AROUND FIVE JESSIE WOKE UP. “Cadde, the light is off.”
“I know,” he mumbled. “Go back to sleep. I’m here.”
She kissed his neck. “I’m not sleepy.” Her lips moved to his shoulder, his chest and every muscle in him came to full attention and saluted.
“Jessie.”
“Hmm.” She slid one leg across him and sat on his stomach, her hair falling forward. “Don’t say you don’t want to have sex because you’d be lying. A man can’t hide that and you really can’t this morning without a stitch of clothes on.”
He leaned up and wrapped his tongue around one tempting nipple. “For someone so inexperienced you’re very wild in bed, do you know that?”
“I read a lot,” she murmured, and slid her body over his, her soft breasts pressing into his chest. He cupped her face, threaded his fingers through her long hair and kissed her. The emotions from last night fired to life. He rolled her onto her back and she giggled. It was the only sound in the room, beside sighs and moans, for some time.
A pounding on the door woke them from a lethargic sleep. “What the hell?” Cadde crawled from the bed and jerked on his jeans. “Kid’s supposed to be in Louisiana, but if that’s him, I’m going to wring his damn neck.” Kid was known for not knocking, though.
Cadde yanked opened the door and a dark-haired woman pushed past him.
“Where is she? Mama said she didn’t come home last night. What have you done to her?” She pointed a long finger at him. “Just so you know I have connections to the police.”
Cadde frowned. “Who are you?”
“Myra,” Jessie gasped from the doorway, wearing nothing but his white shirt. “What are you doing here?”
“Mama’s worried sick. You didn’t come home.”
“I told Rosa I wasn’t.”
“Oh.” Myra brushed aside her hair and looked at him and then back to Jessie. “Mama forgot to mention that part.”
“How did you get into the building?” Cadde asked, a little concerned that a maniac could walk right in.
“A good-looking guy let me in after I told him who I was.”
Chance. Cadde knew without a doubt.
“And who are you?”
“Myra Delgado. Rosa and Felix’s daughter.”
She didn’t extend a hand in greeting and that was fine with him. “I’ll go shave and shower and leave you two to…whatever.”
As he strolled away, Jessie clenched her hands into fists. “What are you doing?”
Myra shrugged. “Mama called at four, five, six and then again at eight. I promised I’d check on you. She’s worried.”
“If I hear worried one more time, I’m going to scream. Do you hear me, Myra?”
“I’m not deaf. You’re shouting.”
Jessie expelled a long breath. “Please let me live my life.”
Myra glanced toward the hallway. “He’s not bad, kind of ruggedly handsome in a brooding sort of way.”
“I would have introduced you, but you were acting like a real bitch.”
“I have that reputation, you know.”
“Yes. Use it in the courtroom but not in my life.”
Myra hugged her. “Gotcha. Have fun playing house.”
“Myra.” Jessie stopped her at the door. “Don’t come back unless you’re invited.”
“Now that’s damn cold.”
“It’s not meant to be. I want some privacy.”
“I’m starting a murder trial so I’ll be scarce for a while.” Myra winked. “Call if you need me, kiddo.”
Jessie went back into the bedroom. The bed was tumbled from a very active night. She wrapped her arms around her waist, still living in the moment. Last night was perfect—better than she’d ever dreamed or fantasized about. And under Cadde’s tutelage she’d gotten a lot of years of frustration out of her system and acted boldly, even brazenly. She couldn’t have done that with anyone else but Cadde.
Thinking of him, she moved toward the bathroom. He stood at a sink, shaving, a towel wrapped around his waist. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him and she knew because last night she’d touched every inch of his marble-crafted body.
With smooth quick strokes he swiped away his morning stubble. She could still feel it rubbing against her sensitive skin in an erotic, almost sinful way, igniting more suppressed emotions in her.
He noticed her. “The she-devil gone?”
She smiled. “She means well.”
“If you say so.” He wiped his face and leaned against the vanity, facing her. “I was thinking I’d call an emergency board meeting for Monday. Before I do any more work on the Louisiana deal, I’m going to need their approval.”