Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Jessica’s POV

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After what felt like an eternity of sobbing on that cold porch, my face streaked with tears and my chest heaving from the emotional storm, I finally mustered the strength to go inside.

I wiped my eyes roughly with the back of my hand, sniffing back the remnants of my breakdown, and pushed myself up from the ground.

My legs felt wobbly, like they’d forgotten how to hold me, but I couldn’t stay out there forever–exposed, and vulnerable.

I turned the doorknob gently, easing the door open with a soft click to avoid waking Aaron if he was already asleep.

The cozy living room greeted me in pitch blackness, the moonlight struggling to filter through the thick, velvet curtains he’d insisted on. That was Aaron for you–he had this thing for aesthetically dark spaces, like he thrived in the shadows.

When I’d first moved in, he’d been surprisingly considerate, tweaking habits to make me comfortable: swapping his overpowering air freshener I hated for a softer scent, even toning down his late–night music blasts, and so many others.

But a dim house? That was non–negotiable. “Use your flashlight if you need to,” he’d say.

Lights only came on for rare occasions, like Christmas or when we had company.

I navigated the familiar layout without a hitch–the coffee table here, the couch there–my feet knowing the path by heart.

As I slipped into our bedroom, a faint blend of my vanilla perfume and his woody cologne wafted toward me.

The large bedroom was spotless, a showcase of aggressive tidiness. Not a speck of dust dared to settle, and the bed sheets were pulled taut over the mattress.

Aaron was a verifiable clean freak, but lately, the intensity of his tidying felt frantic. Maybe it was a way to keep his chaotic mind occupied.

I tiptoed to my side of the bed and collapsed onto the mattress without a second thought, the soft sheets cradling my exhausted body.

A tired sigh escaped my lips as I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, my mind a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts.

Dad’s venomous words replayed on loop, Rose’s entitlement gnawing at me, and that cryptic message from Kennedy Tyrone looming like a dark cloud. It was all too much, draining every last drop of energy I had left.

Why couldn’t I just switch it off? Flip a mental switch and find peace?

After what felt like an endless minute of mental torture, I hauled myself up and padded to the bathroom, craving relief. I stripped down and stepped under the shower, twisting the knob to cold.

The icy water hit my skin like needles at first, but soon it loosened my cramped muscles and calmed the pounding ache in my head.

I stayed under the frigid spray until my eyes grew heavy and a comforting weariness kicked into my bones.

I shut off the water, wrapped myself in a fluffy towel, and waltzed back into the bedroom, droplets trailing down my skin.

A soft groan from his side of the bed caught my ear, drawing my gaze. In the dim light filtering through the window, I could make out his silhouette tossing restlessly, brows furrowed even in sleep.

He looked uncomfortable, maybe too warm.

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12:00 Sat, Jan 10

Chapter 27

I walked to the vanity and grabbed the AC remote, cranking it up a notch to cool the room.

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That done, I strode over to him, drawn like a moth to a flame. I looked so peaceful despite the unease–his strong jaw relaxed, lashes fanned out, chest rising and falling steadily. Beautiful, in a rugged way that always stole my breath.

My lips curled into a small smile, but it faded as Kennedy’s offer trashed back into my thoughts, twisting my gut.

I sighed and carefully perched on the edge of his bed, not wanting to wake him but needing the closeness.

“How can I do this to you, Aaron?” I whispered, my voice barely audible in the quiet room.

“Even when you were my active bully, pushing me around in high school, I would’ve given my life for you without a second thought. And now? After you’ve saved me more times than I can count, when I’m head–over–heels in love with you, how can I betray you?”

Tears traced hot paths down my cheeks again.

I reached out, and gently traced my knuckles along his strong forearm, the warmth of his skin grounding me even as guilt tore me apart.

Kennedy’s deal was tempting–damn it was so tempting. Especially now, with this burning need for revenge against my family, to make them pay for every scar they’d inflicted. But not at the cost of Aaron’s life, his dreams, his career. No way.

