She arched her back, floating a bit and he licked a line up her neck to her ear, tasting salt and that essential whatever that made him crazy to always have more.
‘Thank you for the wedding present,’ he murmured before nibbling her ear. When he’d seen both his daughters walk into the small restaurant where they’d had the wedding and the reception afterwards, he’d known it had been Kate’s doing. Had known whatever the hell she’d said to Eve had struck home because Eve had been more reserved of late and Adrienne had taken to spending at least one night a week at their house.
‘I know you don’t wear much jewellery but you really do need a watch. Not that I’m commenting on your propensity towards being late. Wait, yes I am.’ She chuckled softly.
‘Not the watch, although that was quite nice and I already promised to make an effort not to be late all the time. It’s just that you’re so tempting and right as we get ready to leave you get all sexy and then I have to fuck you. You can’t blame me. I’m a man in the prime of his life. I gotta get all the fucking in I can. You heard your mother on that score. It’s only a matter of time before I’m taking the little blue pill and peeing on myself.’
Delightfully, she began to giggle, all her best parts jiggling as she did. She pressed her face to his neck and embraced him.
‘I know I shouldn’t laugh. God knows I had enough of her before you came along. But you make such great fodder to toss her way when she starts sniffing around for things to hate about my life. You’re so great at handling her. Do you forgive me?’
‘Ha. She tried to make a grab at my cock today. Did you see that? I needed a drink or three after that moment.’
Kate sat back, eyes wide as she tried not to smile. ‘She did not! Like sexually?’ She wrinkled her nose and his cock deflated a little even just remembering it.
‘She did. She was regaling your sister with tales of how old men like me can’t get it up. Your sister dutifully refrained from rolling her eyes, but reassured your mother I was keeping you happy so she should just stay out of it. That’s when your mother lunged towards my junk to emphasise erectile dysfunction. It was not my favourite moment.’
‘Did she grab anything? I’m betting you were still young enough to be spry and evade her grabbing hands. If she did get a handful of what you’re packing she wouldn’t be bugging me about marrying old men with flaccid peens and pee problems. Maybe you should let her cop a feel to end the argument once and for all.’
‘No! I jumped back. I’m glad to see you so amused by my misfortune.’
‘Whatthefuckever. Eve, Charles Dixon, her name is Eve and she’s a giant, hairy, pus-filled carbuncle. With wrinkles because of all her looking down on things. She’s so judgy she’s made herself even older looking. My mom could have popped out a nipple and it wouldn’t have been approaching the street of insanity your ex-wife lives on.’
He groaned. ‘Back to my original point. Thank you for the watch, it’s great. No, what I meant was thank you for getting Adrienne to attend the wedding. I’d made my peace with her not being there, but it sure would have hurt.’
‘Oh. Well. It’s all up to Adrienne. She still hates me so don’t get excited. But she loves you. You’re her father and I just assured her she’s allowed to hate me and still love you. I don’t think she really understood how much it would have hurt you for her not to come to the wedding.’
He brought her to face him, straddling his lap. ‘Thank you.’
‘I love you. It made you happy.’ She shrugged. ‘You do things for people you love.’
‘You love my daughter even though she’s being an ungrateful brat?’ His words were teasing, but there was no denying the truth of what he’d said.
‘I do. I’m not their mother, they have one already. But I’m their father’s wife, they’re part of you, I love them for that if nothing else. Now, this is my honeymoon and I say we give up talking about any other women but Angelina Jolie for the duration. We haven’t had sex in hours. Are you neglecting me already?’
He stood, bringing her with him.
‘You’re right. I’ve been remiss.’ He sat her on the edge of the tub and stood back, just looking at her. The air was cool, but the heat of the hot tub would keep them comfortable.
She was his happy ending. His slice of something far more than he’d ever expected to possess, to love, to wake up to and he’d lured her into his life and never planned to let go. She hadn’t had to stay in his life. Hadn’t had to open her life and her condo in the city to him, didn’t have to move in and accept his proposal. He’d come with more than his share of baggage and yet, she chose him. Chose to stay, chose to love him baggage and all and all throughout, she’d kept her head, remained a strong and independent woman with her own mind. It was so sexy it made him crazy. He hadn’t been something she needed to do, hadn’t been a reluctant burden she’d taken on. Katherine had chosen him and had become part of him in ways he couldn’t even quantify.
Few people had such gifts.
‘Nothing but you.’
Kate opened her eyes and looked into his. Took in the features of this man who’d come into her life like a seductive whisper and had managed to burrow under her skin and hadn’t let go. Noble, more noble than he’d ever let on, but he was a good man. An honest man who loved his children and now
