hushed whispers of three adults —although two of them act like they're 13— In the other room. The longer I sit here waiting for this 'punishment' the more nervous I get, and the more nervous I get, the more the flight side of me wants to run for the hills. Or climb through the window. If it wasn't bolted shut.

Frowning in defeat I crawled on top of the bed, grabbed the fluffiest pillow and stared at the plain colored ceiling until my eyes unintentionally shut and I drift off. It felt like a few moments — I later learned it was hours— when the door opened and closed quietly. My eyes slowly fluttered opened in the now dimly lit room.

I watched in silence as Jackson walked in front of the bed and slowly began to pull his white shirt off. His back muscles flexed as he leisurely curled his fingers around the end of the shirt and tauntingly slid it over his body. My heartbeat raced uncontrollably and I gulped, suddenly feeling squirmy. There were a few scattered tattoos on his back and I squinted trying desperately to see a few of them.

There was a small cluster of teardrops, a skull with crossed bones and one that looked relatively new. If I'm seeing correctly it looks like...a sun with a smiley face on it, placed right behind his left shoulder.

Right behind his heart.

He turned around and I shut my eyes. He got a sun tattoo on his back.... so? my subconscious rolled her eyes that could literally mean anything. My last name is Sunshine, i'm happy...most of the time. Can it be? No, I agreed with my subconscious it's just a coincidence. Everytime I build up hopes about Jackson his "I can't love or be loved" speech always gets to me.

" I know you're not sleeping anymore" His cool lips ran across my cheek giving me goosebumps.

My eyes shot open. " Sorry"

" Aw," He cooed. " Afraid of what's coming to you?"

" No," I admitted looking down. " I just don't want it to be a punishment"

He moved away and took off his watch, rubbing his wrist. My eyes wondered over his abdomen and it almost felt like I was in some kind of sexy abercrombie commercial. " Did you enjoy the show?"

I blushed getting up and removing the covers from over me. " OH MY GOD"

A sly smile formed on his lips. " Lace really?, it's almost as if you knew what I want to do to you"

" You undressed me? you pig!" I grabbed the closest thing to me which was his white shirt and slipped it on trying to cover myself.

" Relax I barely touched you," He shrugged it off. " Besides if you're going to sleep on my bed at least have the decency to change into something that doesn't have puke on it"

I threw a nearby shoe at his head and he caught it with one hand, barely paying attention. "Nice aim"

"Die!" I grabbed a pillow and began whacking him with it. He fake winced and my anger turned to mush. Snatching the pillow out of my hand, he threw it on the floor and wrapped his arms around my hips and tugged me to him. I was very aware of our body temperature skyrocketing.

"You look hot in my shirt" His husky voice whispered in my ear and I bit my bottom lip not even realizing I was infact wearing his shirt which smells like axe, body wash and his natural scent — I'll just call it intoxicating for now.

I grabbed his biceps as I tried to step back, attempting to meet his eyes but as soon as I grabbed his firm muscles my heart skipped a beat and I build up the courage to lean in for a kiss. He leaned in too and I knew it was finally going to happen. Although things felt too good to be true, it also felt right. He felt right.

Whatever this is just felt...natural and I was dying to close that one inch gap between us. Electricity crackled in the room as my hand traveled over his abs and down to the belt wrapped around his pants. He closed his eyes and I stared at his plump lips in want.

" Vanilla bean..." He breathed a slow whisper, over flowing my body with feeling I never knew I had until now. He grabbed my face with both hands and I rose to my tippy toes reaching for his face then—

" Jackson!," Aiden barged in the room, not even acting shocked about our current position. " It's Alfonso...he escaped"

" What?!" Jackson grabbed a black leather jacket off the floor and rushed out the room. Aiden shot me an apologetic smile before running out of the room after him.

I wanted to scream.

I punched the pillow Jackson threw on the ground earlier and exhaled deeply.

"...Almost"

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