Chapter 23 - Jackson #2
In place of the small changing room she was expecting is a room that spans nearly seven hundred square feet.
I walk Taevin through the first part of the room where the production equipment is set up against a half-glass wall that leads into an enclosed studio that takes up nearly two-thirds of the space.
“When they were finishing the basement, they had to move the baby grand piano in here before they even put up the walls. They literally built the room around it, so I made it the focal point,” I explain as we walk into the studio area.
The entire back wall is filled with various guitars hung on the wooden acoustic paneling.
“Over here is where you can record vocals, and the music producer I hired to help me with logistics and equipment assured me the room was big enough for your full band to be in here if you ever wanted to fly them out to record something.”
Turning her around, I point back through the glass to the wall by the entrance.
“And then I purchased and had as many pictures of you performing over the years as I could hung up on the back wall there. I figured the one on the side here would be a good spot for any of your albums and awards if you ever wanted to bring them here. If you ever, uh, you know, decided to stay,” I end on a whisper, instantly regretting pushing her too far when I’m met with nothing but silence.
Instead of saying anything, Taevin leads me back into the control room. I’m about to apologize for overstepping when she pushes me down onto the couch against the far wall. “What—” I start, but am cut off when she straddles my lap.
“Sometimes words aren’t enough to express appreciation—” Taevin starts as she slides my shirt up and over my head.
“Sometimes expressing gratitude through action is the only way to show someone how truly appreciative you are of their grand gesture.” My breaths come out strangled when Taevin places a kiss on my jaw and licks a trail down my neck before sitting up and wrapping her arms around my neck.
Resting her forehead against mine, she shakes her head almost as if in disbelief, and the feeling is mutual, because what is happening right now?
With her lips brushing against mine, she murmurs, “And Jackson, I’m so fucking thankful for not only this beautiful room, but this entire house that I very much so plan to make our home.
Because, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to live with you here.
Not just while I’m receiving treatment, but for the rest of our whole damn lives. ”
Reaching up, I grasp her face in my hands and lean back so I can look into her eyes while I make my confession. “Baby, nothing would be more right.” My gaze flickers to her lips and back. “I love you, Tae. I still love you. I’ve never stopped, not for a damn minute over the past ten years.”
A strangled gasp leaves her as she wraps her arms around me, rocking us back and forth as she clings to me.
Without breaking our embrace, she whispers against my neck, “I’ve never stopped loving you, Jackson, and I never will.
I am yours until I take my very last breath, and even beyond that—my love for you is eternal. ”
Instead of giving either of us a chance to react to her declaration, her lips crash against mine in a kiss that expresses not only our love, but our forgiveness and promise to move forward in our second act together.
Our bodies move in sync as if no time has passed since we were last like this. Fisting the fabric of my T-shirt she’s wearing, I slowly inch my fists up, only breaking our kiss so I can lift it off over her head.
“Tae, baby,” I breathe, completely mesmerized by the feel of her silky skin beneath my palms once again. She’s not wearing a bra, and the sight of her bare breasts in front of me is too tempting to resist. “You’re so fucking perfect, T.”
I’m prepared for the apprehensive look crossing her face and not surprised when she murmurs “No, I’m not.”
“You are. You’re perfect beyond belief. I’ve been obsessed with you since we were eighteen and my fascination has only grown with time.
Come here,” I tell her, pulling her closer so I can place open-mouth kisses across her chest, kissing up her neck until I come across her rose tattoo behind her ear.
Drifting my lips over the delicate ink, I tweak her nipples between my fingers at the same time, earning me a sweet moan that sends blood rushing to my dick.
Taevin grips onto my shoulders, nails digging deliciously into my flesh as she begins rocking her hips over mine. I resent every ounce of clothing separating my skin from meeting hers.
As if she can read my mind, Tae lifts off of me before undoing the button on my shorts and pulling them and my boxer briefs down at the same time.
Taevin stands before me in nothing but a white, cotton thong, and the sight flips a switch inside my brain. I go feral, moving into action as if on instinct. One moment I’m sitting on the couch, the next I’m kneeling before her with my arms wrapped around the backs of her legs.
Staring up at her, she cups my cheek, and then drags her thumb across my jaw until she thumbs my bottom lip, pulling it from between my teeth. “I’ve nearly forgotten all of the sinister things my husband’s mouth can do. Think you can remind me?”
I fucking whimper in desperation for her to let me do just that. I’d love nothing more than to taste her again. Eating her pussy was my favorite pastime.
I lick a trail up her thigh until I meet her thong-covered pussy. Hooking my fingers beneath the waistband, I slowly drag them down inch by inch, placing delicate kisses in their wake until she steps out of them.
Licking my lips, I prepare to devour her just as she presses her palm against my forehead.
“Lie down on the couch, J.”
“What?” I ask incredulously as I look up at her.
“Be a good boy for me and lie on your back so I can sit on your face.”
It’s actually pathetic how fast I scramble to the couch, but I give zero fucks in this moment because my wife is going to sit on my face.
I’m not sure where this newfound confidence of hers has come from, and I’m certainly not going to think on it too hard right now, but I’m a fucking fan of my wife telling me what to do.
I’m not above begging and pleading with her to let me taste her at this point.
As soon as I’m lying on my back, Taevin straddles my chest, facing away from me. My mouth waters in anticipation but before she scoots back, Taevin bends over and places a soft kiss on the head of my cock, making it jerk in response.
