Tempt Me (8 page)

Nope. No way. She couldn't do it. He was sweet and honorable, and someday he would leave and break her heart.

"Hey, there yourself."

He sighed and his eyes closed.

"Oh, no you don't, Marine. Get up."

"I already did. Now I'm down."

For a second, she didn't get the joke, then she chuckled. "You're too heavy, Jesse."

With a groan, he lifted himself off her, but leaned down and gave her a quick, hard kiss before climbing off the bed. He went into the bathroom. She heard water running then he came out. Just as she had predicted, he was very comfortable in his nudity, but then, so was she.

She rolled to her side and propped her head up on her hand. "You do know how to show a lady a good time."

Again, he gave her that slow, easy smile, which curled her toes. The man was dynamite with a dash of gasoline on top.

"Yeah?"

"Does this mean I can draw you nude now?"

"As long as it remains private."

She sat up. "What fun is that? I think we could auction it off for charity."

He chuckled as he walked back over to the bed. "Fat chance."

Once he was settled, she lay back down again and watched him. It was hard to believe he was a decade older than she. He definitely didn't look it. Although, she did see a cute little indention in his butt cheek, he had little to no wounds. She knew he had served and been injured, but she didn't see where. 

"What?" he asked without opening his eyes.

"Where did you get that little nick in your butt?"

"Nothing sexy, I promise you."

"So it wasn't from the war?"

He shook his head. "There's absolutely nothing sexy about war."

She nodded, even if he didn’t see it. “So, gonna tell me where you got it, or do I have to call MJ?”

He sighed. “There is too much gossip flowing between the families.”

Zoe laughed, but she poked him in the ribs.

“Ow!”

“Spill.”

“Fine. My butt had a date with a BB pellet thanks to Jack.”

“Ah. A little sibling rivalry?”

“Nope. Just Jack being Jack. He wasn’t paying attention, set it on the table and it went off. Hurt like a bastard too.”

She giggled and slipped her fingers through his chest hair. She liked that he had some, especially the little trail that led to his groin. God, the man was sexy. Even now, she could feel her body begging for another round.

“You must have some stories about your sisters.”

“Oh, I think most of those stories are about me. I’m the youngest and therefore, I have been treated with little to no respect.” 

He chuckled as she slid her hand over to his nipple and teased it. He opened one eye. “You might want to be careful there, Zoe. You’re about to wake the sleeping beast.”

She smiled as she leaned down to flick her tongue over his nipple. Then, to prove that she was ready and willing, she rose up and slipped over him, straddling his hips. His cock pulsed against her sex.

“I think he’s already awake,” she said, moving her hips.

He groaned and reached for her, but she batted his hands away.

“No. It’s my turn to play.”

She leaned down again, letting her breasts skim over his chest. God, he smelled good. Then, she kissed him, slowly, deeply, exploring his mouth. When she pulled back, she took his bottom lip between her teeth. She knew he liked it and he rewarded her with a groan. 

Feeling even bolder, she kissed down his neck and continued in much the same fashion as he had done to her earlier. Nipping at his skin, then moving the flat of her tongue over it. When she reached his cock, she wrapped her hand around it and gave it a deliberate tug.

His legs moved beside her in restless motion and he bowed up against her hand. With a sigh, she leaned forward and flicked her tongue over the head of his penis. She was about to take him into her mouth, when he said, “Nope, can’t do it. Gotta have you now.”

She laughed as he pulled her up and over him. “Condom,” she said.

He groaned, but pulled out the nightstand drawer. She grabbed it from him, ripping it open. Once she pulled it out, she set it on top of his cock, rolling it down, taking her time. She let her fingers dance over his hot flesh.

He leaned his head back and said something under his breath.

“What was that?”

“You’re going to fucking kill me.” He bit out every word.

Driving a man like him crazy gave her a little jolt of excitement. He had more self-control than most people she knew.  

“Why don’t we just destroy each other?” she asked as she rose up and then slid down on him.

