Give Up On Me

by Tressie Lockwood

  “At the very least I should have realized you’re a better businessman,” she said, lost in her thoughts.

  “Huh?”

  “Oh, nothing.” She wasn’t going to admit to him that she’d thought he was weak. In his own way, Matt was far more obsessed with her than her dad had been with her mother. That’s what led to his accident. Now, she believed it might have taken him longer, but he would have come out of his cloud of heartache if he hadn’t gotten hurt. “Matt, will you love me the rest of my life?”

  “I promise I will.”

  “You can’t make that promise.”

  “Were you expecting another answer?”

  She grinned. “No, I wasn’t, but I’m scared.”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “My love, don’t be afraid. I will grow stronger and protect you.”

  “You’re plenty strong now. In fact, you’re amazing. I love you, and I always will.”

  He raised her off her feet and claimed her lips. Janae wrapped her arms around his neck and surrendered her mouth. She moaned as she sucked on his tongue, and he chased after hers, sending chills of delight all through her body.

  Maria wandered in fussing in Spanish about the food. Janae tried to get down from Matt’s arms, but he just shuffled them aside and kept on kissing her. She let the embarrassment melt away and enjoyed every second in his embrace.

  After a few moments, he set her on her feet and guided her from the kitchen holding her hand. Janae willingly followed him. Her heart raced until she felt dizzy. She couldn’t stop staring at him even if it was the back of his head, his wide shoulders, and yeah, that sexy ass. She wanted to see him naked and just look.

  And look and taste and look…

  They ended up in the family room where Nerea played with her toys on the carpet. Outside the double doors leading to the patio, the sun was setting. A slight chill was in the air as the season slipped into autumn. Janae shivered.

  “Would you like me to start a fire?” Matt offered.

  “Isn’t it too warm for that?”

  “Here in the family room it gets chilly early. Just a small one.”

  He moved from her side, and she wanted to call him back. At the grate in front of the fireplace, he grabbed a wand lighter from the mantel. Nerea shot to his side when he clicked the wand. Janae started to warn her to get back, but Matt was faster. He encircled her little body with a strong arm and scooted her farther away from the fire. Instead of just commanding her to move, he explained the danger of the fire, how the fireplace worked, and why it was important for him to handle lighting it.

  Janae wasn’t sure Nerea understood everything he said, but tears sprung to her eyes. She tried to sniff without calling attention to herself. Matt was instinctively a good daddy. She couldn’t ask for a better husband, and she would be crazy to turn him down. Fear still gripped her that his family would do something to keep them apart, but she was no longer willing or able to handle the burden of their manipulation. If they tried anything again, she would talk to Matt, and they would figure it out together.

  “Hey,” she said when he rejoined her on the couch and snuggled her to his side.

  “Yeah?”

  “You sure you want to marry me?” She bit her lip. Why the hell was she nervous when he had never stopped asking her?

  “Absolutely. If you want, I can arrange for us to do it this week.”

  “Hold your horses, pal.” She shook her head in disbelief. “On second thought, what the hell? Yeah, let’s do it this week. I’ve waited long enough for you, and you have for me.”

  “Me, too, Mommie. I’m waiting,” Nerea said, loud as if she spoke through a bullhorn.

  Janae laughed. “You don’t know what we’re talking about, silly.”

  Nerea ran over to them and stood with her chest out. “I do. We’ve been waiting for Papi. Right, Papi?”

  Matt got a dopey look on his face as he stared at their little girl. “Yes, baby. You’ve been waiting for me, and now I’m here. I won’t ever go away again.”

  “Promise?” she demanded, climbing onto his lap.

  “Yup, promise.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Janae stood near the entrance to the church sanctuary. Matt had convinced her to forego the courthouse wedding for a tiny ceremony in a real church. She wished he stood before her right then so she could clobber the man. Her hands and knees shook so hard, anyone could see it if they looked at her for more than a second. She wanted to find a closet and get lost in it, but there they were, Matt and the priest, waiting for her to make her entrance.

  She swallowed, struggling not to give in to panic. Why the hell was she so damn scared? This was it. They were going to be bound together in matrimony. This was what she wanted.

  But what if it’s not? What if Matt leaves me and—”

  “Janae!”

  She jumped and peeked around the open door. Matt had just shouted down the aisle, and the handful of guests, gathered for the last minute ceremony, laughed.

  “Just great,” Janae moaned. “There is absolutely no class involved in this wedding.”

  “That means it’s bound to last forever.” Her dad laid a comforting hand on her back.

  “Where’d you get that superstition? You should be on my side.”

  His eyebrows rose. “You mean you want me to run away with you?”

