Love Like You've Never Been Hurt, page 28
Jack didn’t put her down until they reached the bedroom. He was deeply aroused; every step of the way he’d been pressing into her as she clung to him with her legs wrapped around his waist. He felt himself grow even harder at the desire in her eyes as he lay her on the bed. He soon had them both out of their clothes. Once he did he stood and held out his hand, pulling her to her feet to join him.
“These big hands haven’t quite finished yet.”
She gasped as he cupped her butt cheeks again and lifted her. Her legs came back around him opening herself up to him, this time with nothing between them. She nibbled at his neck as he pressed her back against the wall and spread her wider with his hands. Her eyes flew open as he nudged into her.
“Jack!”
“Is this OK, Baby?”
She nodded, her skin flushed, nipples erect.
Unable to wait any longer he slid deep inside. She let out a long low moan and he felt her tighten around him.
“I love you, Em,” he rasped as he moved inside her. With just a couple of strokes he felt her tense.
He heard her, “I love you too Jack,” and let himself go with her, seeing stars as he exploded.
Once he was able to move his legs again, he carried her back to the bed. She rolled over and drew him on top of her.
“More,” she breathed.
“You are insatiable, you know that?”
“It’s all your fault. I was never like this till I met you. But now I can’t get enough of you.”
Jack was amazed how quickly he recovered around her. Her words had him almost ready again.
“I promise I’ll make it a lifelong endeavor to make sure you do get enough of me.”
“Starting now?” She held her arms up and rubbed against him, spreading her legs to receive him.
“Starting right now,” he breathed as he slid back inside her. He circled her nipple with his thumb, capturing her mouth with his as he moved slowly and deliberately. As he heard her breathing change and muscles tense in anticipation, he withdrew from her. He smiled as she opened her eyes and thrust her hips up to him.
“Come back! I thought you were going to make sure I have enough?”
“Patience, Baby.” He held her eyes as he gave her what she wanted, deep and hard, then slowly, despite her writhing desperately beneath him. Sweat rolled down his back from the restraint this was costing him, but the look of exquisite desperation on her face encouraged him to torment her. As he felt her get closer he pulled out again.
“Jack, please, I want you.”
He kissed her and she thrust her hips back up to him. He lifted his head.
“Jack what are you doing to me?” She ran her hands down his back and cupped his ass trying to draw him back.
“I love you, Baby.”
“Jack, I NEED you, now!”
They were the words he’d wanted to hear. He drove deep and she came as he did, her immediate release encouraging him on. He didn’t break his rhythm, just kept working her as she floated away gasping, again and again. As she came back to earth he was still thrusting deep.
“What did you say, Baby?”
“I... I...” Her eyes glazed as another orgasm took her. She was totally at his mercy as he swept her along, “I need you, Jack!” He felt her whole body quiver as kept up the wild thrust of his hips. When she opened her eyes again, he smiled.
“Jack, I need you.... Go with me... Jack!”
He was amazed as he felt her tighten again and this time he let himself go with her in a whole body orgasm that shook him from his head to his toes. Eventually he lay still, heart pounding, breathing hard.
“I take it you like feeling needed?” she asked, her head on his shoulder.
An aftershock rippled through him at the sensation of her breath on his ear.
“Ooh,” she gasped as it took her too. “I’ll take that as a yes!”
He rolled over and pulled her into his arms. “I suppose I should warn you that I do apparently have some caveman in me, yes.”
She laughed. “You mean like picking up your woman and carrying her off to your bed?”
“Yes,” he nuzzled her neck. “I do and I should put you on notice that I am liable to do that on occasion.”
“No complaints here. In fact I rather like it.”
“Good. And yes, I do like to be needed. I don’t suppose it’s very PC of me, but I like it and I like to protect and provide for the people I love. To date that has been my mom and Dan, and Laura and her mom. But you, my little Mouse, you are the one I want to spend my whole life taking care of and thinking that you need me makes me feel happy.”
“And horny?”
He laughed. “Yes. And horny. Very horny.”
“I’m glad.” She held her hand up and looked at the ring. “It’s so beautiful, Jack, and so very thoughtful.”
He smiled, “I’m glad you like it. An awful lot of thought did go into it, Em. You have no idea how much. I wanted it to be right.”
“It’s perfect, just perfect.” She took his hand and looked at the heavy gold band. “And you really want to wear that? You don’t have to you know. I’m not that bad, am I?”
“You are not ‘bad’ at all. If you’d asked me to wear it, I probably would have freaked out. But when you talked about your friend’s engagement ring, it really made me think. I’ve never been a jewelry guy, but this is something I want to do. As long as you don’t think it’s too weird?”
“I don’t. If I’m honest it makes me very happy. I suppose it’s a bit like your caveman confession. I don’t want or mean to be insecure, or jealous, or possessive or any of those other unattractive things, but knowing you choose to wear that – to reassure me and to tell the world – Jack, it makes me love you even more.” She snuggled closer to him.
