Free Casualties of Love by Denise Riley Page A

today.”
    He’d speaking based on the way she was casually dressed, but was really only making small talk. He didn’t care what she was wearing. Tyson was mostly interested in how warm her skin felt beneath the jeans she wore. Slowly, as if with a mind of it’s own, his hand crept farther up Jessica’s thigh. It got closer to the heated center that he knew was hidden beneath her clothes. She looked down at his hand quickly and then back up to his face.
    “Yeah, I just, um, thought I’d stop by to see you for a while. I know you need to rest, so...”
    His hand eased closer the junction of her thighs and Jessica swallowed. She threw a glance toward Marcus, before placing her palm over the back of Tyson’s hand. Tyson gave her a wicked look, one that he knew revealed with perfect clarity how much he wanted to continue with his exploration. Jessica stood and backed away from the bed.
    “I should go.”
    Jessica’s voice was raspy. Tyson knew she wasn’t unaffected by the way he touched her.
    “You don’t have to hurry out, Jessica.”
    Jessica rubbed her hands down her jeans before slipping them into her back pockets. The gesture made her shirt stretch a little more over her ample bosom. It also called his attention to her nicely shaped hips. He half hoped she would turn so he could take a gander at her firm, rounded ass. He envied her hands. They had the privilege of palming her butt.
    He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her come back to the side of the bed so he could pull her into a kiss. He wanted to feel her soft lips yield to his, to stroke his tongue along the edge of her tongue and the roof of her mouth. But, Jessica backed up another step, preparing to leave. She flicked a look toward Marcus who seemed oblivious to the whole scene going on around him. Tyson looked at Marcus, almost willing the man to look up and take the hint to get the hell out. Jones never took his eyes from the magazine he’d grabbed upon sitting down.
    “No, I, ah, was just dropping in. I’ll see you later.”
    Tyson watched Jessica walk out, his gaze lingering over her swaying hips. Damn you, Marcus Jones! At that thought, he shifted his gaze to find Jones still engrossed in the magazine. Tyson’s expression took on a frown.
    “What the hell?” he asked his friend.
    “What the hell what?” Jones looked up and asked. “What’s your problem?”
              “My problem is sitting at the foot of this bed while Jessica walks out of my room.”
    “I’m sure she’ll be back,” Marcus said nonchalantly. Tyson continued to scowl. “What? Did you want to be alone?”
    Tyson rolled his eyes at his friend and his obtuseness.
    “My bad,” Marcus said. “ But with the way you been carrying on, I probably need to interrupt whatever it is you have planned. Exactly what is your plan for her, by the way?” Marcus asked.
    “I don’t have a plan. I just want to talk to her.”
    “Talk.” Tyson sensed a “yeah, right”, but Marcus managed not to verbalize it. “I think Jessica Watts may want a little more than that, Ty.”
    “Did you talk to her? Is that why you two were together?”
    “We were not together. We ran into each other on our way to see you. I asked a few questions. She’s clever though, didn’t give anything up. But she’s still got serious feelings for you, Tyson. It’s obvious. Is that what you want? Feelings?” Tyson didn’t answer him. “I saw the way you had your tongue all in her mouth the other day.”
    “That just sort of happened out of nowhere and it hasn’t happened again. I want her to tell me what went down, why she left. I can’t get that out of her if you’re hanging around.”
    “That’s it? All you want is an explanation?”
    “Yes. I know it’s been a long time, but I think I deserve one.”
    “Maybe,” Marcus conceded. “But, what if she disappears again?”
    “Then she does. Jessica can do whatever she wants after I get some answers.”
    Marcus didn’t