The Whisperers: A Three Book Box Set Page 26

  Her complete abandon was one of the most sexually alluring sights he’d ever seen. He probed the entrance of her sex with his finger, circling silken wet flesh then pushing inside the warmth. Another finger joined in, seeking that secret spot. When he found it, her body arched again and her hips rocked in time to the stroke of his hand.

  Jesse bent forward, licking and sucking at the hard bud of her clit. Carly cried out and moved faster against his fingers. “Oh ... god … yes!” She panted a split second before her sex clenched around his fingers.

  Before her climax could end, he straightened and pushed his erection against her wet opening. She pushed back, taking him inside. Jesse nearly lost it before he was fully seated. Her hips rose and fell, her sex tightening and releasing on him.

  Jesse lost track of time, giving himself to only sensation. He felt sweat gather on his skin and became aware that he wasn’t the only one breathing harder and trying to hold back.

  “I can’t.” Carly stretched her arms up and back, fingers digging at the rug and her body arched up like a bow, taut and quivering. “Please.”

  The effect of her words and the sight of her was more that he could resist. He lowered himself down, propped on one elbow, his free hand pinning her hands to the floor as he thrust more forcefully.

  “Now.” She moaned a moment before her body began to quake in orgasm. That ended his control. With two hard thrusts, he buried himself to the hilt inside her and gave in.

  When at last the wave had passed, he collapsed on her chest. For several minutes there was only the sound of their breath, their hearts pounding against one another, sweat-slicked skin gradually cooling.

  Jesse rolled off her, pulled her with him to cradle her to his side. Carly reached up and stroked the side of his face and he turned his head to look at her. The emotion he felt and what he saw shining in her eyes was as breathtaking as the orgasm he’d just experienced and far more surprising.

  And it ignited an answering emotional response inside him. “Carly, my little sweetheart.” He reached up to cover her hand with his.

  She smiled and closed her eyes. A few moments later, he felt himself starting to drift off, aware that for the first time in his life, he was falling asleep with a smile on his face for the woman in his arms.

  Chapter Four

  Carly was disoriented when consciousness started to return. Her eyes flew open as she realized her head was propped on a firm warm chest and her left hand was holding onto a very warm and very firm erection.

  She opened her eyes and saw Jesse smiling at her. “Morning sunshine.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  His smile brightened a notch and a split second later, his hand started a lazy trek down her body. It had just traveled south of her navel when his phone rang. Jesse let it ring a few times then gave a soft curse and released her to fumble around on the floor in the pile of discarded clothes.

  He looked at the phone. “It’s Jed,” he said a moment before he answered. “Jed, what’s up?”

  Carly saw the change in his expression and knew the tone of the morning had changed. She pushed herself into a sitting position and waited. Jesse continued to listen to whatever Jed had to say. Finally, he responded. “Okay, see you soon.”

  He tossed the phone onto the couch and just as he did Carly’s phone rang. They looked at each other and then she got up and went into the kitchen. From the caller id on her phone she could see it was her brother Colton calling.

  “Hey,” she answered.

  “Hey. Listen I thought you’d want to know that Ellie’s brother, Eldric arrived here last night. Memory and I are taking him to the hospital this morning to see Alex.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ve got everything covered here on my end but if you need me I’ll be available on my cell.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Yep. Later.”

  Carly put the phone down on the table and turned. Jesse was walking into the kitchen, zipping up his jeans. “That was Colton. Seems Eldric showed up last night and wants to see Alex.”

  “Yeah, that’s why Jed called. Mik and Teddy think I should be there.”

  “Why?”

  “Dang if I know, but according to Jed they were pretty insistent.”

  “So you want some coffee? Or a shower?”

  “Yes, to both.”

  “Okay, bathroom is second down on the left down the hall. I’ll put on some coffee.”

  “I have a better idea, put on the coffee, and share the shower.”

  She chuckled and set about the task of preparing coffee. “Why don’t you go with me to the hospital?” Jesse asked.

  She looked over her shoulder at him. “I don’t think that’d be a good idea.”

  “Why not? We can take my truck and you can catch a ride back with Colton.”

  “No, I better not.”

  “Why?”

  She turned to face him. “Well, primarily because I don’t know Alex, and this is a family thing. They might not appreciate being intruded upon.”

  “Your brother and his wife will be there. They’re not family.”

  “Only because they’re taking Eldric.”

  “Well … whatever. You can just ride with me and catch a ride back with them.”

  “Now why would I do that?” s

  he asked in a teasing tone.

  “To spend more time with me?”

  Carly smiled at him. “Well … I might be persuaded.”

  “Oh?” Jesse grinned. “And just what kind of persuasion will it take?”

  “That’s for you to figure out,” she replied as she turned and headed out of the kitchen.

  She heard his chuckle a moment before she felt the soft smack on her backside. Giggling like children, they hurried to the bathroom. Carly turned on the water. No sooner had the water started, Jesse pushed her into the shower and under the cold spray.

  She gasped, squeaked and then grabbed his arm and pulled him in with her. “Holy shit, that’s cold!” He backed as far away from the spray as possible.

