by Jamie Begley
“Yes, thank you. I’ll take a shower and change.”
“I’ll get changed while you take a shower.”
Jessie nervously nodded.
“Jessie?”
She turned around to face him.
“Just because you’re staying the night, if you don’t want anything to happen, we can just watch a movie or something until we go to bed.”
“Okay.” She shyly left the bedroom, unable to explain why she was so nervous with him tonight.
She tried to pinpoint the reason while she took her shower but couldn’t. Drying off, she blow-dried her hair before putting the pajamas on, feeling comfortable in the flannel material. She was going to have to ask Holly where she got them.
Giving herself a pep talk to have enough courage to leave the bathroom, she finally opened the door to see Dustin sitting on the couch with his back to her.
When she came around the corner of the couch, his eyes slid down her body. “Feeling better?”
“Yes.”
“Good. What do you want to watch? I rented a movie last night. I have another night on the rental. You want to watch it?”
“Sure.” Sitting down cross-legged next to him, she watched as he used the controller to find the movie.
“You comfortable?”
“Yes.”
Instead of pushing Play on the movie, Dustin stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Jessie started to look to see what he was up to.
“Nuh-uh. Don’t look.”
Jessie faced forward again, listening to the sounds he was making in the kitchen. She became frustrated when she couldn’t figure out what he was doing.
She was about to give in to temptation when he came back into the living room and set two plates down with forks.
“What …?” she started to say, but he was gone again.
Again, when she turned to look, she was shot down.
“Nuh-uh.”
This time, she heard the refrigerator door opening, and then he returned to set three pints of ice cream down. Taking the lids off, he exposed the creamy goodness within.
“I had to hide these from Tate last night. I’ll be right back—”
“I know not to look,” Jessie said before he could.
Grinning, Dustin went back to the kitchen. When he came back for the last time, he set a cake down with candles poking out of the gaily decorated birthday cake.
Jessie stared at the cake in surprise, then at Dustin in puzzlement. “I don’t understand. It’s not my birthday, and it’s not yours.”
Dustin gave her a breathtaking smile that had her breath catching in her throat.
“I know.” He started lighting the candles one at a time. “I’ve always felt bad that I didn’t give you a piece of my birthday cake the next day when I told you I would. I’m hoping this will make up for it. And I got the biggest cake they sold to make up for the birthdays we missed together since.”
Jessie could only stare at him speechlessly. He looked the same way Logan did when he wanted you to be happy at something he did, seeking approval. It was a moment that would be engraved into her memory for the rest of her life. It was sentimental, sweet, and showed without words that he had loved her when he was nine as much as she had loved him.
“Dustin ….”
“Do you like it? I know it’s not the same, but—”
“No, it not the same,” she said huskily, seeing his lips start to drop. “It’s better.”
His smile returned as he sat down next to her.
“I would have never been able to appreciate the gesture of you giving me a slice of cake back then, but this—” Jessie motioned to the cake. “—this—” She continued after she cleared her throat. “—is special.”
“You are special … to me. You always have been.”
“I see that now. It’s kind of hard not to,” she said, giving a tear-filled laugh.
“You ready to help me blow out the candles before we burn the house down?”
They blew out the candles together, then plucked out what was left of the little stubs from the cake before Dustin started cutting them both a slice.
Jessie added a scoop of strawberry ice cream to hers, while Dustin added a scoop of all three flavors to his larger slice.
Each off them ate two slices as they watched the movie before Jessie put what was left of the ice cream in the freezer and Dustin put the plastic top back on the cake. After they straightened the mess they made, they returned to the couch to finish watching the movie.
Halfway through, Dustin started to stretch out on the couch, tugging her down next to him.
Jessie lost focus on the movie when she felt his hand trailing over her arm from her bicep to her wrist. His touch sent tingles down her spine until she was the one who turned in his arms.
“I don’t want to watch the movie anymore.”
“You don’t?” He didn’t look at her, his eyes remaining on the television behind her.
She combed her fingers through his hair, drawing his attention to her. “No.”
“I paid sixteen dollars for this movie.”
“You paid sixteen dollars for this movie?”
“Yep.”
Jessie snuggled closer to him, kissing him at the base of his throat. “You were ripped off.”
“Have you got anything better to do? I’m kind of enjoying it.”
Jessie reached under his shirt to run her hand up his T-shirt. She shyly glanced up at him from beneath her lashes. “We could go to bed,” she suggested.
Dustin jackknifed off the couch so fast she nearly toppled over backward. Catching her before she fell, he lifted her into his arms.
Her lips trembled in amusement. “I could’ve walked.”
“Yeah, but we’ll get there quicker this way.”
Jessie giggled, feeling carefree and young. She hadn’t experienced those emotions when she was younger, even when she was with Dustin.
She automatically clutched him when he threw them on the bed sideways.
“And you think I’m a nut?” She tenderly skimmed her fingers along his sides, dragging his shirt up.
