Chapter Fifty-Six
Jesse already regretted his decision. He was used to living alone, doing his own thing and only being responsible for himself. Now he had this girl in his house and he knew his life would only get more chaotic with her in it.
The days sped by with Jesse caring for Marley. It brought back bittersweet memories of his life with Layla. The guilt ate away at him and now he was living in his own personal hell, again, with Marley. She surprised him by cleaning the kitchen at night after he had cooked. She wasn’t completely spoiled. He had taken her to her house where she’d packed two suitcases and brought her back to his house.
He came home one afternoon and found Marley in the laundry room crying. “What’s wrong?” Jesse was on his knees next to her.
“I ruined the laundry.”
Jesse’s heart calmed down and he started to laugh, looking at his now pink t-shirt and her red underwear. He had immediately thought the worst. “I can’t believe you don’t know how to do laundry. Whites are always washed separately.”
“I’m sorry I ruined your shirt.”
“It’s okay, Marley. I have more shirts.”
He pulled her up by the hand and then only noticed what she was wearing. She wasn’t wearing a bra underneath her tight spaghetti strap top and the boy shorts were short, too short. Her navel peeked at him and he averted his gaze and turned away from her.
“I’ll do the laundry later.” Jesse walked hurriedly out of the laundry room and headed to the stairs.
“Did I say something wrong?” Marley’s voice drifted up to him but he was trying to hide his rising erection from her.
He couldn’t react like that with her. He was eleven years older than her. She was practically still a child. She was in his care too! Kelley would not be happy. He had too much baggage and his past wasn’t rosy-coloured at all.
He sat in his room until all thoughts of Marley and her barely-there clothes left his mind and he focused on other things. He should tell her to go back home before he did something stupid. He was only human and her walking around half naked didn’t help.
Jesse hadn’t been with anyone since his wife died and he wasn’t immune to what Marley had to offer. They’d been living together for two months now, falling into a routine and everything was going smoothly. They ate dinner together, watched movies, and went shopping but so far that had been all, until now.
Jesse had been attracted to her for a while now but he’d never act on it. She was too young and she’d been hurt. Jesse wouldn’t walk that road again, he’d tried to save Layla and he had failed. She’d still died a victim.
Another two weeks went by and Jesse couldn’t bring himself to tell her to leave. He enjoyed her company, getting to know her and realizing that there was more to Marley Alexander than being a pampered princess.
One night as they sat at the dining table Marley cleared her throat and looked Jesse pointedly in the eye. “Do you like me, Jesse?”
“What do you mean, Marley?”
“It feels like you try to avoid me at times like I make you uncomfortable.”
“I do like you, Marley.”
“I like you too, Jesse.”
“You also do make me feel uncomfortable at times.”
Marley shifted in her seat, her cleavage visible and Jesse looked down. “Because you’d like to see me naked?”
Jesse’s head snapped up but Marley’s gaze was sincere and maybe even curious. “That can never happen.”
“Why not? We’re both adults.”
“I’m eleven years older than you for a start. Secondly, you’re Kelley’s little sister and he’s my friend. Thirdly, after what happened to you … I won’t ever be responsible for taking you back to your past.”
With that said Jesse stood up from the table and headed upstairs to his room. He took his clothes off and climbed into the shower, cursing himself and his ever-present erection as he thought about Marley. ‘She’s too young,’ he thought to himself and took matters into his own hands.
Jesse's sleep had been restless and his eyes snapped open the moment his bedroom door opened. The bathroom light was still on and he saw her silhouette as she neared the bed. Jesse remained unmoving and kept his breathing even. He heard the shifting of material as she took off her night dress and then the covers moved as she climbed in beside him.
“I know you’re awake, Jesse.”
“What are you doing?” She was right next to him now, facing him.
“I don’t remember what happened to me, I know it happened but there are no memories of it. I want to make new memories with you.”
Their lips touched and Marley kissed him. His erection was instantaneous and it throbbed between them. Marley lifted her one leg and they pressed against each other. Her tongue fought for dominance with his and she moved her hips against his.
Her hands pushed his boxers down and she produced a wrapped foil package. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Marley tore the package open and sheathed him in latex. “I know you’ll never hurt me, Jesse. I want this with you.”
With that Jesse flipped her onto her back and pulled her legs around him. She lay naked underneath him and he pushed inside her slowly. Jesse was still above her and he looked at her with tenderness. He had lost his inner battle completely.
“I’m okay, Jesse,” Marley whispered close to his ear.
Jesse flipped them over again so Marley was on top. This way she was in charge and could set her own pace and also stop if that was what she wanted to do. Marley started to move and Jesse had to stop himself from groaning out loud.
His hands found her hips then her breasts and he started thrusting into her following her rhythm. When he felt her clamp down around him he turned them around once more and started chasing his own release once she had reached hers.
