Page 61 of Soldier, Tailor, Spy

“Thank you.” Rae lifted her bottle of water in salute. “I knew about you before I ever saw you. Asher told me all about you after Jake was a dick.”

“Drew didn’t or well doesn’t talk about Jake much.” Paisley said, cutting up the potatoes “From what I understand, he hurt everyone while they knew he too was hurting—confusing as that sounds. I’m just glad you’re here with us. It felt incomplete without you.”

Ginger paused in her cooking. “I’m glad I’m here too. I’m so sorry we had to meet this way and put all of your lives in danger again.”

Rae waved her off. “We knew what we were getting into when we said, “I do.” It’s nothing we can’t all handle together.”

Ginger nodded. “Sure enough. Also, it’s nice to have husbands and wives here for a change. I’m glad I got to see this side of R.O.O.T..”

“We are too, Rae said. “Now, why don’t you tell us who the new guy is at the shop?”

“Only if you tell us about your brother,” Paisley teased.

Rae narrowed her eyes. “You’re on.”

By the time everyone went home, and Jake put the kids to bed, Ginger was exhausted. For the first time since they moved into the house, she filled the tub with water and turned on the jets. Getting back into the swing of standing all day while cutting and prepping materials for her suit collection was taking a toll on her back. Thankfully West, the man Luca brought into the shop, was quite handy and could keep up with her.

Ginger eased back into warm water, massaging her muscles. If she wasn’t careful, she could fall asleep in there. Though she had a feeling, Jake would check up on her and take her to bed. Speaking of which... She knew he wouldn’t push things between them. They were taking it a day at a time. His statements of never letting her go were met with a healthy dose of cynicism and caution, but Jake seemed undeterred, and she... Well, she secretly loved it.

“There you are,” Jake said, joining her in the bathroom. “How are you feeling?”

Exhausted. Stressed out. Pissed off still. When Jake walked into a room or smiled in her direction, all the tension bled from her body and she relaxed, kind of like she was at the moment. “Happy.” She smiled up at him, holding out her hand. “The tub is big enough for the both of us.”

He growled, pulling his clothes off as quick as he could before joining her in the tub. Then groaned the minute the jets hit his skin and Ginger knew he experienced the first waves of relief as she had moments ago. He closed his eyes, leaning against the tub, and sighed. “I needed this after today.” He pulled her into his arms, so she was resting between his extended legs; the length of his cock pressed to the small of her back.

“At least there was a minor victory for you,” she murmured, pushing her head to his chest.

“Yes,” he agreed. By the time they sat down to dinner, the head of the FBI had resigned, and the first rumbling of charges being brought against the deputy director was announced through news outlets. It was a good day for them.

“So, what do we do now?” she whispered, running her fingertips up and down his thighs.

“Now, I want to make love to my wife.” Jake pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “If you still want me.”

Did she? Yes, after all they’d been through, somehow they found their way back together. She wouldn’t question why it was easy for him to love her, especially after everything that happened, but she accepted him. “Yes, I do.”

“Thank fuck.” He sat up, turning her slightly so he could cover her mouth with his. The kiss was carnal, filled with raw emotion and yearning.

There was one thing about Jake she could find nowhere else, his ferocious need. He buried his hand in her hair, tugging her head at the angle he wanted her so he could deepen the kiss. With his free hand, he cupped her pussy, his middle finger teasing her entrance before circling her clit. Two could play that game. Ginger took his cock in her hand and stroked his hardening dick. His groan of need demanded she go faster. Instead, she took her time.

“In the tub?” she murmured against his lips. “Or should we move?”

“Here,” he moaned, raising his hips to meet her. “Right here.”

Jake backed her up, so she was forced to straddle his lap and, when he entered her, she cried out, quivering around him as sparks of her arousal cascaded over her. The delicious stretch of her sensitive walls spurred her excitement. He fucked her in hard, demanding thrusts that caused stars to form in front of her. Each inhale was a drag of air into her tensed lungs as she hung on the edge of what she knew would be the best fucking orgasm of her life.

Ginger dug her fingernails into his shoulders, hanging on for dear life as she sobbed into his neck about how good it felt. The crazy pleasure that threatened to consume her left her wild and unhinged. How could something so magnificent be so damn painful as well? No, he wasn’t hurting her, but the sheer wanton desire rocketing through her veins left her pulled tight. One right move and she’d shatter. The anticipation knocked her for a loop as the desperate groans coming from Jake added to the erotic atmosphere surrounding them. When he leaned forward, bracing them against the tub, the sensual sounds he made with each plunge of his hips sent her higher.

“Fuck, Ginger, fuck,” he groaned, reaching between them to manipulate her clit.

“Jake...” She arched to him before the bow within her snapped and she shattered in his arms.

Her release hit her hard. She shook and trembled in his arms as he rode out her release, chasing his orgasm, until he buried himself deep within her and shouted. The deep guttural sound sent tendrils of mini-orgasms wiggling through her. Jake pumped his hips twice more, making small, pained noises as the heat of his orgasm filled her. “Fuck.” He held her close while catching his breath. “I love you. I fucking hate all of this had to happen for me to wake up and realize you were the best woman in my life, and I threw you and Fawn away. I’m so sorry, Ginger.”

Ginger cling to him, while tears slipped down her cheeks. “Don’t you ever take responsibility for what someone else did. I am eternally grateful to you, Jake. You made it so we can have another day together.” She pulled back slightly so she could look up at him. “I’m not sure when I can tell you I love you, but the feeling is there. I’m just—healing still.”

He nodded. “Take all the time in the world, Gingersnap. I’m not going anywhere. You’re it for me.”

She sighed. The first vestiges of relief and excitement for what the future might hold wound through her. She’d cling to those wispy ends for eternity. “Same, Jake O’Malley. Forever.”

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