  She sighed and looked into the sanctuary again. “No, our little flower girl, who spilled all her flowers and shouted for me to give her more, is in there.”

  He chuckled. “Like father, like daughter.”

  “So you’re saying there’s no hope of Nerea growing out of it?”

  He held out his arm. “No, there’s no hope. So abandon it here. You belong with Matt, and he belongs with you. I know it’s risky and scary, baby girl, but you have to remember. Whether your time together is short or if it lasts fifty years, it’s the here and now that’s most important. You have to cherish every second of the time you spend holding each other.”

  “You should be a poet,” she grumbled, somewhat encouraged.

  “Sounds good. Maybe I should write a book.”

  “Dad, for real? Stick to renovations.”

  “Well, I gave it a try anyway. Are you ready?”

  She almost bit her lip off, but she nodded. He held out his arm, and she took it, shaking even harder than before. Her dad let her lean on him as she swayed, feeling dizzy and terrified. They made slow progress along the aisle, but when she reached the front, Matt blew out a breath of relief. She bet he’d been two seconds from storming down to the entrance to drag her along the aisle.

  Janae moved beside him when the question was asked about giving away the bride. She gazed into blue eyes brimming with love. Out in the hall, she was scared. Now she felt calmer.

  Matt had his own fears. He must be afraid she would disappear again, and it hurt to think she had given him those doubts. Before his family put pressure on her, the two of them had lived in a bubble of perfect love. They were so wounded now. She would do all in her power to help Matt to never doubt her love or her commitment to him.

  When it came time for Janae to say her vows, she did so with tears in her eyes but confidence in her voice. “I, Janae Wilson, take you, Matthew Foust, to be my husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my true love from this day forward…”

  Matt faltered over his vows. She heard the emotion in his tone, but he didn’t cry. The entire room lost it when he cleared his throat a dozen times. Janae forgot all of it when he took her into his arms and kissed her, sealing their fates as one.

  At last the ceremony ended, and Janae’s ears rung with the announcement that she was Mrs. Janae Foust. A married woman, it blew her mind. They turned to their guests, and she got another shock. At the very back of the crowd stood Kyler but not Margaret. Matt had said he wouldn’t tell them about the wedding. He didn’t want drama on their special day. Janae saw no reason to tell them either.

  Her hand tightened o
n Matt’s arm when he approached his brother. She stared in disbelief when Kyler stuck his hand out and shook Matt’s. He turned to her, and the least she expected was spit in her eye.

  “Congratulations,” Kyler said, and she stumbled forward when he drew her in to a very brief hug and then put her away from him. “I wish the two a lifetime of happiness together.”

  She put a hand on her hip. “Oh really? After all you put us through?”

  “It’s because of what I put you through. All I can say is I apologize, Janae.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you’ve had a change of heart.”

  He shrugged. “That’s your choice. I’ve always had my doubts about what we were doing. I can’t say I’ve had a complete change of heart because I worry about my brother. I’m saying I accept his decision.”

  “And it’s his to make,” she insisted. “And mine.”

  He nodded tightly. She had the feeling Kyler wouldn’t have seen the error of his ways if she hadn’t decided never to walk away from Matt again. She still couldn’t stand him, and from the anger burning in Matt’s eyes, Kyler wasn’t on his favorites list either. To his credit, Matt didn’t argue.

  “How did you know about the wedding?” Matt asked.

  “I’m always aware of what you do.”‘

  Matt’s jaw tightened. “Have a change of heart on that.”

  “Habit.”

  Kyler didn’t say he’d stop checking up on Matt, but Janae didn’t care as long as the man stayed out of their way.

  “What about Margaret?” Matt said.

  “She’s out of the hospital, and despite the doctor’s order to take it easy, I’ve caught her on the phone conducting business twice when I visited her. You don’t have to worry about her interfering with the two of you or with your dad, Janae.”

  “She’ll never change.” Matt rolled his shoulders and started to guide Janae and Nerea past his brother. “Margaret no longer matters to me. These two are my life, and I’ll spend the rest of it making up for the heartache Janae suffered because of you and Margaret.”

  Kyler started to say something else, but Matt shuffled them from the church. Outside, a limo waited, and when the driver opened the door, Janae caught sight of Maria within. Nerea broke away from Janae’s hand and dove into the limo, chattering to Maria about her big girl responsibilities of being flower girl.

  Janae looked at Matt after they were both in the limo. “That’s Maria’s traveling outfit. I remember she told me about it when we were leaving Spain to come here. Where are we going?”

  He winked. “I thought we could restart your experience visiting Spain by going there for our honeymoon. You can show me the vineyards you visited.”

