Free Jack (The Family Simon Book 2) by Juliana Stone Page A

now, which makes this even more pathetic than it already is.”
    “Derek,” she said her voice tremulous, barely above a whisper.
    “What?”
    “Derek was always around and I…he…never mind.” She blew out a long breath. “We fought about Derek.”
    Right. Stupidest fight ever. Funny that Derek was the one to hand Jack the bad news. “When I came back you were gone, and he had your letter.”
    Jack still had it, but that was something she didn’t need to know.
    He watched her intently, trying to figure her out. Wondering what the hell was going on inside her head. She shuddered and made a small sound and only then did he realize his hand was still on her arm and that it was no longer raining.
    Shadows moved across her face as the moon came out from hiding. And those eyes, always those eyes full of unsaid things, watched him. She was shivering, her nipples pebbled beneath the sundress that she wore. A sundress that was plastered to curves he’d done nothing but fantasize about for the last two nights.
    That ache in his gut was back. It was back with a vengeance, pummeling his insides and Jack’s gaze wandered lower, over slim hips and a good amount of bare leg. Everything about her was delicate and fragile and…
    “Jack,” she said, drawing out his name. The Arkansas twang was back and something about it made his blood heat, his skin tight.
    Then she made a sound. Not just any sound, but the one that always made him crazy. It was a surrender of sorts and the air became charged with something heavy. It was the sort of thing that fed on emotion and pain and—he felt his pulse quicken—pleasure.
    “Donovan,” he said roughly, pulling back a step. “I…let’s just call it a night.”
    Hands clenched at his sides, he stared at her. Suddenly he didn’t give a flying fuck about answers. He needed to put some distance between them, because his mind was heading south and the only thing he wanted to do right now was something that he shouldn’t even be considering.
    No way in hell. If Jack went down that road, he wasn’t so sure he’d find his way back. He gave himself a mental shake and blew out a long breath.
    “Look. I’m sorry if I worried you. That wasn’t my intent. It’s been a long day and I should just...” Goddamn ,did she have to look at him like that? With those big eyes and a mouth that was enough to drive a decent man crazy?
    He cleared his throat. “Let’s just call it a night.”
    He would have moved past her. Hell, he had every intention of moving past her and not stopping until he was in his room, cold beer in hand and a shower the only thing in his imminent future.
    But she reached for him. The shock of feeling her fingers run across his jaw came fast and hard. Jack’s breath hitched, and his heart took off, beating as if the very devil was inside him.
    Those big eyes were shiny, her mouth slightly open and her scent, holy hell but this woman smelled amazing.
    “What are you doing?” Jack asked, barely able to get the words out because Donovan inched forward until only a whisper separated them.
    For a moment, the two of them stared into each other’s eyes, hearts beating like mad, breaths falling rapidly.
    And then she leaned into him, her hands cupping his face as she rose up onto her tiptoes and damn, if Jack didn’t let her.
    Her mouth slid across his, a tentative touch, but that was all it took for Jack to give up any pretense that things weren’t gonna happen between them and to hell with the consequence. His arms snaked around her waist, and he pulled her in as close as he could get her. He kept one hand on her hip, holding her steady while the other threaded through the hair at her nape.
    A groan escaped him as his mouth closed over hers, and he took command. He kissed her—he kissed her hard—his mouth bruising and passionate and angry. He tasted every inch of her, his tongue sliding across her lips, her teeth, wanting deeper. Wanting more.
    Jack gave one more sweep of