Lit (Wrecked Hearts Series Book 1)

by Gabrielle Gibson

  “Where you going?” Tony asked, reaching out to caress any part of her body he could get his clammy hands on.

  “I need to go get something from the bar. I’ll be back in just a couple of minutes. Don’t move. You’re going to love this.” Jessie kissed his cheek. “It’s going to feel so good, baby.”

  “Well hurry up and get your ass back here,” Tony growled, starting to get impatient. “Enough bullshit… I’m ready.”

  Jessie grabbed her bag and slipped out the door quickly, her heart pounding as adrenaline pumped through her body. Out in the bar she headed straight for the door without making eye contact with anyone.

  Louie, the doorman, stopped her.

  “Where you going? You sick or something?” he asked, grabbing her arm.

  Jessie shook him off and nodded her head, pushing past him. Once on the street she waved down a cab, hopped in and gave the driver the name of the hotel.

  Once the cab merged back into the traffic, she sunk low in the seat and breathed a sigh of relief. She grabbed her cell phone out of her purse and texted Jack.

  Jessie: Got it… just left. Had to move fast. Meet me at the hotel.

  JACK WALKED INTO THE HOTEL room, but Jessie wasn’t in the common area. Her bedroom door was open. He poked his head in the room.

  He could hear the shower going in the bathroom. The door was closed halfway. He stood by it, unable to stop himself from envisioning Jessie, naked in the shower.

  “Jessie… you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  Jack sat in front of the television until Jessie reappeared in the common area. Her hair was damp and she wore baby blue pajamas.

  Tiny shorts and a tank top.

  Jack had no ability to stop himself from checking her out from head to toe, taking in all that gorgeous skin. He took a deep breath as he felt his cock wake up and take notice, too.

  Jessie seemed completely oblivious not only to how sexy she was but also to his reaction to her.

  She flopped down on the loveseat, pulling her knees up to her chest and crossing her ankles in front of her. She gave him the rundown on her evening, telling him all about sneaking through Tony’s office, snapping a picture of the ledger book, getting caught, and her subsequent actions to distract him so she could get out of there.

  Jack was suitably impressed with her results, although he wasn’t thrilled about her playing those kinds of games with someone so dangerous.

  “You would have done more,” Jessie argued.

  Jack shrugged. “Maybe but…” he didn’t feel like having this argument again. She was too damn stubborn. “Well it’s over and you got what we needed.”

  “What next?” Jessie asked enthusiastically.

  “We’ll go home tomorrow. Then in a few days we’ll go check out the leads in St. Thomas. I’ve got a friend there who might be able to help us out.”

  “Can we leave early tomorrow? I won’t make it home in time for church but my family has brunch together on Sundays,” Jessie asked.

  Jack looked at her for a minute and then nodded.

  “If you want to get home sooner, we can leave now,” Jack offered. “No reason to stick around.”

  “Are you sure? You’re not too tired to drive?” Jessie asked, looking at her phone to check the time. It was already after one o’clock in the morning. “You haven’t had too much to drink tonight, have you?”

  “I’m fine,” Jack assured her.

  They got their things together and Jessie changed into comfy form-fitting leggings and an old concert t-shirt.

  Thirty minutes later the valet pulled the Escalade around and loaded their suitcases into it. Jack began the drive home, which would take about four hours, give or take.

  Jessie fell asleep not long after they got on the New Jersey Turnpike. He turned the radio up a little, but not too much to disturb her. Jessie called it his “angry” music.

  He laughed softly to himself as he listened to the song by Radiohead that seemed appropriate. He thought about how different he and Jessie were. She was this sweet, perfect girl and he was some fuck-up who had no business being anywhere near her.

  Jack glanced at her, thinking that she did look just like an angel. He thought about the way she had felt in his arms, how her lips against his had made his fucking head spin. He sighed. There was no place for any angels in his life.

  He forced his thoughts to the case, trying to figure out why Sam Dennison had funneled such a large amount of money into that fake charity and then closed it out to Violets, LLC.

