by J. H. Croix
When she cried out and her channel began the clench around him, he surged into her once more, his release thundering through him. Collapsing against her, he shifted his weight to the side. Her body eased around him, and awareness gradually filtered into his mind. He was stunned and near immobilized by what had just happened. He enjoyed sex just as much as any man, but he’d generally viewed it as a means to an end. He didn’t set out to use anyone, but he kept relationships casual because he’d never been inclined to anything more than that. This, whatever the hell this was with Jessa, had simply overtaken him. He didn’t want to untangle himself from her and only wanted to curl up beside her and soak in the warmth of the feeling he experienced with her.
13
Jessa came awake slowly, feeling more rested than she had in months. Eli was spooned behind her, his hand resting on the curve of her hip. It felt sooo good to wake up in his arms. Opening her eyes, the clock indicated it was five in the morning. The wispy light of dawn was breaking over the mountains, heralding the sun’s arrival with faint streaks of gold and orange reaching into the sky.
She felt Eli shift behind her and then stretch, his body going taut for a second before relaxing against her again.
“Mmm. Time?” he asked in a mumble against her neck.
The feel of his lips on her skin sent a soft shiver through her. “Five.”
He didn’t move, but she felt him take a deep breath. “I have to get up. Fishing charter today.” His voice gained a touch of strength.
His hand stroked down her hip and back up to brush her hair away from her face. She rolled over in his arms, smiling when she saw his disheveled hair. She reached up and ran a hand through it, straightening the brown locks. His mouth hooked in a smile and he dipped his head, catching her lips in a quick kiss. When he pulled back, heat was rolling through her and all she wanted was to tumble right back to where they’d been last night.
He gave his head a little shake. “I don’t wanna go, but I have to. We have a full boat today. Cliff and Ryan are probably already on their way.”
She kicked the covers back and rolled out of his arms quickly. “I’ll get up with you,” she announced, flinging the covers off of him. When her eyes angled down, she saw the clear evidence of his desire. Damn, the man had a body to die for. He was all muscle, but he didn’t have the polished look of a man who spent hours at the gym. His gym was his life—working and living on the ocean and in the wilds of Alaska. When he caught her eyes, his held a gleam. He shrugged, unabashed, and quickly stood, heading straight for the bathroom.
“Mind if I jump in the shower?”
Dry-mouthed, nearly speechless at the depth of her response to him, she shook her head. “Go for it,” she finally managed to reply.
Moments later, she’d wrapped herself in a robe and gathered their scattered clothing off the floor. She carefully set his on the counter in the bathroom. She started a pot of coffee and had a to-go cup ready for Eli when he stepped out of the bathroom. She held it out as he walked over to her, buttoning his shirt.
“Thanks,” he said as he accepted the small paper cup from her. He took a sip and closed his eyes. “This’ll get me to town.” He paused and looked over at her, his eyes searching. “I, uh… Well, I don’t know what the hell I meant to say. I don’t suppose we could plan to see each other again? Soon?”
He seemed to be stumbling as much with this as much as she was, which eased her own uncertainty. She might not have expected this with Eli, but she couldn’t turn away from it either. It felt too good to be with him. She took a gulp of coffee, nothing amazing but serviceable enough to help her speak, and nodded. “I’d like that.”
She was rewarded with one of his half-grins, so sexy it took her breath away. He took a step and dipped his head, dropping a kiss on the curve of her neck. Goosebumps rose along her skin and sent a ripple through her. He lifted his head and caught her lips in a swift kiss—his tongue stroking in to tangle with hers briefly before he pulled back. His eyes met hers. “I’ll call you.”
At that, he turned and strode to the door, grabbing his jacket off the hook where she’d hung it only minutes earlier. His hand was on the doorknob when he stopped and looked back. “Soon,” he said firmly. With a wink, he was gone.
She stayed where she was by the counter and placed her fingers against her lips, as if she could contain the feel of his against hers.
