“To Jesse Moretti!”
It was the first time that being called a hero didn’t make Jesse feel guilty or unworthy. “Thanks, Joe. Thanks, everyone.”
Daisy put her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Jesse.”
And thatright therewas all the thanks he’d ever needed.
Chapter 24
Ellie droveto her house with the kids, while Jesse went home to shower and stash his gear, promising he’d come by later. She gave the kids their baths, bundled them into pajamas, and read them bedtime stories, getting about halfway throughThe Blub Blub Fishbefore she heard the back door open.
He was here.
“Jesse home,” chirped Daisy.
Oh, Ellie could get used to that—if Jesse would give her a chance.
He came into the playroom and sat beside her, taking over so she could slip into the shower. The hot water felt heavenly, washing away the stress of the past two days. She shaved her legs, then got out and slipped into her nightgown and bathrobe, not bothering with makeup.
She found Jesse sitting next to Daisy’s little bed and patting her back. She watched while he soothed her daughter to sleep, her heart overflowing for him. She’d hoped to get the chance tonight to tell him how she felt about him, but maybe it was too soon. Maybe he needed time to deal with all that had happened before she put any additional emotional weight on his shoulders.
A few minutes later, they tiptoed out of Daisy’s room together.
Jesse took Ellie’s hand. “She said she was scared.”
Ellie twined her fingers with his. “My poor baby girl. She doesn’t have the words to tell us what she’s been through. Some part of her must know that something terrible happened.”
Did she know Jesse had saved her?
“Come.” Ellie led Jesse into her bedroom and began to undress him.
“Is there something you want?” he teased.
“You.”
He helped her, pulling his T-shirt over his head, pushing down the jeans she’d unbuttoned and tossing them aside, shedding his boxer briefs.
She pulled off her nightgown, and for a moment they stood there, his gaze moving over her and hers over him. She planted her palm in the center of his chest and gave him a push. “Lie down, and let me take care ofeverything.”
His cock was hard before his head hit the pillow.
She straddled his hips, splaying her hands across his chest, taking in the feel of his torso. “You’re so beautiful.”
She bent down, kissed a flat brown nipple, then explored him with her hands and mouth. Every inch of him was precious to her, everything about him a miracle, from the softness of his skin to the hardness of his muscles to the springy curls on his chest. His warmth enfolded her, his heartbeat matching the thrum behind her breast, his scent like a drug to her.
She took his cock in hand, licked him, swirled her tongue around the engorged head, then began to devour him.
His hands slid into her hair. “Ellie, you’re too good at this. You shouldn’t…”
Whatever she shouldn’t do was lost in a gasp as she sheathed him with her mouth and hand, moving them in tandem along his length. She kept up the rhythm until his balls started to draw tight, then stopped and reached for a condom.
His gaze was hard now, erotic tension making his jaw clench.
“Seeing all those horses today made me want to ride, too.” She straddled him once more, rolled the condom onto his erection, and guided him into her.
She savored the feel of him—so hard and thick. Then she began to move, riding him, taking him into her again and again.
“God, yeah.” He held his hips still, let her determine the pace.