She shifted beneath him and he knew she had to feel how hard he was against her.
“You have to know how much I want you, Jessie.”
She nodded and bit her lip, so he had to kiss her.
“Yes,” she whispered. “But I can’t.”
It seemed like she was afraid. Not of passion, but maybe from going too fast with him. That wasn’t his thing. Yeah, he took what fell in his lap but he never took what wasn’t his for the asking.
“I won’t force you, baby.” He cupped her face, staring into those gorgeous amber eyes. “I would never force you.”
She lowered her lids, as if she was hiding from him. “That’s what he always said.”
He froze. “Who?”
She looked at him again, her gaze soft. “He doesn’t matter.” She ran her hands over his back like she had before. “He hasn’t mattered in a long time.”
When she reached between them to grasp him, he nearly growled.
“Jessie, you’re going to kill me.” He sucked in a breath as she squeezed. “Again.”
Smiling, she unbuttoned his shorts and he nearly came as she studied him. “I don’t know how to do what you did to me, Noah. With your mouth.”
She sure could kiss. That much he knew. The image of her sucking his cock nearly sent him over the edge. Those soft, full lips. That talented little tongue.
“You want to?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’ll have to learn how. I’ll figure it out.”
“I just bet you will.” Closing his eyes, he focused on her fingers stroking him just right. “Keep doing what you’re doing right now, and you can worry about your mouth later.”
She let out a soft little laugh, and the fear he’d felt from her seemed to dissipate. “You’re close, Noah.”
He pressed up on his hands to brace himself. She had both of her hands on him now, teasing and tempting, and he knew he’d come in a second.
He shuddered, everything pulling tight. “So close.”
Shifting, he pulsed against her hands. Then he came, hard and hot and so right against her bare belly. She looked up at him through her long lashes, a flush of pride on her face.
“When you look at me like that, Jessie.” He blew out a breath. “Damn.”
She reached up for him. She touched his face, and then drove her fingers through his hair. “You look pretty darn hot yourself.”
He laughed, and then used his shirt to wipe her belly. Kissing her parted lips, he relaxed his arms and held her close. “You made me weak.”
“Strength is overrated,” she said.
Moving, he sat down on the couch and tugged her up to lean against him. “Do you want to talk about it? You know, the guy?”
Her lips thinned as she shook her head. “No. I stopped thinking about him years ago. I won’t waste any time talking about him now.”
“I could kill him for you.” He rubbed her arm as he pulled her closer. “Or at least break his legs.”
“Thanks, but that’s okay.” She patted his thigh. “I’m okay.”
“You sure? I know when they’re pouring concrete next.”
She laughed now, that bright easy sound he so liked. “I’d hate to see you go to jail.”
He laced his fingers through hers, holding her hand against his leg. “Yeah, I don’t want to talk to Max through a wall of glass.”
They sat like that for about a minute and then she stirred.
“I should get home.”
She got up and straightened her clothes. Her hair was a mess and she looked so cute he wanted to see just how messed up he could get her.
“Do you ever get lonely out there?” he asked.
She seemed to think for a second, and then shrugged. “It’s nice and quiet, and that’s what I want right now.”
“You have my cell number, right?”
“Yes.”
He stood and wrapped his arms around her. “Give me a call if you get lonely.” He dropped a kiss on her temple. “And not just for a booty call, although I’d answer in a heartbeat.”
She patted his chest, leaving her hand resting right over his heart. “Will do.”
He saw her to the door and waited while she got into her Jeep. It was dark now, and as she drove away he watched her taillights heading toward the town center. Shutting the door, he looked around the townhouse. Jessie seemed to be everywhere, in the things she’d picked out and placed but especially in the messed up pillows on his couch.
She’d been afraid there in his arms. When she’d said she couldn’t. Some guy, some bastard, hurt her and made her think she couldn’t have sex? She sure as hell could. Hell, she could just look at him and make him come.
He went into the kitchen to wash up, and then began to unpack his dishes and things. She’d done it. Just like he’d believed she would. The townhouse felt like a home, and he couldn’t wait to bring Max back here on Friday.
He might not know what had happened between her and that asshole in her past, but when Jessie got into his bed, and she would get into his bed, he’d make certain that she wanted to. With him. He smiled to himself.
He’d make her feel safe right before he made them both feel so damn good.
Chapter 12
By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, Jessie was ready for the weekend. Yesterday afternoon Noah had sought her out and made a point of telling her how great the new furniture looked. He’d thanked her again, and she was tempted to ask him to dinner on Oliver’s gift card. In the end, she hadn’t. There was just something about the pull between them that put her on her guard. She had trouble focusing when he was around, too. Trouble thinking, really.
Hadn’t she told him out at the lakeshore that they wouldn’t fool around again? And yet, they had. She’d loved everything he’d done to her with those hands and that mouth. She’d wanted to kiss him…there, too. She’d been sincere when she’d said that, and the hunger on his face told her he’d be more than fine with that. It was just that she really didn’t know how to do it. Maybe she’d do some online research this weekend. She laughed to herself. Just imagine what kinds of ads would show up in her social media newsfeed after that little project!
