“That’s it! I can’t sleep with this thing in my mouth.” expressed Jenny as she took out her night guard and placed it into it container next to the nightstand.

“The dentist told you that you have to sleep with it. That’s the price you pay for constantly grinding your teeth.” Jared scolded and looked up from his book, The Death of Ivan Illyich by Lev Tolstoy, to see Jenny move from his bed and make her way into the bathroom to rinse out her mouth.

“I think every night I’ll just leave it my mouth for a few hours, just so I can get use to the feel of it and work my way up to finally sleeping with the damn thing.” She said and got back into bed snuggling up to Jared as he continued to read his book so of course he had his reading glasses on. Seeing Jared wear those glasses was a huge turn on to Jenny. It made him look so innocent, adorable and all around just plain sexy. When she told him this he made more of an effort to wear them around the house. 

“Jared.” Jenny spoke in a sing song voice.

“Yes dear.” 

“I see that you’re wearing your glasses. You know what they do to me right?”

“Oh, I know dear.”

As Jared continued to read, Jenny lazily ran her fingers over his chest hoping to distract him and pay attention to her. However, he knew what game she was trying to play and wouldn’t give in so easily. When Jenny realize that he wasn’t going to budge she slid her hand down his torso and rested at the hem of his briefs. That seemed to spark his interest.

“Okay, Jen, you have my attention.” he said and marked the place he was at in his book, placed it on the night stand and wrapped his arms around Jenny to begin placing kisses from her lips to her neck.

Jenny always let Jared be the one to dominate. She preferred it that way. He was always gentle with her. Never got too out of hand but there were times when she wondered if he was holding back. That maybe he thought he would break her if he got too rough.

“Hey, Jared?” Jenny asked when her mouth was free from his kisses.

“What?” Jared stopped what he was doing to look at her. He was panting and ready to get back to what he was previously doing.

“How come it’s always the same with us? I mean when we…you know…have sex? It’s always the same.”

When she saw a look of confusion mixed with hurt on Jared’s beautiful face Jenny quickly retracted her words. “Forget it. Really. I don’t know what I’m talking about.” But when she tried to kiss him he backed away.

“No, I don’t want to forget it. What do you mean it’s always the same when we have sex? What are talking about? Am I boring you?” He asked defensively.

“No! God no! I don’t mean it like that.”

“Then how do you mean it?”

“You’re great in bed. I even told my sister that you are the best I have ever had.”

“Nice. It’s great knowing that you’re telling your sister about our sex life.” Jared said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

“Don’t be like that. It’s just…I don’t know.” Now she wished she didn’t mention anything and just kept her mouth shut.

“You do know. You are just too embarrassed to say what you really want but you don’t have to be.” His tone softened as he brushed one of his hands over her cheek and lips. “I…” but stopped himself because he knew the words that would slip out of his lips were words he hadn’t said in a long time to a girl that wasn’t his mother. Words that he honestly started to feel towards Jenny but wasn’t sure if he was ready to say them out loud. 

So instead, Jared grabbed Jenny by the face and smashed his lips against hers. He roughly pushed back onto the bed and positioned himself between her legs. His hardened member brushing against her panties which was soon discarded along with his own and plunged himself inside her. Jared made his pace fast. With each loud moan from her, taking it as a sign of encouragement, his thrusts he became faster and harder. Nails digging into flesh. Biting, slapping, hair pulling was reciprocated by both. They each took turns being in control of the other person.

When Jenny managed to get on top of Jared she went in the reverse cowgirl position and began gyrating her hips. Jared was sure that his eyes were about to roll in the back of his head due to the pleasuring sensation he was feeling. The sounds of excitable moans and groans echoed throughout the bedroom. Both were gearing to reach their peak. With a couple final hard thrusts, Jared came. Not long after, Jenny did the same and fell right beside him to compose herself and catch her breath.

Jared turned on his side to look at Jenny who’s eyes were closed and had her hands above her breast. He reached his hand over to rub his palm against one. “Don’t tell me you’re ready again?” she teased as she opened her eyes to look at him. His hair was sticking out in all directions. Beads of sweat was on his forehead. 

