Changing Course (39 page)

"I want a future with you," I rush out before she can take off on me yet again.

"No Brett, you want a future with some woman who will fit into Sarah's shoes. But guess what, I don't want to play Jeopardy with you every night, or settle on the coast of Georgia. I want to live in the mountains. And I want two kids, not three. And I like plain names like John and Beth. I don't want to spend the rest of my life waiting on a man to finally admit that he's in love with me. Jesus, why am I even still standing here arguing with you? If you won't leave, I will. You know what-”

"Jess, shut up!" I have no choice but to shout. She has worked herself up into such fit that she can't stop talking. We both stand there staring at each other for a second, her chest heaving trying to catch her breath.

"I don't want to play Jeopardy with you either. Honestly, you really suck." I give her my best smile and wink to let her know I'm kidding, but she just continues to glare at me. "However, I do want to eventually kick your ass at the bowling alley." At that she gives me an eye roll.

Even though nothing has been solved, with that small gesture, I know for once in my life everything really is going to be okay.

"Jesse, you're my perfection. I'm sorry if I've made you feel that way about her. You’re right, at one point she was my everything, but then I met
you
. We could play the ‘what if she hadn't been in the accident’ game all night, but it's not going to get us anywhere.

"The truth is, for you Jesse James Addison, I would move to Egypt. So if the mountains are what you want, I'll break my lease tomorrow. You want two kids? I'm fine with that too. John Sharp has a nice ring to it. But you have to promise me if we have two girls we can try for a boy. And if we end up with three girls you'll let me adopt a bulldog. I'm not sure I can handle that much estrogen in one house without some back-up." She finally gives me a small grin that fuels my fire. "Now, gorgeous. If you can just stop freaking out on me for just a minute, I promise this is about to get better." I suck in a deep breath and prepare myself to say the three words I never thought I would say again.

"I love you. I have loved you for months, and to repeat your very crass words," I jokingly raise my eyebrows in shock, "it isn't just fucking. I have made love to you every single time I have touched your body since the first day we met. Except that one time in the bathroom at Nell's. Just so you know, I won't classify it as anything but fucking if a man has urinated within a three feet radius of where we are doing it," I pause while she rewards me with a soft giggle and a slight smile that barely curves her lips.

I close my eyes for a second, taking in a deep breath and listening to the magical sound that is Jesse laughing. Any hesitance I had about my feelings before has all vanished. Yes, I love this woman. I'm not just saying it out of some misplaced obligation or a fear of losing her. I say it because it's a truth that I have no doubt was coded into my DNA the day I was created. It has taken me too long to realize it. I've put her through hell on the journey but I know I will spend a lifetime making that up to her.

With absolute need to feel her in my arms, I rush across the room crushing her to my chest. "Gorgeous, I know you're still pissed at me. I get that. I've been an ass. But Jesse, I love you. You won't understand this, but I need to be inside you. You are just going to have to trust me that I'm going to make this work with us, no matter what. I'll try to explain in a few minutes, but some serious stuff just happened and I have never needed to feel you more than I do right now. I love you, gorgeous. Can you do that for me? Just let me make love to you and I swear I'll show you everything."

Her eyes slide from surprise to aroused as she gives the tiniest of nods.

That is all it takes for me to pick her up pushing her against the wall, landing my mouth roughly on her unprepared lips. I thrust my tongue forward as she tries, and fails, to match my frantic rhythm. I can't slow down. I need to claim her. I continue my assault in her mouth, pausing only briefly to pull her shirt over her head. Finding her nipples already peaked, I rub my thumbs over them, watching as they harden. She takes a deep gasping breath leaning forward latching on to my neck. This time I'm the one shuddering.

I place her feet back on the ground and growl, "Fuck Jess, take off your pants." She still hasn't said a word since my declaration of love, and it’s completely unnerving. I need to get inside her. I need to say it with more than words to make sure she believes me.

She shimmies out of her jeans and pink boy shorts, as I continue to caress her breasts, alternating between gently tugging her nipples and kneading. Once she's fully naked, I step back taking a moment to appreciate the stunning woman standing before me. My woman.
Mine.
I reach forward with one finger stroking the junction between her legs, finding her already dripping wet. If at all possible my cock hardens even further, twitching as it desperately searches for a way out.

"You're beautiful," I say continuing to stroke her clit. "I love you. I know you've waited entirely too long to hear those words, but I'm saying them now. I hope you realize the door you've opened because I am never going to stop saying it." I rub my finger slightly faster causing her to her throw her head back banging into the wall. I quickly reach around her curvy waist to help her balance while she loses herself in the movement of my hand.

"Brett, please," she finally speaks.

I know she is lost in the hunt for release, but I want to hear her say it. I want to finally be able to respond.

"Say it, baby."

"Please, Brett," she breathes as I pause my hand.

"Jess, say it."

"Say what?"

I smile because she knows exactly what I want to hear. This torture is her small dose of payback for the last few months.

"Jess, I'm about to fu...make love to you, against this wall until you are physically unable to walk the three feet to the couch and are forced to sleep on the ground, exhausted from the sheer number of times I have made you come."

