Chapter Forty-one
Suddenly, Jack’s patience broke. He went up behind her, slid his arms around her waist and snuggled his chin on her head, praying she wouldn’t reject him this time.
To his everlasting joy, she did no such thing. Just the opposite. She leaned back against him, almost sagging as though relief made her weak. Her voice was low but the sweetest words he’d ever heard rang with sincerity. “If you want me, I’ll never leave you again.”
“Sweet Jesus, if I want you? Lady, I’ve never wanted or needed anyone in my life like I need and want you.
” His words were spoken near her ear and he pressed a kiss to her neck.
“I don’t just love you, Mia. I adore everything about you.
Your kindness, your loving ways with everyone around you, especially how you’ve adopted a little girl who needed a mother.
And how you treat Angie, like a dear friend rather than an old aunt.
You have a sweetness of spirit most people work hard at. For you, it comes easy.”
“Oh, Jack. Don’t place me on a pedestal, especially one I couldn’t maintain and wouldn’t want to.
Look at how badly I’ve treated you. I’m a bitch when I want to be – certified with the club and holding a lifetime membership.
But I do love you. And I want you to be happy.
You have so much on your plate right now, maybe we should go slow, take baby steps, say until Christmas, to make sure you want to take me on, considering how much baggage I have. ”
“I don’t need any time. I want you in my life forever – you, Maisie, Angie, Mark, your family – even your business. I want it all as long as you come with the package.”
He turned her gently and they stood close, gazing into each other’s eyes. The tension around them fled, leaving them surrounded in a peaceful cloud of romance and tenderness.
Jack leaned forward and placed soft worshipping kisses on one cheek and then the other, while her fingers crept through his hair before cupping his head in gentle hands. Pulling him towards her, she reached up and aimed a kiss for his lips, one he let her initiate.
Reining in his desire, his body suddenly thick with passion and need, he let her pet him. As she caressed and kissed him so sweetly, he dissolved in a big puddle of loving mush. God, he adored her.
Not knowing how long he could last before ripping off her clothes and taking her with a lust that had eaten away at him ever since their last time together, he clenched his everything and held on.
Kissing and nuzzling changed quickly. Jack sensed exactly when hunger struck, and she needed more. Her breath came in gasps. Her body, vibrating in the same way as his, made demands he was delighted to satisfy.
Aiming her toward the sofa behind them, he laid her under him and took over the foreplay.
Now their kisses turned hot and heavy, need forced nakedness and wanting forced their lovemaking to another level. Both acted without thinking of where they were. It didn’t matter.
All that mattered was being together once again. It felt as if their bodies were connected… their hearts would be content.
Jack undid the front of her robe and gave thanks when he saw she was wearing a nightie with narrow straps. They slid easily off her shoulders to reveal her full breasts. Pink-tipped and luscious, they tasted exactly as he’d remembered.
Slathering them with kisses, sucking the tips gently while she held his head against her, she murmured sighs of satisfaction and began moving, urging him on, needing him to hurry. “Jack, I can’t wait to feel you inside me again. I’ve missed you terribly.”
Hearing those words spoken in her voice shaky from desire broke his control. Feeling her body undulating, spurring him on, killed his composure, overrode his decision to be the perfect slow lover.
Powerless to curb himself, urgently his hand slid below her nightie to where her nakedness awaited. His fingers traveled up her thigh and found her sweet spot dripping with the need to welcome him home.
Undressing just enough so he could perform, her hands wanting to help, he loosened his clothing and released his body. Thick and desperate from the need for relief only her drenched body could fulfill, he let her guide him inside.