Lit (Wrecked Hearts Series Book 1)

by Gabrielle Gibson

  As usual, Chris and Zoey couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Jessie watched Jack very obviously check out the many pretty girls that walked by. Chris seemed oblivious, with eyes only for Zoey.

  On an outdoor stage behind their table a disheveled-looking guy in an “I Love Big Tits” t-shirt announced that the bikini contest would be starting in ten minutes. He asked contestants to come sign up. People cheered as Jessie watched several beautiful girls walk up to the stage to enter the contest.

  “Y’all signing up?” Jack asked, laughing.

  Both of them were wearing their bikinis under their clothes, but there was no way Jessie was going up there.

  “No way, not me.” Zoey shook her head.

  Chris kissed her. “None of the other girls would have a fair chance. You’d win for sure.”

  Zoey smiled at him like he was the only man on earth.

  “What about you, princess?” Jack asked, motioning to the stage.

  Jessie shook her head and laughed. “No way. Those girls look like swimsuit models!”

  Jack didn’t respond. He just stared at her. She seriously underestimated how hot she was.

  “Whatever. Not one of those girls look better than you,” Zoey said.

  “Thanks, Zoey.”

  Loud music pulsated around them as ten sexy girls took the stage and danced like strippers in their bikinis, showing off to try to win the crowd over.

  Chris and Zoey giggled and whispered to each other during it, not paying attention at all. Jack barely took his eyes off the stage during the entire contest. Jessie watched Jack focus on the hot girls prancing around, trying to pretend she wasn’t jealous.

  “What do you think?” Jessie asked him. “Who should win?”

  “Not sure,” Jack said. “It’s probably between the one in the red bikini and the blonde in the black. What do you think?”

  Jessie shrugged, instantly hating the dark-haired beauty in the red thong bikini with a passion, as well as the blonde with the huge boobs. It had been almost a month since Jack had made out with her that night in their St. Thomas hotel room and she was still fantasizing about it. Clearly he had forgotten. It was as if it had never happened. Apparently the encounter hadn’t exactly rocked his world.

  “I think the girl in pink is the prettiest.” She was less flashy than the other girls, but more naturally pretty, Jessie thought.

  Jack shrugged. “She’s cute. Nice ass, but she won’t win.”

  The announcer had the crowd cheer for each individual girl as they took turns doing one final ten second dance alone across the stage in order to determine the winner.

  Jack continued to watch. He didn’t cheer or clap for anyone, but his eyes were glued to various body parts as the sexy contestants worked the stage.

  The dark-haired girl in the red thong won. He looked at Jessie and winked.

  “I guess you’re the expert on what’s hot,” Jessie said lightly.

  After lunch they decided to go check out the boardwalk. While Zoey and Jessie browsed in shops, Chris and Jack waited for them outside. Jessie bought a cute top and a pair of flip flops. Zoey found a new bikini she liked, and called Chris into the shop so she could model it for him in the dressing room. Jack and Jessie sat on a bench to wait for them.

  “My Dad used to bring me and my brother down here just about every summer,” Jessie said, smiling at the memory. “My parents have a beach house, too, up in Rehoboth.”

  “Your Mom didn’t go with you guys?” Jack asked.

  “She worked a lot. My Dad worked a lot, too, but he could work from wherever he was, as long as he had a phone.” Jessie pointed to an ice cream shop. “My Dad always got us soft serve ice cream there. Let’s go get some.”

  Jessie stood up and held her hand out to him. He looked at her offered hand and hesitated before taking it and standing up.

  Their fingers still linked together, she dragged him to get in line. Jack gently pulled his hand away from hers as they waited.

  Chris and Zoey walked out of the shop, both smiling like they shared a guilty secret.

  “You guys took long enough,” Jessie said, not suspecting anything. “What were you doing in there?”

  Jack saw the look on Chris’ face and smirked, immediately figuring out that they had just banged in the dressing room.

  Zoey giggled and leaned over to whisper to Jessie. Jessie’s eyes flew wide open.

  “Oh my God!” she smiled as her face turned bright red. “You guys are so bad! Weren’t you afraid you’d get caught?”