“I don’t think you’re a nut. I know you are.” He skillfully unbuttoned her pajama top. “Sweet baby Jesus, I like that bra. Shame you’re about to lose it.”
Jessie arched into him as he reached behind her to unfasten it. Letting him tug her bra and top free, she let her hands roam over his chest.
“Do you know how many times I wanted to touch you but couldn’t?”
Throwing himself on his back, Dustin stretched out his body full-length, reaching his arms above his head. “Help yourself.”
Jessie knew he was joking, but she took the invitation seriously. Dustin in clothes was very good-looking. His looks had always drawn women to him like a moth to a flame. It was what had drawn Samantha to him, despite her father’s hatred of him for belonging to a family of pot growers. His looks may have gotten her attention, but Jessie knew that she had fallen in love with Dustin.
No woman who got to know Dustin would be able to help themselves.
Jessie brushed a kiss to the pulse beating in his neck before skimming over his chest to flick his nipple with her tongue. When he tightly clutched the end of the bed, she knew he enjoyed the teasing gesture.
Going to his other nipple, she did the same thing, inciting a low groan.
Becoming braver, she used her tongue to circle the areola, fascinated when the nipple hardened. She curiously scraped a gentle fingernail over it. One second, she was playing with him like a curious kitten, and the next, she was flat on her back with Dustin staring down at her.
“My turn.”
“Spoil sport,” she complained, stretching out the way he had.
“Let me see if I can make it up to you.” Dustin covered her nipple with his mouth, sucking it inside.
He didn’t tease like he had the other night. Tonight, he went for the kill. Flattening her nipple along the roof of his mouth, his t
ongue kindled a delicious ache in her body that had her reaching for his shoulders. She thought she would be prepared when he switched to her other nipple, but when he lowered his mouth again, his target was much lower.
He skimmed his mouth along the line of her pajama bottoms, rolling them and her panties off as he used his shoulder to keep her from interfering.
Letting the rest of her clothes fall to the floor, he didn’t slow his mouth, nuzzling through her curls to place his mouth over her in a full-out frontal attack.
This was no gentle introduction but a sensual takeover that she didn’t stand a chance of wanting to ever end. Dustin wasn’t on a quest to conquer her; he was on a quest for annihilation.
She couldn’t help the scream that tore from her when his tongue delved deep inside her. Wiggling beneath the weight of his upper body, she had no defense other than to accept the pleasure that had her feeling as if a thunderbolt had crashed into the room, searing them together for all eternity.
When he levered himself off the bed, she at first thought he hadn’t felt the same thing, but then she saw the hunger in his eyes as he took off his jeans.
“Don’t you fucking move,” he grunted out, going to his dresser.
“I won’t.” Licking her suddenly dry lips, she watched as he opened a drawer then came back, opening a condom wrapper. She wanted to ask if it hurt as he stretched the condom over his penis but didn’t think he would appreciate her inquisitiveness from the way he was watching her.
“Uh … Dustin, you do know I’m not the combo platter, don’t you?”
Reaching down, he clasped her hips in hard hands. “I would never confuse you with an appetizer. You’re the main course.”
When he flipped her onto her stomach, she gave a squeal of fright. “This is not making me feel better.”
She reached out to clasp the end of the bed when his body covered hers, his mouth at the back of her neck.
“No? Well, let’s see if this will.”
He shifted his hips to slide his legs between hers, his cock demanding entrance. Her body easily accepted the strong thrust that embedded his cock’s full length inside her, impaling her in one stroke.
Jessie heard the growl of satisfaction against her neck, which sent her spine prickling in awareness that he wasn’t as in control as that last time they had made love. Tonight was wild, untamable. He was a man who knew what he wanted—to see the same need reflected in her.
Her heartbeat was thundering in her chest as loud as the thunder outside. Each stroke of his cock ratcheted her beats until she thought she would die before she came back to earth.
When he slid his hands silkily down her arms to twine his fingers with hers, her heart stuttered at the loving gesture. Dustin was letting her know that, however much the passion was overcoming her, he was going along with her.
“I love you, Jessie.”
“I love you, Dustin.”
His thrusts became stronger as soon as the words were out of her mouth, sending her heart rate soaring again. Except this time, she wasn’t afraid she was going to die. She knew she was. No heart would be able to endure the desire-fueled storm that Dustin was determined to overwhelm her with.
“Dustin …,” she gasped out.
“Yeah?” With his mouth, he plundered her shoulder, biting down then laving the small spot to soothe the erotic pain.
“I really … hope you enjoyed … all your tom catting around.” She gasped again when his cock delved even deeper inside her.
“You do?”
“Oh yeah … I do … because your tom cat days … are over.”
“They are?”
Jessie smiled at the laughter in his voice.
“Mmhmm … You’re not going to … Oh God … You remember when you said … two or three times a day?”
“Vaguely.”
She gripped his hands tighter.
“Oh Lord …,” she moaned, trying to find the words she wanted while her body was shattering into a million pieces. “I think … four sounds better. Don’t … you?”