  “Wuz,” she said and grinned at him then stepped fully into the spray. It was already starting to warm up. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

  Jesse took a moment to just enjoy the sight. Carly had no idea just how sexy she was. Toned but with curves in all the right places and blessed with a beautiful face and hair, she was fine with a capital F. And, he’d discovered, while there didn’t seem to be a conceited bone in her body, she was completely uninhibited.

  He stepped closer to get wet then took the soap from the dish. Her eyes popped open as he started to lather her, starting with her breasts. Jesse tried not to dwell there or the shower was going to turn into something other than a vehicle to get clean.

  Carly leaned her head back and closed her eyes as he continued to wash her. By the time he finished he needed a cold shower. Carly turned into the spray, finished rinsing, and then turned to face him again, taking the soap from him.

  “My turn.”

  “And how is this working to persuade you?”

  “Trust me. Now get in the water.”

  Jesse had never imagined that being washed would be so erotic. Carly worked shampoo into his hair with strong fingers in a manner that was stimulating and yet relaxing. When she finished with his hair, she worked her way down, covering every inch of his body with her soapy hands.

  And man did she have good hands. By the time he was rinsed he was ready to push her up against the wall of the shower and take her but she took control. Hand and lips, she touched and tasted. He was ready to explode. What was it about her? He couldn’t explain it. She just had…something. It wasn’t something he could define and sure couldn’t control.

  Hell, he lost the ability to think when she crouched down and closed her hot mouth on him. It didn’t take long before he stopped her. It was either that or she wasn’t going to get much out of the party.

  “Damn woman, you’re killing me.” He stuck his face into the wat
er then shook his head.

  Carly chuckled as she stood and then pushed him back against the wall. Jesse grinned just before his foot slipped. He made a grab for the closest thing to hang onto and latched onto the showerhead. A loud pop preceded it coming off in his hand and a fat stream of water spewing from the pipe.

  She dropped the soap and he stepped on it as he tried to move to put the showerhead on the edge of the tub. His foot went out from under him and he slapped back against the wall.

  Three-shower tiles clickety clacked their way into the tub as he splayed his arms out, hands plastering against the walls to stay upright.

  Carly howled with laughter, dancing around the soap as it slid around the tub.

  “Yeah, real funny—“

  Jesse’s complaint was cut short by her pressing up against him, lifting one leg high enough to provide room as her hand worked between them to take hold of his erection and rub it against her sex.

  “Oh damn,” he groaned. One push and he would be inside her. That’s all it would take to have that hot delicious flesh squeezing him.

  “Carly,” he groaned again and looked down at her. And the world went off its axis.

  Ever since he’d met her, he’s sensed she was hiding something. She was always in control and rarely let her guard down. More often than not, he had a hard time sensing her emotions. But now, right now in this moment, her guard was down and he saw her. Really saw her in a way he’d never imagined.

  He saw her vulnerability and a certain sense of innocence she tried to hide. Saw that while she hid behind a wall of competence, strength and “a woman kicking ass in a man’s world,” the truth was she was like everyone else, a victim of her own emotions, fears, and desires.

  And that slayed him. Completely. It tore through his own walls, those defenses he’d hidden behind his entire life. It ripped away the lies he’d always made himself believe, that he, like all the men before him were not cut out for happily ever after, for love that was consuming and complete.

  In that flash of realization, in the moment that he saw her, he also saw himself. And Jesse knew right then than he’d done what he never dreamed he would do.

  He’d fallen in love.

  “Jesse?” Her soft voice and the gentle touch of her hand on his face brought him back to reality. “You okay?”

  “More than okay,” he said and grinned. “And about to get down to some serious persuasion.”

  She laughed up at him. “Bring it, cowboy.”

  He needed no more encouragement than that. All thoughts of hospitals and ranch problems vanished from his mind. Right now, all that existed was her.

  *****

  Jesse’s brothers and their wives along with Colton, Memory, and Eldric were in the waiting room when Carly and Jesse arrived. Everyone turned to look at them as they entered. Carly tried to squelch the thought that went through her head. Did she look any different? Could anyone tell that she’d spent the night with Jesse? Was there a clue in her expression or stance that shouted, “I just had the most unbelievable sex ever”? Even more disconcerting, was there any sign that despite her intentions to keep things casual, she’d fallen for Jesse?

  That scared the living crap out of her. She’d never intended that to happen, never wanted it to. But it had.

  “Have you seen her yet?” Jesse asked.

  “Not yet.” Mik answered the question. “We were just about to go in.”

  She gave Jed’s hand a squeeze and stood. Teddy got to her feet, as did Eldric.

  “Is there anything we can do?” Jesse asked.

  “Actually there is.” Teddy replied and walked over to him to take his hand for a brief squeeze. “Could you go in with us? Eldric said that since the last thing she’d remember was you being there may help.

  “You got it.” Jesse said softly and then looked at Carly. “Wait for me?”

  “Yes.”

  He shocked her by giving her a soft kiss. Carly watched them leave the room. When she turned back around everyone was looking at them.

  “What?” She directed her question to Colton.

  “Nothing.” Colton answered.