She was still tender from their time before, but she didn’t care. She rocked against him, teasing both of them over and over, until apparently he couldn’t take it any more. He shot up, rolled over, and took command. Again and again, he slid into her. She loved it, loved that he was out of control and wanting nothing but satisfaction. Soon, they were both cresting over the edge of pleasure giving into the need for surrender. 

Chapter Ten

A few hours later, Jesse woke needing a glass of water. He made his way to the kitchen, got a quick drink then decided he should call Joey to let her know Zoe was spending the night. She thanked him and told him to get some rest.

He chuckled as he hung up. The woman bossed everyone around. He kind of liked that about her. As he padded back to his bedroom, he realized there was a lot of Joey in Zoe. They weren’t related, other than by marriage, but even in this time when most people would spend their time healing, Zoe seemed to be thriving. Sure, she hadn’t been able to produce anything lately thanks to the cast, but she had been drawing. She’d shown him a few of the things she had been working on.

He leaned against the doorjamb watching her. It was kind of creepy, but he wanted to see her like this. She always seemed to be in some kind of constant motion.  Seeing her still was nice. There was enough light from the kitchen for him to see the serene expression on her face. 

He knew he would never be the same after tonight. Damn, he was thinking in clichés now, but Jesse couldn’t help it. He felt some kind of connection with her he just couldn’t deny. When he was with her, he felt…free. No worrying about the job; no irritation that he had to be back at work on Monday. 

And damn him, he was falling in love with her.

“Are you going to keep standing there staring at me?” she mumbled. 

He chuckled. “Maybe.”

“Kind of stalkerish, if you ask me.”

He made his way over to the bed and slipped in beside her.

“You know, I knew you were okay with your naked body, but I would have never guessed that you walked around naked all the time.”

He slipped his arm beneath her and pulled her close. She moved this way and that, finally resting her head on his chest and sighing as her body relaxed against his. 

Jesse lay there thinking he could definitely get used to this. Just the two of them and the quiet pitter-patter of rain against the window.

She didn’t want forever, she had been very clear about that.  Jesse just hoped he could change her mind before she realized he was in love with her.

*  *  *  *

Zoe woke slowly the next morning. A sprinkle of sunlight on her face had her frowning. She turned over away from it and tried to get back to sleep.

She stretched then realized this was much bigger than her normal bed.

“Morning,” Jesse said. She opened her eyes and smiled. He was leaning against the doorjamb wearing only a pair of jeans and drinking coffee. A girl could get used to a sight like that in the morning.

Morning. As in, she didn’t tell Joey where she was. Granted, she was a grown woman but she was staying at their house. She should have let them know.

“Oh, crap.”

“Nice. I’m glad I bring that out in you in the morning. I mean, I thought maybe you would have a better response than that.”

She jumped out of bed and went in search of her clothes. “I didn’t call the Santinis.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Fine thing for you to say.

“No, I called last night and let Joey know.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.  “So, say ‘Good morning, Jesse.’” 

She smiled. “Good Morning, Jesse.”

“Now, would you like something to eat?”

She thought about it. “Yeah, I would. I kind of worked up an appetite last night.”

He smiled. “Let’s go see what we can scare up.”

“Uh, I need some clothes. I mean, I’m not a prude, but this goes beyond being free with my body.”

He handed her the coffee and pulled her along behind him to the dresser. He opened a drawer. “Here. This should fit.”

He let loose of her hand and pulled the shirt over her head. She set the cup on his dresser to work her arms through the sleeves. The t-shirt hit her mid-thigh.

“I like that,” he said. She looked up at him and he had a strange expression on his face. 

“What?”

“You look good in my shirt.” He kissed her nose. “I’ll go see what I have in the fridge.”

He left her standing there staring after him. The man was definitely getting under her skin. She was used to being romanced in big ways. She hung with artists, so they always seemed to do things over the top. One bought her twelve dozen roses and filled her apartment with them. Another had serenaded her from the street.  

