Be With Me by Jennifer L Armentrout Book Review
Updated: Jan 19
Be With Me
by Jennifer L Armentrout
Published by William Morrow Paperbacks
Book 2 in the Wait for You series
Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year
—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.
Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.
As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…
RATED: 18+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
Steamy #NewAdult Happy Ending
Trigger* #Romance
Trigger Warning: This book deals with domestic violence. It may be disturbing for some readers, so please be advised.
Be With Me by Jennifer Armentrout is the second book in her Wait for You series, and follows Teresa Hamilton, Cam's sister (from Wait for You and Trust in Me), who is struggling with a possible career ending knee injury, taking her from the dance stage, to college. Here, she comes face to face with her long time crush, Jase Winstead, her brothers best friend, and the man who gave her one amazing kiss a year before dropping out of her life. With Jase and Tess see more and more of each other, they can't deny their feelings for one another for long.
I loved this book, just as much, if not a little more, than the first book in the series. The story didn't lean on Wait for You, and was unique in it's story, and story building. Just like with the first book, Be With Me deals with some heavy material. Domestic Violence happens more often than you think, and Jennifer does a great job showing the reality of abuse, and the effects of it. A sad fact is, victims are in danger even when they are able to walk away from the situation. Be With Me shows both sides of the coin. This book isn't all about that though. Be With Me's central romance is intense, beautiful, and sexy as hell.
I really loved Tess's character. She is young, but has really grown from her past. Her struggles with her injury, and the possible loss of her dream career in dance, don't stop her from at least preparing for a plan B (college), and doesn't hold her back from Jase. And what can I say about Jase? I liked him as Cam's best friend in the first book, but I kinda fell for him in this book. Did he make me want to shake him sometimes? Sure. But much like Avery frustrated me in the first book sometimes, I understood why. Jase is intense. He is passionate, loving, protective. He is also smart, and strong. I think the only thing I didn't like about him was his love of country music. His story is a bittersweet one. In a lot of ways, these two books are the Hamilton siblings, while dealing with their own issues, saving Avery and Jase.
And can I just say, how freaking adorable is Jack?
Be With Me is a great sequel to Wait for You. We get to focus on a new couple, new, very complicated, issues, while still getting to see our first couple of the series, Cam and Avery, and get little updates on them (spoiler alert, they are very happy together). We get some new side character introductions, and as I know there are more books in the series, I suspect some of them will be upcoming features. I totally recommend Be With Me ... the whole series.
Where to Buy
Paperback (amazon)
Paperback (Chapters/Indigo)
Sinewy muscles in his arms flexed as he lifted Jack out of the driver's seat, holding him into the air above his head. He spun around in a circle, laughing deeply as Jack shrieked and flailed.
Ovaries go boom.
A small hand tugged on the hem of my shirt and I looked down, into gray eyes that were both young and soulful.
Jack: "Hi."
Tess: "Hi to you."
Jack: "You're pretty."
Tess: "Thank you."
A little laugh escaped me. It was official. I liked this kid.
Tess: "You're very handsome."
Jack beamed
Jack: "I know."
I laughed again.
Jase: "All right, that's enough, Casanova. Stop hitting on the girl."
Memory:
Jase: "You have no idea what you make me want. You have no fucking clue."
Tess: "You're basically saying you wouldn't have kissed me if you hadn't been drinking?"
I slid off the fence and faced him, resisting the urge to plant my fist in his stomach.
He opened his mouth, but I rushed on.
Tess: "Was it really that disgusting to you?"
His head swung toward me and something flared in his gray eyes
Jase: "That's not what I'm saying. It wasn't gross. It was -"
Tess: "Damn straight it wasn't gross! You kissed me. You touched me. You said I had no idea what I made you -"
Jase: "I know what I said."
His eyes flashed an angry quicksilver now. He looked me dead on as he hopped off the fence with the kind of grace that was almost predatory.
Jase: "I just don't know why I said those things. It had to have been the beer, because there is no other reason why I would've done or said those things!"
A red-hot burn replaced the hurt. My hands closed into fists. No - no way did two beers make him do those things.
Tess: "You're not a lightweight. You'd been in full control of yourself. And you had to have felt something when you kissed me, because you couldn't kiss me like that and not feel anything."
Jase: "You've had a crush on me for how long? Of course you'd think it meant something amazing. Jesus Christ, Tess, why do you think I haven't talked to you this entire time? I knew you would think there was more behind it."
