

“Did you hear that?” I ask.
Moving in slowly, he cages me in, bracing his right arm on the wall above my head, his left hand by my hip. He brings his lips close to my ear and I fight the shiver that rolls through me. “It’s probably just your admirer,” he says, his voice hushed and husky. I swallow hard, looking over his shoulder as he nuzzles closer, his nose skimming my neck, then down to my collarbone. My pulse pounds in my ears as he moves back up, his mouth brushing across my cheek, stopping at my parted lips.
“Is this convincing?” He asks. He’s so close that I can feel his breath on my lips, and I realize that I want him to do it. I want him to kiss me.
I give a slight shake of my head in response.
“No?” He smirks, knowing exactly what he’s doing to me. His left hand leaves the wall to curl around my hip and he presses his chest to mine. “How about this?”
“Almost,” I whisper. I wet my lips and the tip of my tongue nearly grazes his bottom lip. His expression goes from playful to heated in an instant, then he’s closing the final distance.
It’s soft at first, just a brush of his lips against mine, but soon he’s cupping my face with both hands, tilting my head back as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, his movements confident and skilled. Unhurried and unyielding.
My hands find his shirt, pulling him closer as his tongue fucks my mouth. Because that’s exactly what this is. This isn’t kissing. Or maybe it is, and I’ve been kissing the wrong boys.
Jesse groans, fitting a firm thigh between my legs, and the need bubbling inside me threatens to boil over at the sensation. But all too soon, he pulls back, leaving me breathless.
“Was that convincing enough?”

Jesse’s future appeared bright as he was attending college, was a lacrosse star and had a way with the ladies until it all came crashing down and he finds himself back in Rivers Edge trying to pick up the pieces. If you don’t look below the surface, he appears confident and arrogant, but underneath he is damaged and will do anything to protect those he cares about even if it is from himself.
Allie has endured a heartbreaking loss and is feeling a little lost as adjusts to her new normal. During the last year she has shown her strength and resilience, but she is broken by her past as well. She is going to college and works at Blackbear, Jesse’s sister’s bar which brings them into each other’s worlds once again.
Words can not explain how perfect these two are for each other. She is the one person who sees the hidden depths to Jesse and she make him want to be a better man. They are kindred souls who help each other heal and watching their relationship unfold was beautiful to watch.





















