“Oh, God.”
“Like that?” He slid out and thrust back in, holding on to her hips so her head didn’t bang against the mirror behind her. She gripped his shoulders and locked her legs behind his back, urging him on.
And this time when their eyes met, he didn’t back away from the feelings inside him or letting her see the emotions she brought forth. And when she came, the squeeze of her around him took him up and over the edge along with her.
They were cleaning up when he heard Hannah’s voice. “I forgot my phone!” she yelled out.
Macy yelped and jumped off the counter as Jaxon slammed the bathroom door shut behind them.
“Oh, my God. That was close.” Macy closed her eyes and groaned.
“Macy?” Hannah called from what sounded like inside the master bedroom.
“Be right out!” She glanced at Jaxon, her cheeks burning bright with embarrassment. “Last opportunity to change your mind,” she said with a grin.
“Not a chance. We’re a family. And you, Macy, are mine.”
* * *
Two weeks later, Macy, with Jaxon’s permission and pushing, made some changes to add more warmth and personality to the family room and other places around the interior of the home.
Hannah had surprised them with printed photos from the night of the gala, and those pictures along with the wedding photos held prominent places on shelves and counters. They were a true family, and despite how quickly it had happened, she couldn’t deny it was all real.
Including the moody teenager. At first, on being given the news that they might move to Texas, she’d slammed her door, cried, called her friends, and had a tantrum. All expected and Macy spent a week convincing her they’d love it there and she would make new friends. To everyone’s surprise, the Eagles changed their mind at the last possible second, deciding they wanted to keep their star pitcher through the end of his career.
All the fan pages online and the radio talk shows had slammed management for trading their franchise player, and in the end, they’d agreed and canceled the trade. Macy knew how much Jaxon would have liked a World Series ring, but she knew he wanted to retire as a Miami Eagle even more. Loyalty was everything to the Prescott men.
Her man, especially.
How did Hannah take the news? Macy and Jaxon had assumed she’d be thrilled, but true to teenage unpredictability, she’d had a fit that she’d just accepted the idea of moving and now they were staying put. An hour later, Ruby came over with Holly, and the girls were celebrating at the pool.
Teenagers.
Since Jaxon had ramped up his workouts in preparation for pitchers and catchers reporting for practice for the season, Macy kept busy with work and adding to her life with both relatives and friends. She and Lizzie spent a day together, and Macy decided to put her father’s house up for sale and put half the money away for Hannah, half in her own savings. And Jaxon’s mother and Bri had taken her for lunch to officially welcome her to the family. Considering she and Hannah had no family of their own, everyone’s efforts meant the world to Macy.
As for Lilah, she’d disappeared again, but Macy knew she’d be back one day. The nature of the beast. She’d explained to Hannah the concept of accepting someone for who and what they were, and they’d deal with her mother if and when she surfaced again.
Life was so much brighter than it had been a mere month or so ago, and for that she was grateful. She stepped back from the frames she’d put in the kitchen because the counterspace was so expansive and smiled with appreciation.
Just then, she heard the sound of the garage door leading to the house and saw Jaxon walk in, hair almost dry because he’d showered at the stadium, a pair of black track pants low on his hips, and a tee shirt that lifted thanks to his duffel hefted over one shoulder, revealing a strip of hair along his happy trail.
Her belly churned with excitement at the sight of him as it always did, more so since they’d admitted their feelings. He strode up beside her, wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into him for a long, deep kiss.
“Miss me?” he asked when they came up for air.
“Always.” She smiled. “So? How does it look?”
He took in the edge of the counter with a new cookie jar and the family photographs and grinned. “Love them. Just like I love you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She’d never get tired of hearing him say the words. “I love you, too.”
He replied with a more thorough kiss, his tongue sliding past her lips, allowing her to drink in his taste, and she rubbed her body against his.
“Gross! God. Can’t you keep it in the bedroom?” Hannah stormed in and headed straight for the refrigerator for a snack.
“Hi, Hannah.”
She peeked her head out of the fridge. “Hello, Jaxon.” She pulled out a can of soda. “I’m going back to my room so you two go back to whatever you were doing.” She waved a hand dismissively.
Jaxon met Macy’s gaze and grinned. “This is called living the good life.”
“Says the man who said he wouldn’t get married or make a commitment in this lifetime.”
He shook his head and laughed. “This is the one and only time I’ll admit to being wrong.”
“Arrogant man.”
“Good thing I have you to keep me in line,” he said and kissed her once more, reminding her that all good things in life were worth waiting for.
Epilogue
Jaxon joined his siblings at Allstars. It was the first time they’d hung out together since Braden’s return, and he was thrilled to have the family together. Bri had given them the brush-off, telling the boys to go hang out. He knew Braden and Bri would have their own catch-up time.
Braden cracked