Heat poured across my cheeks
Jase: "It was a mistake. I'm not attracted to you, not like that."
I jerked back as if I'd been slapped.
Jase: "Shit. I didn't mean it like that. I -"
Tess: "I think you did. You couldn't be more clear."
He cursed again as he crossed the distance between us, dipping his chin and causing several locks of waves to tumble forward.
Jase: "Tess, you don't understand 0-"
I barked out a short laugh as mortification burst through me like a dam breaking.
Tess: "Oh, I'm sure I understand completely. You regret it. Got it. It was a mistake. You probably don't want to be reminded of it. My bad. And it doesn't matter. Whatever."
Tess: "It's not like you're the only guys thats -"
Jase: "Kissed you?"
At the sharpness of his tone, I looked up. His eyes were narrowed until only thing, silvery slits were visible.
Jase: "How many guys have you kissed, Teresa?"
Not many. I could count on one hand and only needed two fingers to count how many went beyond that, but pride sunk its claws in me.
Tess: "Enough. More than enough."
Something flashed across his face
Jase: "Really? does your brother know this?"
I snorted
Tess: "As if I would talk to my brother about that. Or like he actually has a say on whom or where I put my lips."
Jase: "Where?"
His head cocked to the side as if he had to work that single word through his mind. The moment he decided on what that could possibly mean, his broad shoulders stiffened.
Jase: "Where are you putting your lips?"
Tess: "Uh, like that's any of your business."
His stare sharpened
Jase: "It's totally my business."
Tess: "I don't think so."
Tess: "Is that yours?"
He followed my gaze and then grinned
Jase: "Shit. I forgot about it. Brought you a present."
Tess: "What is it?"
Jase: "Something as yummy as me."
Jase: "This .... this is unexpected. Tess, I ..."
His eyes closed, and he let out a deep breath
Jase: "You feel good under me, too good. Good isn't the right word. Maybe perfect?"
He sounded almost like he was talking to himself.
Jase: "Fuck."
Then his hips rolled in a slow thrust, pressing against the part where I ached the most. My toes curled and I gasped. A trembled coursed through his large body.
Jase: "Do you believe in fate?"
Tess: "I don't know. Do you?"
Jase: "I mean, do you believe that some things are just meant to happen?"
He dropped his head and his lips brushed his neck. Another strangled gasp parted my lips
Jase: "Like no matter what you do, what you tell yourself, things are just going to happen? Some things I don't think you can stop."
Jase: "You never knew."
Tess: "Never knew what?"
Jase: "I didn't always ... come up to see Cam. He wasn't the only reason why I made that trip every weekend."
Tess: "I always limp. And I need the exercise."
She snorted
Calla: "What the hell ever, my thighs need the exercise. You need a hamburger."
Tess: "Have you seen my ass? It's known a lot of hamburgers up close and personal. And it's on speaking terms with french fries."
Calla: "That's okay. My thighs make out with milkshakes."
Calla: "This class is really boring. I'm Calla, by the way."
Jase: "I'm -"
Calla: "Jase Winstead. I know you. Well, I don't know you. I've heard of you."
A faint pink stained the tops of his broad cheeks.
Jase: "You have?"
She nodded and a private, almost knowing smile formed on her lips
Calla: "I think every female on this campus has heard of you."
I rolled my eyes
He chuckled
Jase: "Ah, I see ..."
Tess: "You do?"
I arched a brow
Jase: "Some would say I'm quite popular ..."
Tess: "With the ladies?"
Thick lashes lowered as he sent me a sideways look
Jase: "Maybe."
Calla: "Definitely."
I grinned as Jase shifted in his seat. He was uncomfortable addressed his oh-so-stellar reputation?
Goodie gumdrops.
Tess: "So. Would these ladies have good or bad things to say about you?"
Jase: "Depends on who you ask."
Tess: "What would it depend on?"
His grin spread on one side again.
Jase: "Several factors, but I can assure you that most of them would have many good things to say."
His light gray eyes sought mine out again as he bowed his head until his warm breath danced along my cheek.
Jase: "Actually, great things."
My heart stumbled. Was he flirting with me? I swallowed.
Tess: "Like what kind of things?"
Jase shifted in his seat, and I stiffened as I felt his breath on my neck, just below my ear, teasing that sensitive spot that made me want to wiggle around - the same spot he'd nipped, licked, and then kissed.