  “That’s half the fun,” Jack answered for them, laughing at the shocked expression on Jessie’s face.

  THE FOOTBALL WHIZZED PAST JACK and he missed it, distracted by Jessie as she walked past in tiny shorts and a white top that tied under her boobs. Her flat, toned stomach was bare and her long hair was damp and loose from her recent shower.

  “What the fuck?” Chris asked as Jack stood by and let the ball fly past him. He turned to see what it was that Jack couldn’t tear his eyes away from.

  “I know what that look means. Don’t even think about it, dickhead,” Chris called to him. “She’s not for you, brother. Stay in your lane.”

  Jack smirked and rolled his eyes as he jogged across the sand to retrieve the ball.

  He threw the ball back to Chris as Jessie watched from her spot down the beach, mesmerized by the way his body moved, the rippling muscles, the chiseled six-pack abs.

  Zoey headed inside to take a shower. Chris threw the football one last time to Jack.

  “I’m out, dude. Something more interesting just came up,” Chris called, his intentions clear as he headed toward the house to catch up with Zoey.

  Jack laughed and glanced at Jessie, sitting by herself in the sand, legs stretched out in front of her. He made his way over and dropped the football in the sand as he sat down next to her.

  They were both quiet for a few minutes, looking out at the ocean. The beach was less crowded now, as families started to pack up and head in for the evening. Jessie glanced at Jack, only to find his eyes following an attractive girl who was walking past, his eyes glued to the girl’s perfect ass.

  “Thinking about going swimming,” Jack said, looking out at the waves once the girl he was eyeing had passed by.

  “You shouldn’t swim alone,” Jessie said.

  “Come with me then,” Jack replied.

  She shook her head. “I just took a shower. Plus, I’m not a very good swimmer.”

  He looked surprised.

  “Really? Something you’re not good at it? I don’t believe it,” he teased.

  She smiled. “When I was thirteen and my brother was seventeen we were at the beach near our grandmother’s house down in the Outer Banks. I went out swimming by myself, even though I knew I wasn’t supposed to. I got caught in the rip tide. I couldn’t break free. I was so scared.”

  Jack listened quietly.

  “I thought I was going to die. I really did. The water was overwhelming me and I couldn’t breathe. I saw my brother on the shore and I knew he realized I was in trouble when I saw him jump in the water and start swimming toward me as fast he could. But I didn’t think he would make it in time. I felt myself going under and then everything went black. When I woke up, I was on the beach and my brother was looking down at me. I started throwing up. I didn’t know yet that he’d done CPR on me after pulling me out of the water. He saved my life.”

  Jessie paused and glanced at Jack, who was watching her, his expression unreadable. “Well anyway, ever since then I’ve been a little scared of the water. I don’t really swim much. I like the water but only if I’m sure I’m safe.”

  “I get it. I’m a strong swimmer, Jessie. You’d be safe with me.” Jack’s voice was confident and reassuring.

  “Good to know. Maybe I’ll go out with you tomorrow.” She smiled at him and stood up. “I’m going for a walk. I’ll be back soon.”

  Jack watched her walking away, her bare feet skimming the wate
r as the waves broke and water pushed up the beach.

  Fuck, she was pretty. He looked into those blue eyes and Christ, she almost had him.

  He’d been on a serious pussy bender the past month or so, trying to erase the memory of kissing her that night in New York and then making out with her in St. Thomas. Distraction was a good thing. There were always plenty of nameless, faceless, perfect bodies to help keep his mind off the sweetest lips he’d tasted yet.

  Jack sighed deeply and watched her until she was out of sight and then he headed back inside the house to clean up. By the time he came out of his room, Jessie was back. She and Zoey were sitting out on the deck talking, drinking glasses of wine and looking out over the ocean. Chris was in front of the television watching the baseball game.

  Jack sat down.

  “We’re going to get dinner. You in?” Chris asked.

  Jack shook his head. “I want to watch the game. I’ll probably just order a pizza. Thanks though.”

  Zoey and Jessie came inside.

  “Jack’s going to hang out here,” Chris told Zoey.

