“What?”
“You have forty-seven freckles on your face, and once I get the opportunity, I’ll be happy to let you know exactly how many cover your body.” Jake couldn’t help but smile at her look of shock at his disclosure. “I already told you, I remember everything about you, and I meant it. I especially like this one that reminds me of a heart, and it’s right here.” Dipping his head, Jake place a kiss against the spot that always seemed to draw his attention.
For Jake that one small kiss wasn’t enough, so he moved on until his mouth hovered over hers. He paused, giving MacKenzie a choice. He wanted her to be fully invested in the moment. He wanted, no he needed to know that she understood that he wasn’t taking advantage of her while she was vulnerable. He needed her to be left in no doubt that this was something they both wanted.
Jake didn’t have long to wait, on a groan that came from deep within her, he had his answer. Needing to reacquaint himself with the taste of her, he wasted no time fixing his lips against hers. It was what he had been waiting for. Since New Year’s Eve, she had been his every fantasy. He had given her the time and space he felt she needed. This moment was their turning point, and he wouldn’t allow her to retreat.
MacKenzie’s reaction to him stunned him. It was as though with the first touch of their lips a dam opened up within her. She became the aggressor, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and cupped the back of his head.
Jake could feel the frantic pound of her heart as she pressed her breasts against his chest. With each beat of their perfectly synchronized hearts, MacKenzie demanded more from him. Jake matched her kiss for kiss as their tongues moved against each other, rediscovering the pleasure they had found in being in each other’s arms.
“I love the way you kiss me,” Jake said against her mouth.
Pulling back he stared into her eyes and it was his undoing. She needed him, he could see it in the intensity of her stare, in the way she clung to him.
“Tell me what you need from me MacKenzie. Tell me and it’s yours.”
“I need you to tell me everything is going to be okay, can you do that, Jake.”
“I want you to believe me when I say everything is going to be fine. I promise you, I will make this right.” MacKenzie stared at him for such a long time, Jake wondered if she believed his words of assurance.
“Thank you, I needed to hear that,” she finally said.
“What else do you need?”
“I need you to hold me. Please hold me tight, Jake.” MacKenzie pleaded.
“I’ll hold you for as long as you need me to, always remember that,” Jake assured her with a gentle kiss against her brow.
The looks she gave him was his undoing. She need him and he wanted to give her something that would give her a few moments of respite during her separation from her child.
Placing his hands against her face, Jake stroked her skin. Holding eye contact, he moved closer until his forehead rested against hers. Then he kissed her, and she kissed him back with a demand that Jake hadn’t been expecting. He hadn’t expected it, but he was more than a willing participant. If a kiss could be called carnal, this was it. Their tongues dueled for supremacy, they were never still as they found and explored each other.
Jake knew if he didn’t take control matters could get out of hand. If that happened, and given the circumstances, it could set back their fledgling relationship.
Moving his head to the side in an attempt to break their kiss, Jake nearly relented when she followed. Holding her head firmly between his hands, he finally managed to put some distance between them.
“MacKenzie, we have to stop.” At any other time, the dazed look in her eyes would have culminated in the sweetest lovemaking he had to offer. Only this was not the time.
“MacKenzie?”
Three rapid blinks later and a side to side glance and Jake could tell her mind was working on overdrive. He also witnessed a phenomenon the like of which he had never seen before. As he watched, Jake noticed a band of color that started at her chest and rose so quickly until it engulfed her whole face in a matter of moments.
“Are you okay, lovely?”
“I’m such a bad mother, how could I have forgotten about my baby?!”
Jake took control before MacKenzie had a chance to say anything else. He had no regrets about what had just happened between them, and he would make sure she didn’t either.