Read Sunshine's Kiss for Free Online Page A

how you’re going to explain this all to Sam. I’ll go talk with Sarah and find out how much Sam actually knows.”
    Jesse nodded then started drawing in deep breaths to calm himself. His beast wouldn’t retreat until he was in full control of himself. Right now, he felt anything but in control. His thoughts were scattered, fragmented. His emotions were running rampant.
    He was a mess.
    Jesse calmed enough to shift back into his human form just about the time Sam started to rouse, his eyes flickering several times before they opened fully. He just stared up at Jesse, not making a sound. It was almost as if Sam was afraid any little noise would make the beast attack.
    “I won’t hurt you, Sam,” Jesse whispered. “Despite what it looks like, and my actions so far, I would never intentionally hurt you. I swear to you that you are safe here.”
    “Then let me go,” Sam whispered.
    The simple words sent shards of agony through Jesse’s chest. He closed his eyes against the pain and hugged Sam to his body for just a moment, positive that this would be the last time he would be allowed that pleasure.
    Clenching his jaw to keep from begging, Jesse opened his eyes and carefully lowered Sam to the mattress next to him. He quickly clasped his hands together and let them dangle between his legs to keep from grabbing for his mate again, and then he hung his head. He wasn’t going to watch Sam walk away from him.
    He just wasn’t that strong.
    “What are you?”

Chapter 4

    Sam scooted as far away from Jesse as the bed would allow, pressing his back up against the headboard. He knew if he made a run for it, whatever Jesse was would just attack him. He could feel it in his bones.
    Whatever Jesse was, however, had Sam rather intrigued. Sam had never seen anything like what Jesse had turned into, not even in the movies. It hadn’t been disgusting, but it wasn’t human either.
    “I’m Lycan,” Jesse said simply as if he weren’t divulging a deep dark secret and rocking Sam’s world to its very foundation. “It comes from the term Lycanthropy , from the Ancient Greek word lykánthropos , which refers to the ability to transform oneself into a wolflike creature.”
    “And that means what exactly?”
    “Well, you’ve seen what I turn into when I allow the beast out.”
    “Beast. Is that what you call it?”
    Jesse nodded.
    “How long have you been that way?” Sam asked. “Were you bitten by something?”
    “No.” Jesse chuckled softly as he stared down at his clasped hands. “I was born this way, Sam. We all were.”
    “All?” he squeaked. “Just how many of you are there?”
    “The entire McCaffrey family is Lycan.”
    “Holy fucking shit!” Sam gasped. “I’ve lived here most of my life. How did I not know this?”
    “I’m kind of curious about that myself,” Jesse said as he turned to look at Sam. “I seriously thought you knew.”
    Sam shook his head as he stared at Jesse. “I didn’t.”
    “Yeah, I kind of figured that out.” Jesse once more went back to staring down at his hands. His shoulders were hunched as if the weight of the world sat on them. “But, at least that explains your reaction.”
    “My reaction?”
    Jesse’s swallow was audible and filled the large quiet room. “You’re afraid of me.”
    There was a world of hurt in those four words. Sam frowned and started staring down at his own hands, twisting them together then picking at one of his nails as he tried to think of how to respond to Jesse without sounding like a complete goober.
    “You’re welcome to stay at the ranch for as long as you need to, Sam,” Jesse said as he stood and turned his back on Sam. “I won’t stop you if you want to leave. I get it that this is a lot to take in. I just ask that you don’t tell anyone about us. A lot of lives depend on keeping our secret.”
    “I won’t tell a soul, I promise, but—”
    “Thank you.”
    Sam’s mouth dropped open as Jesse just simply walked out of the room