  “Oh, okay,” Zoey said. “Guess it’s just us then.” She looked at Jessie.

  “Actually, I think I’ll just hang out here too,” Jessie said. “If that’s okay with you.” She looked at Jack.

  Jack smiled. “Sure.”

  Chris shot him a warning look.

  “Are you sure, Jessie?” Zoey asked.

  “Yeah, go on ahead you two. I’m just going to stay here and relax. I don’t really feel like getting ready. Feeling lazy,” Jessie said, waving Chris and Zoey out the door.

  Left alone, Jack and Jessie sat next to each other on the couch in front of the television and watched the game.

  “I figured they wanted some time alone,” Jessie said. “I hope you don’t mind that I stayed.”

  It occurred to Jessie that maybe he wanted some time to himself so he could see the girl Chris had asked him about earlier, Mallory.

  Jack’s eyes met hers. “Why would I mind?”

  Jessie shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you have plans? With… what’s her name? Mallory?”

  Jack paused before answering. “Nah. I really just wanted to watch the baseball game. I was out late last night, drank a lot. Just tired.”

  “Okay, old man.” Jessie laughed.

  Jack laughed with her.

  “So, who’s Mallory… what’s she like?”

  Jack shrugged. “Just a chick I know. Hot as fuck. She’s got long dark hair, killer long legs… a body like you wouldn’t fucking believe.” Jack grabbed a beer from the fridge and popped the top with a bottle opener “She’s a surf instructor.”

  Jessie nodded. “I could have guessed what she looked like… I know your type by now. Basically the opposite of me.” Jessie forced a laugh and Jack frowned slightly. “I was actually wondering what her personality was like.”

  “I don’t really know, I guess. She loves to fuck. Is horny a personality trait? Never really talked to her that much.”

  Jessie rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible. It’s amazing to me that women even agree to hook up with you when you objectify them the way you do. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but are there really that many women who are okay with just having sex? Don’t they feel… I don’t know… used?”

  Jack laughed. “You might be surprised how many chicks out there just want a good fuck without all the bullshit. Some women get off on being fucked like a little toy.”

  “That’s hard for me to wrap my head around, I guess. I can’t imagine just having sex with someone that I don’t even talk to.” Jessie shivered as she wondered what it would be like to be Jack’s little toy for a night.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. You want the Chris and Zoey thing.”

  “Yeah, I guess I do.” Jessie nodded.

  “Sweet girl like you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a nice guy to hang out with.”

  Jessie nodded again, swallowing her disappointment.

  Jack picked up his phone, seemingly oblivious to her inappropriate thoughts. “What do you want on your pizza?”

  THE BASEBALL GAME ENDED IN victory for the Braves, and Jack handed the remote control to Jessie. She flipped through the channels. The original Star Wars was coming on. One of her all-time favorite movies.

  She wasn’t sure at what point she fell asleep, but when she woke up, she was leaning against Jack, her head resting against his shoulder. She started to shift away from him and he turned to look at her. He shifted toward her and ran his hand lightly across her bare thigh as he leaned close to her.

  Looking into her eyes, he brought his hand from her thigh and cupped the side of her face, running his thumb lightly across her cheek and then over her bottom lip. He brushed his lips against hers carefully, like she was made of glass and might shatter if he wasn’t gentle enough.

  Jessie leaned forward and kissed him back, encouraging him with the tiniest slip of her tongue. She heard a small whimper escape from her chest as she felt a rush of warmth flood her body and settle into a throb between her legs. God, could she be any more desperate?

  He ran his hand through her hair as he kissed her softly and slowly. It was so different from the urgent, aggressive way he had kissed her before. She had never imagined Jack being this sweet and gentle.

  After what was probably only a minute or so, he pulled away suddenly. He stood abruptly.

  “Goodnight,” he said, his voice low.

  He disappeared into his room, closing the door behind him. Jessie stared after him, taken aback by his unexpected and confusing behavior.

  JACK GOT BACK FROM HIS morning run with Cody and found Jessie and Zoey in the kitchen cooking breakfast and Chris drinking coffee out on the deck.

