JAYDEN “When I’m around you? Yes. Pretty much.” Jayden wasn’t going to deny he wanted her in a bed. Any bed. Just looking at her, just thinking about her, made him hard. He had been a fool to think he could ever fuck Hailey out of his system. Instead of fading, his desire only grew stronger the closer they became. He still had business in New York, but later in the year they hoped to move to Amesport for good. They might visit Aspen sometimes to ski, and he’d still travel to New York when needed, but their home would be in Amesport, a place Hailey would love. She never once complained about New York. She was the kind of woman who found good in everything, exploring the city and taking endless photos. But he knew she’d be much happier in Amesport. Honestly, so would he. It would be nice to have Gavin and Emily living right down the street. “Think Gavin has cooled down enough for me to show my face in Maine yet?” he asked lightly. “He’s completely over how we started. You’
HAILEY “I’m happy,” she cried. “I’m so damn happy. I never knew it could feel like this.” She had only ever known sex as something violent until Jayden. “You’re amazing.” He gently wiped her tears and pulled her head onto his chest. “It should always be like this. I hate what you went through, Hailey,” he said mumbled, his voice full of pain. Hailey lifted her head and looked at him tenderly. “Don’t. Don’t think about the past. Think about how happy we are now. I’m glad I survived, or I’d never have this. I wouldn’t have you.” “I wish you had me without going through all that,” he said in a low, emotional voice. Hailey knew it would take time before Jayden stopped thinking about what had happened to her, but she hoped little by little he would. “It’s in the past now. Because of you, I’m not the same woman I was weeks ago.” “You’ve always been the same woman, Hailey. And you’ve always been mine.” His arms tightened around her, and she felt his big body shake. Hailey beli
HAILEY Jayden slid his hands into her hair. “I don’t want to fuck you, even though I love it when you talk dirty to me. I want to make love to you, baby.” “I want that, too,” Hailey admitted. With his shirt now open, she kissed his chest again and again. “I want to touch you.” Jayden pulled the shirt off his arms and groaned. “Touch me, then. Just tell me if I hurt you.” Her pussy was so wet she was practically dripping as she ran her hands down his strong chest, over his solid arms, and down his back. He felt like hot, hard sin, and she trembled with the need to have him inside her. Her hands went to his jeans, fumbling with the buttons until they came open. Jayden pulled them off, taking his boxer briefs, too, and stepped out of them. He reached for the bottom of Hailey’s summer shirt. She lifted her arms, ready to be naked and feel his skin on hers. “It feels like it’s been forever,” she whispered. “I know,” he said roughly. “It’s only been a week.” Hailey pulled the
HAILEY “I sure as hell hope so,” Jayden said. “I’d love to have a sweet little girl just like her mother.” Hailey’s heart skipped. “I didn’t think I’d ever have children, but I’d like to someday.” She had always loved kids, but never thought she’d be that close to 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 proudly. Hailey laughed and stroked his whiskered cheek. “I’m sure you do,” she said, leaning in to kiss him. Her heart swelled as he kissed her gently, making her feel wanted and very loved. “Does he have a boat so I can take underwater photos? He might be the man of my dreams,” she teased, leaving her lips just 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 said, bossy and sure. Hailey felt his hot breath on her mouth and froze for a moment, loving his possessive closene
HAILEY “Of course. I picked the rings. I planned on getting you drunk so I could marry you. I won’t lie about it anymore,” he said fiercely. “I told myself I’d let you go once we’d satisfied ourselves, but that was never going to happen. It just took me a while to admit it to myself. I was angry with you for marrying someone else after what happened on New Year’s.” “But he wasn’t real.” “I didn’t know that,” he replied. “How was the wedding?” “For me, it was the happiest day of my life, even if you were drunk. I put my ring on your finger and you became mine after years of pain. It was selfish…but true. We were married by a justice of the peace, and it was short. Terrence stood up for me, and I found a young woman to stand as your witness. I’m sorry. It wasn’t the wedding you deserved, and we can get married again—the right way this time.” Jayden rubbed her back and shoulders to comfort her. “I don’t think the wedding is important. It’s the marriage after the wedding that
HAILEY “Yes.” She looked him straight in the eyes. Tears kept falling down her face. “Did you?” “I love you more than anything or anyone in this world, Hailey.” He held her hand and laced their fingers together. “I’d take back how our marriage happened in a heartbeat if I could, but I don’t regret being married to you. I want it too much. I love you too much.” His voice broke with feeling as he squeezed her hand. “Can you forgive me?” Remembering she planned to make him grovel, she asked, “How badly do you want my forgiveness?” She had already forgiven him the moment he risked his life for her, maybe even before that, but she wasn’t ready to tell him that yet. “I want it bad enough to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You’ll always come first, sweetheart. And I’ll never lie to you again.” “Why did you do it?” Jayden winced. “For the exact reason you told Gavin you hoped for on the phone. I was crazy about you, and when I heard you were getting married, I coul