Several hours later, Jessa followed Marley across a parking lot along Diamond Creek’s shoreline. Marley adjusted the straps on the carrier she wore for Holly. Holly was going on six months old now and full of curiosity. Her chubby little legs dangled from the carrier, she had one hand latched onto a lock of Marley’s hair with the other in her mouth. She looked around from her perch on Marley’s shoulders, her green eyes alert as she took in the world around them. What a world it was. Jessa took a deep breath, savoring the salty ocean air coming in soft gusts off of Kachemak Bay. Diamond Creek’s tourist draw came from its breathtaking view, which included the ocean, the mountains, glittering glaciers, and abundant wildlife. Marley had insisted she come along with her to pick up some signs from a local gallery.
The gallery was located in a small run of shops set on a boardwalk along the ocean. Gulls called and flew above. A lone eagle sat on the corner of the deck railing along the boardwalk, its gaze intent and fierce as the bird calmly tracked their approach. Jessa still wasn’t accustomed to how common eagles were in Alaska. Every single day she’d been here, she’d seen several eagles. As she eyed the eagle on the deck railing, another flew overhead, calling its shrill call as it flew past them toward the ocean.
Jessa nudged Marley’s shoulder. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing to a cluster floating in the water.
Marley grinned and brushed her hair out of her eyes when the wind caught it. “That’s a raft of otters. If they float close enough you can see their furry little faces. They hang together like that all the time.”
“Oh, that’s so cool!” Jessa watched the otters as they continued walking toward the gallery.
She glanced up at the sign—Midnight Sun Arts—as they walked through the door. The gallery was a bright, open space with displays on the walls and scattered throughout the room. There was a collection of blown glass in one corner, pottery in another and paintings throughout the space. Jessa could have spent hours here, just looking around. While they might be in a tiny town in Alaska, whoever ran this gallery clearly knew their art because the selection was excellent and eclectic. A ping of anxiety ran through her as she realized she’d been completely avoiding thinking about what to do with her life. The small, budding art business she’d established in Seattle had literally gone up in smoke. She knew she could try to start over, but at the moment, she was weary of worrying about money and trying to make ends meet. This feeling—of anxiety and worry—had taken root firmly since the fire. It was what led her to pack up Blue—her beloved little truck—and head to Diamond Creek when she didn’t know what else to do.
Being here in this gallery, filled to the brim with art, sent a whoosh of wishful thinking through her, reminding her of those old hopes and dreams she’d tried to make happen. She shook her head and took a breath. She hadn’t realized she’d stopped in the center of the gallery all by herself while Marley was at the counter talking to a woman with short dark hair in a stylish, tousled bob. Jessa gathered herself and walked to Marley’s side.
Marley glanced over, pausing in whatever she’d been saying. “Jessa, this is Risa Thomas. She’s the manager and part owner of the gallery. I was just telling her about your furniture,” she said as she glanced from Jessa to Risa. “Her furniture is so much fun! I have a few pieces in the house. I’ll…”
Jessa couldn’t stop her head from shaking. She knew Marley was trying to be helpful, but the problem was she didn’t have much to sell at the moment. The few pieces that had survived the fire because they happened to be stored away from her apartment were still in the back of her truck. She needed time
and to find a space where she could paint before she considered trying to sell anything anywhere. Not to mention she wasn’t so sure she should keep trying to follow her silly dreams. Perhaps she needed to focus on something more practical. “Marley, you don’t…”
Marley waved a hand and paused to remove the half of her ponytail that Holly was chewing on. “Don’t tell me I can’t try to promote your work! You had plenty of buyers in Seattle, but there was a lot more competition there. I already mentioned your work to Risa when I called her about our signs, and she said she’d seen your stuff online and would love to have some pieces to sell.”