She shut down her laptop and began her ritual of straightening her desk. As she packed up, she thought back to what she and Noah had talked about. Jeez, she was mortified every time she thought about how she’d gotten scared there for a minute. How could she even think about Mitch when she was with Noah?
Mitch had been a stalker. A controller. A bully. He’d check on her all the time, look into her search history online and thumb through her phone. He hadn’t liked it when she went anywhere with the people she worked with, so she’d stopped accepting their invitations until they didn’t ask anymore. He didn’t even like her hanging out with Shannon, which served to drive a deeper wedge between her and her sister. Five years later, they just didn’t have the comfort and closeness that she saw among all of the Chapman siblings.
She’d been with Mitch for four long months before he’d gotten tired of her. Belittled her. Told her she wasn’t worth his time. She’d cried that day, but not because she would miss him. No. That day was the best day of her life.
She put her laptop in her bag and stood, rolling her chair back under the desk. As she walked down the hall toward the lobby she ran into Tammy coming out of her office.
“Hey, girl,” Tammy said. “Noah told Ben you were a big help with the townhouse.”
“It was my pleasure.” Her cheeks heated at the double-entendre but she tried to ignore that. “The place was gorgeous with nothing in it, though. It was very easy dressing it up.”
Tammy smiled. “Yeah, I had a blast picking out every little bit of the place when it was being built.” She winked. “I got to do that with our house out in the green neighborhood, so I’m okay with giving my old place over to someone else.”
“I think Noah’s son will love it,” Jessie said. “Lots of nooks and crannies to tuck himself into, and plenty of
space to play.”
“I’m dying to see what you’ve done with it,” Tammy said. “Ben and I are thinking about stopping by tomorrow to take him a housewarming present.”
“That would be nice.”
“You should come, too,” Tammy said.
Jessie waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t think so.”
“Why not? Isn’t Noah your friend?” Tammy narrowed her eyes. “Or are you more than friends?”
“Tammy, stop,” Jessie said. “I helped him furnish his new house. That’s all.”
“If you say so.”
Jeez, she was getting tired of that little phrase. Noah said that every time she told him they weren’t going to kiss. Or fool around. Or anything more.
Jessie thought for a second. “You know, I was going to ask Lettie for some houseplant suggestions for Noah’s place. I guess I can take a few of them over tomorrow.”
“You see?” Tammy grinned. “Was that so tough?”
Jessie rolled her eyes. “What time are you heading over there?”
“Not sure. Ben’s going to text him and find out when he’ll be around. I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks,” Jessie said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess.”
Tammy nodded and Jessie made her way through the lobby.
“Have a nice weekend, Jessie,” Ty’s mother said from her perch behind the front desk.
“You too, Sharon,” Jessie said. “Is Riley coming over?”
Sharon lit up with a smile at the mention of her four-year-old granddaughter. “Yes. Ty and Cassie are going to get her and she’s sleeping at our house.”
Jessie nodded. She knew that Sharon lived with Ty and Cassie in Cypress, but Ben was designing a house for the couple in the green neighborhood. Jessie was grateful that they let her have the tent-cabin months before their house would be ready.
“I’m sure you’ll have a blast,” Jessie said.
Sharon grinned. “That girl is such a little spitfire! She’s so much like Cassie you would think they were blood.”
Jessie laughed. “Good night, Sharon.”
“Good night, dear.”
Jessie stepped out onto the walk and felt a wave of loneliness overtake her. It was true she had more friends now than she’d had before she worked here. It was also true that she felt those friends getting closer with every passing week. Friends of friends, their family members, their neighbors. It had to have something to do with this place.
Cypress Corners fostered a sense of community she’d never felt before. When she’d lived with Shannon and their father, they didn’t really socialize much with the people who lived on either side of their house. Dad was friendly with his students and other faculty members. Shannon hung out with her boyfriends and, later, her hookups. But Jessie had just kind of existed. She’d been content to simply live on the sidelines. Her mess of a relationship with Mitch just served to widen the space between her and other people around her.
Now she found she liked talking to the people she’d come to know in Cypress. Lettie. Harmony. Tammy and Oliver. Noah. Grabbing dinners with them. Attending family events, like Harmony and Rick’s picnics. It was all so nice. There wasn’t another word for it, really. It was nice, and she was starting to feel like she belonged.
The thought of heading right out to the tent-cabin didn’t hold its usual appeal. It was nearly five thirty, so she walked over to the town market to pick up a few groceries. Cooking at her place didn’t give her much of a challenge, though. The world’s smallest oven and a two-burner cooktop didn’t invite much experimentation. She’d cooked for Shannon and her dad, although after he died Shannon didn’t make it home for dinner very often. She chose to drink her meals, mostly. A pang of guilt struck her and she drew out her phone.
Settling on one of the carved metal benches set beside the walk, she thumbed through her contacts until she located her sister. Tapping the screen, she placed the call.
Shannon’s light and teasing voice came on as the call went straight to voicemail. Closing her eyes, Jessie took a breath and left her message.