Jesse didn’t do things like that. He just did those little things, like give her his shirt or share his coffee.  Those things meant more to her than the biggest bunch of flowers. 

“Hey, I have a new toothbrush I haven’t used yet. Left it on the counter.”

She walked into the bathroom and found it. Just like that. She set the coffee cup down and picked up the toothbrush, when she saw her reflection smiling back.

Lord, there was something wrong with her when she was getting giddy over a toothbrush.

She finished freshening up and wandered out to the kitchen. Jesse had a carton of eggs out on the counter and some bacon.

“So, please tell me you have no problem with bacon.”

“The more, the better.”

“Have a seat,” he said, waving to the table.

She normally would get irritated with the orders, but the man was cooking for her again. There was one thing a Jones sister understood. Never argue with a man who cooks for you. After refreshing her coffee, she settled at the table. 

“How do you like your eggs?”

“Scrambled.”

He smiled at her. “Good. My favorite too.”

“I could get used to this, Jesse.”

“Yeah? How about another day out in DC?”

She leaned back in her chair. “I have no clothes.”

“You have something to wear from last night.”

If he didn’t care, she didn’t either. “Okay.”

And just like that, she enjoyed the morning watching a Marine cook her bacon and eggs.

Chapter Eleven

Three weeks later, Zoe found herself in Joey’s art studio working. Since getting her cast off, she had no problem jumping back into sculpting, but today…she was painting. The jolt of creativity had caught her off guard. She had expected it to hit, but it had sustained her for three weeks, and she was afraid of what it meant.

Setting down her paintbrush, she looked out the window at the dogwoods now blooming in the Santinis’ back yard. Papa and Joey had gone off to see Vince for lunch and she had opted to stay behind. Her feelings over Jesse were starting to get to her and she needed to sort them out.

Of course, she had started painting. She glanced at the painting. It was Jesse. He seemed to occupy all of her thoughts lately. It wasn’t like her to get this giddy over a man so fast.   

She needed to talk to someone, but talking to Joey would be a mistake. She would go all gung ho on the
getting serious
with the Marine. 

Like kismet, her phone rang with Kee’s ringtone. She hesitated, then picked it up. 

“Hey, Kianna.”

“Hey there. How are things going?”

“I’ve been painting.”

A beat of silence. “You’re worried about something.”

Of course Kee picked up on that. Out of her two sisters, Kianna understood her the best, which wasn’t saying much. But, then, she let her be who she wanted to be. Retta was always trying to get her to go more commercial with her art to make money. 

“Yeah, I am.”

“Would that something wear a uniform to work every day?”

She sighed of course Joey had probably been tattling to her sister about her. “I really like Jesse, but I’m not built for this life.” 

“Oh, sweetie, the woman who thinks she is built to be a military wife will be sorely disappointed with her life after marriage.”

Zoe heard the humor in her sister’s voice and smiled.

“He hasn’t said anything about getting serious.”

Another beat of silence. “Let me guess. You told him you didn’t want to get serious because of what happened.”

It was irritating just how much her sister knew about her. “Yep.”

“And now you wish you hadn’t.”

“Kind of. I don’t know. Dammit.”

“Oh, he has you cussing. That means you’re in love.”

She chuckled. “I guess I have to decide something or I will be living with the Santinis permanently.”

“Why didn’t you talk to Joey about this?”

“You know how she is. She wants everyone married.”

“That’s true.”

“And, well, I know you’ll tell it to me straight.”

Her sister sighed. “I’m not saying it is an ideal life. It kind of sucks a lot of times. I mean, how can I be bitchy about him being home late from work because he was training—especially when that training could save lives someday.”

Gianni, the youngest Santini, worked as a Parachute Jumper, which meant that he jumped into dangerous situations to save lives with his medical training.

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“But, if you are falling for Jesse, let yourself do it. Play with the idea for a while. I would hate for you to miss out on something wonderful. Because I am pretty sure he has to be wonderful to make you second guess your views on serious relationships.” 

“Okay.”

“Call if you need to talk again. I have a class in a few minutes.”