Jason grinned. "I love it when you get demanding."
"I hope you love me no matter what I do." But there was a sparkle in her eyes that told him that she knew he would. There was no fear inside Astrid anymore. Hot damn. He'd finally done it right, and gotten her to trust him.
He laughed and kissed her hair. "You know I do." Then he kissed her again, and talking turned from words into touches, into kisses, into the kind of intimate communication that could happen only between lovers.
Jason reveled in the feel of her skin beneath his hands, in the look of desire in her eyes as he slid her shirt over her arms, and her jeans down her thighs. Her skin was hot, burning for him, and he felt equally on fire. His kisses turned deep and desperate, and Astrid was clinging to him just as desperately, as if she couldn't bear to let him go.
With a growl, he broke the kiss to tear off his shirt, but before he could do it, Astrid stopped him by grabbing his wrist. "No," she said. "Let me. I want to do it."
He sat back on his heels as she sat up. His body began to tremble as she gently grasped the hem of his shirt and tugged it up his body, sliding her lips over his stomach as she did so. Desire flamed deep and hot inside him, but it was also something more. Something so primal and powerful, driven by the fact that Astrid so clearly wanted him, by the way she ran her hands over his body as if she were savoring every touch, every inch, every curve of his flesh.
"No one has ever made me feel like you do," he whispered as she unfastened his jeans. "Like you want this as much as I do."
Her smile faded as she raised herself onto her knees so her face was level with his. She laid her hands on either side of his face, and let him see into her soul. "I'm on fire with how much I want you to make love to me, Jason. You're the most incredible man, and you're mine, all mine, and that is the most amazing gift
ever.
" The sincerity of her words struck right to his core, and he felt the truth of her words.
This wasn't one sided. Not in any way. Not on any level.
Fierce desire rushed through him, an uncontainable urge to consume her and stake his claim on this incredible woman. He yanked his jeans off and took her to the bed beneath him, manipulating her with his kisses and his hands, pinning her where he wanted her.
"Yes," she whispered, writhing beneath him, her hips moving in desperate invitation. "Make love to me, Jason. Open your heart to me."
He pressed her hand to his chest as he moved between her legs. His heart was pounding so fiercely he felt like it was going to explode out of his ribs, and Astrid smiled when she felt it. "I love you," she whispered. "I'll love you until the end of time."
"And I'll love you to the end of time, and back again, my sweet Astrid." Then he sheathed himself inside her with one swift move, her body slick and welcoming as they became one.
For a moment, he didn't move, and they just stared at each other while their bodies adjusted to the awe of their connection with each other. Jason grasped Astrid's hand and lifted it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to her ring, to the symbol that would tell the world of their commitment to each other. "Forever," he said. "No matter what."
A slow, beautiful smile spread over Astrid's face, and she pulled him down toward her. "Forever," she whispered. "Two hearts, intertwined, forever."
As the words filled his heart, Jason kissed her, pouring every ounce of his soul and love into it. She kissed him back, unleashing the desire that had been building so powerfully inside them. With a roar of possession, of lust, of desire, Jason plunged even deeper inside her. Astrid gasped as he began to move, clinging to him as they stoked the desire higher and higher, until they were at the precipice, consumed by it.
Jason entwined his fingers with hers, and then did one final plunge. Astrid screamed his name at the same moment he shouted hers, clinging to each other as the orgasm took them, catapulting them into a future of love, of connection, of finally finding their place.
Astrid smiled with contentment, her heart filled with love as she trailed her fingers along Jason's spine. Her sheets were soft under her back, draped over them both, enveloping Jason into her most private world.
And it was perfect.
"I love you," Jason muttered into her neck, where his face was nestled. "Plus, you're great at sex."
She laughed, her heart almost exploding with joy. "Why thank you. I have to admit, you're really talented as well. I don't suppose you'd be willing to do it with me again sometime?"
He propped himself up on his elbow, staring down at her. His hair was rumpled, his eyes dark with the aftermath of their lovemaking. He looked rough and untamed, and her heart melted at the affection in his expression. "How about now?"
She grinned. "Now? Already?"