  Why would he give such a large amount of money to his side chick? No doubt she was some hot piece of ass, but no pussy was worth twenty million.

  Four hours later he pulled up in front of Jessie’s house and parked.

  “Jessie,” he said softly.

  She didn’t respond.

  “Jessie,” he said a little louder, reaching over to touch her arm.

  She woke up, opening her eyes and smiling sleepily at him. “Hi, Jack.”

  “We’re home.”

  Jack opened his door, got out and came around to her side. He opened her door for her and offered her his hand to help her down.

  She took his hand but still slipped as she was stepping out of the car. He caught her and her face pressed against his chest. She inhaled. He smelled amazing.

  “Honestly, Jessie. You’re so fucking clumsy.” Jack rolled his eyes as he steadied her.

  “Sorry,” she giggled. “I’m so tired.”

  Jack got her suitcase from the back of the Escalade while Jessie fumbled through her purse for her house keys.

  Zoey’s car wasn’t there, which meant she must be spending the night at Chris’s house.

  Jack took her keys and walked her to the door, unlocking it and ushering her inside. He turned the light on and set her suitcase down.

  “Goodnight. I guess I’ll see you at work on Monday,” Jessie said.

  Jack nodded. “Lock the door behind me.”

  “I will.”

  He left and Jessie crashed, too tired to think about anything that happened over the past few days.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jessie: I’m home. We got back early this morning.

  Jessie texted Zoey. It was ten o’clock and she had just gotten out of the shower. She was meeting her family for brunch at a restaurant on the waterfront at eleven o’clock.

  Zoey: Oh good. You can go to the O’s game with us.

  Jessie: YES!

  Zoey: Great we’ll pick you up at the restaurant.

  Jessie: What about my car?

  Zoey: We can grab it on the way back. Can you just leave it there?

  Jessie: I guess so.

  Zoey: Okay be there at 12:30.

  Jessie: Okay.

  Jessie finished getting ready. She wore a pretty sundress, purple with little white flowers and cute white sandals with glittery straps. She threw a pair of shorts, an Orioles tank top and a baseball cap in her bag so she could change for the game.

  BRUNCH WITH HER FAMILY WAS awesome. She loved them so much.

  Her brother and his family were there, and her parents, of course. They had such a good time together, laughing and teasing each other goodnaturedly. Jessie felt so lucky to have the family that she did.

  At almost twelve-thirty, Jessie felt her phone buzz. A text from Zoey.

  Zoey: Waiting for you out front.

  Jessie said goodbye to her family. She walked out of the restaurant and climbed into the back of Chris’s truck. Zoey was in the backseat, while Jack rode up front with Chris. She hadn’t known that Jack was also going, but she wasn’t too surprised.

  “Hey,” Jessie put her seatbelt on after she and Zoey hugged briefly.

  Jessie and Zoey chatted on the way to Camden Yards, while Jack and Chris had their own conversation up front.

  Jessie hadn’t had a chance to tell Zoey about the kiss between her and Jack. She would need to wait until they were alone.r />
  Jessie changed her clothes in the backseat after they parked, while Jack and Chris took several steps away so she could have some privacy. The back windows of Chris’s truck were tinted so no one could really see inside anyway.

  The baseball game was a blast. The O’s led the whole game. They were having a great season.

  Zoey noticed that Jack and Jessie were very chatty with each other. They leaned in close to talk to each other, and sometimes Jack would whisper something in Jessie’s ear, or tickle her side, and she would giggle.

  Also, Jack couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her. She did look super cute in her tight Orioles tank top, her blonde hair in a ponytail through the back of her baseball cap.

  He was being very obvious, his eyes all over her boobs and ass. Although it wasn’t unusual for Jack to check her out, he was usually a little more discreet. More like quick glances than overt staring.

  When Jack and Chris left together to make another beer run, Zoey turned to Jessie.

  “Okay, so what’s up?”

  “What do you mean?” Jessie looked clueless.

  “With Jack? So touchy-feely with you today and now running off to get you food and beer? Why is he acting like he’s your man all of the sudden?” Zoey looked at her suspiciously.

