Free Fearless by Eve Carter Page B

didn’t want to pry and open old wounds.
    She was right. I never liked to talk about it. Partly because I always blamed myself for what happened. It was a dark time and something I just wanted to put aside. Opening up to Kat, or anyone else for that matter, and Jesse especially, wasn’t easy for me. But harboring secrets was emotionally exhausting and I was getting really tired of it.
    “I know. I only remember a few things from before she got sick, but I protect those memories with all I have. It’s like they are delicate and brittle and, if I don’t guard them, they might disappear someday, crumble and turn to dust. I know that’s why I overreact whenever my dad says anything negative about her.” I rubbed at a brown coffee stain on the white tile countertop with my thumb. “After she died, I went through a very emotional time. There aren’t many good memories from that part of my life. I wish those memories would go away, but they don’t. They get all mixed up with my relationship with my dad, you know? So I like to leave it at that. If I don’t talk about the bad memories, maybe they’ll finally go away.”
    Kat nodded. She got it. She was good at knowing when to let a subject rest and when to lighten the mood. “Well, enough of that. So what’s on your calendar for today, Miss Erotic Goddess? More bedroom fitness with Casanova boy?”
    I shot her a devilish glance and wiggled my eyebrows. “Maybe I should go wake him.”
    “Yeah right. Let me get out of the house first. All the moaning and groaning makes a girl horny. I’ll end up joining you guys.”
    “Oh yeah?” I chuckled. “Sorry, hun. Not into threesomes today, although I’m sure Jesse would enjoy that.” I laughed and tiptoed back into the bedroom before Kat got any more ideas about sharing.
    Jesse was still asleep. I crawled under the sheet, scooting as close to him as I could get. My hands traveled down his tight stomach, all the way down. He was naked, his cock half erect. I wrapped my hand around it and started slowly stroking up and down. It stiffened. He woke slightly and repositioned himself to allow me easier access. Although his eyes were closed, a sexy smile curved up his lips, betraying his conscious state. As he moved, the sheet slipped away and I nearly gasped at the sight of his nakedness. He rolled toward me, slipped his hand around my neck, kissed my lips lightly and then my cheek, murmuring a pleasurable sound. “Mmmm, good morning, beautiful.”
    Beautiful was hardly the word for my messed up morning hair and I’d forgotten to check the mirror to see if I had mascara smudges under my eyes. Before a single protest could make it to my lips, Jesse smothered them with his own and my body naturally curved toward his. I sighed with contentment as his hand trailed down along the slope of my neck and across my collarbone. The warmth of his palm brushed my nipple, as his hand cupped each breast and teased it, while he deepened our kiss. I throbbed with need by the time he pulled away from me and he opened his smoldering blue eyes. He brushed my hair back from my face and lowered himself to take one of my breasts into his mouth. I shivered at the sudden wetness, and threw my head back with pleasure. I ran my hand over the strong rise of his shoulders, down along his shoulder blades. His hands pushed my knees apart and he slid down farther, switching his attention to my other breast. I savored each subtle touch of his lips and tongue and swirled my fingers through his hair. His fingertips slid between my folds and roamed along my sensitive nub.
    “Jesse,” I gasped out, as my body reacted to his touch.
    “Yes?” he murmured, as he kissed from my breast up to the base of my neck.
    “Are you trying to seduce me?” I asked and squirmed at his insistent touch.
    “Oh yes,” he replied and pressed his lips to mine. When he broke the kiss he eyed me mischievously.
    “Is it working?” He arched a brow.
    “You really need to ask?”