"Hell, yeah." He bent his head to kiss her, and then they heard the crunch of tires on the gravel. Jason broke the kiss and cocked his head to listen.
A car door slammed, and then they heard Noah's shout and Mack's low rumble. "It's my parents," Jason said. "Shit." He rolled off her and grabbed his jeans off the floor. "I gotta go."
"What?" A heavy weight slammed into Astrid's chest as Jason hurried to get his clothes on. She'd forgotten about his parents. Her heart aching, she watched him yank on his shirt. It was just like before. How could it be the same? She'd thought it was different— "Jason—"
"Get dressed." He leaned over to give her a quick kiss, then sprinted out of the bedroom. Her front door slammed, and she heard Jason shouting for his parents and Noah.
Humiliation burned through her as she quickly pulled her own clothes on. How could he leave her like that? How could—
"Astrid?" There was a light knock from the front of the house as Jason called her name. "You decent?"
"What?" She fastened her bra and yanked her shirt over her head, then hurried out of the bedroom. She froze when she saw that Jason, Noah and his parents were standing in her living room. "Oh."
Jason grinned when he saw her, a tremendous smile that made her heart flutter. "Astrid," he said softly as he left his parents and Noah and walked across the room toward her. He took her hand and kissed her lightly on the mouth before turning toward his parents and Noah. He slung his arm over her shoulder, tucking her tightly up against his side. "I would like you all to meet Astrid Monroe."
His dad raised his eyebrows. "We've already met her, Jason."
Jason grinned. "No, you haven't. I would like you to meet the woman who is crazy enough to love me to the ends of the earth, the woman I love with every bit of my soul."
Astrid felt her cheeks turn red as Jason's mother's eyebrows shot up, but at the same time, she felt her chest swell with pride.
"Astrid has agreed to marry me," Jason said. "Mom, Dad, I want you to meet my future wife. And Noah..." Jason went down into a crouch so he was on his son's level. "How would you feel about Astrid being your mom?"
Astrid held her breath as the most enormous smile exploded on Noah's face. "That rocks!" He raced across the room and tackled Jason, nearly knocking him down. "Thanks for getting her, Dad! You're the best!"
Astrid's throat tightened as Jason broke the hug and held out an arm toward her, to bring her into the embrace. For a moment, she hesitated, then Noah looked up. "I'm going to name my snake after you," he said, "Queen Astrid."
Queen Astrid? Suddenly, all hesitation vanished and Astrid went down on her knees, letting Jason and Noah pull her into the hug. It was a fierce hug, as only two males would do, and it made her heart tremble with disbelief. Was this really her world? Was this really her life?
"Astrid," Jason's mom interrupted.
She tensed and looked up, noticing that Jason didn't loosen his embrace on her at all. Instead, he kept her tight against him, making his commitment to her clear. Warmth and strength burned through her, and suddenly Henrietta didn't feel like such a threat. Astrid knew that she was safe, and no one could take it away from her. "Yes?"
To her surprise, Henrietta was smiling, and tears were gleaming in her eyes. "Welcome to the family. It's about time you and Jason found your way to each other."
Astrid swallowed. "Really?"
Mack was the one who answered, as he put his arm around his wife's shoulders, a broad grin on his face. "Really."
* * *
"I think it went under here." Ten months later, Astrid stretched out on her belly to peer beneath the woodpile, a position she'd found herself in many times since she'd agreed to marry into the Sarantos family.
"Do you see it?" Noah hunkered down next to her, his frog-hunting net damp against Astrid's side.
"No." Astrid frowned. "We need a flashlight."
"We gotta catch it," Noah said. "If Dad finds out there's a mouse in the cafe, he's going to kill it."
"We'll catch it," Astrid said. "Don't worry."
Noah flashed a grin at her. "I love this cafe. We've caught six mice already and it's only the first week of May. How cool is that?"
Astrid grinned at him. "As long as they don't get inside the restaurant, it's cool—"
"Oh, there she is." The voice of the man her mother had finally found peace with broke into the mouse moment. "See, your mama is still here. No need to fuss."