Jase: "I think you know exactly what kind of things they'd say good things about."
Jase: "I'll drive you. I'm parked over here anyway, in the back lot."
Tess: "But -"
Jase: "It's not a big deal. I'm heading over there anyway."
Calla: "That's really nice of you. Her knee is really bothering her."
I flushed out of embarrassment.
Tess: "My leg isn't bothering me that much. And i need the exercise. Walking is good -"
I squealed as Jase hooked an arm around my waist and bent, lifting me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing more than a sack of sugar.
Tess: "What are you doing?"
Jase: "Standing here discussing your ability to walk over to east campus in this heat makes me really impatient."
I gripped the back of his shirt, unable to see though my hair.
Tess: "Then leave! What the hell does that have to do with picking me up like a caveman?"
Jase: "Because you're not walking over there."
He clamped his arm over the back of my thighs, dangerously closed to getting hands-on with my ass.
Jase: "That's why."
Calla laughed
Calla: "Well, that's on way to settle the issue."
Jase: "How you doing up there?"
Tess: "How do you think?"
As we passed a group of student, they burst into laughter.
Guy: "So that's how Jase gets his girls!"
My entire body went rigid.
He turned suddenly, causing me to squeal. Walking backward, he chuckled.
Jase: "Some require a more hands-on approach."
Girl: "I'd be done for a hands-on approach. When you're not so busy."
I cursed
Jase tsked when he spun
Jase: "Language, Tess, language."
Holding on with one hand, I jabbed him in the kidney with my other.
Jase: "Ouch!"
My lips split in a wide smile.
Jase: "If my other hand was free ..."
Tess: "If you even consider for one second you think you can -ompf!"
I gasped at the sudden extra hop in his step
Tess: ; "You asshole."
Jase: "I think you do need a spanking."
He lowered his head, so dangerously close to grazing my cheek with his lips as he spoke.
Jase: "There's something about you that I've noticed."
Tess: "What?"
Jase: "You blush a lot more now."
And that made my cheeks burn brighter
The lopsided grin grew.
Jase: "It really makes me curious about what you're thinking."
Tess: "I'm not thinking anything."
Jase: "Uh-huh."
Jase: "Tess, you're coming?"
Tess: "Yeah. Yes, I can go."
Cam: "Wait. What? You are eighteen -"
Tess: "I'm almost nineteen."
Cam: "Yeah, still, you're not legal."
Cam glanced over at Jase
Cam: "You seriously just invited her to a frat party?"
Jacob: "Awkward."
Jase popped a fry in his mouth
Jase: "You're taking your girlfriend to a frat party."
Cam: "That different."
I sighed
Tess: "Cam, can you shut -"
Cam: "I don't like the idea of you hanging out at a fray house. Those guys there -"
Jase: "Like me."
he interrupted, winking at me
My cheeks heated
Cam: "Exactly. Enough said."
Drawing in a short breath, I nodded, but I'd probably agree to play inside a wood chipper if he touched my lips again.
Dad: "You cannot be relate to Cam. There is no way a pretty girl like you shares DNA with that ugly mug."
A surprised laugh broke free. I think I liked this guy
Dad: "And there is also no way you're here with this one."
He nodded his head at Jase, who frowned.
Dad: "You must be lost."
Tess: "You're right. I don't even know who this person is."
Jase: "What the hell?"
I grinned
His father winked
Dad: "Well, I'm going to be out back if ya'll need anything."
Jase: "We'll be fine, Dad."
Dad: "Wasn't tellin' you."
He looked over at me, mischief in his eyes.
Dad: "If this boy's improper with you, you let me know and I'll take care of him."
Jase: "Oh God."
He groaned, rubbing a hand down his jaw.
Jase: "She's a friend, Dad."
Dad: 'Uh-huh. Friends with a pretty gal like that, then you're doing something wrong, son."
My smile reached my ears as I turned to Jase slowly.
Jase: "Don't even think it."
He looked like he wanted to strangle his dad as he reached down, wrapping his hand around mine.
Jase: "Come on, before I embarrass my father with a good ole-fashioned redneck thumping."
His father chuckled as he gave our joined hands a pointed look
Dad: "Friends?"
Jase: "Dad."
I giggled as he tugged me toward the fence and his father disappeared back into the barn.
Tess: "I like your dad."
He snorted
Jase: "I'm sure you do."
