He tugged the shoulders of the dress to get it to fall off. “Oh, you and I aren’t getting that far. My couch is near the fireplace.”
I laughed and decided not to play coy anymore. I tugged on his t-shirt and he helped peel it off as I asked, “So, that’s what you want?”
“I just want you. My mother told you the truth.”
My heart pounded in my chest and goosebumps grew on my arms. Michael Irons must have had his pick of women. Yet he was here, with me, married like we were in love. I swallowed and hoped I sounded light as I said, “That you missed me.”
He then pressed his forehead to mine and didn’t move. “That I didn’t want another woman in seven years, so I’m raring to go again with you.”
This was mutual sexual hunger. I held him tighter and closed my eyes as our breaths mixed between us. “I didn’t want another man to be honest. The one guy who kissed me was boring and I never even invited that.”
His face grew grave like I’d just told him someone beat me as he asked, “Who was it?”
I shook my head and said, “A widower with six children. He was just so happy some Church women babysat and gave him the night off.”
“I’m still jealous.” Michael unzipped his pants and my heart beat faster as he asked, “Who watched Jeremy?”
“Olivia,” I said as his pants dropped to the ground.
He tugged my bra free and then stared at me once it fell.
His perusal made me hot as he said, “Now, this is how I like to remember you.”
He then kissed me, and steam rose through me. His hand pressed against my thigh, including the new, cold, gold ring he wore. I couldn’t think straight as he led me to the couch as I asked, “Will the ring interfere with your game?”
“None of the other guys complain. I’ll let you know,” he said, then the last bit of our clothes came off as he tasted me everywhere and sent me straight into a heavenly orbit where all that mattered was more of this. Us together, forever.
This was ideal. I'd never wanted love and, in time, I’d figure out how to be calm near him. Then, we’d be perfect. For now, I had this, with Michael.
Chapter 10
Michael
The game went fast and then it was time to head home, to the wife I'd had to leave in our bed.
Granted, I'd seen her with my parents and son in the stands, but I’d had no chance to see them.
Georgie’s body still rocked my body like gravity meeting a meteor. She burned through me, but I needed every part of her for more.
I’d probably never be satisfied, and I didn’t care. She was my wife now.
We’d won, and I raced out the second I could.
The moon was high in the sky when I drove into my house and joined Georgie in bed.
I dozed the second I curled beside Georgie and she smelled sweeter than roses to me.
I woke up alone. I cleaned up and walked down the stairs fast, to see my family. Jeremy was sitting on the couch. My father came out of the kitchen and said, “Georgie said it was okay if I took Jeremy to go get a hot chocolate in town.”
“Yeah?”
“Your mother and I will be gone an hour, if it’s all right with you.”
“Georgie said it was fine, so have fun.”
Jeremy hopped out of his seat and followed my dad to the door. Clearly, my father was doing his charming old man bit.
He did that well at first, though no one but me ever knew how driven he actually was.
I embodied his dreams, but I waved them hello and kept my mouth shut. I needed to see my wife, but my mom was near the coffee that smelled earthy and perfect. She said, “We’ll be back soon.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing more of you.” Georgie came out of the bathroom and her lips curled higher the second she noticed me.
My mother hugged me and Georgie, then went out to join my dad and Jeremy.
I didn’t blink. Georgie made the room shine, but she headed toward the counter and my mom, still wearing pink pajama bottoms and a Sooners t-shirt that went off her shoulder.
My stomach churned. I was hungry right now…I followed her to the kitchen to the smell of coffee. I made glasses and she finished making toast, and I asked once the machine was heating up the milk, “You’re okay if I ask them to stay the full weekend?”
She nodded and took out a mango, cutting it as she said, “It’s good. They were fun last night at the game. Your father talked about your childhood and how he really worked with you to get your stats up and Jeremy is enjoying spending time with them more than I’d ever imagined.”
She'd gotten the highlights of my childhood then, though she'd missed out on how not even rainstorms had stopped our nightly training for me to have what my father hadn’t. I was sure Dad made it all sound fun, but I grabbed some brie cheese from the fridge and a mix of almonds and walnuts as I said, “He pushed me to the pros.”
“I could tell from his intensity and excitement for you.”
Maybe he’d explain how his dad had kept him well past nightfall in practice when most kids went home and did their homework. I handed her a bowl for her mangoes and took our offerings to the table. “He made it to the farm for a few years but never moved up to the minors or pros.”
The toast popped and she took it out, joining me as she placed it all in the middle of the table. “He told me and he swore you’d have that opportunity that he wasted.”
Now, that sounded like his promise or threat if I whined about practice. However,