  Carly saw the way Jake was hiding his smile and it dawned on her that with their abilities, his brothers probably sensed something. She didn’t quite know what to do. She hadn’t wanted to come, but Jesse had convinced her to accompany him.

  “So, you want to sit down?” Colton asked.

  “Sure.” She took a seat beside Memory. There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes until Jake spoke up. “So what exactly is it Eldric is going to do.”

  “That’s the sixty-four thousand dollar question.” Jed said.

  From the tone of his voice, Carly got the feeling that Jed didn’t hold much hope that Eldric would have any success. She cut her eyes to Memory. Memory smiled and shrugged and Carly turned her attention to the same spot in the room everyone else was watching. The door

  *****

  Inside Alex’s hospital room, Teddy and Mik stood at the foot of the bed, their eyes on the still form of their sister on the bed. Jesse went over and stood beside the window. He felt a little uncomfortable being there. You didn’t have need any special ability to feel the anxiety rolling off Mik and Teddy.

  Eldric went to the bed and sat down on it beside Alex. He cupped her face with both hands and closed his eyes. Jesse saw Teddy reach for Mik’s hand and cling to it. He turned his attention back to Eldric and Alex.

  After half an hour, he started to wonder what they were doing there. Eldric hadn’t moved at all and Alex hadn’t so much as twitched. Movement from Mik caught his attention. She loosened her hand from Teddy’s and walked over to the window beside Jesse, looking intently at Eldric.

  When Eldric spoke, Jesse and Mik both started.

  “Alex, open your eyes. It’s time.”

  Teddy flew to Alex’s side, grabbing her hand. Mik hurried over beside Eldric. He released Alex’s face. Everyone watched Alex, the seconds ticking by. Nothing happened. Jesse was ready to call it quits when Teddy gasped.

  Alex’s eyelids fluttered twice and then opened. Her gaze moved from one person to the next and finally pinned on Eldric. He smiled and softly stroked the side of her face. “It’s okay. You’re safe and healed and there is nothing here to hurt you.”

  She opened her mouth, trying to talk but nothing emerged. Monitors were sounding with beeps and shrills. Teddy was sobbing and Mik looked like she was about to faint.

  The door to the room swung open. Two nurses and a man Jesse assumed was a doctor rushed in. They shooed everyone away from the bed and started checking monitors, fussing over Alex. One of the nurses looked around. “I’ll need you to leave. We’ll send someone to the waiting room once the doctor has finished examining her.”

  “Come on.” Jesse took Mik’s arm and turned her toward the door then looked at Teddy. “Come on, honey. Let them do what they need to do.”

  Eldric was the last one to move. He leaned over and kissed Alex on the cheek then rose. Together, they all returned to the waiting room.

  The moment they entered everyone looked up at them. Jake took one look at Teddy who was still crying and flew across the room to her. “It worked,” Teddy said between tears. “She’s awake.”

  “Mik?” Jed asked.

  “She’s awake,” Mik said and looked at Eldric. “He did it. He brought her back.”

  Jesse got out of the way as Jed got up to go to Mik. Everyone started talking and hugging. He looked over and saw Carly, sitting beside Memory and watching.

  She gave him a smile and then someone grabbed him from behind. It was Teddy. He turned and let her hug him. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “Thank you for … you know.”

  “No problem little sis.”

  She cried a little harder and swiped at her eyes.

  “Anyone have a tissue?” Memory asked as she dug around in her purse.

  “A bandana?” Carly asked. She always carried a folded bandana in her back pocket.

>   “That’ll do.” Memory said. “I think Teddy could use it.”

  “Oh! Okay, sure.” Carly got up and approached Teddy. “Here.” She offered the bandana.

  Teddy accepted it and moped her face. All of a sudden, she gasped and looked at Carly. “Oh, my god!”

  “What?” Jake asked from behind her as everyone else went silent and looked at Teddy who was staring at Carly.

  “Have you told anyone?” Teddy asked.

  Carly was completely bewildered. “What’re you talking about?”

  Teddy reached over and pulled Carly close. “About your father,” she whispered.

  Carly pulled back like Teddy had just jabbed her with a branding iron. What the hell? Surprise and fear had her pulse racing. The way everyone was watching had anxiety crushing her. She couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe.

  She bolted from the room and leaned back against the wall outside of the waiting room. How had Teddy found out? Carly hadn’t told a soul and she was certain no one had gotten into the information her mother had given her. What the hell was going on?

  The door to the waiting room opened. Colton walked out, followed by Memory and Jesse. Jesse came to her, put his hands on her shoulders, and leaned down to look into her eyes. “Are you okay, baby?”

  She couldn’t answer. All she could do was shake her head. “What can I do?” he asked.

  “Nothing. I… I need to go. Go home.”

  “I’ll take you.”

  “No.” She pulled away from him, looking at her brother. “I need to talk to Colton. Alone.”

  She could tell from the look on his face that Jesse’s feelings were hurt. That wasn’t what she wanted and regretted the way she’d answered. “I’m sorry. It’s… it’s a family thing. I just need to talk to my brother.”

  “Okay.” He looked at Colton. “You want me to go get Eldric?”

  Colton looked at Carly and then back at Jesse. “Do me a favor?”