He resisted the urge to slide his hand under that barely-there tank and settled for gently tweaking a small, hard nipple through the fabric before he moved his hand away.
Down over her flat stomach, then clutching her hip briefly and pulling her tighter against him before sliding it across the top of her bare thigh. Fuck, her skin was so goddamn soft.
He groaned against her mouth.
Was this really happening? A little voice in her head was telling her that they shouldn’t be doing this, but her body was in control now. No way could she tell him to stop.
He was too drunk to be playing around with her like this. He shouldn’t be putting his hands all over her this way. A minute or so more and he would be giving in to his urges, which would undoubtedly have negative consequences, for both of them.
He pulled away, breaking the kiss. He stared for a moment into her blue eyes, fighting for control of himself.
“Yeah, right.” Jack rolled his eyes, playing it off as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t just been kissing her and grinding his erection in between her legs. “You’re full of shit.”
He released her and got off the bed. “Forget it. Even if I thought you were willing to let him sample the goods, which I know goddamn well you aren’t, trust me, you don’t want to hook up with him. He’s as bad as I am… maybe worse.”
Fuck that. If anyone was going to find out what Jessie was like, it was damn well going to be him, not one of his buddies. It was irritating to him how much he hated the thought of one of his friends hooking up with her. He had shared women with his friends before and never given it a second thought. But Jessie was different. The thought of any of his friends putting their hands on her seriously pissed him off.
He disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door.
She heard the shower turn on and she rolled back over on her stomach, clutched a pillow under herself and sighed. She was so confused. Why had Jack stopped kissing her and pulled away from her so abruptly?
She had clearly felt his erection against her, so she knew he had been excited. Had she done something wrong? She felt entirely out of her league with Jack. He was used to women who knew what they were doing.
She would have let him go further if he had tried. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had inadvertently done something to turn him off.
In the shower, Jack jerked himself off for what seemed like the hundredth time since they’d been here. As he fucked his hand, he imagined what it would be like to push himself into her, what she would look like on all fours, that pretty ass in the air, horny and ready for his cock to pound into her. He came hard, a low grunt escaping from his lips as he imagined filling her pussy up with his cum as she moaned underneath him.
He sighed, feeling somewhat better. At least now he might be able to sleep tonight.
JACK WOKE UP WITH ANOTHER knot in his back from sleeping in that damn chair. Jessie had offered to switch with him again and let him take the bed, but he had declined.
He had asked for another room the day before and the front desk had let him know that one would be available starting tonight. He was beyond glad.
Not only was sleeping in the chair uncomfortable, but so was the almost constant hard-on he’d had the past few days sharing a room with Jessie. She seemed to have packed nothing but short sexy dresses, tiny bikinis and shorts and tops so small she practically wasn’t wearing anything at all.
Glancing at the bed, he saw that Jessie was still sleeping. She was laying on her side, arms cuddled around a pillow, partially covered by the white sheet.
Jack moved around the room quietly, putting on shorts and running shoes. He slipped out the door to their patio and then to the beach to go for his morning run.
When he got back, Jack found Jessie lying in bed watching television.
“Good morning.” She smiled sweetly.
He was dripping sweat as he kicked off his shoes and headed straight for the shower.
Jessie’s eyes were glued to the naked top half of his body.
“See something you like?” Jack teased.
Jessie blushed and averted her eyes.
He smirked and slipped into the bathroom for a shower.
Jack emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam and the exhilarating scent of his body wash.
“What’s the plan for today?” he asked, partially dressed in shorts but still shirtless.
Was he purposely trying to torture her by walking around like that?
“We’re going to Violet’s house. She invited us for lunch and we’re supposed to go over some wedding details.” Jessie got her clothes together to take into the bathroom with her.
“Okay. We’re both going?”
“Yeah, no more running around playing with Kyle all day while I do all the work,” Jessie joked. “So it turns out that Violet is married. She mentioned her husband, Hank. Said he’s not really into the party scene but he gives her carte blanche when it comes to her social life.”