Astrid looked up as Ralph came walking out of the back of the store, a tiny bundle cradled in his massive arms. Her heart filled with the joy that had been overwhelming her for months. Joy that had been mixed with terror, when she'd accidentally become pregnant so soon after her miscarriage. Without Jason's support and his reassuring medical scrutiny, she knew her stress would have taken another baby away from her. But instead, the nine months had built the most incredible bond between her and Jason as they leaned on each other for support and courage that everything would work out okay and they wouldn't lose another child. Together, they'd made it, and little Rosie had blessed them with all the joy and love that Astrid had never thought she'd have. "Is she awake?" Astrid asked.
"Waking up." Ralph nuzzled the baby, his weathered-face filled with such love. "Hi, little Rosie," he crooned. "You look just like your grandma. You are a lucky girl. She was the prettiest lady I've ever met, and you look just like her."
"Aw...not the baby again," Noah groaned. "She's so boring."
"Some girls don't like mice, so you're going to have to teach her to like them." Astrid smiled as she took the infant from her grandpa. Rosie's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were sleepy as she snuggled against Astrid. An overwhelming sense of love and wonder swelled as she looked down at her innocent, beautiful baby, who was growing up with a doting father, a mischievous brother and a home that was more beautiful than Astrid had ever imagined as a child.
"Can I really teach her to play with mice? Is that okay?" Noah grinned. "I have a fake rat inside. Can I get it for her?"
"Of course," Astrid grinned, happy that Rosie was going to grow up actually knowing her brother. The cycle had been broken…no, not broken. It had been healed, with love and courage, and all the things she never knew she was capable of.
"Great!" Noah raced inside, shouting for Jason.
Ralph smiled at Astrid. "You sure you don't mind me living in the carriage house?"
She laughed, delighted by the warmth and happiness in the older man's eyes. For months after Rosie's death, Ralph's spirit had been broken, but the moment they'd told him that their baby would carry Rosie's name, it was as if Ralph had finally come back to life. He'd taken on his role of doting grandpa with such vigor and excitement that his enthusiasm still made Astrid giggle with delight. "Of course not. You're family, Ralph. You belong with us. Besides, it is so wonderful to have your help with Rosie. I'd never be able to keep up with my orders if you weren't there to help me with the kids."
"Okay, then." The older man smiled. "I never thought I'd have grandkids. Rosie would be proud, wouldn't she?"
"She would—"
"Astrid!" Eppie came charging around the corner. "Jason needs some..." She paused, her eyes widening. "Oh, hello there, Ralph. I had
no
idea you were back here with Astrid." She gave him a wide smile, flipping back some of the beads that were hanging from the brim of her hat.
Ralph's cheeks turned red. "Oh, hello, Eppie. You look lovely today."
"Oh, this old thing?" Eppie smiled and fluffed the yellow flowers embroidered onto her fuchsia dress. "Why, I've had it for hours. Maybe even a full day. It's no big thing."
Astrid chuckled as she hugged Rosie to her chest. "I'm going to go inside and find Jason. I'll see you guys later." She ducked past them, grinning when neither of them even looked her way as she walked into the back of the store.
She pushed open the door just as Jason walked out. He was wearing a bright red tee shirt that proclaimed Noah's Place as the number one new pizza store in Maine, courtesy of Eppie personally filling the place every day for the first six months until it started to gain steam on its own. Eppie had even convinced Clare and Griffin to let Jason cater their wedding, filling the lakeside tent with more pizzas than Astrid had ever seen in her life. It had been so amazing to see Clare so happy, and to be experiencing those same emotions herself. Never again would Astrid stand outside a loving relationship like Clare and Griffin's, and wonder what it would be like. No, she knew what it was like, and it was the most incredible gift ever.
"Hey, gorgeous," her husband said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. There was flour on Jason's shoulder and smudged on his cheeks, and he looked radiantly happy. "How are my girls?"
"Perfect." Astrid smiled as Jason locked his arm around her waist and kissed her. "You'll squish Rosie," she laughed.
"Good. She needs to learn that her daddy can't keep his hands off her mommy." Jason's face softened as he looked down at the infant. "One month old today. I can't even believe it."