Full Moon (26 page)

“Nah, you go on,” I said. “I’m not really in
the mood.”

“Don’t tell me you’re still freaked out by
that voice you heard.”

“I can’t help it. I’m trying to decide if
I’m crazy enough for a padded cell or doomed enough to be scared
about it.”

“So some ghosts talked to you. So what? They
were probably screwing with you anyway. After all, we’re all alive
and breathing.”

“True. Do you believe in ghosts?” I
asked.

“Yes. If I didn’t, I’d be telling you to put
on a straightjacket instead of a bikini.”

“Wow. It’s nice to know my new BFF doesn’t
think I’m a nut.”

“Just one thing.”

“What?”

“
Do you see
dead
people?”

I laughed. “No. I’m afraid my sixth sense
isn’t that well tuned.”

She grinned, glad I’d gotten her movie
reference. “You really need to come with us,” she said.

“Why?”

“Because Jesse’s already there, and I
promised him we’d swing by and pick you up.”

Suddenly, my interest in the beach was
piqued, and my heart jumped with joy. “I’m in! As long as there’s
not talk about animal skulls or mysterious voices.”

“Got it. Your secret is safe with me.” She
gave me a nudge. “So hurry and get ready. You’ve got five
minutes.”

I hurried inside, threw my curly hair into a
tight ponytail, put on my bathing suit, then quickly brushed my
teeth. I hurried downstairs and jumped into the SUV.

Julie introduced me to the other six girls.
They shook my hand and smiled and seemed nice enough.

We drove to our destination and made found
a nice spot on the shore. I was surrounded by large
granite 
boulders
 and tall 
pine
 
trees with
a glittering lake before me. Big, fluffy clouds floated lazily by
in the giant blue sky. I inhaled deeply to take in the fresh,
woodsy scent of the piney air. Everything was so scenic and
beautiful.

“I love it here,” Julie said.

I pointed at a tiny island straight ahead.
“Is that China Island?”

One of the brunettes nodded; I hadn’t yet
remembered all of their names. “Yep. Pretty small, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“See the cluster of boulders over to the
left, about thirty feet away from the island?”

I squinted against the sunlight. “Yeah.
Where all those guys are jumping off the rocks?”

“That’s where we’re gonna swim. It’s the
best spot in Big Bear Lake.”

“
Let’s go!” shouted a blonde girl with a
pink streak in her hair.

I slipped my shirt and pants off and
adjusted my red and purple bikini. I walked over the stony pebbles
and jumped into the cold water that felt great on such a hot day. I
glided forward, using long, powerful strokes. As I got closer,
instant recognition hit: The guy about to jump off one of the
tallest boulders was Jesse. An instant later, he splashed in.

When I swam to the rocks, he helped me up.
My breath froze as I watched the sun glint off his slicked-back
black hair. Water beaded his eyelashes and dripped down his face in
glistening rivers. His red swim trunks were adorable, but I was
almost disappointed that he’d opted to wear a shirt. “Hey, you,” he
said, smiling at me.

I couldn’t stop the smile from curling up on
my lips. “Hey.”

“Are you ready for a fun afternoon?” he
asked.

“Definitely.”

“Hey, Jesse,” Julie asked, “can I see the
scar?” He arched a brow, and she explained, “From the bullet
wound.” She inched forward, but he stopped her.

He laughed. “No.”

“I get it,” Julie said. “You’re shy.”

“Far from it,” he said.

“I thought guys loved showing off their
scars,” one of the girls said.

“Which boulder do you wanna jump off of? Are
you feelin’ like five feet or thirty?” Jesse asked me, changing the
subject.

“The highest one,” I answered.

The guys wooted, and Jesse grinned. “Ah. A
daredevil after my very own heart,” he said.

I climbed up to the highest point, where
there was a perfect view of China Island. Sucking in a deep breath,
I braced myself. I made sure there wasn’t another jumper jumping
from a lower level, and everything looked clear below.

Jesse walked over and held my hand. “We’ll
jump together.”

I smirked. “Let’s do it.”

“Cool. On the count of three.
One…two…three!”

We jumped together, holding hands, and
landed with a huge
splash
.

