“Maybe if you tried stepping back, it might be easier.” She squares her shoulders, finally gaining some composure.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, I’ve got more willpower than you might think. I’ll only kiss you when you ask me to.” I watch as the lust rushes out of her eyes and fill with disappointment.
“Jesse, I’m not going to ask you to kiss me.” She pushes at my chest, but I don’t budge. “We’ve been over for long enough. I’ve moved on.” She’s lying through her teeth so I decide to call her on it.
“Moved on with men like Grant?” I watch her face flush with embarrassment, but she doesn’t respond. “You’re mine, you belong to me.” My eyes move to her neck and watch her swallow slowly.
“Correction, I was yours.” The tip of her tongue skirts out leaving a trail of wetness that glistens under the light. What I wouldn’t do to taste her again.
“And you will be again. You’ll see. Now unless you’re going to remind me what’s under this towel.” I pause and run my finger along the top of the towel. “I suggest you go and get dressed. I’ll wait for you here.”
“What are you doing here, Jesse?” she asks, ignoring my touch and squaring her shoulders once again.
“This is me winning you back, sweetheart. This distance isn’t working for me anymore. I’m making my play.”
“But you don’t play fair,” she accuses; shocking me for a moment before a smile fights it’s way over my face.
“I never said I would, Bell. But just so we’re on the same page, I never will when it comes to you. I’ve given you your space, and time, but sweetheart, your time is up. I will play dirty. I will fight every obstacle you put up and I will surpass the tests you put me through because you are not getting away from me. Ever again.” She doesn’t reply but she doesn’t have to. I see it in the way she relaxes her stance and holds my stare—she gets it. The sooner she stops fighting me, the sooner we can move on to the next step.
“I’ll go get dressed.” She finally breaks her silence. Without taking my eyes off her, I slowly step back and let her pass.
“I’ll wait for you here.” I move toward the sofa and sit down, getting comfortable.
“Yay!” she cheers, but I can see the glint in her eye. She’s enjoying this.
“Careful, you know how I love your smart little mouth.” She spins and lowers her gaze on me.
“No, you be careful, Jesse Carter. I might be giving you this chance to see where it takes us, but let me tell you something. It’s going to take way more than a few dirty words and getting in my head to get me back.” With her parting words, she slams the door shut, leaving me sitting there with the hardest dick I’ve ever had.
Fuck me.
I didn’t think it was going to be this hard.
And I wasn’t talking about my dick.
Forty BELL
“So what do you want to do today?” Jesse asks five minutes later when I exit my bedroom. After sitting and calming myself from all lustful thoughts, I managed to get dressed and fix my hair without having a total meltdown. I knew first thing this morning when I woke to his text, I was in serious trouble. The thought thrilled me for a second before I pulled back. Truth is, even though part of me isn’t ready for anything more, part of me wants to say yes, yes I’m ready for him to step up so we can move forward. Yes, I’ve forgiven him. Yes, things can go back to the way things were. But I know it’s not that simple. Jesse’s issues aren’t easily fixed. They’re always going to be there between us.
“I’m going shopping.” I exaggerate the I’m so he knows he’s not invited. After looking through my pile of quickly packed clothes this morning, I realized I didn’t have anything decent enough for the wedding tonight, so I need to head out for some retail therapy.
“Great, I’ll come with you.” Jesse stands from the sofa he planted himself on.
“Umm, no.” I shake my head and move to the table to snatch my bag. “I’m going with Lissy,” I lie, knowing Lissy is still somewhere in this hotel with Beau. The hussy . She texted earlier telling me to spend the day having fun and she would see me tonight at the wedding. I wasn’t mad; in fact, I was happy she was having fun and looking forward to the alone time. But now I’m wishing she was here to put some space between Jesse and me.
“Lissy is with Beau. Don’t play games with me, Bell.” Jesse walks up to me, places his finger under my chin and forces my face up. I hold his stare while I try to figure out how to spin this.
“You really don’t have to come, Jesse. I can handle the strip.”
“Didn’t say you couldn’t.” He removes his finger then slides his hand down to mine, interlocking our fingers. I move to pull out, but his grip tightens, trapping me.
“Just give me a day. If that’s all you can give me, just today.” His plea is desperate, needy, but it stills something in me.
One day .
It takes me back to our first date, his one-date plea. I fell into his trap then and for the life of me, I can’t stop myself from falling now.
“Okay.” I nod, agreeing like I did the first time, falling prey to Jesse Carter.
He smiles huge, his grin pulling a lip twitch from me.
“Let’s go, sweetheart.” He leads me toward the door, on a mission to weasel his way into my life.