Page 20 of Desperate Temptations

“Start with why you’re so tired?”

Jessa took a big shuddering breath. “I’m having bad dreams again.” She sighed. “After I have one, I wake up crying, and I can’t go back to sleep.”

“What are you dreaming about, and how often does this happen?”

She lowered her head.

“Every night,” she murmured softly. “It’s harder, I think, because I haven’t had them for a long time.”

His body tightened.

“Goddammit. Why now?” he asked sharply.

Jessa flinched.

“I’m not sure. I think part of it is the stress of meeting you, and maybe because I don’t have anything to concentrate on. I’m not doing anything to help with the investigation or going to the warehouse...”

Chapter Seventeen

His jaw tightened. He ignored her comment about meeting him, as he’d deal with that later. He said with pure menace, making her wince at the bridled fury in his voice, “You’re not going to either. Fuck. If I catch you there again, you’ll be over my knee so fucking fast...”

“Cain, I’m not saying I’m going back, I’m just saying I don’t have that to concentrate on, so my mind is going full speed toward some irrational, crazy notions.”

His jaw bunched.

“Is there more?” Cain asked through gritted teeth.

She shrugged and looked down.

“Yes, I feel guilty.”

Cain tipped her chin up with his knuckles, and his brows drew together.

“Guilty? About what?”

“You,” she said simply. “I don’t even know you.” She drew in a quick breath. “I’ve never had this...”—she spread her hands out in front of her­—“this strong of a reaction to a man before, not even with Drew. In my heart, I’m still married to him, but my body is craving you.”

He rubbed the pad of his thumb against her bottom lip and watched her with such burning desire it sent spikes of cravings whirling through her entire body.

He pulled her closer and placed a gentle kiss on her temple.

“It pisses me off that you feel guilty, but I’m trying to understand your view. I’ve never lost someone that close to me. I still have both my parents and my siblings, plus a ton of aunts, uncles, and cousins.” Cain ran a soothing hand along her back. “I know you’ve lost your parents, but do you have any siblings?”

Jessa shook her head, her eyes growing damp with tears.

“Uncles or aunts?”

“No. There’s no one left. Not on my side or Drew’s.”

A flash of wild grief flashed in her eyes, breaking his heart. As much of a loner as he believed himself to be, he would always be a son, uncle or brother, and have a group of people in Wisconsin, and he knew himself to be incredibly lucky to have the family he had.

“To be honest, I’m troubled that your feelings for me upset you, but I’m extremely pleased you want me because I’ve wanted you for years.” Cain trailed fingers across her upper chest, making her breath catch. “Listen to your body, Baby, it knows who it belongs to.”

He waited for her to say something, then continued when she sat still.

“Now, about us knowing each other. I’ve said it before, I already know you. Not as well as I’m going to, and soon you’ll know me just as well.” He smoothed the entangled hair from her face and ran his hand down her cheek. He settled back and tucked her tighter against him. Cain rubbed his cheek against her hair.

“Besides being tired, why haven’t you been eating?” he asked softly. When she didn’t answer, he leaned down and grinned when he noticed Jessa was asleep. He sat back, put his feet on the coffee table, trying to get more comfortable. Just having her in his arms was enough. His questions could wait until tomorrow. He pressed his thumb and a finger into his eyes as he tried to lessen the ache.

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