Page 109 of When You Were Mine

Is it true?

When Bri asked, she’d been so touched, sohonored. In the beginning, she’d been every bit as much of a mother to Bri as Amber had been because her sister was in school and working at the store.

Jess had given the job to her sister, so she’d have work experience to put on her résumé. She’d never minded putting her own life on hold. Someone had to take care of Bri. Her niece was an innocent baby. She needed to be loved and cared for.

Just the way my mom loved and cared for me.

Nothing was more important than that. Not that she remembered, but everyone in town loved to tell stories of how her mom worked with her babies in a sling wrapped around her chest. She took her children everywhere and never used a stroller.

Jess had wanted the same thing for Bri. So, when her niece asked her to walk her down the aisle—her mom on one side, her aunt on the other—Jessica had felt validated. Acknowledged.Included.

But now…she questioned everything.

Don’t get me wrong.

I’m not embarrassed to be single and childless.

She just didn’t want anyone to look at her with pity.She glanced outside, watching plates of ice undulate on the surface of the ocean. She couldn’t believe how hurt she was. She didn’t think it was true—she was very close to her niece. Well, all her sisters’ kids.

She wished she could ask someone, but she couldn’t bring it up. Not on Bri’s wedding day. Maybe she should talk to Amber, let her know her feelings wouldn’t be hurt in the slightest if she wanted to walk Bri down the aisle by herself.

No, you can’t do that. That would cause a scene. And what would her sister say?Oh, thank God. I wondered why you’d said yes. I’m the mom here.

No, Amber would never say anything like that.

Jess didn’t know what to think.

But you know what? Even if I don’t walk her down the aisle, I’m going to be with Trevor.Happiness flooded her.

From now on, she’d have the love of her life at her side. There was tremendous peace in that.

And suddenly, she had a whole different kind of hunger. Already naked, she hurried into the bathroom. Curls of steam floated out of the shower stall and covered the mirror. The moment she stepped inside, her breath caught in her throat.

Water streamed down his body, his big hands moving swiftly to spread the soap over his ripped, inked torso, between his muscular legs, along his semi-hard shaft. If she didn’t get her hands all over him…

His eyelids popped open, almost as if he heard her dirty thoughts. He smirked and grabbed his cock. “You want some of this?”

“Not anymore, I don’t.”

He laughed, reaching for her hand and tugging her under the stream of water. With her back to his slippery chest, he shared the scented lather with her, his hands mimicking on her body what he’d just done to himself.

Leaning back against him, she submitted to his touch. The hot water saturating her hair and coursing down her body, the sensual glide of his hands over her breasts, down her belly, and between her legs, melted her worries and ignited her desire. She reached up, clasping her fingers around the back of his neck.

He lowered his chin onto her shoulder. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“I am when you touch me.” Overcome with affection for this man, she turned in his arms and kissed him. My God, the gentle stroke of his tongue, the clutch of his hands on her ass, squeezing and hauling her up against him…it was everything she needed.

The relief was so profound, her knees buckled.

To have him back, to feel this wholeness, this completeness…it was just overwhelming.

Gratitude mixed with lust, and she kissed a path down the strong column of his neck, from one nipple to the other, and down his stomach. Kneeling, she wrapped both hands around his cock. Pleasure softened his features, and heat burned in his eyes.

When she took him into her mouth, he moaned, and she sucked him deeply, wanting to drive him out of his mind.

He shifted his legs farther apart and cupped the back of her head, guiding her to the rhythm he needed. “Look at you. Fuck yeah.”

God, that raspy, sex-drenched voice turned her wild with need.

---