  “He’s not. He’s just being nice. We got a lot… closer… over the past few days. I guess spending practically every minute alone together for five days took us to a new comfort level. But I do have something to tell you.”

  Jessie quickly told her the story of the kiss, glancing around often to make sure Jack and Chris weren’t coming back.

  “Oh my God!” Zoey’s eyes were wide. “Are you serious?”

  Jessie nodded sadly. “I’m sure he was just drunk when he kissed me. Neither of us have acknowledged it. I guess we’re just pretending like it didn’t happen. Which is fine. Jack isn’t interested in me. And even if he was, I wouldn’t just have sex with him. You know that.”

  “I know. But do you… have feelings for him?” Zoey asked, looking right through her like she always could.

  Jessie didn’t answer for a moment. She glanced around again and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I know I shouldn’t. He’s definitely not right for me.”

  Jack and Chris returned from the concession stands, so they had to stop talking about it, but Jessie knew the discussion was far from over. No way would Zoey let this one go.

  “SO WHAT’S GOING ON WITH Jessie?” Chris popped some bar nuts in his mouth.

  Jack glanced at him and took a sip of his gin and tonic. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know. Zoey was talking… said Jessie told her that something happened between you guys in New York.” Chris took a swig of his beer.

  Jack shook his head. “Not really.”

  He turned his attention to the baseball game on one of the big screens in the bar.

  “You kissed her?” Chris probed.

  Jack glanced at Chris, his face steady. “Yeah for like, a second. It was nothing.”

  “You sure it was nothing to Jessie?” Chris asked.

  Jack looked away, distracted by something across the bar and shrugged. “Damn… did you see that?”

  Chris followed Jack’s gaze to the ass of an extremely attractive brunette who had just sauntered past them.

  “Zoey thinks Jessie might… you know, have a thing for you.” Chris signaled to the waitress for another beer.

  “No shit. You think?” Jack replied. “She’s practically carved our initials into a fucking tree.”

  Chris laughed. “So you already know?” He wasn’t very surprised. If there was one thing Jack was good at it, was reading women.

  Jack nodded. “Yeah. She’s not too hard to figure out.”

  “You’re not interested in her, are you?” Chris prompted.

  Jack shrugged and hesitated. “She’s kind of… awkward. Can tell she doesn’t have a lot of experience.”

  Chris nodded.

  Jack continued. “Not going to lie, dude. I’ve thought about it. Fuck, I just spent five days in a hotel room with her and she walked around half-naked the whole time. It’s kind of hard to miss that she’s hot. And she’s… kind of, I don’t know, cool to hang out with. But you know I’m not into that good girl thing.”

  “So you do want to hook up with her?”

  Jack smirked. “Let’s just say I’m curious. But I wouldn’t want to, you know, hurt or feelings or whatever. So I’m not going to go there.”

  Chris laughed. “Well do us both a favor and keep resisting the urge. Zoey will cut your balls off if you hurt that girl and I’ll have to listen to her bitch about what an asshole you are.”

  “Right,” Jack laughed.

  He turned his attention to the tall brunette he had noticed before. She walked by them for a third time and finally got up the nerve to say hello. Jack started talking to her and two hours later she was sucking him off in his Jeep.

  “More,” Jack whispered. “Take me deeper.”

  Maybe that would get him there faster. She wasn’t really that good at sucking dick. Just okay. Either that or he wasn’t into it for some reason.

  His fingers were busy under her short skirt, inside her panties, finger fucking her as she worked his dick in her mouth. She’d been at this for a while.

  He pressed against her clit and rubbed it as he fingered her. She started going crazy, moaning and sucking harder on his cock.

  He just wanted to get her off and get off himself so he could go the fuck home. She was hot but he didn’t want to go home with her. She had turned out to be annoying as hell.

  She came, grinding her wet pussy all over his hand. She called out a string of obscenities that were so dirty as she jerked his dick off with her hand it helped get him over the edge as well.

  “Gonna come,” he warned her.