Jessa flushed, while Risa nodded emphatically, her dark brown eyes warm. “I meant what I said to Marley—I would be happy to offer your work here. We like to stay ahead of the curve with our inventory and artsy furniture likes yours is getting more and more popular. While Seattle is definitely busy and a hopping arts scene, you wouldn’t believe how much inventory passes through here. Probably double that of the average gallery in Seattle. It’s just a different market—tourists want to buy, not just look. Anytime you want to talk more about it, just let me know and we’ll come up with a plan.” Risa paused, her smile deepening. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”
That tiny sprout of hope inside that just wouldn’t quit unfurled another leaf, a whisper of possibility rising along with it. Jessa smiled softly. “You too. Well, uh, thanks for the offer about my furniture. I’d love to talk more about it with you, but the problem is I lost most of my inventory when my apartment building burned down. I used the second bedroom there for storage, so everything went ‘poof.’ I’m just trying to figure out what to do next. First, I need to find somewhere to work. Maybe when I figure that out, I’ll give you a call.”
“You mean somewhere to paint?” Risa asked.
At Jessa’s nod, she grinned. “We’ve got some offices spaces upstairs. Right now, one of them is sitting empty. You’re free to use it if you’d like.”
Marley grinned and clapped her hands. “See! I told you it’d be a good idea to come talk to her.” Her expression sobered. “Although if you’d mentioned you needed a space to paint, Gage would be happy to set something up for you. Garrett would probably clear out a room at his office. I wish…” She paused and took a breath, her eyes softening. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so pushy. I know what it’s like to have things feel like they’re turned all upside down. I know you need time to sort this out without us barging into your life. Although I was hoping maybe you’d want to give Risa’s gallery a shot.”
Jessa had started to feel defensive, but Marley’s understanding dissipated it. She took a breath and let it out, the knot of anxiety in her chest easing. “I know you’re trying to help. No need to apologize.” She took another breath, wondering if she was about to do something crazy and forging ahead anyway. “If you don’t mind, maybe I could take a look at the office space upstairs. How much is the monthly rent?”
Risa shook her head with a soft laugh. “Nothing.”
“You have to charge something,” Jessa insisted. “It won’t feel right.”
“Look, I’m part owner of the gallery, but I don’t own the building. I share ownership with my old bosses in Anchorage and they own this building. They rent out a small hotel suite above here for major bucks all summer, but the two offices aren’t convenient for most year-round businesses. The gallery stays open all year, but locals like to have their offices downtown, not by the ocean. Ethan and Jack would be tickled if you used the space. If you’re worried about the rent, maybe we can work out a deal after you have some inventory to sell.”
Hope rooted itself a tad more firmly inside of Jessa. Maybe she didn’t know how long she’d be here or what might happen next. Maybe she didn’t have a place to call home anymore, unless she counted her truck Blue. But, maybe, just maybe, starting to do what she loved again would help her find a path. Even if she didn’t stay in Diamond Creek, selling her furniture in this lovely gallery by the sea would be worth doing whether she remained here or not. She looked across the counter at Risa and smiled. “Maybe we can do that.” She turned to Marley who was preoccupied with Holly who’d somehow managed to get one of her feet stuck in her backpack carrier.
“There!” Marley exclaimed when she gently tugged Holly’s chubby little foot back through the harness where she was seated. Holly continued fiddling with a bright red toy tied to the carrier strap. Marley looked over at Risa and Jessa and shrugged sheepishly. “I can’t seem to master this backpack thing. Anyway, did I hear right? You’re going to check out the space upstairs?” she asked, looking to Jessa.
Jessa grinned. “Yes, you heard right. Aren’t we here for something though? Signs?”
Risa threw her head back with a laugh. “Right. Those are actually upstairs. Why don’t you two follow me?”