Jack’s interest was kindled. “Really? She told you that?”
Jessie nodded. “Yeah. Weird, huh? Did you find any evidence of her being married when you were researching her?”
Jack shook his head. “No.”
“Well, it will be interesting. Maybe we’ll get to meet her mystery husband today.”
Chapter Twenty-One
JACK PARKED THE RENTED SUV in the circular driveway in front of Violet’s beachfront mansion. The meticulously manicured display of palm trees and tropical flowers created the perfect backdrop for the luxurious estate.
Jessie sat and waited for Jack to come and open the door for her. He held out his hand, which she accepted. He helped her out of the SUV, glancing down at her as the short dress she was wearing rose up her thighs.
Jessie clasped his hand and held it as they walked up to the massive front door and rang the bell. A few moments later a uniformed housekeeper opened the door and greeted them. She ushered them into the house, inviting them to take a seat in the spacious and opulent living room.
“Mrs. Johnson will be with you in just a moment,” she said flatly.
Jessie felt sorry for anyone who had to work for Violet. She had seen the horrible way Violet treated their server when they went out to lunch. This poor woman probably hated her job.
Violet made her entrance in a tight pair of tiny denim cut-offs and a light green halter top knotted under her large breasts. Jessie heard Jack suck in his breath and then let out a hiss of air as she walked in the room, even as he kept his expression indifferent.
Jessie swallowed the jealousy that threatened to take over and instead plastered a happy, fake smile on her face.
“Hi guys,” she greeted them, a seductive inflection in her husky voice.
“Hi!” Jessie replied with more enthusiasm than she felt.
She and Jack stood up and Violet hugged them both, kissing their cheeks. Jessie thought that the hug she gave Jack was a tad overly affectionate considering how little time they had actually spent together.
“Let me give you a tour,” Violet offered generously, as if she was bestowing a great gift on them.
Jessie nodded agreeably as she felt Jack clasp her hand.
Violet showed them her impressive home, pointing out luxury features, expensive artwork and significant pieces of furniture and electronics. Jessie acted appropriately impressed, but in truth she was really only impressed with Violet’s dressing room. It was amazing.
“Wow! I’d love to have a dressing room like this,” Jessie gushed.
“Hear that, Jack?” Violet purred, resting a hand on his shoulder and holding his gaze a second longer than necessary.
Jack glanced at Jessie, her back to them as she checked out the room.
“Your lady wants a dressing room. You know what they say… happy wife, happy life.”
Violet’s voice held the slightest touch of bitchiness, which Jack picked up on. He met her gaze, and held it steady. This bitch was sending him some serio
us fuck-me vibes.
Jessie turned around, her pretty face beaming. “Babe, isn’t this great?”
She tried to pretend she didn’t notice Violet’s hand on Jack’s shoulder and that she couldn’t feel the sexual tension between them. Meanwhile, her heart pounded with jealousy. She would never be able to compete for Jack’s attention with women like this.
“May I use your bathroom?” Jessie asked.
“Of course.” Violet directed her to the guest bathroom down the hall.
Once she had left the room, Violet turned to Jack. “She’s sweet.” Somehow she made it sound like a bad thing. “The kind of girl every guy wants to marry.”
Jack nodded. “Yeah, she’s a good girl.”
Violet twirled to face him. “I’m sure she is.”
Jack took a deep breath as Violet leaned close, her lips near his ear. “I, on the other hand, am not a good girl. I’m a bad girl… very bad,” she teased. “I think we could have a really wild time together. Let me know if you want to hang out… just us.”
Jack took a step back. “Thanks, but I’m not interested,” he lied.
Violet was definitely the type of girl that usually got him hot. But showing interest in her now might compromise their cover story.
Violet’s smile tightened. She wasn’t used to being turned down. Especially not in favor of someone as vanilla as Jessie.
