Just One Kiss (Saint's Harbor), page 1
Just One Kiss
Saint's Harbor
C. A. Jay
C. A. Jay
Copyright © 2023 C. A. Jay
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ASIN: B0C94F5FXH
Paperback ISBN: 9798399679549
Hardcover ISBN: 9798399679730
Independently published
Cover design by: Cherish Jay
Printed in the United States of America
Dedicated to anyone with a sick love for dark romance, just like me.
“If you love a rose, you have to love its thorns too.”
Matshona Dhliwayo
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Trigger Warnings
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Epilogue
Acknowledgement
About The Author
Saint's Harbor
Books By This Author
Trigger Warnings
Parental abuse (physical and otherwise), illusions to incestual desires, violence, age gap (over 10 years), SA, attempted rape, rape, CNC, Dub-Con, Non-Con, somnophilia, light bulling, light kink play, dirty talk, graphic sex, cult-like church, cheating (not the main characters), weight shaming, primal play, bondage, captivity.
Just One Kiss
Chapter One
Jessa
“Shots! Shots! Shots!” My friend Cathy hands me another one and I roll my eyes, taking it from her. I swear the chick is trying to kill me. I don’t drink a lot, but between her and my other friend, Brandon, I’m starting to sway on my feet. We’ve been at this party for a couple hours and I’m already well on my way to being wasted. It’s the last-week party before school officially ends and we get to enjoy our last summer of no responsibilities before college. Brandon, our town party boy, is throwing the bash of the century, or at least the bash of Saint’s Harbor, New York. Our small piece of heaven nestled comfortably along Lake Ontario. The boys in Brandon’s family always do. He’s had six brothers graduate before him (his poor mother), and he’s the baby, so he got it in his mind he had to outdo every single one of his predecessors.
I think he actually might have succeeded though, because this party slams so good. I’m not usually one for partying so hard. Usually, these nights are meant for dancing with my friends and not necessarily for drinking. If my parents even considered I was anywhere but snuggled tightly under the covers at my best friend Stacey’s house… I don’t even want to consider what they’d do to me, particularly my father. But Stacey really wanted to go. When you're graduating high school and moving across the country for school in two months, you’ve really gotta live it up when you can.
So here I am.
“Babe, you need to slow down,” Stacey yells in my ear over the booming bass of the music. I know she’s right. I’m hitting that point of drunkenness, where everything either makes you really confused or makes you cry. Stumbling, I giggle, rapidly approaching both. My body shudders at the thought of going home tomorrow morning. Stacey’s house has always been my real home. Her parents accept me like one of their own.
“Shit,” she yells, pointing behind her and holding her phone against her ear. “I’ve gotta take this!” I nod and start to sway my hips as an oldie, but a goodie, Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira, starts playing over the speakers. If Brandon is good at anything (besides trying to get in my pants and throwing a good party), it's picking out good music. Though I won’t be telling him that. He already has a big enough head.
My body sways to the music, eyes closed as the shots really start to settle in. Limbs loosen up and my body unravels like a ball of yarn. I look for Cathy, but she’s already gone off somewhere to find some dick. She always does. I just enjoy the moment alone as the music flows through me.
“Hey, sexy.”
Opening one eye, Brandon is there grinning at me with two shots in his hands. Does everyone want to see me projectile vomit or something? How many has he brought me already? Two? Three?
“Hey, Brandon,” I greet. “Great party. You weren’t kidding when you said it’d be better than your brothers’ parties.” I know exactly how to make this boy beam and, of course, it works. He’s been planning this thing since the party at the start of senior year.
“Thanks babe.”
I try not to cringe at the sentiment. I like Brandon, but…
I am not his babe.
I am not anyone’s babe.
Anyone but Josh’s.
Closing my eyes, there he is and I begin to sway again, imagining the feel of his arms around my body. Touching me. Running his hands down my rib cage until his hands settle gently on my hips.
“I brought you a shot.”
Lost in the moment, I reach out and take it, my eyes still closed. I’ve known Brandon since kindergarten and even though I know he’s had a crush on me since third grade, I know he wouldn’t drug me… or at least I think I do. Either way, I’m too drunk and too blissed-out to care right now.
“Thanks, B,” I slur.
The shot goes down in one go. It probably tastes like complete ass, but I’ve had so many at this point, everything tastes like water to me.
As I’m dancing, a body presses up behind me, grinding against my ass. I know it’s Brandon right away and I turn around, falling into him. Reaching out his arms, he catches me and I immediately push myself backwards, barely catching myself before falling again.