“You know, speaking of telling the world, hadn’t we better get back to the party?”
“Oh, my goodness! I’d completely zoned out of the rest of the world.”
“And Gramps is waiting for more than his chili.”
She looked at him. “He was in on this with you?”
Jack grinned and nodded. “I could hardly ask you to marry me without getting his permission, could I? To think about marrying me, I mean,” he corrected himself quickly as he saw her frown.
“You asked his permission?”
“Sure did. And as you may have noticed, he really is on my side! He even helped me with damage control today.” He grinned, loving the shocked look on her face. “You know, I really don’t think he’d care if we went back without the chili, as long as we show him these.” He held up their joined hands with the rings.
“You! You mean the pair of you set me up?”
Jack shrugged. “I prefer to say ‘collaborated in your best interests’.”
She laughed even as she tried to look cross with him.
“You’re not going to be mad at them, are you?”
“Them? I thought we were talking about Gramps.”
He feigned innocence. “Well, of course we were.”
“Jack!”
“What?”
“Who else knew?”
“Knew what?”
“Were they all in on it?”
“Not at first,” he pulled her towards him. “They only want you to be happy, Em. Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not. I suppose I feel a bit, well, foolish!”
“You were being foolish, but it’s OK. I forgive you!”
She had to laugh. “You’re certainly used to getting what you want, aren’t you?”
“Yup and I want you, Em. And I want you to marry me, so say you will?”
She pulled away from him. “I told you once before, Jack. I can’t change like that, in an instant.”
“I’m sorry, Baby, I know. I didn’t mean to push.” He was mad at himself. He knew better than that.
She must have noticed. “No, I’m sorry.” She kissed him and gave him a little smile. “I’m not saying no, and that’s major progress.”
“I know, Baby and that makes me happy.”
She kissed him again. “It doesn’t even horrify me, like it would have only a week ago. But, please, give me time to think about it?”
“That’s all I’m asking Em.” He smiled, hoping to make her laugh again. “How often am I allowed to ask?”
“Not too often.”
“Only every five minutes?”
She rolled her eyes. “Give me a couple of months?”
“Hours?”
“Months!”
“Days?”
“Months!”
“Once a week?”
She laughed, “You don’t give up do you?”
“Never.”
“How about once a month?”
It was much better than he’d expected. “Done!”
“Hm, did I just walk myself into that?”
“Well, to be fair I may have led you a little.”
“Jack Benson, you are impossible!”
“No, my love, you are impossible, but I’m working on getting you past it.” He nuzzled into her neck, “And while you think about it, think about this – Emma Benson – how do you like the sound of that?” He watched her face, then grinned, “You like it don’t you?!”
She nodded her head shyly.
“Well, as soon as you’re ready, Baby. And you know, whenever you are ready you can always just tell me, you don’t have to wait for me to ask again.”
“OK, Jack. I get the idea. Will you let it go for now so we can get back to the party?”
“I’ll let it go, but I’m not ready to let you go yet.” He turned her on her back.
“We really should...”
He held her hands above her head and devoured her with the look he knew would leave her with no choice. Positioning himself above her he kissed her and let his hands roam over her. A few minutes later, when she was breathing hard he lifted his head. “Did you say we have to go?”
“No, we can’t go yet.”
“Why not, Baby?” He shifted his weight and coaxed her with his thumb.
“Mmm,” she moved her hips in time with his caresses.
“Should I stop?”
“No, don’t stop!”
“Why not?”
“Because I need you. I need you now.”
He reached underneath, cupping her and lifting her hips up to meet him as he slid inside her. “You need this?”
“Yes!”
He rode her hard as she willingly gave herself up to him. She ran her nails down his back, urging him on, then she dug them hard into his ass, sending him over the edge, taking her with him as they soared together.
“Note to self,” she murmured once she had her breath back. “Tell him you need him and he’s all yours.”
He laughed, “He’s all yours anyway, but tell him you need him and you’d better not have anywhere else you need to be for a while, because you can bet he’s going to satisfy that need.”
“I am well and truly satisfied, but now I think we do have somewhere else we need to be.”
Before they got back in the truck, Jack fished his cell phone from his pocket.
“I want to let Gramps know it’s OK. I don’t want him worrying any longer.”
Emma watched him dial a number from memory.
“Hey, Gramps, it’s me.
Yeah, it’s all good.
Yeah, we’ll be back soon.
Yes it is. See you soon.”
Emma stared at him. “He gave you his cell phone number? And he actually answered it?”
Jack grinned, “I told you, he’s my buddy!”
He was adorable when he was so pleased with himself. She looked down at the ring on her finger; it was so beautiful. Everything it represented was even more beautiful.
“Not having second thoughts, are you?” Jack looked worried.
“No, my goodness, no! I was thinking how wonderful you are!” The smile on his face warmed her heart. She could do this. For him, with him, she could do anything. “It’s so beautiful, Jack. How did Laura ever come up with it? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a daisy ring before.”