“
Woo-hoo!” I screamed. “That was
awesome!”
I glanced at
Jesse, blinking the water out of my eyelashes. There was no way I
could avoid drooling over those rippling muscles and glittering
eyes. I was mesmerized as I stared at his dazzling, breathtaking
male beauty, from his beautiful skin and full lips, to the
sculptured lines and angles of his forehead, to his amazing
cheekbones and chiseled jaw line, to the droplets of water that
clung to his face. I could have easily lost myself with that
handsome hunk.
Maybe Fred’s right,
I mused to myself.
Maybe he is dangerous.

All of the sudden, he grabbed me around the
waist and threw me in the air.

I landed with a
splash
, laughing as streams of water poured down my
face. “Oh, I’ll get you for that! I’m gonna dunk you!” I threatened
and started to swim his way.

“Don’t think so!” he teased.

We screwed off for a while, then swam to
shore to rest while the others continued jumping off the rocks. The
moisture on my skin gave me a cooling sensation beneath the hot
sun. I stood and saw Julie and the others still jumping off the
rocks.

When I turned around, Jesse met my gaze. His
blue eyes pierced mine, and shimmering remnants of the lake gave
his skin a glittery shine. Softly, he cupped my cheek. The heat
from his touch surged through my body, and I could have sworn that
the whole crazy world had stopped all around me. If someone had
asked me my own name in that moment, I wouldn’t have remembered
it.

My pulse skipped a beat when he shot me that
beautiful grin, all those white, bright teeth, like a gorgeous
movie star. Those beautiful baby blues entranced me all over again,
staring right into my soul. I cleared my throat and forced my brain
into motion. I tried to think of something to say, but nothing came
to mind. The light caught in the blue speckles of his eyes and took
my breath away. I drew in air, but more blood rushed to my face
like a tidal wave. He, on the other hand, was entirely composed and
unaffected, and I knew I was making a complete fool out of
myself.

His hot breath rippled across my skin in
that unforgettable moment, and his strong arms slid around me and
wrapped me close. A shudder ran through me, from head to toe. I
leaned against him until I could feel the warmth of his skin
against my racing heart, and I lifted my arm to touch his flushed
cheek.

He didn’t flinch or even react; he just
smiled and kissed my fingers where they touched his lips. “I’m
crazy about you, Taylor,” he said. “You’re all I think about.”

“I felt the connection the second I met
you.”

“Me too.” His eyes fixed on my lips, and he
moved closer to lower his mouth on mine.

Our lips connected in a slow, gentle touch.
In spite of the smoldering temperature, a shiver ran through me. I
closed my eyes, savoring his sweet taste. Goosebumps rippled my
skin as his strong hands wandered down my back to my middle. I
lifted my arms and guided them around his neck. He drew me
unbelievably closer; I was already standing so impossibly close.
Tangling his fingers in my hair, he kissed me slowly and
passionately on the lips. My heart was drumming so hard within me
that I wondered if Jesse could hear it. I wanted him to deepen the
kiss. I wanted it to go on forever. When his hot breath touched my
skin, I shuddered in excitement. Hot, searing kisses from his open
mouth trailed down my neck.

“Taylor! Jesse!” the others called from the
boulders.

Suddenly, he broke our embrace and turned in
the direction of our friends. “We’re being paged,” he said.

I stared into his eyes, unable to move or
even breathe. I was completely mesmerized.

Gripping my hand, he grinned. “Ready?”

I nodded mindlessly, and he led me back into
the water. My head was still spinning, my skin still tingling where
his lips had left a trail of moisture. Even though the kiss was
over, my heart continued to race. I sighed like one of those girly
girls and tried to switch on my brain again, but all I felt was a
mushy, hazy feeling that reminded me of staying up late to watch
those sappy Saturday night romances.

Jesse submerged and then resurfaced a few
feet past me. I cut the water with expert precision to catch up
with him.

One of Jesse’s friends grabbed his shoulder.
“You gotta see Frank dive backward, man.”

I smiled as his friend dragged him off.

“I saw you swim off with Prince Charming,”
Julie teased. “What happened?”