  She took his dick back in her mouth as he came. She swallowed most of it, letting only a small amount drip down his cock.

  He pulled his zipper up and buttoned his jeans as she straightened her panties and skirt.

  “Will you call me?” she asked.

  He glanced at her. “Honestly… I won’t.”

  His expression was blank.

  He had totally lost interest. All sexual encounters were not created equally and this was one he had no interest in repeating.

  THE NEXT DAY JACK CAME in to work late after waking with a pounding hangover headache, and waited for Jessie to get back from a lunch date with her brother, Matt.

  She walked breezily back into the office in light pink skinny jeans, a sleeveless silky black top, pink necklace and black wedge sandals. His eyes scanned her body automatically before his gaze rested back on her pretty face.

  “Hi,” she greeted him, her soft blonde hair loose the way he liked it best, falling in soft waves down her shoulders and back.

  “Hey.” He told her about his friend Kyle and how he thought he might be able to help them out. “He knows everyone who’s anyone. If this bitch has the money, she’ll definitely be connected to his circles.”

  “So are we going to St. Thomas soon?” Jessie asked.

  “We should leave tomorrow or Thursday.”

  Jack explained to her that they would go to St. Thomas together, posing as a couple looking to plan a wedding there. He had asked Amanda to make their travel arrangements.

  “I’ll give my buddy a call and see if he can find out anything for us.” Jack’s old friend from the Marines, Kyle, had retired to St. Thomas three years ago, after selling an app that he developed to a large company for a fucking fortune. Now he lived the sweet life in a huge house overlooking the ocean, banging hot tourists.

  He and Nick had gone to visit him once last year and had a blast. The guy was up to his eyeballs in pussy. Premium, too. Jack admired that set up. An ever-changing selection of beautiful women, none of whom stuck around very long. Didn’t get any better than that.

  Chapter Nineteen

  JESSIE GLANCED NERVOUSLY A
T JACK as the plane started down the runway.

  “You okay?” Jack asked, noticing the look on her face. “You look like you’re going to get sick.”

  “I hate flying,” Jessie confessed.

  The plane picked up speed and Jessie grabbed onto Jack’s hand. He looked uncomfortable at the contact.

  “I’m sorry,” Jessie apologized but didn’t let go.

  Jack reluctantly wrapped his hand around hers.

  “It’s going to be fine.” He looked amused and squeezed her hand.

  Jessie closed her eyes as she felt the plane taking off. If only it didn’t feel like it was struggling to stay in the air she might not be so afraid.

  Jack started trying to explain to her the mechanics of how the plane worked in an effort to calm her.

  “Thanks, Jack, but my Dad has already explained it to me a hundred times. It doesn’t help.”

  “What does help?” Jack asked.

  “Xanax. And hand holding.” Jessie glanced out the window. “A smooth flight won’t hurt either.”

  “So I have to hold your hand for the whole flight?” Jack asked, looking like he’d rather not.

  Jessie shook her head. “No. You don’t have to. I mean, unless you don’t mind.”

  Jack sighed and left his hand where it was.

  Jessie gave him a satisfied smile. “Thanks, Jack. I owe you one.”

  Jessie closed her eyes and let the Xanax do its magic, drifting off to sleep, hopefully until the plane touched down in St. Thomas.

  “SO WHERE ARE YOU SLEEPING?” Jessie asked, smiling as they stood in the middle of the large suite, staring at the king size bed.

  The suite was huge, but there was only the one bed. The tiny sofa in the sitting area was nowhere near big enough for Jessie to sleep on, and certainly not big enough for Jack.

  “Don’t worry… I’ll stay on my side of the bed,” Jack teased.

  He was trying not to stare at her too much. She looked so good in an extremely short white and blue sundress, her skin already tanned golden by the summer sun even though they had just arrived in St. Thomas.

  Jessie just laughed. Despite the weird kiss thing in New York, she was confident that Jack had no interest in taking things any further. She had chalked it up to alcohol and the heightened emotions that stemmed from the argument they’d had.