I push forward rolling my hard cock into her stomach. "We have just established how I feel. Combine that with the fact that you are one thrust away from an orgasm, and this should really be an easy decision for you." I brush the hair away from her face, licking my way up her neck pausing by her ear before firmly whispering, "Now. I want to hear you fucking say it."

"I love you," she finally answers just seconds before I push two fingers deep into her dripping pussy, sending her into a full body climax.

Holding her close, she sways riding out her sexual high. I bury my face in the top of her hair, breathing in the sweet floral scent that I have memorized to be Jesse. I reply on a long content sigh, “I love you too, gorgeous. I love you too."

Jesse

“D
ON’T GO
.” I grab Brett’s legs trying to drag him back into bed.

“I have to, babe. It’s my Sunday to work.”

“Call in sick.” I rise to my knees and kiss his naked chest as he stands over the bed.

“God, I wish I could. I’d stay in bed with you all day.”

“Please,” I beg, knowing it’s worthless.

I knew yesterday he had to work, but that doesn’t make our long night any shorter. Last night was the most amazing day of my life. Brett Sharp is in love with me. I want to fly to Austria today just to find a field to spin around in, like Julie Andrews singing the “Sound of Music.” It’s probably easier to do a happy dance in the shower. I’ll stick with that.

“What time do you get off today?”

“It should be a light day. As long as nothing crazy comes up, I’ll be done by six. How about I grab sushi and pick you up around six-thirty? Maybe we can finish what we started last night.” He shoves a hand into my hair and rakes his teeth across my neck, sending a shiver over my body.

“I’m all for continuing it, but I’m relatively sure we finished.”

“My sweet Jesse, you have no idea what you are talking about. Last night was just the beginning.” I blush a little remembering all the things we did last night.

Brett was a maniac. After he made love to me on the floor in the den, we did it again on the couch, in the shower, and finished off the night in my bed with his head buried between my legs. There isn’t a single muscle in my body that isn’t sore this morning, but watching Brett get dressed causes an ache somewhere completely different.

“I’ll call you if anything changes, okay?” he says, pressing a deep, closed-mouth kiss to my lips that leaves me lightheaded.

Everything was magical last night. Brett told me he loved me, then showed me he loved me. I wasn’t nervous about how things would be this morning. I knew he meant it last night. But then again, I also knew he loved me months ago. He told me once a while back, that when he finally said it, he would mean it with his entire soul. After last night, I have no doubts that he does.

I’m still not comfortable with the whole Sarah situation. We have a long road ahead of us trying to figure out a solution that will work for everyone, including Sarah. Brett promised me in the shower that he was hiring an attorney this morning to help push the divorce forward. I’m glad he brought it up because even though I feel confident in our relationship now, I don’t think I will ever be truly comfortable until the divorce is final. He also promised to tell me if, and when, he goes to see her. No more avoiding the topic.

“Okay, I’ll see you this afternoon,” I reply, but Brett stands staring at me expectantly. “What?” I ask when he doesn’t leave.

“You don’t have anything else to say to
me
?”

“I don’t know, do
you
have anything else to say to me?” I toss a little attitude his way, making him laugh.

“You’re going to make me pay for making you wait, aren’t you?”

“Pretty much,” I smile and he shakes his head.

“Fine. I’ll make up for two months’ worth of I love you’s, but then we are even.”

“Deal.”

“One more kiss, and I really need to go.” He leans over tucking my hair behind my ear. “I,” he kisses my lips, “love,” he moves to my neck, “you,” he finishes with a nip on my ear.

“I love you too,” I whisper as his hot breath sends chills down my body.

“Go back to sleep, Jess. I want you well rested tonight,” he shouts over his shoulder, closing my door behind him.

I’m exhausted. I really should go back to sleep, but it’s a lost cause. I have plans today, but first I need to tidy up the mess Brett and I made last night. Things got a little intense up against the wall. A few of the picture frames fell and I heard at least one of them break. Kara should be home soon, and the last thing I want to do is answer a million inappropriate questions from her. I also want to hit the mall to buy Brett a little surprise for tonight. I sling back the blankets and get ready for the day.

A
ROUND NOON
, I hear a knock at the door. I pull back the curtain to see a man holding the biggest bouquet of white daisies I have ever seen. I yank open the door and all but snatch them from the delivery man.

Gorgeous,

I figured these would be a good first step. I’ve never even bought you flowers. I’m sorry for that too.

Last night was amazing. Thank you for waiting.

I love you.

Brett

P.S. Why are you awake and cleaning? I told you to get some sleep.

Even though I know he’s busy at work, I immediately dial his number.

“Detective Sharp,” he answers.

“Well hello, officer.”

“Hey babe. What’s up?”

“They’re beautiful. Seriously Brett, I love them.”

“Really? I was sure you were calling to give me hell about buying you something.”

“No, you’re allowed to buy me flowers any time you want. I’ll just pretend you handpicked them from your garden.”

“My garden, huh? Babe, you can pretend anything you would like. Whatever it takes.”

“Thank you.”

“You are very welcome. Now answer my question, why are you awake? We had a late night, and it’s your day off.”

“How did you know I was cleaning? Do you have cameras in my house?”