Tess: "They're not carnivorous, right? Because at their size, they could eat me."
Jase laughed deeply as his hand shifted up, resting in the center of my stomach, just below my breasts.
Jase: "Horses do not eat people, you little idiot."
I started, eyes narrowing.
Tess: "There's always a first."
Tess: "When did you get so wise sounding?"
Jase: "I've always been extremely wise. So much so, I consider it a curse."
Jase: "I'll be with you. The whole time."
I felt hot. I needed to throw the brakes on the porn train before my mind veered into triple X land.
He chuckled, the sound deep and sexy, as he moved closer. His snekers brushed mine, and I had to crane my neck to meet his eyes.
Jase: "I can tell you like that idea."
Tess: "What? No. I was thinking about music class tomorrow. Aren't we covering the baroque period? Stimulating stuff right there. I'm all kinds of excited."
A smirk formed on his lips
Jase: "I don't think that's what you are all excited about or what gets you excited."
Tess: "It's not you."
Jase: "Whatever. You were thinking about me."
I snorted. Like a pig.
Tess: "Yeah, I don't think so. I don't think about you at all."
Jase: "You're a terrible liar."
Tess: "And you have a terrible ego. Worse than my brother and that's saying something."
Jase: "You can say whatever you want. I know better."
He dipped his head and his lips grazed my cheek, blazing a small fire across my cheeks.
Jase: "See? You're flushing and I haven't even done anything,"
Tess: "It's the sun. I'm getting heatstroke."
He choked out a laugh
Jase: "The sun isn't even out."
I huffed
Tess: "Like that makes a difference."
Jase: "You know what?"
Cocking my head to the side, I waited.
Jase: "It's cute."
Tess: "What is?"
Jase: "You. This whole act - you pretending that you don't sit and think about me all the time. You probably sit in your dorm and write my name all over your dry-erase board."
I laughed
Tess: "Oh my God."
Jase: "And then you dream about me, right? You sty awake and -"
My laugh cut him off as I swung at him with my free hand, aiming for his chest. What he was saying was beyond ridiculous. Okay - maybe not the dreaming part. He did star in quite a few of them. My hand never landed though. He snatched it out of the air with his other hand with startling reflexes and hauled me against his chest in one quick, smooth move.
Impressive.
Jase: "Hitting is not nice. And neither is deluding yourself."
Jase: "I never said I regretted kissing you."
Tess: "I'm pretty sure you did."
Jase: "I'm pretty sure I didn't. And I don't regret kissing you."
Tess: "You don't?"
Jase: "No."
He looked away for a brief moment, jaw working, before his gaze latched onto mine again.
Jase: "I should. I wish I did."
Tess: "I don't. I don't regret it at all."
He stared at me a moment as his hands on my wrists spasmed. His arms extended out, putting a few inches in between our bodies.
Jase: "Fuck."
He dragged me back against him.
Jase lowered his head and his mouth was on mine before I even realized what was happening. My brain was way behind what was going on, but he kissed me - he was kissing me. His lips were on mine, and there was nothing soft and sweet about this kiss.
I was branded in seconds.
Jase: "You don't understand, Tess."
I rolled my eyes, about to make a smart-ass comment, but stopped when my throat closed up.
Tess: "You're right. I don't. You're attracted to me. You want me, but you keep pushing me away. Is it because of Cam? Because seriously, that's lame, Jase. He's my brother, not the holder of my chastity."
Jase's face puckered as if he'd tasted something sour.
Jase: "Okay. That's an imagine I never wanted to picture."
Tess: "Oh, shut up."
Jase: "All right, it's not Cam. Maybe in the beginning it was, because hooking up with his little sister is crossing all kinds of lines, but I c an get over that."
Tess: "Obviously you did. Or your cock got over it real quick like."
Jase swallowed a strangled cough.
Jase: "Tess, I ... it's just you don't want to be with me. You really don't want that."
I barked out a short laugh
Tess: "Wow. So this is a new attempt. You're not rejecting me, but it's more like I'm rejecting you? Smooth."
Jase: "It's not like that. Trust me. There are things you don't know about me and if you did, you wouldn't be sitting here."
Returning my gaze to him, I arched a brow.
Tess: "Did you kill someone? Cut up their body and feed it to hogs?"
Jase: "What? No."
Tess: "Have you beaten or raped a girl? Have a stash of kids locked in a basement somewhere? Or you're secretly a terrorist?"