“Hey, Shannon. It’s Jessie. Just checking in.” She paused. “Give me a call when you get the chance? Talk to you soon.”
She disconnected and stared at the screen. Shannon was probably working. It was a Friday, and the End Zone was usually hopping. Between the many TV screens broadcasting everything from Ultimate Fighting to fishing, the attached pool hall and long fully-stocked bar, the place did a great business. Jessie hadn’t been there in months, though. Her relationship with Shannon was so strained it was just easier to keep that distance.
Going into the market, she picked up a basket and began to grab a few things for dinner. Rice was easy, and a stir fry, so she picked up a package of fresh chicken tenderloins and some small sweet peppers. A bottle of wine to sip on her back deck. Alone, of course. Noah had Max with him, and she couldn’t expect him to come over just because they’d messed up his new pillows.
She spied a tousled blond head out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Noah’s son on his tiptoes. He was peering into the ice cream freezer, his eyes searching for the perfect treat.
“Just pick one, buddy,” Noah said.
He was wheeling a small two-tiered shopping cart that held a carton of milk, some cereal, bread, lunchmeat and a couple of boxes of macaroni and cheese. He looked good, too. Worn jeans and a dark blue Henley shirt that both did really nice things on his build.
“Hey, Noah,” she said.
He looked up in surprise, and then a wide smile spread across his face. “Jessie, hi.”
Max looked over, his eyes wide. “Hi!”
“Hi there, Max,” Jessie said.
Max nodded, and then once more fell victim to the lure of ice cream. “I want the chocolate one, Daddy.”
“Okay.” Noah slid the glass top to one side and drew out the chocolate-coated mess-making frozen pop. “I guess you deserve a treat before dinner.”
“Yay!” Max hurried over to counter. “Come on!”
Noah stood with Jessie for a minute, and she took the opportunity to smirk at his shopping cart.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing. Just wondering at the meals you guys will have this weekend. Cereal, sandwiches and mac and cheese?”
“That’s really all a guy needs, Jessie.” He lifted his chin toward her basket. “Looks like you plan to cook.”
“Yeah, Noah. It’s called having a meal.”
He gazed longingly at the meat and vegetables, and shot a look at his meager selections. “You know, I have a big kitchen in my new place.”
She could just guess what he was thinking behind that small smile of his.
***
Noah watched as Jessie’s eyes danced with humor. He liked this Jessie, too. Teasing Jessie.
“Yes,” she said with a soft laugh. “I seem to recall that.”
“How would you like to come and cook for us?”
“Us?”
“Me and Max and you.” He chuckled. “Come on, Jessie. Don’t make me beg. You know, a home-cooked meal would make the townhouse feel more like a home.”
“Oh, that’s playing dirty.” She nibbled her lip, and then gave a nod. “All right. Let me go grab a couple more things.”
“It seems I just keep asking you for favors,” he had to admit.
“I don’t mind. Cooking for you and Max beats cooking for myself.”
Relieved, he grabbed her basket and transferred her items to his cart. “The supplies are on me, since you’re providing the labor.”
“Spoken like a builder,” she teased.
She picked up another package of chicken, a bottle of olive oil and a few jars of seasonings and met up with them at the counter.
“How do you know I don’t have oil or spices?” he asked.
She smirked. “Sandwiches and mac and cheese, Noah?”
“All right, you got me.”
Max was practically hopping up and down as he waited for th
e cashier to total Noah’s purchase.
“Here.” Noah handed Max his pop as soon as he finished paying. “Before you burst into flames.”
Max giggled and Jessie smiled at the exchange. Stepping out onto the wide brick-lined walk, they headed for his truck.
“I have to get my Jeep,” she told Noah.
“Okay. Max and I will bring the groceries back to the house.”
“She’s coming with us?” Max asked.
“Yeah, buddy. Jessie’s going to cook for us.”
He could tell that Jessie braced herself for some sort of small-boy dismissal, but Max grinned. “Oh, good.”
Damn, he loved the boy. “I think he might be a little tired of guy food.”
Jessie smiled and walked back toward the Sales Center. Noah buckled Max into his seat and they drove back to the townhouse. He realized that he’d never had a woman over to the apartment when Max was over. Not that he’d had many woman over to begin with. He preferred to keep his game limited to road trips, but it had been months since he’d played.
“So you’re okay with Jessie coming over to the house?” he asked Max as he drove.
“Sure. She’s nice.”
It was a simple statement but Noah had to agree with him.
By the time they were toting the groceries into the townhouse, Jessie was pulling up in her Jeep. She smiled at Max and took the bag he was holding.
“So do you like chicken, Max?” she asked.
“It’s okay.”
She shared a look with Noah above his son’s head, and he dipped his head. Max ran up the stairs and disappeared into his room.
“I take it he likes his room?” she asked as she began to unpack the bags.
“Yep.” He took the cold stuff she handed him and stowed it in the fridge. “We came here when we first got back from Melbourne.”
“Do you usually pick him up early?”
“I only get him on the weekends. I arrange my schedule so I can cut out for the coast by four the latest.”
“And you don’t mind my being here?”
“I asked you here, Jessie. And you’re cooking for us.”
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