I see fucking stars, and when her lips wrap around my length, my hips buck off the couch in response.
Holyfuckingshit. It’s been far too long since I’ve been given a blow job and her lips feel like heaven. There’s no way I’m going to last.
Knowing I need to do something to distract myself from the pleasure overload her mouth is providing, I grip Tae’s hips and hover her above my face.
“Sit down and ride my fucking face, Tae,” I command before placing her exactly where I’ve been dying to have her.
Within seconds of her pussy gracing my lips, she gets back to work, her head bobbing up and down my length, and it becomes a battle of who can make the other come first. I’ve got to remind myself not to finger her while I’m eating her out the way I know she loves because she hasn’t been cleared for any penetration yet.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t drive her crazy in other ways.
My hands wrap around her thighs, spreading them wider to gain better access.
Just as I’m finding a rhythm she loves—if her moans vibrating against my cock tell me anything—Tae brings me to the back of her throat and the feel of her gagging around my length is enough to make me come right then and there.
I lift her hips slightly and warn, “Fuck, T. I’m going to come, baby.”
That only further spurs her on, and her lips suction my cock just perfectly, sending me spiraling into an orgasm that almost turns into an out-of-body experience.
When I’m able to actually feel my limbs again, I slide out from where Taevin is kneeling above me and quickly lay her on her back.
I shoulder my way between her thighs and turn into a man obsessed, my sole focus on giving my wife the pleasure she deserves.
There’s a cadence that drives Tae wild, and when I find it, it’s not long before she’s coming undone beneath me.
The taste of her release on my tongue is like an addict getting his first hit after being sober for years.
“Fuck. I’ve missed the taste of your sweet pussy,” I tell her as I kiss a path up her stomach and over her breasts.
Lacing her fingers into the hair at the back of my head, Taevin pulls me to her mouth for a slow, sensual kiss that has my hips rocking involuntarily against hers, making my cock harden again.
“You always had a way with words that made me feel like I was an exception or something,” Tae whispers against my lips.
She tries to pull me back in for another kiss but I stop her by pulling back so I can stare into her eyes.
“You are my exception, Tae. You have been from the moment I laid eyes on you sitting alone on that pew at the very front of the church. I know love at first sight is something people think is made up, but I can promise you that you were my exception from the very first time I saw you. I haven’t been with another woman since that day because there has never been another that’s nearly as exceptional as you are. ”
Tae’s brows draw together in confusion. “What do you mean not since that day? That doesn’t even make sense. There were dozens and dozens of pictures of you kissing women over the years posted on social media. Those very photos of you would send me spiraling.”
Nuzzling my face into her neck, I rake my teeth along her sensitive flesh and murmur, “It makes perfect sense. I kissed those women to get your attention, though it never seemed to work the way I intended. After a while, I realized that and from there on out I didn’t even try.
But it was never more than kissing, and only if I knew it would be blasted on social media in hopes that it would reach you. ”
Tae scoffs. “So, let me get this straight . . . you thought making it look like you’d moved on with dozens of women would send me running back to you?”
Propping myself up on my elbow, I hover above her and get lost in her chocolate eyes.
“Back then I was so mad at you for leaving me, I had hoped that me kissing someone else would tear you up so much that you’d come back to me—even if it were just to yell at me—I was desperate for anything you’d give me.
Then when you didn’t, the only way to satiate my need for you was to go to as many of your performances as I could over the years,” I admit, hoping like hell she hears the sincerity in my tone.
Tae cups my cheek and rubs her thumb up and down my cheek in a loving way, but when our eyes connect, hers are filled with pain I wasn’t anticipating to see.
She worries her lips together before letting out a shuttered sigh.
“I wish I could say I did the same, but that’s unfortunately not the case.
Your actions and seeing them all over social media sent me spiraling further than I already was after the miscarriage.
I drank heavily for nearly two years in an attempt to drown out the grief.
And when I drank, the loneliness would take over and I’d make poor decisions like allowing other men into my bed.
” Her voice cracks and tears slide down her cheeks.
Even though it pains me to know she’d moved on temporarily, I can’t for one minute blame her. Everyone in my life thought I was insane holding onto the ghost of her for all those years. I can’t even begin to put myself in her shoes at that time.
“Jackson, you have to know that if I knew we were still married, even though we were separated, I never would’ve done that. God, what you must think of me—” she starts before I swiftly cut her off.
“Baby, no. Please don’t do that. It’s not like you cheated, we weren’t together. There were no vows you had to uphold when you thought we were no longer married. If anyone is sorry, it’s me. I should’ve refused to let you walk out on me. I should’ve been there for you.”
Taevin presses two finger tips to my lips and hushes me.
“Shh. I don’t want to do this again. We need to agree to leave the past in the past and move forward together.
Yes, we both made mistakes that cost us years together, which is exactly why I don’t want to waste another minute I have on this earth without you. Will you promise me?”
I stare down at her, taking in every little feature and detail of her face that has changed over our time apart so I can commit this moment to memory. “I promise, baby,” I rasp out.
“Me too,” she whispers and then tugs on my neck so we can seal our promises with a kiss that feels as though it separates time into then and now. A kiss in which I can feel Taevin clinging as desperately to me as I do her, the way I hope we always will from here on out.
For I will love this woman until my dying breath and in every eternity beyond this life.