My eyes roamed his perfect features: the sharp line of his nose, the faint stubble on his chin, down to those full lips that had haunted my dreams. I could still remember how they felt on mine–soft yet demanding, igniting sparks I’d never knowne existed.

Drawn in, I leaned forward slowly and traced my thumb along the contour of his lower lip, feeling the subtle give of it.

My wet hair fell forward, the cool strands brushing his cheek, and he stirred. He shifted, and I sighed, taking it as my cue to stand and leave.

Better not push my luck. But before I could move, his hand shot out like a trap, and gripped my waist firmly.

I gasped, my heart leaping into my throat. In one fluid, powerful motion, he flipped us over, his weight pinning my body to

the mattress.

I was completely shocked; he moved with the speed and strength of someone who had been wide awake all along.

“Aaron?” I stammered, my voice a breathless whisper.

His brown eyes, dark and heavy with sleep, pinned me in place, his gaze swallowing every inch of me.

“What do you think you were doing, Jess?”

His voice was a low

rasp.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I realized my towel was the only thing between us. “I—”

“Dressed in just a towel?” He smirked, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down my spine. “Tell me, are you trying to seduce me, flower?”

I shook my head frantically, words tumbling out. “I’m sorry, I… I didn’t mean—“

He leaned in, cutting me off as he captured my lips in a searing kiss. It was urgent, filled with the pent–up frustration of the day, his mouth moving against mine like he was claiming what was his.

I melted into it, my hands finding their way to his shoulders, clutching the tense muscle.

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Chapter 27

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his forehead resting against mine.

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“I hate it when we don’t talk. When we fight. I hate it when you give me the cold shoulder. It messes with my mental state, Jess.”

He leaned his face down, burying it in the curve of my neck, his breath hot on my skin.

His hand, warm and calloused, moved slowly, deliberately, down my back until it caught the edge of my towel.

He undid the knot with a soft tug, and the towel fell away.

His mouth returned to mine, hard and desperate, his fingers tangling in the wet strands of my hair, pulling my head back to deepen the angle of the kiss.

He broke the kiss, and rained small, urgent kisses across my jawline, down the column of my neck, and across my shoulder, his touch making my skin instantly prickle and warm.

“Aaron,” I breathed, my voice trembling with a mix of nerves and desire.

“Shh,” he whispered, his lips now trailing kisses down my legs, nipping gently at

my

toes.

Each touch sent electric jolts through me, my back arching instinctively.

His hands explored, one sliding up my thigh while the other cupped my breast, thumb circling the peak until I whimpered.

He lowered his head, his mouth replacing his hand, sucking softly at first, then with more intensity, his tongue flicked over my nipple.

I threaded my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer, lost in the sensation–the wet heat of his mouth, teeth.

the graze of his

“Fuck, Jess, you’re perfect,” he murmured against my skin, switching to the other side, lavishing the same attention until I was squirming beneath him.

His free hand ventured lower, tracing patterns along my inner thigh, teasing the edge of my core.

I bit my lip to stifle a moan as his fingers finally dipped in, slow and exploratory, finding that spot that made stars burst behind my eyelids.

He moved with expert rhythm, curling and thrusting, his thumb pressing circles that built the pressure inside me to a fever pitch.

“Aaron, please,” I gasped, my hips bucking against his hand, chasing the release that hovered just out of reach.

He lifted his head, eyes dark with lust as he watched my reactions, his breath ragged. “Let go for me, flower. I’ve got you.”

The words, combined with his touch, pushed me over the edge. Waves of pleasure crashed through me, leaving me trembling and breathless in his arms.

As I came down, he pulled me close, his lips brushing my forehead. But then, in the quiet aftermath, his voice turned serious, laced with that underlying concern I’d been dodging.

“Jess…. what did you and Grandpa talk about in his office?”

My heart stuttered, the haze of bliss shattering as reality slammed back. I froze, my eyes widening in the dim light, the weight of secrets pressing down once more.