“Come on, Jessa. It’s the end of senior year. You know how long I’ve liked you. Don’t you think it’s about time you gave me a shot?”
I groan. Hating it when he does this. It’s about every six months or so. Brandon gets it in his mind that we’re meant to be, and I should give in already and date him. I’ve turned the boy down every time and, fuck me, I’m going to have to turn him down again.
Even if I was allowed to date, it wouldn’t be him I’d choose. Never anyone but Josh. That was a promise made long ago.
I’ve lost count how many times I’ve turned this boy down, but I’m not in the wrong here.
“Brandon, you know I don’t see you like that.”
His brow crinkles in dissatisfaction. “Fuck, Jessa. Do you see anyone like that?” I do. Fuck, if I do. “I’ve never even seen you kiss anyone before. Are you…” he swallows thickly, “Fuck, Jessa. Are you a lesbian?”
My teeth grind together hard. I hate it when guys do that. If you’re not interested in them, apparently you must be gay. There couldn’t possibly be another answer.
“No, B. I’m not gay. I really just… I see you as a friend. Can’t we just leave it at that?” I’m pleading with him now and I hate it. I shouldn’t have to beg a guy for my friendship or give into his advances because he has a thing for me. I’m not obligated to like him like that.
Brandon huffs, his jaw clenching, and turns around, disappearing into the crowd of writhing bodies. I hate feeling guilty for turning him down. Not being into him isn’t my fault, but even through my drunken haze, I feel it.
“Jess, oh my god.”
My body spins around fast and I nearly fall over to find Stacey standing behind me with a confused look on her face. Like she’s happy, sad, and angry all at once. Wow, drinking has really made me empathic. Who knew?
I tilt my head, trying to gauge her reaction as the edges of my vision start to blur.
“What’s up?” I ask, linking my arm with hers as comfort and to stabilize my current declining physical state.
“Honey, are you okay?” Stacey arches a brow and I simply dismiss her with a nod.
“Yeah, I just drank a bit too much . Time to cut myself off.” A chuckle pops out of my mouth and it only serves to prove just how loaded I am.
She nods and pulls me over to where two Adirondack chairs are situated by the side of Brandon’s large pool. His family is loaded. Most of the girls want him for that alone, but he’s also gorgeous. The only problem is he only wants me.
I know exactly what that’s like, so I get it.
Only he fucks around and I… I can’t.
“So, Josh is coming home.”
The whole world stills and collapses to one point. Josh. My Josh. The Josh I’ve been in love with since I was ten years old is coming home.
She… she can’t be serious. Can she?
"Apparently, Josh caught Candace in bed with Connor earlier this week. The poor guy has been sleeping on his co-worker’s couch but decided he’d rather just be here.” Stacey’s lips form into a pout. “He’s taking a Red Eye home tonight. He’s already set up a moving company to pack up and ship his shit here.” She half-smiles. “Fuck, I miss my brother, but I’m so mad at him, you know? Like, who fucks their boyfriend’s best friend? And why didn’t he call me before?” She rolls her eyes and I swallow hard.
Josh is coming home. Josh is coming home.
Somehow, I need to keep repeating that sentence in my mind. It still doesn’t feel real. He left to move across the country when I was fifteen years old, and I haven’t seen him since. He’s barely on social media. The only account we are connected on is Facebook. An account he hasn’t used in years. Josh is more of a ‘live it’ guy than a ‘record it’ guy.
“Josh is coming home?” I finally repeat, this time out loud.
“Yeah. It’s weird right? Like he’s my brother and I haven’t seen him in three years. Like, how is it going to feel to see him again? I’ve only talked to him on the phone and texted since he’s so anti-technology or whatever.”
He’s not anti-technology. He just likes to be out living life, that’s all.
And I planned my entire future around living life around him.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
A girl with dark hair and dark eyes moves past us and I’m distracted by her beauty for a second before honing back in on the conversation. It’s hard with this much alcohol in my system. Tilting my head, I try to remember her name? Katrina, I think? A junior at Saint’s Harbor High.
“Bitch, pay attention.” My low attention span snaps back into place and my eyes bolt back to Stacey.
Josh. Right. I remember what we’re talking about now, and I almost squeal at the idea of seeing him so soon. Until I remember where I’ll be in the fall and where he’ll subsequently be.
