Page 104 of Seasoned
“Go hard or go home. That’s my philosophy.”
Jackie gazed up at him. The cool wind coming in from the water gently blew her dress and the slits exposed her thighs.
“I want you to stay, as long as you can. I want this. I want you.” She was laying her soul bare to him, and it was terrifying. If he wasn’t the same man he was ten years ago, she was in for a treat. If he was, she would be devastated all over again. But she hadn’t gotten where she was in business without taking risks, and maybe it was time for her to take a risk in her personal life—one that would pay great dividends.
“I want you, too. More than I’ve ever wanted any woman.” He touched his forehead to hers and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re it for me. You’re what’s been missing from my life.”
Tears came to her eyes, and she lowered her lids to keep them from falling. Tightening her fingers into the material of his vest, she ached to tell him about what had been missing from her life. The fact that she wanted her own family and was so close to getting that now. Would he understand? Would he want to be a part of her plans? If they seriously talked about a future together, was he willing to become a parent again?
Those questions needed to be answered, but not tonight. Tonight, she wanted to make hot, fiery love to him, forget all the doubts, and just enjoy being with this man who she’d never forgotten.
“There’s no woman waiting for you in Atlanta or anywhere else, is there?”
“Absolutely not. I can’t believe you asked.”
“I had to ask. I had to be sure. When you first arrived, Kendrick mentioned yourfriend, Carrie.” She arched a brow.
He nodded with a wry twist of his lips. “Ancient history, and I promise you, there’s no one else.”
“In that case,” Jackie said quietly, leaning in close, “how about you take me back to my place, and I’ll show you how much I missed you.”
Eyes gleaming with desire, Tyson cupped her face in one hand and planted a hard, wet kiss on her mouth. “Your wish is my command,” he whispered, his warm breath brushing her lips.
They took their time walking across the sand and climbed the stairs hand in hand to the top where Tyson had parked the SUV. Strolling along with the other pedestrians, they passed restaurants where guests dined al fresco as they gazed out at the dark ocean.
Tyson opened the rear door of the vehicle. “Have a seat,” he said.
When Jackie sat down, he pulled a towel from the back and crouched in front of her. He proceeded to clean the sand from her feet.
Flexing her toes, she said, “I feel like a princess.”
“Does that make me your prince?”
“Do you want to be?”
Their gazes idled on each other.
“You should already know the answer, but if there’s any doubt, the answer is yes, unequivocally yes.”
With a full heart, Jackie watched as Tyson slipped the shoes back onto her feet and then kissed each of her ankles. The gentle press of his mouth sparked fire on her skin and inflamed her lust even more.
They left the beach, and on the way back to her house, chatted about mundane topics, their gazes lingering, and the occasional touch on the thigh or arm amping up the tension between them. By the time he pulled in front of her garage and helped her from the vehicle, her panties were wet and her sex was throbbing with need for him.
Jackie opened the front door but Tyson held back.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. He stood outside the door, their hands still entwined, but she was on the inside.
“Jackie, you know I want this more than anything. But areyousure? I don’t want you to have any regrets, baby. I don’t want you to have any doubts about me, either.”
Tilting her head at him, she smiled. “You really have changed, Tyson. Ten years ago, I don’t think you would have cared one way or the other about my feelings as long as you got what you wanted, and you would have expected—or at least hoped—that I wanted the same thing, too. But I don’t have any doubts about you, or about us. Let me tell you a secret. I have a thirty-day rule. I broke it for you ten years ago, and even though we didn’t end up together, I don’t regret it. So get in here before I change my mind.”
Tyson flashed his megawatt smile. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
He pushed his way inside and, laughing, they ran up the stairs. At the door to her master suite, Jackie threw open the door with great ceremony and flourish.
“So this is where the magic happens,” Tyson said, walking slowly across the rich beige carpet.
“This is where the magic happens,” she confirmed.
