The last shiver passed and Jaye went boneless. “Wow.”
“These damned jeans are in the way.” Mitch rolled her onto the cool sheets and kicked off the rest of his clothes. “There. Now I can move.”
Boy, could he. He moved with an athletic grace that seemed impossible for such a big man, covering her body with his, all bulging muscle and warm skin. He lowered his head, touching his broad forehead to hers. “I need to know you forgive me for bringing your parents here,” he whispered against her lips. “I need to know you still love me.”
“Too much.”
“Love you more.” His thick thigh nudged her legs further apart and he entered her, making love with fast, urgent thrusts.
Every plunge triggered aftershocks in her vagina, soft clenches that felt nearly as good as an orgasm. Jaye curled her arms around Mitch, loving him more than she thought possible, and held tight while he thrust one more time and poured himself into her.
He collapsed on top of her, pinning her to the mattress.
She poked him in the ribs. “You glassblowers are heavy.”
“Sorry,” he murmured against her shoulder. He swiveled off and flopped onto his back.
“Your wife didn’t have the common decency to take off your clothes before climbing all over you.” Jaye plastered herself to his warm side and draped a leg over his. “What will you do with her?”
“As soon as I muster the strength to say a proper prayer, I’m gonna thank God my wife is just the way she is.” He tugged at her bra strap. “When did you get this?”
“Yesterday. I got a few other surprises, too.”
He grinned. “Like what?”
“You’ll have to undress me tomorrow to find out.”
Fumbling for the clock on the nightstand, he checked the time. “Tomorrow is almost here. Let me put my arm around you while we wait.”
Jaye obliged, cuddling close.
Mitch rubbed her back. “Your parents want a tour of Blake Glassware tomorrow. There’s something else they’d like to do, too. They want to see your photography studio.”
“Oh.” A nervous clench seized her gut. She’d stepped into her new life as a photographer with Mitch’s unswerving support and didn’t want to taint her endeavor with her parents’ disfavor.
“Your father asked if you’d take a picture of them. I told him you would.” Mitch pressed a lingering kiss on her temple. “I’m sorry, Jaye. When I went behind your back to resolve things, I never realized you weren’t ready for this.”
She reached for his hand. “I think Mom and Dad showed up because they don’t want to be failures, not because they miss me.”
Mitch’s fingers tightened around hers. “They’re here because they love you.”
“I’m not so sure.” A surge of grief made her feel like a lonely little six year-old girl all over again. Thanks to Mitch, she didn’t have to hide her feelings. In a small voice, she admitted what made her insides splinter. “Didn’t you hear what happened a few minutes ago? Neither one of them said they loved me.”
“They can’t even say those words to each other, honey. They’re terrified. Believe me, I know. Revealing feelings after you’ve kept them hidden for so long isn’t easy.”
“But you found the courage to say you loved me.”
“I was desperate to let you know how I felt.” He kissed her hand. “Your parents are just beginning to realize how bad they screwed up. You should’ve seen them after you walked out of the living room a few minutes ago. Your mother couldn’t stop crying and I could hear your father’s teeth grind.” His hand stopped in the middle of her back. “Can you forgive me for forcing this on you?”
“Yes.” She touched his chin, adoring the tawny whiskers he allowed to grow on weekends. “After all, I put you in the same position a few months ago when I wanted you to reconcile with your father.”
“I’m glad you did. Now I’ve got back my family, better than before. Time I give you the same gift.” He looked into her eyes. “Will you take it?”
Faced with a husband determined to make things right, a mother crying tears of remorse, and a father asking for forgiveness, Jaye knew what to do. Warmth grew inside her, strengthening with the conviction to rebuild her family, just as Mitch had rebuilt his. “I’ll give my parents a second chance, because now I’m strong enough to be honest about what I really want.” She pressed her lips against his and voiced her thoughts in a way her glassblower would understand. “Ever since I met you, love has made everything clear as glass.”