Josh moved across the country to Santa Cruz, California, for his girlfriend, Candace, three years ago, without looking back. While it was the worst time of my life… and trust me, I’ve had some really shitty days. He was the happiest I’d ever seen him. In Josh's terms, anyway. I applied to UC Santa Cruz and got in with a full-ride scholarship. The plan was to accidentally run into him and have a whirlwind romance. He’d finally see me as an adult and wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off me… or his hands.
Just like in the movies.
Now, three years later, he’s coming home to a place I’m leaving in two months.
This can’t be happening. This really can’t be happening. My whole life is ending. At least that’s how it feels. Shaking my head, I fight the urge to cry.
The shots hit me all at once. In the worst way.
“Babe… you don’t look so good. Maybe we should–”
I bend over in the middle of the party, right over the edge of the pool, and spew my guts up in a projectile vomit moment that will go down in Parsons’ brother history.
Everyone screams and squeals as they try to swim away and climb out of the pool. I attempt to apologize as another wave hits me and I spew the rest of my guts into the tainted pool.
I feel disgusting, mortified, and sick to my stomach. For more than just the vomiting in front of the entirety of Saint’s Harbor High.
“Okay,” Stacey says, holding me up from falling face-first into my vomit pool. Luckily, she had held my hair back while I puked, but I didn’t notice because I was upchucking all over the place. “You’re officially cut off and we are going straight home. Well… to my house. Your parents would destroy me if they saw you like this, and my parents are probably smoking weed in the backyard with the Davidsons.” I moan, bent over in pain. “Yeah, that seems like the better option. Your parents are dicks.”
I want to warn her not to call them, though I doubt she would. If she does, she can’t mention the party or the alcohol. I’m too out of it, so I just nod. Unfortunately, that only accomplishes making everything start to spin. Closing my heavy lids, my body works hard to keep from losing my dinner for a second time.
Did I even eat dinner?
That explains a lot.
“Oh my god,” I hear Brandon say, as he comes up on my right. “I open one eye and see him grimace as he looks down at my shame. “Is she okay?”
“Ermfiiiine,” I slur out. Obviously not fine. My head hangs back down, and I moan again as a trail of vomit and saliva drips out of my mouth and onto the ground.
“Babe, you covered half a dozen people in vodka vom and Brandon’s pool is at least twenty proof. You are not fine,” Stacey adds.
“Here,” Brandon says, grabbing my right arm and pulling me to lean on his left side. “Let me help. It’ll be faster.”
I mumble something incoherent. The last thing I remember is Brandon looking down at me. His eyes hold a concerned expression as I’m loaded into the backseat and Stacey yells “How many shots did you give her?!”
The last things I see are my best friend’s concerned eyes. Then this bitch is out.
Chapter Two
Josh
I wake and roll over on my back to stare up at the ceiling of my high school bedroom. Being back in Saint’s Harbor and living with my parents is not my idea of moving up in life. Coming from an area of over sixty thousand people back to a place of just under twenty thousand is a big difference. Everyone knows everyone here. They’re all up in my business already. Hell, I didn’t even invite over the chick next to me. She heard from her sister’s best friend’s cousin that I was back in town. I was bored anyway so I dicked her down to pass the long hours staring at old basketball posters from high school.
Leslie snores lightly to my left and I groan. I did not expect my week to end like this. No man wants to walk into his home, let alone on his birthday, and find his girlfriend of three years bouncing on his best friend’s cock.
I run a troubled hand over my face and reach my left arm over to my bedside table to grab my phone.
Fuck.
I’ve got twenty-nine missed calls from Candace and one-hundred and seventeen text messages. What the fuck does someone even write in that many messages?
I groan and begin deleting messages. I don’t even bother listening to them because I don’t want to hear a goddamn thing she has to say.
Candace is trash.
Leslie mewls in her sleep and rolls over to face me. I’m careful not to wake her as I frown and hit delete on the next voicemail. Leslie is beautiful and a great lay. I’ll give her that. A sexy little brunette with a full chest and a voluptuous body, but she’s only ever been that.
Sure, she tried to turn our arrangement into something it wasn’t back in high school, but I made it clear then and I’ll make it clear now. Nothing is between us except a quick exchange of bodily fluids.
I have no interest in dating anyone. At all.
I thought I had something great with Candace. Turns out she was just another whore willing to spread her legs for anyone.
If there’s anything I hate, it’s disloyalty. And that bitch has it in spades.
My foot peeks out of the blanket and lands quietly on the floor as I sit up, and my other foot quickly joins it. Looking back to make sure Leslie is still asleep, I notice her full breasts peeking out of the top of the blanket. But unlike last night, it does nothing for me. It was a means to an end and I’m over it.
