Hometown Love

“She liked having you here tonight.” He realized that now with Grace in bed Jessie would be leaving. Although he'd never once considered spending an evening with Jessie before, he didn't want her to leave now. “She wants you to come back tomorrow.” He leaned a little closer, his forearm brushing hers.

Jessie moistened her bottom lip and swallowed. “Don't you—”

Before she could finish her sentence, he leaned even closer. “ I want you to come back tomorrow.” Mack closed the distance between them and touched his lips to hers.

Jessie remained rigid, reminding him of a stone pillar with her hands gripping the chair, but she kissed him back as if not a hundred percent sure she should. When he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, she relaxed, but her kisses stayed tentative.

Slipping his other hand under her hair, he cupped her head as he traced her lips with his tongue, hoping she'd get the hint and open her mouth to him. He didn't have to wait long. The moment her lips parted, he surged forward. She tasted like marshmallow, chocolate, and something unique and appealing, something that was a part of Jessie and Jessie alone. Applying more pressure with his lips, he let his tongue meet hers, allowing them each a chance to get to know each other better.

A feather-light touch brushed his arm then moved higher until it left his bare skin and continued up his shirtsleeve. A similar touch slid across his other arm, and soon both of Jessie's hands rested on his shoulders, sending warmth through the cotton material and into his body.

After a week of Jessie popping up in his thoughts, the feel and taste of her was taking over his brain and bringing other parts of his body online. It had been months since he’d last had sex and his body was taking this opportunity to remind him of that fact. As if sensing where his thoughts had headed, Jessie pulled away. In the firelight, he saw her eyes grow wide as her brain registered what they'd been doing. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but snapped it shut just as fast. Then she dropped her hands back into her lap. Even without her hands on his shoulders, want coursed through his body.

With his arm still around her waist, he kept her close while his other hand rubbed the soft skin on the back of her neck. “So will you?”

Jessie swallowed and licked her lips. “Will I what?” Her usually soft voice was almost inaudible now.