Rachel

Holy shit. I just agreed to spend the night with Miles. What the hell was I thinking—my parents will never going to allow it!

I thought for a moment and had the most cliché, teen-movie idea.

Brooke, SOS I need you now!

Immediately she answered.

Whose ass do I need to kick?

No, nothing like that. I'm spending the night with Miles.

WHAT?!

I know, I know...and I can't tell my parents that. So I'm going to tell them I'm spending the night with you. Is that okay?

Ooh, sneaky girl.

;) Thanks love.

Make sure he wraps it up.

SHUT UP!

Bahahaha. xoxo

I clicked off of the thread with Brooke and dialed my mom, looking up at Miles and putting my finger to my lips.

He smirked and leaned against the trunk with me, crossing his arms over his chest and watching me in amusement.

"Hey Mom!"

"Hey babydoll," she greeted. There was a lot of noise in the background.

"Mom...where are you?" I asked, holding a finger to my ear.

"Your dad and I are at the Walsh's house for a dinner party, did I forget to tell you?"

"Ahh, well, then you won't mind if I stay at Brooke's for the night?" I asked, the lie rolling off my tongue.

"No, baby, that's fine! Have a good time!" I heard my dad hooting with laughter in the background.

"Have fun Mom. Love you."

"Love you too, honey!"

My phone beeped as she ended the call.

I grinned at Miles. "Easy peasy," I said, shoving my phone into my purse.

"Lemon squeezy," he finished, sweeping me off my feet and into his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist.

When we got to the door, he sighed.

"What?"

"My keys are in my pocket... and my hands are otherwise occupied." 

I looked at him and winked. "I got you." Sliding my hand down his abdomen, I felt the delicious shiver run through him. I slipped my hand into his pocket and though I felt the keys, I moved my fingers around, feeling him freeze. I pressed my lips to his neck and kissed the skin under his ear. He groaned, and I pulled the keys out, dangling them in front of his face.

The breath he had been holding left his lips in a whoosh and he shook his head. "Damn, baby," he whispered, taking the keys and unlocking the door, setting me down on my feet inside the foyer.

I put my hands on my hips. "What can I say, Miles? You bring out a new side of me."

He stepped toward me, and a low growl escaped his throat. "Let's go upstairs."

I gulped, and my insides turned to jelly.

"Okay."

Miles

"Okay," she murmured.

I reached out, took her hand, and brought it to my lips, kissing her knuckles.

She smiled as I led her upstairs and into my bedroom. We sat down on the bed and she kicked her sandals off, pulling her legs underneath her, picking at the hem of her cutoffs. I turned around, so I was sitting cross-legged in front of her.

"Rachel, I need you to know something," I started.

She looked up at me, and my heart sped up. God, she's gorgeous.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I didn't ask you to stay with me tonight because I want to have sex with you."

Her face turned pink. "You didn't?"

I smiled and took her hands in both of mine, resting them on my crossed ankles. "I'm not saying I don't want to have sex with you because let's face it: I'm totally into you. But what I mean is..." I took a deep breath. "I wanted you to stay here with me because I just love being with you. I know we're not to that point yet...but to be honest, Rachel, more than anything I just want you in my arms."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Really?" she asked, as though she didn't believe what she was hearing.

I leaned forward, putting my hand on her cheek. "Yes, really. I don't want to fuck up what we have. I've never..." My voice caught in my throat, and I couldn't speak. I slid my hand off her cheek and ran it through my hair. I stood up and paced around the room, and she watched me from the bed, turning around so she was facing me. 

"What's wrong, Miles?" 

"I just...You have no idea how this..."

"You can tell me, Miles. You can say anything to me, you know that right?" 

I stopped pacing and dropped to my knees in front of her, putting both of my hands on her thighs. She put her hands on top of mine and the warmth spread through my body like wildfire.

"Rachel, I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I've never been able to open up to anyone about my dad...or anything, until you." Her eyes filled with tears and one spilled over, running down her cheek. I wiped it away and continued. "I don't want to lose you, Rachel, and I want you to know I would never push you to do something you aren't ready for." 

She put her hands on my cheeks, bending over at the waist so her face was inches from mine. "You won't lose me, Miles. I'm in this with you. You're not the only one who has never felt this way before," she whispered, pressing her lips to mine with a feather-light touch.

I deepened the kiss, shifting off of my knees onto my feet, laying her back on the bed, putting one knee between hers and one on the other side. I ran my hands from her shoulders down either arm. "Is this okay?" I asked, taking her hands in mine.

"More than okay."

"Good." I grinned, pushing her hair out of her face and kissing her again.

Rachel

Jesus, I thought as his lips claimed mine again.

I can't describe how relieved I was when he said he didn't expect us to sleep together tonight...because I wasn't ready.

Because I am definitely a virgin.

Like...a complete and total virgin. The kisses Miles and I have shared have been my first real kisses. In 7th grade, I kissed Chris McCormick in a game of Spin the Bottle at Brooke's birthday party, but that was it. And Chris McCormick was no Miles Jefferson.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked between kisses, his lips having roamed to my neck.

I laughed. He lifted his head from my neck and looked at me, curiosity on his face. 

"What's funny?" he asked, shifting off me, lying on his side and propping his head on his elbow.

"I was thinking about how all of this," I gestured to us and the bed, "is new to me."

He blinked. "Do you mean...?"

"Yes...I'm a virgin," I blurted.

He blinked again. "Okay..." He looked down, his face red.

"What?" I sat up against the cherry headboard. "Is that too weird for you?" I heard the annoyance creep into my tone, and I cringed.

He looked up. "No, in fact..." He bit his lip.

"What?" 

He mumbled something I couldn't understand.

"What did you say?" 

"I am too," he said, louder and clearer this time.

Turning to face him, I bumped his shoulder with mine. "Shut up!"

"It's true...I am," he admitted. "I've never met anyone I thought was worth it...until now," he said, moving my hair back over my shoulder.

I gulped. "Well, holy shit, I didn't expect that."

We both laughed and exhaled when we caught our breath.

"Can I borrow some sleep clothes? These cutoffs have got to go."

"We don't believe in sleep clothes in this house," he deadpanned. "Sorry."

"Haha, nice try, Jefferson." But he was already getting up, reaching into his dresser, and throwing me an oversized Bay High Baseball t-shirt. I held it to my face and breathed in his scent. "You know you're never getting this back, right?"

He grinned. "I better see you in that at school on Monday," he said, winking.

I wiggled my eyebrows as he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing those damn abs again.

"Please tell me you sleep shirtless," I teased.

"Damn straight," he said, climbing into bed and pulling me close.

I sighed as I snuggled next to him, and I found myself soon unable to keep my eyes open. The last thing I felt before I fell asleep was his lips on my forehead.