Jessie returned from the bathroom and Jack stepped toward her, taking her hand.
“Come.” Violet swept from the room. “We’ll have lunch outside by the pool. There’s an amazing view of the ocean you have to see to believe.” Violet walked out of the room and Jack and Jessie followed.
THEY DINED AL FRESCO BY the pool, overlooking scenic vistas of the ocean. Lunch was served by another uniformed house worker. Caprese salad followed by a refreshing gazpacho and then cod in an herbed white wine and lemon sauce and a grilled green vegetable medley. Chilled white wine completed the delicious and light meal.
As they ate, Violet and Jessie discussed the wedding. They politely asked Jack his opinion on various details, but he deferred to Jessie each time.
“Just want my girl to be happy on the big day,” Jack said, and Jessie smiled adoringly at him.
Jack excused himself to the bathroom, thinking it might be a good time to take a look around while Jessie kept Violet occupied with wedding talk over lunch.
Once inside the house he turned to go down a hallway.
He heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind him. Jack turned around and recognized the man instantly. He had to exert significant effort to stop a look of shock from registering on his face.
Sam Dennison.
Alive.
His gray hair was longer than in any of the pictures Jack had seen, and a beard now covered his face, but it was definitely him.
“You must be Violet’s husband, Hank.” Jack extended his hand. “Jack Turner. Your wife has been helping my fiancé plan our wedding.”
Sam Dennison shook Jack’s hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Jack. Vi told me that you and your fiancé were coming for lunch but unfortunately I already had another commitment. Otherwise I would have joined you.”
Jack nodded. He couldn’t believe his eyes, but it all made sense now.
Sam Dennison had faked his own death in order to run off to live in the islands with his sexy twenty-three-year-old girlfriend.
Jack looked at him, thinking how much of a pussy this guy was. It was one thing to have a hot piece on the side. Jack could at least understand the temptation. But leaving his wife of forty years and kids to pay off his gambling debt to a dangerous drug and sex trafficker was just pathetic.
They walked out to the patio together. Jessie did a good job masking her surprise, smiling pleasantly as she was introduced to Hank Johnson, aka Sam Dennison.
Violet stood and greeted Sam with a chaste kiss on the cheek. Jack idly wondered what their sex life was like. He couldn’t help but hope that when he was Sam Dennison’s age he was still banging chicks this fucking hot.
An hour later they were preparing to leave, when Jessie stopped in the living room and said suddenly, “Violet, do you mind if I borrow those brochures you were telling me about? I could look through them tonight. Jack wants to hang out with Kyle anyway.”
“Sure, I’ll go get them.” Violet disappeared.
Jessie took out her cell phone and pretended to be texting while she was snapping pictures of Jack and Sam Dennison. Jack and Sam stood by the large sectional, chatting. Sam didn’t even notice that she was snapping pictures he was so engrossed in conversation with Jack.
Violet returned with the brochures. She and Sam walked them outside to their SUV. Jessie thanked Violet for lunch and for all of her help. They hugged and kissed on the cheek while Jack shook hands with Sam who excused himself and walked back into the house.
He opened the door for Jessie and she climbed in, smoothing down her dress as she put her seatbelt on. He closed the door and turned to Violet, who was waiting to say goodbye.
She leaned forward and hugged him. He didn’t hug her back but stood stiffly as she whispered, “Let me know when you’ve had enough sugar and want something a little spicier.”
His expression was unreadable as he looked into her eyes. “Like I said, I’m not interested. Happy with what I’ve got.”
He would have been glad to drive his cock into her any other time, but now she was insulting Jessie. It was kind of pissing him off, even though he’d described Jessie the same way more than once himself.
Who the fuck did this little bitch think she was? She might be hot and have a body made for fucking, but she wasn’t even in the same league as a girl like Jessie. Not only was Jessie the prettiest girl he’d ever met, she was warm-hearted, a genuinely good person, sweet, kind, and funny. No one would ever use those words to describe this heartless cunt. She was just a trashy little slut, good for one thing only… a hot body for guys to get their dicks off on.