“No.”
“You don’t?” She lifted her head to stare at him over her shoulder. Her body started shaking at the love she saw in his eyes.
“I’ll never have enough of you.”
“Do you want some more?” Jessie leaned forward, tempting him as she sat on his waist.
Dustin was half sitting up, leaning back against his headboard with pillows propped behind his back. His folded legs provided a back rest for her. Her knees were on each side of his hips.
Opening his mouth, he let her spoon the melting ice cream into his mouth.
She felt unbelievably sexy sitting on him. She put on the pajama top when she had gone to the kitchen to get the ice cream, but she hadn’t bothered to button it.
Taking the next spoonful for herself, she saw his cell phone on the night stand vibrate.
Dustin reached out to pick it up. A strange expression crossed his face that she couldn’t interpret before he lifted the phone so she couldn’t see the message or what he texted back.
“Is anything wrong?”
Dustin shook his head, reaching out to cup a bare breast and stroking his thumb over her nipple. The wistful look that crossed his face was much easier to read, but she couldn’t understand where it had come from.
“Dustin …?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just being maudlin.”
She tilted her head to the side. “About what?”
“You ate the last spoonful of chocolate.”
His showstopper grin had butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
“I’ll go get the strawberry.”
He brought his hands to her thighs, holding her in place. “Forget it. I’m in the mood for something to warm me up, not cool me down.”
Jessie leaned forward, placing the empty ice cream container on the nightstand before raising back to a sitting position. Running her hands down his arms, she took his hands in hers, linking their fingers together. “This is nice. What time are they coming back in the morning?”
“Why? You worried I’m going to kick you out of bed before they get here?” Dustin stared at their joined hands, his expression going melancholy again.
“No, I just don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable with me being here.”
“The only one who would be uncomfortable is you. Don’t worry, they won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. I’m going to pick up Logan and take him to breakfast at the diner before I take him to school. You can sleep as late as you want.”
“You can drive me home before you pick up Logan. I’m going to the daycare in the morning.”
“You’re a tough cookie, Jessie Hayes.”
“You’re right.” She removed one of her hands to poke him in the chest. “And you better not forget it!”
Dustin grabbed her hand back, not laughing at her joke. “I won’t. Believe me, I’m counting on it.”
30
“Can I order the pancakes?” Logan begged as he scooted into the booth.
“Go for it.” Dustin lovingly stared at his son from across the table.
Logan’s face broke into a big smile as the waitress approached.
“What can I get for you gentlemen?”
“I want the pancakes. The four-stack.” Logan’s eyes slid to his after placing his order, as if expecting him to change the amount of pancakes he had ordered. Holly and he had never let him have more than two.
“I’ll have the same. And add a side of bacon to both of them. I’ll take a coffee, and Logan will take orange juice.”
“Holly is going to be mad.”
“I’ll take care of Holly. Don’t worry about it.” Dustin put his coffee cup to the side to be filled, giving a polite smile to the waitress. She was the sister of a woman who worked at Jessie’s daycare.
When she left, Dustin watched Logan stare interestedly at what the other customers were doing.
Dustin slid his cup back in front of him. “We need to have
a man-to-man talk.”
Logan’s eyes came back to him, his thin chest shrinking. “Am I in trouble?”
Dustin’s lips twisted upward in wry humor. “If you were in trouble, I wouldn’t be letting you eat pancakes, would I?”
“No.” His chest swelled in pride. “So, you just want to talk to me man-to-man?”
“Yes. We need to talk about something I’ve been putting off for a long time. I intended to have this talk with Holly here, but what I want to talk to you about was brought around by my actions, and they are for me to explain alone.”
He was about to continue when he saw the waitress coming back with their food. Leaning back, he made room on the table for her to place it all down.
“Thanks, Deb.”
She gave him an adoring look before retreating when he didn’t return it, keeping his attention on Logan.
Dustin didn’t touch his food, letting Logan pour as much syrup on his pancakes as he wanted. When Logan started eating, Dustin continued, dreading that Logan would never look at him the same way again when he was done talking.
“We need to talk about your mother ….”
Dustin told Logan about how they met in high school and dated secretly because her father didn’t like him.
“Why didn’t he like you?”
This was another reason he had put off explaining.
“Because Tate, Greer, and I hadn’t been nice. Sometimes we did things that other people in town consider outside the law.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that we would have gone to jail if we’d been caught. We knew it was wrong, but we did it anyway.”
“What kinds of things?”
“Things that her father knew we were doing and didn’t like. That doesn’t mean you can do things that’ll get you in trouble. You don’t want to make Holly cry, do you?”
“No, I won’t do anything that will make Holly cry.”
“Good. That’s all I’m going to ask you, Logan. If you think Holly wouldn’t like it, don’t do it.”
Logan’s fork paused halfway to his mouth with a big piece of pancake with syrup dripping off. “Does that mean I can’t finish my pancakes?”
