Page 30 of Desperate Temptations

J essa’s brow furrowed as she contemplated his questions. Her first instinct was to shake her head no. Was it only a few hours ago she told herself not to get involved, that it might be too soon? Was the fact that she wanted him enough to consider it?

Several questions ran through her brain. She listened to the steady thump of his heart under her cheek and felt the impressive strength of his body wrapped around her. She knew she’d never felt more wanted or safe, not even with Drew.

She was a little unsure if she could handle a man like Cain, but part of her really wanted to try.

Another thought skipped through her head.

Could she let Drew go? Or was it really letting him go, or just moving forward?

Life was too damn short to not try to find love again, not grab every bit of happiness she could.

She still needed to know what really happened that night to get closure, but did she have to be alone while she waited?

Some part of her knew it was time to let go. It hurt, and yet it brought her a measure of peace, too, like a substantial weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

“You’re making me a little tense here, Baby” he murmured.

Every fiber in her body craved him. She bit her lip, still uncertain of the right decision.

“I’m sorry. I’m turning the thought of us around in my head. I don’t want to get into this relationship and not be ready.”

“And?”

“I don’t know for sure if I’m ready,” she whispered.

Jessa continued when he opened his mouth. “But I’d like to try. I just decided I could still discover what happened to Drew, but I could wait with you, just as well as I could wait alone.” When he continued to watch her, she tensed, looked raptly at him, and waited for him to say something.

He gave a slow, manly, satisfied smile of elation.

“That’s great, Baby.”

Before she took a breath, he gathered her in his arms, pulled her onto his lap, facing him. His mouth took hers in a kiss so possessive, so blazing hot, it nearly scorched her.

His hand traveled from her face, slid over her breast, and down further in a slow journey until he curved it under her bottom and shifted her closer.

He didn’t waste any time, she thought vaguely, and a big part of her was glad. She needed this, needed him. Their kisses became wetter, deeper, hungrier, and then he lifted his head.

“Be sure this is what you want, Sweetheart, because I’m going to have you naked and under me in less than five minutes, and it’s going to be really hard to pull back from you if this goes any further.”

Jessa’s eyes fluttered open and revealed the passion that burned through her body.

She licked her lips and tasted him. She raised a hand, lightly stroked his cheek with his five o’clock shadow starting to show.

This man would never be considered Hollywood handsome, but there was something so masculine about him.

Something about him drew her, like a moth to the light.

Maybe it was that he rarely smiled, or he usually wore a cold, watchful expression?

She wanted to be the one to put a smile on his face, make him laugh.

Maybe it was the many scars he had? Showing her, without words, the kind of life he’d led, his hands and arms showing the majority of them. Although she hadn’t seen the rest of his body yet, it wouldn’t matter. Her core tightened at the thought of him naked.

She gave him a shy smile and nodded.

She watched as Cain closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

“I need you to say the words for me,” he murmured.

She pulled herself up to his chest, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and let her breath whisper against his ear, “Yes, please.”

She almost laughed at how fast he moved them into the bedroom and had her lying on the bed.

Her breath caught in her throat as he started to undress.

He was beautiful. All hard muscle, tan skin, and just the right amount of hair.

The patch of dark silky hair trailed from his tight pectoral muscles down in a thin line, vanishing beneath his jeans. Her fingers itched to touch him.

Jessa noticed a few tattoos she hadn’t seen before.

One of them wrapped around his right upper arm and looked like a vine with sharp-looking thorns.

Another came from his back and draped over his shoulder.

This one looked like a pleated American flag.

She wanted to explore the rest of him and study his body art.

She’d never been a woman who liked tattoos, but on him, they were sexy.

After taking off his socks and boots, he lay down beside her.

Warmth spread, tearing through her body.

She felt his hand sliding up her stomach over her shirt, caressing her slowly.

His hand was so hot it made her passion burn and slide deeper.

She twisted, needing him to be touching skin, wanting her clothes off.

She was frustrated when his hand moved over her with slow purpose. Finally, it curled around her breast.

Jessa’s body jolted at the contact. She gasped into his mouth as she pressed against him, fitting her curves to all his hardness, wanting to absorb him into her pores.

She moaned when his fingers rasped against her nipples, the fabric of her shirt and bra frustrated her, and made her want to scream.

Her breath stalled in her throat when she felt her shirt gliding up her chest and a hot, callused palm skim under her shirt and bra, before unhooking the bra, sliding it and the shirt off.

His hand on her bare skin seared her and made her breath come in quick little gasps.

He was burning her alive and he hadn’t even touched her cunt yet.