Nothing else to say. They’d turned their back on Hope, kept him from his daughter and Jessie, and now Dylan was going to hold on to his family, expand it with whatever children Jessie gave him, and build a life with them.
He turned his back on his past and walked down the driveway to his future and Jessie’s open arms. She knew how hard it was for him to walk away from a life and family he’d thought he’d known. He buried his face in her neck, took in the love and warmth she offered, and left his parents’ home for the last time.
The sun glared through the windshield. Dylan had to put a hand over his brow to keep the worst of the glare from his eyes as a headache pounded through his brain. Jessie sat quiet beside him and drove.
“Let’s stop by my place and pack up some things for me and Will. We’re moving in with you this afternoon.” His tone didn’t leave any room for argument. Jessie gave him a soft smile and made the next left toward his house. Her easy acceptance helped ease some of the strain after his confrontation with his parents.
Efficient as ever, Jessie helped them pack his truck in record time, making sure he didn’t do even a quarter of the work. They stopped off for fast food and ate in the truck on the ride to Jessie’s house. Finally home, they walked into their house together as a family.
“I need to make a few calls,” Dylan said.
Jessie lugged in the hastily packed bags from the car, because he couldn’t, and she wouldn’t allow it with his injuries.
“Dylan, honey, please go upstairs and rest.”
The warmth and caring in her eyes seeped through his skin and straight into his heart.
“Take Will up and get him settled in his room. He’s exhausted, so he’ll probably fall right to sleep. I’ll be up after I take care of some business,” Dylan promised.
His whole body ached with exhaustion. He trudged up the stairs to the master bedroom nearly an hour later. Jessie was there, putting his clothes into a dresser drawer.
“Finished with your calls?”
“All set.” He hoped he’d covered all his bases. He had a surprise for Jessie and with his head aching and foggy, he hoped he hadn’t forgotten anything important. He didn’t want to ever disappoint her.
She closed the drawer and came to him then, taking his face in her hands. “You need to sleep.”
“Come to bed with me.” His words came out a hoarse plea.
Her hands slid down his chest, undoing buttons as she went. She spread his shirt wide and carefully helped him out of it. He let her undress him, her hands smoothing over his skin. He sat on the edge of the bed and she pushed his pants down his legs before she took off his boots, socks, and jeans. She tucked him into bed before standing beside him, his eyes roaming over every inch of her as she stripped. His whole body warmed and grew tight. So beautiful, he wanted to sink into her warmth, but knew he didn’t have the strength. She slid under the covers beside him and took him into her arms. With his cheek pressed to her bare breast, so soft and welcoming, he exhaled and let go of the last of the tension knotting his muscles.
Groggy, he slid one hand up her thigh, over her hip and up her ribcage to cup her other breast in one long, hot caress. “I want to make love to you,” he told her, knowing she’d understand he didn’t have the strength right now.
“Shh. Sleep, I’m here.”
Dylan fell asleep in her arms. Jessie stroked his hair and lay along his side in their bed. He woke the next morning with the sun shining on his face. He reached out for Jessie and came up with only a handful of cold sheets. Just after eight o’clock, according to the bedside clock, she was probably downstairs with Will.
Will laughed and Jessie joined in. Dylan sat up in bed carefully, relieved his head didn’t pound and throb anymore, but settled into a dull ache. Naked, he grabbed his jeans from the chair Jessie had thrown them over last night. Pulling them on, barefoot and shirtless, he went looking for Will and Jessie. Surprisingly, he found them on the stairs. More specifically, sliding down the sides of the stairs. It hit him then why she’d built the stairs so wide and put a slanting platform on each side of the staircase. An odd setup, but the perfect indoor slide. She and Will ran back up and took their positions. Will counted to three and down they went, laughing all the way. Will won, only because Jessie slowed herself down, and he raised his hands and yelled with victory.
“Shh. Your father is still sleeping.”
“No, he’s not,” Dylan said.
Jessie glanced up the stairs at Dylan and a bolt of lust hit her low in her gut. So handsome, his bare chest and wide shoulders set off little fireworks in her belly. He sauntered down the steps, his gaze locked with hers, that cocky half grin on his face. He stopped inches away, and she put her hand over his heart and leaned up and kissed him good morning. She dipped her head and planted several soft kisses along the bruise from his shoulder and down across his ribs from the seatbelt that locked against his chest during the crash.