Chapter 18: The Lighthouse

Jasmine

Jasmine sighed as she took Zain’s hand and walked with him along the beach. The sea rushed to the shore as the sun rose in the east behind them, casting light over the ocean. “Zain, I have to tell you something, too.”
“What?” he asked, pulling her to a stop.
She took a deep breath. “My parents didn’t want me to see you either. They said that you’re older than me, a man, and they also want me to date someone from society.”
Zain scoffed, letting her hand go. “And is that what you want?”
“No!” She let out a deep breath, watching the birds dip into the water and swoop back up, playing close to the shore. “I told them that you’re a good person and I’m dating you, whether they like it or not.”
He studied her for a moment and then reached for her. “Come here.” He pulled her to his chest and held her. “Jasmine, I don’t want to go out with you just over the summer and then never see you again.”
“Neither do I.” She bit her lower lip. “Maybe I could apply to USC to be with you—”
“But I’m only going to be there one more year.” He let out a deep breath. “Then I’d have to leave you alone while I travel playing ball.”
Jasmine took a step back, folding her arms over her chest. “Then what do you want to do?”
Zain took her hand and started walking toward the lighthouse again. Then he looked over at her and chuckled, his lips curled into a sexy half smile. “Do you really want to know?”
She nodded. “Yes. Tell me.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “If it were up to me, I’d marry you in a second.”
“But your baseball,” she said quietly. “I can’t let you give that up for me.”
He nodded. “I know. And I can’t let you give up your plans for me either.”
Jasmine pulled him to a stop, looking into his eyes. “Zain, I’ll wait for you. But I’m afraid that when you go back to USC, you’ll find someone and will forget all about me.”
He pulled her against his chest so fast and forcefully that it surprised her. “Never.” Zain pressed his lips to hers as he ran his hands down to her waist and pulled her close. His enthusiasm was evident through his clothes as his cock hit her mound.
“Zain, don’t. I want you, I really do, but I can’t until we’re married.” She bit her lip. “I’m Catholic, and I promised my mother I would wait until I get married to have sex.”
“I know,” he breathed. “I’m Catholic, too. But I’m sorry. I didn’t wait.”
She placed her hand on his cheek. “It’s okay.”
“Jasmine, I want to be your first and your last.” He looked into her eyes. “But when you go to college, I want you to date to make sure I’m who you want.”
“No.” She scoffed, walking ahead, doubling her fists at her sides, unable to believe that he was pushing her away like this.
“Jasmine, wait!” He grabbed her arm and pulled her abruptly around. “I don’t want you to miss out on anything—”
She pulled away. “How could you even suggest that I o out with another man?” She tilted her head to the side, deciding to take another approach. “Could you watch me with another man?”
“No! Hell no!” He scoffed as he turned away. “I said I wanted you to date. But I said nothing about watching it.”
“See?” She grabbed his arm and turned him around. “That’s the way I feel about you, too. It would kill me to see you with another woman.”
He took a deep breath, taking her hand as they approached the lighthouse. “Then what are we going to do? Our parents don’t want us to see each other, but I don’t care.” He pulled her to a stop as he looked into her eyes. “I threatened to move out of the house and told my mother that I wouldn’t stop seeing you.”
Shock colored Jasmine’s eyes as her mouth opened, but she quickly recovered herself. “You did that?”
Zain nodded, taking her hands. “Yes.” Then he laced his fingers through her hair. “That’s how much you mean to me.”
She nodded. “I wish I were three years older—”
“Don’t say that.” He smiled, looking into her eyes. “You have your whole college experience to look forward to, and I refuse to take that away from you.”
“Well then, let’s just spend the summer together and think about it. Then before we leave, we’ll make a decision.” She pulled him to a stop. “Zain, I’ll wait for you... for as long as it takes.”
He nodded. “And I’ll wait for you.”
Then his lips crushed down onto hers as he pulled her into his arms, deepening the kiss. Then he smiled against her lips. “Come on.” He took her hand and led her up the narrow, spiral stairs of the lighthouse.
“Isn’t anyone here?” Jasmine looked around, expecting to see someone in charge. “I thought we’d have to pay or something.”
He shook his head. “No. Come on.” They rushed to the top, and the view was spectacular through the small window. She looked around, and they were in a circular room. “The kids come up here to make out sometimes.”
Then he lifted her into his arms, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist as his lips descended upon hers. Then he sat down with her on his lap as he ran his hand down her back. His cock was hard through his shorts and rubbed against her clit. If this continued any further, she didn’t know if she would be able to stop herself.
“Zain, no,” she breathed when she came up for air.
“Do you trust me?” he asked, his lips against her neck as she leaned back.
“Yes.” At that moment, she was a pile of goo in his capable hands. And if he wanted to take her right then and there, she didn’t know if she would stop him again... or if she even wanted to.