He got behind the wheel and turned the key in the ignition. Neither of them spoke as he drove the car around the circular driveway and back to the road.
“Did you get his picture?” Jack asked, already knowing that she did.
Jessie nodded. “Of course I did. I can’t believe it. He actually faked his own death. Sounds like some crazy movie plot!”
Jack nodded. “No shit. I thought I was seeing things when I turned around and saw him standing there. Makes sense now. Sam Dennison was funneling money for the past twenty years into a fake charity, saving for a rainy day, I guess. Just waiting for the right young, hot piece of ass to come along.”
“I don’t understand how he could have pulled it off. I mean, there were remains that they pulled from the boat wreck. They identified the remains as Sam Dennison.” Jessie wondered, her mind still blown by the shocking revelation.
Jack shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe he paid someone off in a morgue for an unclaimed body and paid off someone else to alter the results. The kind of money this guy has can buy just about anything you want.”
“I can’t believe he would do that to his family. Especially his kids. I mean what kind of father does that?” Jessie asked. “My Dad adores me. He would never do anything like that.”
Jack shrugged. “There are a lot of dickheads in the world, Jessie. You just got really lucky. My father was a piece of shit. He didn’t fake his own death but he definitely put chasing tail ahead of his kids.”
“I’m so sorry, Jack.” Jessie placed her hand on his arm and squeezed gently.
He shrugged and fell silent.
“So what happens now?” Jessie asked.
“I’ll call Russell and fill him in. We’ll send him the pictures you took and likely we’ll turn it over to the police. We’ve finished our part of the job. We’ll be able to tell Rachel Dennison what happened to the money, and more. We’ll probably head home tomorrow.”
At the resort, Jack checked in with the front desk and got the key to the room that was
now available. After collecting his things he moved into his new room, which was a couple of doors away.
He breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t have to share a room with her anymore. It was too tempting with her walking around in her little shorts and tank tops, her pretty body so close but so off-limits.
Jessie sulked. “I’m going to be lonely here all by myself.”
“You’ll manage,” Jack said dryly, rolling his eyes.
“Are you going out with Kyle tonight?” Jessie asked.
Jack nodded. “Yeah, but not until later. I’m meeting him at eleven.”
“Oh good, so we can hang out for a while. And you can have dinner with me.” Jessie smiled.
She hadn’t been looking forward to eating alone again.
Jack nodded.
“What are you in the mood for? Italian? Seafood?” Jessie reviewed the list of restaurants.
“You pick.” Jack sat on the edge of the bed, watching her.
Her shiny blonde hair hung softly over her back and tanned shoulders, the hem of her dress stopping mid-thigh. She turned her sparkly blue eyes to him.
Fuck. She definitely had the prettiest eyes he had ever seen. The way they made his heart rate speed up irritated him.
He dropped his eyes to her pink, glossy lips. Those lips always looked so soft and ready to be kissed.
Or maybe ready to wrap around his dick.
Goddammit.
He was letting his thoughts wander into dangerous territory. Again, he was glad another room at the resort had opened up. He wasn’t sure he could resist the temptation one more night.
Especially not with Jessie looking at him like she did sometimes. Like she wanted him to kiss her, wanted him to put his hands all over her.
She was too shy and awkward to make the first move, but he was almost one hundred percent sure if he had kept going last night she wouldn’t have stopped him.
He recalled kissing her in New York. He had been the one to pull away then, too, leaving her breathless and looking shocked and confused.
He had replayed that kiss over and over in his mind, remembering the way her mouth had felt, how good she tasted. The heat coming off of the skin that felt like velvet against his rough fingers. The way she had moaned into his mouth as if she’d never been kissed before. The way kissing her had made his dick throb harder than it ever had before from just a kiss.
Lit (Wrecked Hearts Series Book 1) Page 24