“I’m ready whenever you are.” He said with a smile and wrapped his arms around her and rested his head in the crook of her neck.

“Just give my five minutes and I’ll be ready to go again.” declared Jenny to which Jared giggled to show his excitement at  the thought of another go around.

In the morning, Jared woke up to the sight of Jenny getting dressed. 

“Where are you going? What time is it anyway?” he asked still groggy and fetched his glasses from the nightstand so he could see his surroundings better.

“It’s almost noon and I told you that I’m meeting up with your Mom to hangout with her for the day.” Jenny replied.

“What are you two going to do exactly?” Now he was just being nosy.

“I don’t know. I think go to some antique stores around town. Grab lunch and talk.”

“Maybe I should go with you two.” Jared offered.

“What?! No. Besides I’m leaving right now and you take forever to get ready.”

“Just a little bit of a warning, try to steer my Mom clear of any relationship topics. She’s nosy. She always wants to know what is going on in my life. Don’t give her any details.” Jared instructed.

“Really, cause I figured sharing that I rode her youngest son like horse last night would be a great conversation starter.” joked Jenny as she rolled her eyes and gathered her purse and coat.

“Your sarcasm is not appreciated, young lady.” noted Jared as he put on pair of pants and shirt to walk with Jenny out of the bedroom, down the stairs and to the front door. “Wait a second, hold on.” he said and went to go grab something to only return with a set of keys.

“Take my car instead.” suggested Jared placing the keys in one of Jenny’s hands.

“No, I can’t take your car. I have my own.” she reminded him and pushed the keys back to him.

“Come on, please. I’ve let you driven it before and you did good.”

“You only let me drive it down and up the hill. What if I get into an accident.”

“You won’t. You’ll be fine. I trust you.” Jared told Jenny and once again handed the car keys over then guided her to the car.

When Jenny got in he motioned for her to roll down the window. 

“Now for the rules. If you get gas please don’t get regular cause that stuff is just watered down. Get premium. Also, please put the radio station back to where it was when you return the car. I don’t want to have to spend time trying to find it. No food or drinks in the car. No gum, candy or any kind of wrappers will be thrown on the floor. Also, when you get in the car next time dust you shoes off. I don’t want the flooring to get all dirty.” 

“I already knew all that.” She told him.

 ”A refresher never hurt anyone.” Then he kissed goodbye and waited until her and the car were out of sight to go back inside the house. Was he worried about Jenny being alone with his Mom? No, not really. The two got along well. Despite how Jenny acted last month at the Grammys or what she did in her past, his mother didn’t hold any of that against her and for that Jared was greatful. Although she did tell him to be careful but he was just glad that there wasn’t going to be any awkwardness between the two women.

One way Jenny was able to bet back into Betty Ann’s good graces was to offer to help out with her Sunday School class. Jenny even came up with a plan for the kids to write pen pal letters to the House of Hope kids in South Africa. Betty Ann loved that idea. The cherry on top for his Mom was seeing him in church on a Sunday due to Jenny dragging him by the arm to attend. “I love seeing my little boy in his Sunday best.” Betty Ann would say every time he sat next to her in the pew.

As much as it pained Jared to admit it, he still had a soft spot for church. It was a place where he felt safe from the outside world and its influences. He would sometimes picture what his life would be like if he ended up being a preacher. Standing in front of the people who came to feel inspired. To feel closer to God through the words he would say. He would be the one to guide them in the path of what is right from what is wrong.

Thinking of all the responsibility that came from being a preacher made Jared sympathize with his father and what he must have felt back in the day. ‘To have to always be perfect and set a good example for others was too much of a burden for one man to bare.’ Jared thought. ‘No person should ever have to be held to such a high pedestal. A person only grows from the mistakes they make. That’s what makes them learn and strive to be better.’

Sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking coffee and reading what was going on in the news from his laptop, Jared felt that he was ready to go back to New York. He was tired of Nashville and he hated staying in one place too long. The only problem was breaking the news to Jenny. Of course he would invite her along if she wanted. He’d be more than happy to bring her with him and replace the bad memories she had of the city with new positive ones. ‘This could be good for her. She won’t be alone this time around.’