Moments later, Jessa stood inside a small room. It was perfectly square with soft, cream colored paint, dark hardwood flooring, and sunlight streaming through the windows on one wall. The office overlooked Kachemak Bay. Sunlight glittered on the surface today. A breeze ruffled the water. Jessa took a deep breath, that sense of hope unfurling another leaf inside. For what she needed, this was absolutely perfect. Tears welled in her eyes and she wiped them away. After weeks of feeling like her chance at keeping her life afloat with her artwork had burned up, she might find a way to get back on her feet. Intellectually, she’d known all along she could rebuild, but she’d felt so defeated and tired. Right now, in this lovely little room with a breathtaking view, she felt like she’d been handed a chance to get back on her feet in a way she’d never imagined. Her imaginings had included sky-high rent in a tiny apartment in Seattle and trying to make do on less while she scrambled to create some inventory to sell fast enough to pay the bills. By the grace of her family and a kind stranger in Diamond Creek, she had a cushion for now.
Risa poked her head around the doorframe. “What do you think?”
“It’s perfect. Would you mind if I put drop cloths on the floor? That’s the only thing I’d be worried about.”
Risa grinned and gestured for Jessa to follow her. She stepped into the short hallway and followed Risa to the end where Marley was in another office. This one was a replica of the other office and its entire floor was covered in drop cloths. She looked to Risa whose grin morphed into a laugh.
“I have some extra drop clothes here if you need them,” Risa offered once she stopped laughing. “I use this space for painting signs.” She gestured to the ones arranged on a table.
Marley turned, holding a sign up. “They look great! Gage is going to be so excited.”
“Glad they turned out how you wanted. Let me help you load them up,” Risa replied, striding to the table and carefully stacking the signs.
That evening, Jessa stood by the windows in her room and looked out over the mountains. She was about to go downstairs for another shift in the restaurant. She’d come to count on the work and enjoyed bantering with Harry, Delia and the customers, along with seeing a rotating collection of Gage and Marley’s social circle. Her mind spun to thoughts of Eli. Most of her morning had kept her so busy, she managed to function without her entire body tingling at the memory of last night. Yet, here in her room, alone in the quiet, heat flashed through her and liquid need built inside. The way she felt with him was beyond anything she’d ever felt with a man. She felt as if she was standing on the edge of a precipice, or she might have already tumbled over, but she didn’t recognize the feeling. Everything with him was just plain…amazing. She wished she knew what to do about it.
14
Eli checked the mooring lines and turned to look out over the bay one last time. It was late evening with the sun hovering low over the mountains, its orb shimmering and painting the sky with streaks of gold and orange. The day had been beyond busy. They had a boat full of six today. Eli was coming to wonder how he’d managed these charters without Ryan’s help. He’d been indispensable today between helping generally with a
nything and everything and spending a good hour assisting a customer with a badly tangled line and broken reel. They kept extra equipment on the boat for situations like that, but the man had insisted he only wanted to fish with his own equipment. Ryan’s patience was greater than Eli’s, so he’d happily turned the job over to him. Cliff and Ryan had left a few minutes earlier to ferry the customers over to the Fish Factory to get their daily catch flash frozen and overnighted to wherever they wanted it to go. Eli would pick Ryan up after he grabbed a pizza for the boys.
He took a breath, savoring the briny scent of the ocean. At the sound of the water surface breaking, he glanced to the side to find a seal looking at him curiously. Seals frequented the harbor docks for sunning and seeking out fish scraps. The seal’s dark round eyes stared at him for a long moment before the seal curled and dipped back under the water, undulating along the surface. Eli turned to walk up the dock, grinning when he realized the seal was following and watching him.
Jessa had been flitting in his thoughts all day. Any moment he wasn’t entirely preoccupied with whatever he was doing, he thought of her—her flashing silver eyes, the feel of her soft curves under his touch, the way it felt to sink inside of her, and the incandescent buzz of joy he felt being close to her. Joy wasn’t a familiar feeling to him. His childhood had offered little of it, and his choice to keep his emotional distance as an adult had somewhat boxed the opportunity for that kind of joy out of his life. Oh, he experienced joy when he was on the ocean or in the wilderness, but that was a different kind of joy. This thing he felt with Jessa—it made him feel out of control, which he didn’t particularly like. Except it felt so good to be with her. It almost hurt to think of not experiencing more of her. So while he was most definitely stumbling along in uncharted territory for him, he wasn’t about to stop.