  “You have time for a shower,” Zoey told him.

  He was drenched in sweat. Jessie felt his eyes on her but she didn’t look at him. She stayed focused on the sausage gravy she was making. He walked behind her to get to the sink so he could fill Cody’s water bowl with fresh water.

  She was trying not to be embarrassed about the night before. She had no idea why he had kissed her, or why he had stopped so abruptly and gone to bed.

  Maybe he wanted to see if he would like kissing her again and decided he didn’t. She didn’t know, but she was ready to pretend it had never happened, the same way they pretended the kiss in New York hadn’t happened. And pretended that the make out session in St. Thomas hadn’t happened.

  Jack took a shower and tried not to think about how cute Jessie had looked, fixing him breakfast in his kitchen, her blonde hair in two braids, bare feet and toenails painted light pink.

  He didn’t know why he had kissed Jessie last night. He hadn’t planned on it. It had just kind of happened. Christ, he’d been half asleep.

  When he’d opened his eyes she was resting her head on his shoulder. She woke up, sitting there looking sleepy and totally adorable. Those blue eyes looking at him like she wanted him to carry her to his room and give her the night in his bed that he knew she wanted. Fuck, it was getting hard to resist. He was pretty sure she’d never really been fucked. Not by anyone who knew what the fuck they were doing.

  Those lips, so fucking soft. Shy and hesitant, but eager as fuck. He had just acted on instinct. When he realized what he was doing he stopped.

  Staying away from this cute-as-hell blonde was proving to be more difficult than he had anticipated.

  They ate the delicious breakfast that Zoey and Jessie had made.

  “My girl can cook,” Chris told Jack.

  “Actually, honey, Jessie made the sausage gravy and biscuits today. I just made the eggs,” Zoey said. “Her grandmother taught her, so she cooks totally old school. You might need to have your arteries cleared after this meal.”

  They laughed as Jack’s eyes settled on Jessie, sitting across from him.

  “Yes, our Jessie’s going to make some lucky guy the perfect wife some day,” Zoey said. “She cooks, she loves kids.”

&nbs
p; “God, Zoey! You make me sound so domestic and boring.” Jessie rolled her eyes.

  Jack looked slightly amused as he ate quietly, already on his second plate of food.

  Zoey laughed. “Not at all sweetie.”

  She got up and reached over to clear Chris’ plate for him.

  “Speaking of domestic,” Chris said, pulling her down onto his lap and kissing her, “you said you love kids, too, didn’t you?”

  Zoey giggled. “I do. I want at least twelve.”

  “How about two or three?” Chris joked, kissing her neck.

  “Four or five?” Zoey countered.

  “Okay, you talked me into it.”

  “You two are making me sick!” Jessie laughed, pretending to gag.

  They all laughed.

  “How about you, Jack?” Zoey asked, drawing him into the conversation.

  Chris laughed out loud. “Jack can’t stand kids.”

  Jack nodded. “Yeah, I’m not a big fan. None for me. Ever.”

  Jessie frowned. Well, that was one more thing that she and Jack didn’t have in common. Kids were definitely going to be in her future.

  JESSIE SET HER DRINK DOWN on the hot tub surround behind Jack and stepped in, wearing a tiny white bikini. Jack couldn’t take his eyes off of her gorgeous, toned body, tanned golden from the day they had spent together playing on the beach. He watched all that pretty perfection disappear as she sank into the bubbling water.

  His resolve to stop thinking about her constantly and to keep his distance was definitely not holding up. It seemed like he’d spent most of the day with his hands somewhere on her hot body.

  Grabbing her around her waist so he could playfully dunk her in the ocean… rubbing sunscreen on her back… holding her perfect little body against him under the water when she asked him to take her out into the ocean. The water had been choppy, and she had been too scared to go out by herself.

  “That shower felt great!” Jessie smiled at him. “Thanks for letting me use your bathroom. I hope you don’t mind—I left all my stuff in there.”

  She had gotten in the shower in Jack’s master bathroom, since Nick and his girlfriend, Savannah, had been showering together in the other bathroom.