Chapter 1 – Jesse
I turned over and felt the body next to me. It took me a minute to realize that it was Scott, and that was only when I saw the ring on my finger. I couldn’t help but feel giddy, and I couldn’t help that I wanted him again. Scott was everything that I’d ever wanted and now he was mine. After he’d asked me to marry him, Scott had stayed over and made love to me all night. It was like he’d saved up for me, and I was exhausted and sore. Moving produced a grimace.
“Where are you going?”
“To the bathroom.”
“Don’t take too long, Jesse. I need you again.”
I groaned. I ached all over, and the last thing I needed was more of him.
“Maybe after I take a shower, Scott.”
He nodded and turned back over in the bed. I could see his tanned back, and I have to say that I was tempted to get back in bed with him right then, no matter how I was feeling. He was gorgeous and his body was sculpted. My hands itched to touch him, but then I remembered that I needed a break. If I didn’t get out of the bed and away from him, I was going to be sucked back into his vortex and there was no telling when I was going to get out of it.
Turning on the water, I let it steam up the room, trying my best to ignore the tenderness in my limbs. I felt like I’d been stretched ten ways. Scott liked to move me around and bend me like a pretzel. It felt wonderful in the heat of the moment, but now I was questioning how flexible I really was. When I got into the shower, though, the hot water started to soothe me. I leaned my head against the tile in front of me. I could have stayed like that forever, zoned out.
Then I felt a hand on the small of my back and I arched with remembrance. “I thought you were coming back to bed.”
I looked back at Scott and saw that he was ready again. He always was, and now that we had been apart, I was starting to think that he was never going to get enough of me. If the man wasn’t so overwhelming maybe I would feel the same way, but the amount of lust and desire that he had far trumped mine. I could already feel his hands moving closer to my core as his body slid against me. There was no telling him no. My mouth wouldn’t protest even if I wanted it to.
“I need you Jesse. Now.”
I was lost with his words and intent. I couldn’t stop myself from pressing back and bracing my hands to the tile. Scott was never slow or steady. His lovemaking was just like his personality, forceful and erratic. By the time the water grew cold, I didn’t even care.
***
“I’m sorry. I just can’t get enough of you.”
“Well, you’re going to have to, Scott. It’s time for me to get going or the shop isn’t going to be open on time.”
“I’ll help you if you want.”
I remembered the last time I asked and just shook my head as I pulled my pants on. Now I was aching even worse than before, but I had a smile on my face that reached from one side to the other. I couldn’t help it. I could even feel the weight of the ring on my finger. How had everything changed so quickly? I wouldn’t have thought it possible. I was now engaged to Scott, and I couldn't stop thinking that I was going to wake up from it all. I really hoped that wasn’t the case. If I was dreaming, I never wanted to be woken up again. Ever.
“It’s okay, Scott. You’ve got your own stuff to do, I’m sure. You usually were up before me last time you stayed here.”
He sat up and there was an almost instant frown on his face. I wasn’t sure what he was upset about, but there was something there. “I don’t know if I’m going to go in today, Jesse. There’s a lot going on, and I don’t know, I might just stay up here and wait for you to close up shop so I can come down and ravish you again.”
His words sent a shiver through me, and I ducked the hand that was trying to pull me to him. I couldn’t get sucked back in. I would never be able to get out in time, so I put a little distance between us. I was more than a little relieved to hear the knock downstairs.
“I have to go let Melissa in. I love you, Scott, and I’ll see you later.”
“I love you too, wife.”
I pulled back from the kiss and met his gaze. “We aren’t married yet, Scott.”
“That’s going to be fixed rather quickly, mark my words. I won’t let too much more time pass before you’re mine in all ways.”
Another shiver went through me like electricity, and I had to move away from him again. His attraction was downright gravitational, and I couldn’t get away from him fast enough.
“Later, love.”
My smile was big, so big my cheeks were hurting, but I couldn’t stop. Ever since he’d kissed me again and told me he loved me, I just couldn’t straighten up my lips. I didn’t want to. Scott had changed me for the better. How could there be fault in that?
Melissa was waiting for me outside, shivering. I felt bad for not getting down sooner.
“Sorry, Melissa. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. I wish you’d take that key I leave in the office for you. Then you wouldn’t have to freeze.”
She shrugged and moved into the building before looking at me a little strangely. The permanent smile was still plastered on my face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t know, when I left yesterday you were kind of bummed, and now you’re smiling like that.”
I tried to force the corners of my mouth down, but I couldn’t. I was just not going to be able to, and pretty quickly I gave up trying. It occurred to me then that she didn’t know about Scott and everything else that was now a memory. She didn’t know anything… but then her eyes settled on the addition to my hand.
“What is that?”
She pulled my hand to her and looked at the rock on my finger. It was big, but tasteful, and it was beautiful. What it meant was so much more than the gem and the gold. I was going to be married to one of the wealthiest men in the city, but more than that, I was going to marry the only man I ever really loved.
“It’s an engagement ring.”
Melissa scowled, and I couldn’t help the increased pleasure in my face. I really did need to say something.
“From whom?”
“Scott.”
“No.” There was disbelief in her face. “How did it happen?”
I started to tell her the story in hushed tones as we got everything ready for the day. I went to the door to open up for the morning and noticed a woman who had the same color hair as me waiting in the already forming line. I felt another shiver run over me, but it had nothing to do with Scott anymore.