His face contorted into disgust.
Jase: "Fuck. No."
Tess: "Okaay. I'm not sure exactly what you could've done that is so terrible then."
He looked away, shaking his head.
Jase: "You don't get it, Tess. I can't have you."
Tess: "But you do have me."
Jase: "He's my son! Jack's my son."
Calla: "I think he's an education major, which is strange. He's too hot to become a teacher."
Tess: "Hey. I'm going to be a teacher."
Calla: "But I don't want to make beautiful babies with you."
Jase: "Brandon Shriver?"
Tess: "I think I'm missing the beginning part of this conversation because I have no idea why you're saying his name."
His jaw tightened
Jase: "You were talking to him."
Tess: "Yeah. So was Calla. I really don't even know him."
Jase: "Didn't seem that way to me. You do know he's older than I am, right? Too old for you -"
Tess: "Are you fucking serious?"
Jase: "You don't need to cuss."
Tess: "I'll fucking cuss if I want to fucking cuss. Fucker."
Tess: "I'll be amazed if you guys make it out of college without having procreated a soccer team's worth of kids."
Avery's brown eyes widened.
Avery: "Oh, God, no ...
Guy: "Keg's outside, brow."
His dark gaze moved over Avery and then stopped on me. Taking a sip from his bottle, he grinned.
Guy: "And I think a game of beer pong is on."
I smiled back. The guy was cute, even if he didn't have dark hair or gray eyes. Right then, I decided that was a good thing. My smile started to spread.
Cam: "Awesome. And stop staring at my sister, jackass."
My mouth dropped open.
The guy chuckled and winked
Guy: "Yes, sir."
Jase: "Get in the car, Tess. And do not argue with me."
He started to turn, but then whipped back toward me.
Jase: "Fuck it."
He didn't even give me a chance to follow him. Like the first day he joined music class, one second I was standing and the next second I was over his shoulder. The world tilted and my hair fell forward in a tangled mess.
Tess: "What the hell? Put me down!"
Jase: "Hell no. I'm not standing out here arguing with you."
He stalked over to the Jeep and yanked open the door.
Jase: "You and I are going to talk -"
Tess: "I don't want to talk to you!"
I slammed my palm into his back. He didn't make a sound as he turned around, dropping me onto the front seat.
Tess: "You -"
Jase: "You move out of that seat, I swear to God, I will sit on you."
Tess: "I don't - what? Sit on me? What are you? Two?"
As I moved up, I swirled my tongue along the head.
Jase: "Holy shit, where did you learn that? Fuck. Don't answer. I don't want to know. I prefer to think you were born with that talent."
Oh my God. I shouldn't have done it. There was a thousand - no, a million - reasons as to why I shouldn't have done that. So many I could write an epic guide on how to do the wrong thing. Maybe you shouldn't give guys who had kids road head? How was I to know?
I immediately started working up excuses. I'd been drinking. And I was buzzing. I hadn't eaten much today. Maybe I had diabetes and was prone to random acts of head. Oh yeah. that sounded believable. Must write that one down for later.
Jase: "Keep saying my name. And I'll never stop. I swear to you."
Tess: "If you say we should have done that or if you apologize ... I will punch you in the balls."
Jase: "I wasn't going to say either of those things."
Tess: "Oh?"
Jase: "No. I was just going to tell you that was the best ... the best goddamn drive down these roads I've ever had."
Tess: "You regret it, don't you? I'm not plastered. I know exactly what I was doing. I wanted to do it. Maybe it wasn't my smartest idea-"
Jase: "I fucking disagree with that. It was brilliant, but ..."
His features softened as he placed his large hand against my cheek
Jase: "If I'd known you'd been drinking, I would've stopped you."
Tess: "And if I wasn't drinking?"
Jase: "I think you know the answer to that."
Tess: "But I'm not drunk. I wanted to do that to you. I wanted -"
Jase groaned
Jase: "You have got to stop talking like that."
Tess: "Like what?"
Jase: "Telling me that you wanted to. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad to hear that, but it makes me want to let you do it again. And for me to do it again. But I wouldn't want to use just my tongue."
He pressed his forehead to mine
Jase: "I'd start with that, but I'd want to use my hands and I wouldn't stop there."
His words scalded my cheeks
Tess: "I wouldn't stop you."
Jase: "Right now, let me just get your not-drunk-but-slightly-tipsy cute ass upstairs."