I pulled her aside. “He kissed me!”

“I knew it!” she squealed.

“He’s so amazing, Julie.”

“Is he a good kisser?”

“It was wonderful, but there was no,
uh…”

“Tongue action?”

I blushed and shook my head. “You guys
called us back over here too soon.”

“It wasn’t me,” Julie said.

“There’s always next time.”

“Or maybe even later today.”

I laughed.

“Taylor!” Jesse’s voice called. “I’ve gotta
drive Frank and the others back. Wanna meet up later?”

I walked over to him and smiled. “I had a
great time, and yes, I’d love to meet you later. Text me, and we’ll
think of something.”

He kissed my cheek. “See ya then.”

“Bye.”

He shot me a big smile, then turned to
leave. I watched him dive off the boulder and swim off into the
distance.

“Why wouldn’t he take off his shirt?” one of
the girls asked.

“He’s just shy,” another answered.

“Why on Earth would a guy like that want to
hide that perfect bod’? Did you see those muscles?” a
strawberry-blonde girl said.

“Taylor,” the brunette said, “you should
have just ripped it off of him.”

I smiled. “Maybe I will next time.”

We all laughed, then swam back to shore and
sunbathed for a few more hours. As I lay on my blanket, I couldn’t
stop thinking about him, recalling how great his lips felt against
mine, like soft rose petals. His every touch was special, and he
totally captivated me.

Chapter 15

I pulled into Jessie’s driveway in front of
his beautiful, contemporary-style home with brick and glass
windows, nestled among the towering trees. It was one of the
biggest homes in Big Bear Lake, so I was sure his mother was quite
wealthy.

After greeting me with a peck on the cheek
that almost sent me reeling to the floor in a whoosh of heat, Jesse
gave me the grand tour. This house had everything, from a gym to a
recreation room to the most amazing home theater room with a
mounted television that was the largest I’d ever seen in my life.
There was a luxury swimming pool with a beautiful patio and
terrace. Every single thing was perfectly arranged, and the décor
and immaculate design elements gave the house character; the whole
place was sleek and stylish to the core.

“Did your mom hire an interior designer for
this? It’s amazing,” I complimented.

“No. She did it on her own.”

“Wow. She has fantastic taste.”

He smiled as he led me to the room with the
giant TV. My mouth dropped as I darted my eyes down in every
direction, taking it all in. I tried to pretend like the gorgeous
estate didn’t faze me, but that was impossible.

Jesse went behind the bar. “What can I get
you to drink?”

“A Sprite would be great—or anything
lemon-lime.”

He pointed to the corner of the room. “I’ve
got Sierra Mist, if that’s okay.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“Why don’t you start looking through the
DVDs? We have a lot to pick from.”

I smiled. “You’re letting
me
pick the movie?”

“Yep.”

“Hmm. What if I pick some gushy chick
flick?”

“As long as I’m watching it with you, I
don’t care,” he said with a grin, placing ice into a glass.

I grinned and shook my head, once again
amazed by how different he was from Sean, who always used to fight
with me over movies. “Thanks for that, Jesse,” I said.

We snuggled on the couch and watched a
Julia Roberts classic,
Pretty Woman,
then wandered out to the terrace to sit and talk. I waited
there while Jesse got us some lemonade. As I was staring off into
the dark but beautiful forest, he set our glasses down on the deck
railing.

“I’m having such a good time,” I said.

“Me too.”

He wrapped his arms around me from behind,
lifted the hair off my neck, and softly kissed one of the most
sensitive spots on my body. Goosebumps erupted, and I gasped
deeply. He lightly stroked and caressed my neck with his
fingertips, then slid down my spaghetti strap and kissed my
shoulder, as if he knew it was a great turn-on for me, a sexy move
that worked every time.

“Jesse,” I said, shivering with pleasure,
“what are you doing?”

He moved up and down my neck, tickling me
with open-mouthed kisses. “What do you think?” he asked, each word
causing a hot breath to blow across my skin, literally driving me
crazy.

“Well…it feels so good.”

“Good,” he whispered in my ear as his
fingers glided down my bare arm. “I want you to feel good,
Taylor—always.”