If Only

Chapter Twenty-One: Chained

Now sitting across from each other on the carpet, Jared reached his limit with my teasing.

"Your taste in music sucks," he declared, and my jaw dropped in disbelief. How could someone call classical music awful? I believed those who hadn't experienced this music were missing out on a significant part of life.

"Oh really? What genre would you suggest, then, since you're such an expert?" I replied, playfully teasing him, capitalizing on Jared's sassy mood.

"I don't know, something that doesn't make me want to end it all every five seconds," he shot back.

I grabbed the nearest pillow from my bed and flung it at him. It landed squarely on the back of his head, and he turned toward me with a surprised expression.

"You should've thought twice before doing that," he said, furrowing his brows as he dropped the discs onto the floor. Pushing himself up, he made his way over to me.

I walked backward, giggling, and raised my hands in mock surrender. "Oh, get over yourself..." I teased, unaware that I was provoking him. Grabbing another pillow, I playfully smacked him in the face with it, but it didn't deter him from closing in on me.

Before I knew it, his arms were wrapping around my waist, and he tackled me onto the mattress, eliciting a surprised squeal from me. I clutched the pillow tightly as my head hit the mattress. Jared was swift in climbing on top of me, and another squeal escaped my lips.

I kept hitting him with the pillow in an attempt to ward him off. I could hear him chuckling as he seized my wrist and tried to wrest the pillow from my grasp, but I resisted, holding it higher above my head and continuing to pummel him with it, all the while giggling.

Unexpectedly, he changed tactics. To prevent further pillow strikes, his fingers dug into my sides, initiating a playful tickle assault. My laughter escalated, blending with Jared's chuckles. Hearing his laughter, I thought it might be something I'd cherish for life.

"J-Jared, get off me!" I managed to say amid laughter.

He persisted, tickling my sides, making it hard to breathe. I couldn't stop laughing, losing my grip on the pillow. Jared seized it and tossed it aside, leaving me defenseless.

"No!" I screamed, still laughing. This time, I covered my face as Jared attempted to get closer. I turned my head, preventing him from reaching my face.

"I told you to think twice before hitting me with something," he said. His voice had deepened slightly, still carrying a hint of humor.

Keeping my hands on my face, I felt his grip on my wrists, slowly pulling them away. Trying to resist, Jared's strength overpowered me, and he succeeded in revealing my face.

Another burst of laughter escaped my lips as he pinned my hands on either side of my head. Gradually, he lowered his face until it was level with mine. I felt his lips almost touching mine, but he held back. His actions silenced me, and my breathing grew heavier as he gently brushed his lips against mine.

My heart raced each time he leaned in for a kiss, and a frustrated moan escaped when he teasingly pulled back.

"You wouldn't want your mom to hear you," his whispered words sent shivers down my spine. Instinctively, I arched my back, drawing our pelvises closer, but the ever-teasing Jared denied me the satisfaction. He retreated briefly, only to draw a few inches closer again.

A desperate longing to lock our lips together overwhelmed me, but he seemed intent on playing a game, pushing me to the brink. What came next nearly pushed me over that edge. His face drew nearer, and his teeth gently caught my lower lip, releasing it slowly before capturing both of my lips entirely. A moan escaped me, feeling a rush of heat through my body as he finally granted the satisfaction I craved.