He was so strong he lifted me like a doll. He held me in his arms and brought his lips to mine, pressing them against me in an embrace that melted away all my fears. His face was scarred, his body was hardened from years of violence and hard living, but his lips were soft.
“Have these lips kissed another woman?” I said.
“Not one,” he said.
He didn’t ask about mine. He must have known I was faithful.
He was back. Jackson was back. And he was still mine.
I was still his.
His tongue slid into my mouth and I sucked it softly before meeting it with my own tongue. He lowered me till my feet reached the ground. Then he pulled me against him in an embrace that encompassed our entire bodies. I could feel the bulge in his crotch as it pressed against me.
He wanted me.
He wanted me so badly he was practically bursting out of his jeans. I felt a throb of desire inside me. I remembered just how badly I wanted to feel the length of his cock slide into me. I wanted orgasms, and I wanted to give him orgasms. I wanted him to fuck my brains out mercilessly.
“I need you, Faith,” he said, and I knew he wasn’t kidding. “I need to fuck you. I need to be inside you again. My cock needs to pump my seed deep inside you.”
I laughed. “Slow down, cowboy.”
He squeezed me so tight I felt I could burst. “I’m never letting you go again,” he said. “From now on, I’m keeping you so close no one will be able to threaten you ever again. You’re mine. You’re protected now. All you’ll have to do is spread your legs and let me orgasm inside you. For ever, and ever, and ever.”
I was laughing. He was being funny but he wasn’t kidding. I could tell.
“Thank you,” I found myself saying. “Thank you for protecting me. For protecting both of us. Me and Sam.”
He kissed me again and my heart melted. I burned with passion and desire. I couldn’t believe I had Jackson back. I felt like I was dreaming. Despite everything that had happened, all the time that had passed, he was still the same Jackson I’d known all along.
He lifted me up off my feet again and held me like a husband holding his new bride.
“Where are you taking me?” I said.
“I want to show Lacey and Grant that I have you back.”
“Put me down,” I said, laughing and crying at the same time, but he didn’t.
He held me in his arms as he carried me across the threshold of the Rusty Nail.
When we entered, the entire bar, even those who didn’t know us, cheered.
Chapter 30
Faith
LACEY LOOKED AT ME AND smiled knowingly as Jackson carried me over to the table.
“I see you two have become reacquainted,” she said, teasingly.
“You knew about this?” I said. “You knew he was back and you didn’t tell me?”
“He made me promise not to say a word,” Lacey said.
“But you brought her here,” Jackson said.
Lacey laughed. “And I’m glad I did. You’ve been reconnected now. You have your girl back. If I hadn’t brought her here you’d have let another week pass you by. You two have waited long enough.”
“Thank you,” Jackson said, and he meant it.
I found my seat and Jackson opened the wine as he sat down next to me.
And Damn.
What can I say?
It felt so good to be sitting in that bar next to my man. My makeup was smudged, my heart was still fluttering from nerves, I was still terrified for the future, but I was happy. Jackson was back.
The way he looked at me, as if he was staring right through me, into my soul. I felt naked in front of him. He made me tingle with something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a very long time. I felt sexy. I felt desirable.
He was so sure of himself. I’d never seen a guy walk with so much swagger. To call him cocky was the understatement of the century. He was like a young Clint Eastwood crossed with Jax from Sons of Anarchy.
I’d forgotten how he made me feel. I felt like a little girl again, the girl who’d walked up to Jackson all those years ago and asked for his help.
It was like going back in time. It was like being reborn. It was like getting a second chance at life. And this time we were going to do it right. We’d make up for all the time we’d lost. I knew we would. There was no Wolf Staten, no Los Lobos, just me, Jackson, and the son our passion had created.
I looked at Lacey and I was so grateful to her. She’d forced this meeting. She’d brought me here.
And at the same time I felt so sorry for her. Her guy was cheating on her, screwing with her mind like a complete jackass, and all the while, I was having the happiest time of my life. I’d never be able to thank her for allowing me to have this moment of happiness. She didn’t make it about herself and her struggle with Matt. She gave me the night, allowed it to be a happy time, despite the fact she was going through her own personal torture.
Jackson nodded to Lacey and poured four glasses of the pinot noir. Then he stood up and motioned for Grant to come join us. He’d been watching the scene from the bar with a big smile on his face.
He came over, said hi to me and Lacey, slapped Jackson hard on the back, and took a glass.
Jackson raised a toast. “To second chances,” he said.