42. Jensen
42
JENSEN
“ H ey Mama,” I say, kissing her on the cheek before scooping Remi into my arms and inhaling her sweet baby smell. It’s definitely one of those things I didn’t understand until I became a dad. “Where’s Nessa? I thought she was home.”
Nessa had almost canceled on her book club plans when I found out last night I’d have to work this morning. Mama had been all too happy to watch Remi for a couple of hours, easily settling into the role of doting grandmother. And selfishly, I liked seein’ Nessa integrate herself into the town—finding friends and making plans.
Like it could be more than temporary.
My mother straightens and pulls a wipe from the container before rubbing at the paint spots on her hand.
“Mama?”
Her eyes are shiny when they meet mine, regret swimming there, and my heart squeezes. “What happened?”
“I upset her,” she whispers. “I didn’t mean to, honest. I showed her the art projects we made today.” She gestures across the kitchen table where no fewer than ten pieces of construction paper are covered with Remi’s feet and hands in cute little designs like flowers and hearts. “I knew she seemed stressed this morning when I got here and thought this might be a little something to make her smile.”
Closing the distance, I wrap my mother in a hug before dropping a kiss on her head and handing Remi to her.
“I think Ness is overwhelmed is all,” I start, spitballing because I have no idea why she would be upset today. “Her time here is limited, and I’m sure she’s feelin’ a lot of ways about it.” Giving her a soft smile, I add, “I’ll go talk to her, okay?”
Mama nods, and I squeeze her shoulder reassuringly before taking off down the hall. Nessa’s door is closed—not the one she’s been sharing with me—and I have to tamp down my annoyance.
Knocking softly, I say her name and push my way inside.
“Are you o?—”
I don’t even get the words out, before Nessa spins on me, hands on her hips, her cheeks flushed and tearstained as fire blazes in her eyes.
“I didn’t ask for this,” she hisses, taking a step toward me and jabbing her finger into my chest. “I didn’t want this, Jensen. I don’t do feelings and I don’t want them. My life is fine without them—great even. I’ve managed to make it exactly what I want.”
“Ness—”
“But then you and your mom and your family and friends come waltzing in here and all of a sudden I care about goat soap and friend holidays and the fucking adorable flower handprint papers that I can hang in my office or my locker . But you know what else? ”
“What’s that?” I ask, keeping my face carefully neutral as she continues on a warpath that’s so much bigger than finger paint.
“ You. ”
“Me?” I ask, confused even as my heart beats harder in my chest.
“Yes, you.” She fists her hand in my shirt, pulling me until her breasts are pressed against me. “I told you I didn’t want a nice guy, Jensen, but you burrowed under my skin like that damn dog out in the living room.”
“I know you’re mad, but I’m not sure how to fix it,” I murmur, hypnotized by the rise and fall of her chest and the way her lips have parted like an invitation.
“I don’t either. But it’s your fault and now I like them.” Her eyes drop to my lips, lingering there before returning to meet my stare. “It’s your fault I like you. ”
“That is a really inconvenient declaration to make with my mama on the other side of that door,” I admit.
“You were supposed to be too nice for me, Jensen.”
“I’m plenty nice,” I say, low enough that the words sound like gravel as I back her up until I’ve caged her in against the wall, “until I don’t wanna be.” My hands circle her wrists, bringing them up and pinning them in one of mine above her head.
“I feel like I missed that disclaimer.”
“You only saw what you wanted, Ness.” My breath ghosts over her neck, and her skin pebbles as she whimpers.
“What about the other night? I let you—” My teeth nip at the exposed skin of her shoulder, making her gasp.
“You let me all right,” I taunt as my palm slips under the hem of her shirt and across the toned skin of her stomach. “You let me all night long.”
“I was mad.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Frustrated.”
“Course.” Her hands clench into fists and then release, like the nervous energy coursing through her body needs somewhere to escape.
“Nothing wrong with a couple of orgasms between friends,” she breathes out as she arches her back, my thumb grazing the underside of her breast and nothing more.
“Are we friends now?”
“I already told you I like you,” she hisses like it’s the most awful thing that could have happened to her.
“Yeah, well, I’d like you a whole lot more than just naked in my bed every night.”
“You know I can’t give you that,” she whines, but it’s breathy and needy like she believes the words as much as I do.
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to want feelings and emotions and I am leaving, Jensen, and I can’t give you all that wholesome crap you want.”
“What’s that have to do with you bein’ in my bed, Nessa?” I ask, running featherlight touches over her nipple, my cock close to punching straight through the zipper on my pants.
“Your mom is in the kitchen, Jensen. Not very becoming of a sheriff…” Her words trail off as I lick and nip my way up the column of her throat. “Dammit, either get me off or?—”
She doesn’t get a chance to finish before my lips are on hers, the battle for control immediate even as she bucks against my hold and pushes her tongue into my mouth.
My palm moves down her stomach to cup her between her legs.
“Don’t make a sound,” I demand against her lips as I slip my hand under the waistband of her shorts and panties, swallowing her gasp as I sink one finger inside her. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sheriff,” she taunts defiantly, knowing that it grates on me as much as it turns me on.
“You’re going to pay for that later.”
“Am I?” she asks innocently even as she grinds her clit against the heel of my hand. I add a second finger, pumping and curling them as her head falls back against the wall.
“You’re so fucking tight, but I love how wet this pussy is for me.”
“How do you know it’s for you?”
“That’s how you want to play it?”
Dropping her wrists, I start to pull my hand out of her panties. It’s a bluff, but underneath the haze of lust, I know I’m angry too.
Nessa fists my shirt, twisting the fabric and pulling it toward her, but I don’t move. “This is me, Jensen. I push until one of us breaks.” She rolls her hips, using me with her eyes locked on mine. “I’m frustrated and needy but I’m always wet for you .”
“While you’re in this house,” I say, pumping my fingers and crowding her with my body, “I get to be the only man who sees you like this—desperate and bratty and fucking begging.” I grab her other hand and put it on the bulge in my pants. “My dick is the only one that gets to be inside you.” I thrust into our hands and she moans. She’s so damn close.
“Jensen.”
Increasing the pressure on her clit, I curl my fingers, watching as her chest rises and falls and feeling her pussy flutter with her impending orgasm.
“You want to fight with me, Ness? Tell me now, cuz I’m already gonna punish this sassy fucking mouth later.”
Nessa comes on a silent cry, arching into me as she shakes and bucks her hips, riding my hand and chasing every wave of pleasure before burying her face in my chest and damn near collapsing against me.
Wrapping my hand around her ponytail, I tug her head back as I pull my other hand from between her legs. “I was serious, Nessa. I want these lips wrapped around my cock tonight.” Lowering my head, I press my mouth against hers, pulling back only to add, “And I want to watch you get yourself off as I’m spilling down your throat.”
Releasing her, I step back, her expression both dazed and turned on.
“I didn’t know you had it in you, Sheriff,” she says as nonchalantly as her still-racing heart will allow.
Letting my gaze rake over her, I make sure I have her full attention before meeting her eyes. “Why don’t you take a minute then come out and say bye to Mama?” My lips twitch as I add, “She was just worried sick about you, Ness. Good thing we took care of that, isn’t it?”
With a wink, I turn and leave Nessa staring after me, my body humming with anticipation for later.
Much later.
For now, I’m just happy to relax with my girls and soak in the feelin’ of being home.