Jesus.
She smelled so good. What would it be like to lie with her skin to skin, wrapped up together, just breathing each other in? To confide everything and have her be a safe place to fall?
Jack turned his head so his nose pressed to her skin and he groaned, melting deeper as images of losing himself in her filled his mind. He buried his head in her throat, feeling her pulse flutter wildly against his lips. He brushed his lips against the flutter. Another brush, her skin soft and warm. Then he touched his tongue to her pulse, and her whimper of need was like a lightning bolt down his spine and straight to his dick.
“Jack,” she breathed his name. It was a plea.
And he lost his mind.
He lifted his head, looked into her desire-filled eyes, and lost his fucking mind.
His lips crashed down over hers as he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her from the wall and against his body.
She kissed him back. Just like she’d kissed him on the beach all those years ago.
Emery Saunders may have been a good girl.
But she sure as hell didn’t kiss like one.
She kissed him like she couldn’t breathe without those kisses. Hungry, deep, savage kisses that fired his blood. Her hands were just as hungry. Searching. Touching. Caressing.
He returned the favor, thrilled at the sound of her bracelets jangling in his ears as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Then he zeroed in on the one place he’d wanted to touch since the moment he’d seen her.
Jack slid his hands down her slender back and cupped her ass. He groaned down her throat at the feel of her. Firm, supple, round cheeks that he wanted to bite.
He wanted Em naked on her knees, that beautiful ass in his hands as he fucked her. They stumbled back against the wall as the images made him more desperate, starving. His dick was rock hard against Em’s belly.
All Jack would have to do was lower himself just a little and then press up, and he’d be right between her sweet thighs.
As if his body had a mind of his own, it did just that, his dick pushing against his jeans and the fabric of her dress between her legs. The dress was in the way. Swallowing Em’s breathy moans in his kiss, Jack fumbled for the material, bunching it in his fist, pulling it upward.
“Jack!” she gasped, breaking the kiss, her hands pressing against his chest.
For a moment he was confused, still lost in the fog of lust.
Then her hands covered his where he was pulling up her dress.
“Not here.”
Realizing he was mauling at this angel like she was a quick dirty fuck in a back alley, Jack stumbled, his stomach feeling sick.
What was he even doing touching her?
Selfish bastard that he was.
He was a selfish fucking bastard and no better than his father.
“Jack?” Em pushed down her dress and fidgeted with her hair as she stared unsurely up at him.
He squeezed his eyes closed, remorse flooding him.
Remorse and anger.
Because she’d never be his, and he was a dick for touching her. Again.
“I’m sorry.” He looked at her now. “I’m so sorry, Em. This won’t happen again.”
Hurt and rejection flashed across her face.
Jack moved to her, but she held up a hand against him.
“You deserve better than me,” he explained. “You deserve a hell of a lot better than me.”
Emery tilted her chin stubbornly. “Isn’t that up to me to decide?”
He smiled at her naivety and couldn’t help but reach out to stroke her cheek. “Not this time.”
“Jack.” She tried to capture his hand, but he withdrew it. “Jack, why won’t you tell me what’s going on with you? What’s been going on for years?”
Just like that, he was ice again.
Because no one he cared about could ever know the truth. It was too dangerous for them. “I’ll walk you home.”
Hearing the chill in his tone, Emery’s expression closed down. “No, thank you. I can see myself home.” She walked out of the lane without a backward glance. Jack followed at a slow pace.
He followed until he saw her disappear along the sand dunes and then watched from a distance as she let herself into her beach house.
Assured she was safely home, Jack retreated.
As he strolled down the boards, he tried to find the numbness that kept him moving through the days.
He struggled.
He struggled because he could still feel Em’s warmth.
And that’s when he knew what he would do.
Jack left the boards in search of Vanessa Hartwell.
He couldn’t let her sell the shares to Bailey’s inn to his father, so he had to control that situation. Had to manipulate her to protect Bailey. If that meant sleeping with Vanessa, then fine. She’d numb him to his bones, just like he needed.
And eventually Em would find out.