“Thank Christ,” Jason blurted out emphatically. “I don’t want you to quit if you really love it, but if you don’t want to do it anymore, I’d be f**king ecstatic.”
Hope laughed. “Then be ecstatic because I think I’d like to take some underwater pictures, and I really love doing my landscape and wilderness shots. I still love storms, but I think I was chasing them for the wrong reasons. I was lonely, and I didn’t know how to be any other way.”
“Not anymore, sweetheart. You have me, and you can let yourself be close to your brothers again now that you don’t have to cover anything up.”
“I’d like that,” she answered happily. “Do you think I should tell them everything?”
“Your call, baby. I’ll stand behind whatever you want to do. But I don’t think you need to do it because of them. I think you only need to do that if you want it.”
“Maybe someday I will tell them. Right now, I’d just like to spend some time being happy with my husband, and see what it feels like to not be lonely anymore.”
Jason fiddled with a lock of her hair. “Me, too. I’ve been restless and moody for a long time because I missed you.”
“Filling your time working for charities?” she asked curiously.
“Actually, yeah. I have my own work to do, but I think I’ve found more satisfaction from starting this organization for battered women than anything else I’ve ever done.” He hesitated for a moment. “Tate must have told you.”
“He did. I think you’re amazing, Jason Sutherland. Can I donate? I have a very rich husband now, so I don’t need to worry about money,” she teased him mercilessly.
“Keep your money safe,” he advised. “I’ve donated enough for both of us. Put it in safe investments and leave it for our children.”
Hope’s heart accelerated. “Are we having kids?”
“I sure as hell hope so,” Jason answered emphatically. “I’d love to have a sweet little girl just like her mother.”
Hope’s heart stuttered. “I didn’t think I’d ever have children, but I’d like to someday.” She’d always loved kids, but had never imagined herself being that intimate with a man. “Do you know a good investment counselor who can help my money grow for my children?”
“I know the very best,” he said arrogantly.
Hope laughed merrily and stroked his whiskered cheek lovingly. “I’m sure you do,” she whispered, leaning over to kiss him tenderly on the lips. Her heart swelled as he kissed her with a gentle affection that made her feel wanted…and very much loved. “Does he have a boat so I can take underwater photos? He might just be the man of my dreams,” she told him as she pulled back and left her lips only inches from his.
“Baby, I don’t know if you were dreaming about me, but I’ve had more wet dreams about you than I can count, and I am your man. I always will be,” he told her bossily.
Hope could feel his hot breath caress her mouth, and she froze for a moment, loving the warm intimacy of his possessiveness. “I think you’re right. You’re perfect.” She smiled as she breached the distance between their lips and gave him an embrace that wouldn’t leave him with any doubt where her heart was, and how much she loved him.
He let out a strangled groan as his tongue entwined gently with hers, a triumphant, ardent sound from a man who had just gotten everything he wanted…and more.
Chapter 15
A week later, Hope limped into the bedroom of the guesthouse, curious to see where all of the noise she could hear from the living room came from. She’d been working on her photos on her computer, but the incessant pounding sounds coming from the bedroom had intrigued her.
Her ankle was better, although Jason spent most of his time carrying her around. At this rate, he’d be babying her for the rest of her life. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy being treasured, but she missed him, and she wanted to drop her panties every time she looked at him. Unfortunately, he was having none of that, afraid he’d hurt her ankle if he did anything other than give her a gentle kiss, and he held her as if she were as fragile as blown glass.
God, she loved him. Jason took care of her completely, but she needed him to touch her, and she needed him to f**k her or she was going to die of frustration.
They were headed back to New York tomorrow; Jason needed to take care of some business there. He’d been worried about her being unhappy in the city, but she’d assured him that as long as they were together, she’d be blissfully content. He had a job to do, responsibilities, and she was perfectly fine with living in his penthouse for a while. He’d decided he didn’t want to live there full-time, and that was fine with her. She’d follow him just about anywhere. They still had her condo in Aspen to escape to, and she had her lovely house in Amesport, Maine. His idea was to eventually travel to New York for business only and make their home in Amesport.
Hope had been ecstatic, thrilled that she’d be close to Grady again. She really liked Emily, and she knew she’d make new friends in Amesport through Grady and Emily. She was more than willing to live there for most of the year, after Jason wrapped some things up in New York. Something told her that Jason would like to be closer to his mother and Grady, too.
Her feet hit the plush carpet in the bedroom, and she peeked into the bathroom. Jason stood in front of the bathroom mirror.
He’d been putting it back on the wall.
“Disposing of the kinky evidence?” she asked him merrily.
“Why are you out of your chair?” He turned and gave her a stern look.
“Because I need to walk occasionally, and it doesn’t hurt to put weight on my ankle anymore.” She examined the mirror and then went to the bed to look under the canopy. “It looks good. I’d never be able to tell.” She giggled.
“I told you I was good with tools.” He moved behind her to wrap his arms around her waist.
Turning, she put her arms around his neck. “You’re a man with many talents. You’re good at a lot of things.” You’re great at making me orgasm. Please do it.
Taking the initiative, her patience gone, Hope opened his buttoned-down shirt.
“Hope. It’s too soon.” He groaned and caught her roaming hands in his. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I already hurt.” She moved one of his hands down between her thighs. “I ache, and nobody can fix that except you. Fuck me, Jason. I can’t wait any longer.”