He shrugged. “She’s so good at that stuff. You know, Em, I really would like you to meet her properly. It wasn’t exactly easy earlier – on any of us.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No need. Let’s talk to her before the party is over, I think you’ll like her.”
Emma shuddered as she thought about last night, and what she thought she’d been watching. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Last night on the beach. When I saw you. You held something out to show Laura and she hugged you.”
“I’m sorry, Em. I guess that really didn’t look good. We were looking at your ring.”
“The thing that threw me so badly was that when you hugged her back you looked so very happy.”
Jack pulled the truck over to the side of the road and turned to face her. Taking both her hands he held her eyes. “Baby, that’s because I was so very happy. We were looking at your ring and she said it was a very special piece. I told her it had to be, since my whole future was riding on it. She hugged me and told me there was no way you would turn me down. I believed that, Em. That’s what made me so happy.” He lifted her hand to his lips, “And what’s making me so happy right now is that you didn’t turn me down.”
Emma returned his smile as relief flooded through her. He’d been happy about her! She looked at the heavy band on his finger. He’d done so much to reassure her, to help her through her fears. He didn’t dismiss them as silly like everyone else had – even though, she acknowledged, they kind of were. To her the fear of more emotional pain was very real, but Jack understood and he was doing so much to work with her. For a moment she imagined the wedding she used to dream of, out on Gramps’ dock. She could see Jack standing there waiting for her, so handsome, so happy. Pete standing beside him. She shook her head as cold fingers of dread crept down her spine. Not yet, but maybe, with time, maybe she might get that dream back.
“I’m so glad you didn’t give up on me, Jack.”
“I never will, Baby. No matter how scared you get or how far you run.” He kissed her hand. “But you know it really would be nice if you could work with me a little. And don’t forget, wearing that ring means you have to talk to me before you run, right?”
“Right.” She hoped he realized how big a commitment that was for her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jack had to park the truck out by the gate, there were so many people at Gramps’ place now. He carried a huge catering-sized bowl of chili and Emma brought the smaller one he’d made just for Gramps.
“Here’s my Sunshine,” beamed Gramps as they came up onto the porch. “Got anything to tell us, Mouse?”
Emma looked around at all the smiling faces looking at her expectantly. Pete and Holly, Ben, Missy, Dan and even Scott were all up on the porch with the old timers.
She laughed. “You set me up, all of you!”
“We helped you along, Mouse,” said Pete, “since you were messing it up by yourself.”
They all laughed.
“Wait while we take these in, Hemming,” she said.
Jack followed her into the kitchen where they handed the chili over. He pulled her to him.
“Are you all right with this?”
“Oh, don’t worry. I can take it – and I can give it out too!” She wasn’t about to be heckled by her friends, no matter how well meaning. Jack grinned as he followed her back out to the porch. She didn’t get chance to give any of them a piece of her mind.
“Come here!” shouted Gramps. She went to him and he wrapped her in a big hug. For the second time today she saw tears in his eyes.
“Best birthday present I could have gotten.” he said. They all cheered.
“You too,” he held his arm out to Jack and gave him a hug as well. “You’ve made this old man real happy, son.”
“I’ve made this not-so-old man very happy too,” Jack smiled. “And I intend to make that young lady there very happy for the rest of her life. I couldn’t have done it without you though, Gramps.”
“Yes, apparently he couldn’t.” Emma tried to look angry, but she couldn’t manage it, she was too happy.
“Someone get these two a drink,” said Gramps.
Pete passed them a couple of cold beers.
“To Emma and Jack!” Gramps raised his glass.
“Emma and Jack,” they all repeated.
“So,” asked Pete, his eyes gleaming with mischief, “do I hear wedding bells?”
Emma’s heart sank as all eyes turned to her. She didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t spoil the moment. She needn’t have worried, though, as Jack put an arm round her.
“Distant ones,” he smiled. “But they’re getting closer. I’d like to propose a toast of my own.” He raised his bottle and smiled round at them, “Here’s to persistence!”
Everyone laughed, “Persistence!”
Emma let out the breath she’d been holding and raised her bottle to his. He was smiling down at her they chinked their beers together. “Persistence, Baby. You’d better get used to it.”
“I think I’m starting to.”
After they’d sat with Gramps for a while, they left him and Joe to enjoy their chili and went to join the others who had claimed the picnic bench down on the dock. The band were going strong and a growing crowd swayed in front of the stage. Ben shifted up to make room for them. Jack sat on the end and pulled Emma down onto his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Come on then,” said Holly as they sat down, “let’s see this ring.”
“Were you in on this too?” Emma asked, remembering Holly’s words earlier about what might really be the biggest mistake of her life.
“Hey, I’m only the city-girl come visiting, remember, don’t look at me.”
“Nicely dodged,” laughed Emma as she held out her hand.
“Oh, Em! It’s gorgeous!” cried Missy.
“No need to act like you haven’t already seen it,” Emma arched an eyebrow. “I know you were all in on it.”
