Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury (best books for students to read .txt) 📗

go sleep on the couch. She’d rather sleep on the couch than with her own daughter.”

“Baby . . .” he whispers and kisses my head.

“The saddest part is that those nights were the best. I got to sleep the rest of the night surrounded by her smell. I would wrap myself up tight in her sheets and pretend they were her arms. I’d bury my face in her pillow, smelling her shampoo and night cream.”

Hot tears drip from my jaw, and Jonah’s arms tighten on my waist.

“Anyway, that’s the reason I listen to old music. All those old tapes were my mom’s. I took them when I left. I knew she’d be mad, but I also knew she wouldn’t come for them.” I wipe my cheeks and sniff. “Listening to this music, the music she had playing every day of my entire life, it’s the only way I can be close to her.”

The pressure at my waist is released and he turns me to him. I keep my eyes focused on his chest, not ready to confront the look on his face. His fingers beneath my chin pull my gaze to his. Bending down, his lips softly brush against mine and stay there as he speaks.

“Baby, I promise you that you’ll never want for physical contact again.” His big, strong hands hold my head and he leans his forehead against mine. “I’ll always hold you when you’re scared.” He softly kisses my jaw. “Comfort you when you’re sad.” His lips brush against my cheeks. “Take care of you when you’re sick.” Tilting my head back, he kisses my forehead. He bends down and his hazel eyes narrow into mine. “I’ll make it my life’s mission to make up for every second you were neglected.”

I’m captivated by his stare, which, like his hold on my heart, doesn’t let go. I suck in a ragged breath, overcome with emotion.

“I know I say this all the time, but I love you, Jonah. So much.”

“I love you too, baby. Thank you for telling me about your mom. There’s nothing you need to keep from me. I want to know you, even the stuff you’re not proud of.”

“Okay.”

“My gorgeous girl and her ‘okays.’”

I bury my face in his chest, feeling lighter, having released a heavy burden from my past and placed it on the strong, capable shoulders of the amazing man before me.

“Now, as far as the formal dinner tonight goes? You have nothing to worry about. I won’t leave your side, not even for a second.” His dimples slowly appear as a smile creeps across his face. “I’ll even take you to the bathroom with me.” He kisses my neck. “That might actually make this stupid dinner worth going to.”

I exhale as his playful words bring me peace. And the visual of Jonah and I having bathroom sex also helps to chase away the last of my nerves.

“I can’t wait to see you in the dress you picked up.”

I roll my eyes, remembering the day he shoved two thousand dollars cash into my backpack to shop. I planned on not using it, until I realized how expensive good formalwear is. I used all of it.

“Besides, if anyone should be worried, it’s me,” he says.

My brows pinch together and I study his smoldering eyes. “Why would you worry?”

“I gotta worry about all the assholes who’ll be sniffing around you all night. Pretty sure beating someone’s ass at this dinner in front of all the bigwigs would be frowned upon.”

He’s all dimples and beautiful white teeth as he looks from my eyes to my lips. My heart beats wildly and desire floods my veins. I lick my lips in anticipation and run my hands over his muscular chest, thumbing his nipples through his shirt. Feeling the sinewy ripples of his chest, I imagine his naked torso above me. Heat ignites my blood and flips my belly. I look up at him from under my eyelashes.

His smile fades and his eyebrows arch. “Again?”

It hasn’t even been a week since I lost my virginity to Jonah, but my appetite for him is insatiable. I can’t get enough, and from the frequency of our lovemaking, neither can he.

“Well, I guess if you don’t want to, I can just go back to working on the Impala,” I say teasingly.

I shift out of his hands and take a step backwards. He hauls me to his torso with a growl, his mouth at my ear.

“Oh, I want to. Seeing you out here, bent over this car, your sexy ass in those short shorts . . .” His words are lost as he possesses my mouth. He bites my lip and I moan against him. “That’s my girl.”

Bending down, he puts his big shoulder to my stomach and grabs me behind my knees. In one quick move, I’m thrown over his shoulder.

“Jonah!”

He smacks me on the bottom, and my mouth slams shut. I allow the sensations to penetrate my body.

Why does that feel so good?

~*~

Jonah

“It’s six twenty-five, babe. You about ready?” I call out to my bathroom door, the same bathroom door I’ve been talking to for over an hour.

Raven locked herself in there with her dress and a bag full of girl crap and hasn’t come out since. I’ve heard all manner of sounds coming from the other side, but still haven’t gotten even the slightest peek at my girl.

“Okay. One more second.” She’s been telling me one more second for the past fifteen minutes.

I turn toward my full-length mirror to straighten my tie. Slipping my finger beneath the collar, I give it a yank, hoping to give my neck some relief. Monkey suits and a heavyweight’s body do not mix. Even custom made, they feel like a glorified straight jacket. I lift my arms and bring them to cross at my chest. The fabric stretches to its limit making me claustrophobic. I can’t wait to get this night over with.

The sound of something hitting the bathroom floor gets my attention.

“Shoot! I’m