Page 62 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
Days ago, Mia had built up her nerve and asked Angie about her lost fiancé. She’d spoken briefly, tears appearing, showing strong emotions full of grief that were still affecting her.
“I loved him dearly, Mia. If you ever find a love like that, you grab hold of it and never let go. We don’t know how long we have on this earth. Too much energy is wasted on the small problems that could be easily discussed and dealt with, and not enough time is taken to spoil your man, love him and let him know how special he is, how much he matters. If only people would wake up and see that if you love someone in that way, they’ll return it tenfold. My man loved me till he died and even after. I never had to wonder. I still feel him with me, caring for me.”
Mia sighed deeply, her sewing bunched up on her lap, forgotten, while she fantasized about a love so deep it never disappeared. Whatever kind of a person he’d been, Angie’s fiancé had won her heart, and she’d never strayed.
In the background, the low music changed from one carol to another. Suddenly, it played an old favorite… Blue Christmas by Elvis.
Lost to the world, thinking how terribly she’d miss Jack if he hadn’t survived the latest accident, she let sadness have its way. Tears began forming from just the idea of a life without him in it. Deep into her thoughts, she didn’t hear the door open, or the footsteps from the man who now leaned against the doorframe, watching her closely.
When he sang along with some of the last words, his voice surprisingly in tune, she gazed up at him and swallowed. Her heart suddenly acted like an African drum. Her tummy began dancing along.
Sniffling, aching from wanting him so much, having him appear seemed like a dream. She was in such a mess that speaking became impossible.
Laying aside the dress she was hemming, she struggled to gain her composure and waited to see what he would do.
Like a man who couldn’t believe his good fortune, he approached. “How lucky can a man get?” he asked, as if she would answer.
“I’m sorry. I just got busy and didn’t realize the time. I’ll let you get some rest now. You look exhausted.”
“Funny thing, I was tired a few minutes ago. Now I just feel thankful to be alive and here with you.”
Not sure how to take his words, Mia stood and went to pass by on her way out of the room. Only one word could have stopped her, taken her back to a night she’d relived a thousand times.
“Don’t.” His voice dripped with need. “Don’t leave.”
With her back to him, she stopped. “If you want me—”
Interrupting, he flipped her words back to her. “Want you? Lady, I’ve never wanted anyone more. You’ve snuck into my very soul and lodged there since the first day we met. Every time I look at you – and I find myself doing that a lot more than maybe I should since you don’t return my feelings – I can’t accept that you don’t want my love. For me, you’re like sunshine drawing me from the darkness.”
Silence – heavy with tension – filled every corner of the room. She couldn’t move, had no strength. Words crowded, coming so fast that she couldn’t think, couldn’t speak.
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.
