Page 107 of Lucky Penny
I cling to him in return, taking, taking, taking. But he keeps giving.
My core clenches as he parts my thighs, slipping a finger inside me.
I inhale the sweet scents still wafting from the hot water and push every worry from my head. Jesse’s other hand wraps aroundthe column of my throat, possessive but gentle, while water drips off his corded, inked arms.
“Stop thinking, stop trying to control, just let yourself feel,” he demands, biting my neck, licking and sucking down to my hard nipple, drawing it into his mouth as I arch my back into him.
Tears pool in my eyes as he takes away my pain, one touch, one kiss at a time.
His thumb expertly and gently strokes my center, his eyes steady on mine, not letting a single wall form between us.
“Jesse…” I moan as he adds another finger, filling me, kissing me gently, taking his time. I want to pull him in with me, but I lose all will when he smiles against my mouth, strumming me faster, and I tighten around his hooked fingers.
“That’s it, good girl.”
Fuck.
I grip the sides of the tub as he applies just the right amount of pressure to make me come undone. I roll my hips up into his hand. “Oh my god…”
He holds me while I ride out the wave of ecstasy, running his hand from my tits to my collarbone until he’s holding my jaw tightly, forcing me to look at him.
“Jesse Rivers, I never stopped loving you either.” I lean my forehead against his, catching my breath.
“Then promise me something,” he replies, husky and low, and I look up, still in a dreamy ecstasy. “You have to stop hiding everything that’s in there.” He lightly jabs a finger to my chest, right over my beating heart. “Even if it scares you, even if you think it’s going to hurt me, tell me. You understand?”
I nod, and he kisses me, biting my lip and pulling away quickly.
“Whatever’s happening in that mind of yours, I can handle it. Got it, princess?”
It goes against everything I’ve held true for the last ten years.
Run and don’t tell the truth.
Keep things light, keep things fun.
No relationships—once they say they love you, they’re out.
And never,everthink about Jesse Rivers.
These were the rules I lived by.
But everythinghaschanged. I couldn’t forget him if I wanted to; it’s worthless to try. He’s a part of me, and like the ink etched on his ribs, I’m part of him.
41
Jesse
NOW
Dinner arrives in a brown paper bag, because ordering greasy food from an app on my phone seemed like a much better idea than delivering Penny a cold sandwich on a plate.
She comes downstairs as I’m plugging in the Christmas tree—an effort to give this place as much cheer as I could. With all this shit happening, it’s almost hard to even fathom that tomorrow is Christmas Eve.
Her hair is blown dry, her face bare, and sweatpants sit low on her hips with a threadbare sweatshirt on top. I don’t know if she’s ever looked so beautiful.
She lifts her nose and sniffs before her eyes go wide when they land on the fast food bag. “You are my savior! Please tell me you got french fries, too?” She opens the bag, and the smell of burgers fills the kitchen.
“I did.” I nod, and she grabs the paper-wrapped food, clutching it to her chest with a grin.