  She gasped. “Really? Maria can see her family. It’s been a while.”

  “What about you? Do you like the idea? Because if you don’t we can cancel and send her home for a visit alone.”

  “No way. I’m going. Right, Nerea? We’re going to Valencia.”

  “Valencia!” Nerea bounced up and down until Maria strapped her in a seat belt. Then she rocked and hummed. Janae didn’t blame her daughter. They had come full circle, and she had fallen in love with Spain. Now she got to share it with her husband.

  She looked at him, and her breath caught in her throat. “I love you, Matt.”

  He kissed her and drew her close to his side. “I love you, too, honey.”

  “Thank you for never giving up on me.”

  One year later…

  Janae lit one more candle and blew out the match. She gazed about the room, taking in the rose petals strewn about the bed and the floor. The flickering flames provided a soft glow that transported her and Matt’s bedroom to a fantasy world. Beyond the double glass doors leading to the balcony, Spain spread out as far as she could see. Below the balcony lay a beautiful enclosed garden with roses and other flowers blooming. The sweet scent out there permeated the room, completing the ambiance.

  For the last touch, she unbelted her silk robe. She started to take it off, but frowned at her hips, which were widening again. “This is your anniversary. You can’t hide your body,” she told herself.

  She breathed in deep and let it out. Matt would come home soon, and she had already arranged for Maria to spend time away from the house with Nerea. There would just be the two of them.

  A sound on the stairs caught her attention. She wrestled with the decision about the stupid robe. In the end, Matt pushed the door open just as she had the robe half off her shoulders. The way she held it, somewhat closed just beneath her bare breasts, made it look like she had planned it that way.

  “Matt,” she breathed, looking at him.

  He stared, silent, but she saw the rise in the front of his pants. “Honey, what a gift. You’re so beautiful, it hurts.”

  She grinned. “What’s that you got for me?”

  He pointed at his cock. “This? You’ve had it plenty in the last year. I’m sure you’re tired of it by now.”

  “Crazy.” She laughed. “I was talking about that big box you’re holding.”

  He tossed the box onto a chair. “Forget about the box. What I want is for you to let that robe fall.”

  “I was thinking about keeping it on.”

  “Uh-uhn. You take it off or I do. I want to see everything you have for me.”

  “This old body. You’ve seen it plenty in the last year.”

  “Not nearly enough.” He started walking toward her. She took a step back. He made a sound with his tongue to indicate she’d better stop or else. Janae swung away, and Matt caught her. He swept her off her feet and fell with her onto the bed. She ended up on her back with him half on top of her.

  “Matt.” She pretended to complain, but he wasn’t looking in her face.

  “You love me for my boobs.”

  “And your pussy.”

  She smacked his arm.

  He captured a nipple and elicited a moan from her when he sucked it between his lips. “I can’t wait to taste them when the milk comes in. Will you give me a boy this time?”

  She gasped. “You knew?”

  He looked into her face. “Of course I knew. No one knows your body like I do. This time I’m going to be here to see our baby being born. I’m going to get to change his diapers.”

  “You say it like it’s fun. If you think so, you can have at it.”

  He chuckled. “You’ve made me the happiest man on earth, Janae. I hope I’ve made you happy because I’ve tried hard to bring a smile to your face every day.”

  “You did and do. Happy anniversary, baby. This first year has been amazing, and I look forward to the rest of our lives together. And thank you for bringing us back here again. I love Spain so much.”

  “If you want, we can move here permanently.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Really?”

  “Yes. Are you serious about it?”

  “Hell, yes! I know Nerea will be thrilled, too. She’s a Spanish girl at heart.”

  “Now, both our son and daughter will have been born here.”

  “Dude, you don’t know it’s a boy.”

  “I’m hopeful. Anyway, what about your dad?”

  “We can visit a couple times a year or when you have to do business in America. I’m not going to base my decisions on what other people want anymore. That probably sounds selfish.”

  “It sounds perfect.”

  He rose from the bed and pulled her up with him. Janae let him take the robe the rest of the way off, and she enjoyed the view as her husband shed his own clothes. Her hands flew to his broad chest when he uncovered it. She couldn’t help tracing the planes and valleys and playing with his nipples. His skin was warm and taut and sent zings of need shooting every which way in her body. She didn’t think she would ever get enough of Matt.

  “Every day I love you more,” she whispered, and kissed his chest.

  Matt ran his hands over her back until he reached her ass. He squeezed and drew her closer. She stretched up
to her toes so his cock would slide between her legs. His stiff shaft gliding over her clit made her shiver and moan. She arched her hips, riding him just enough to drive her insane.

  “Look at me,” he whispered, and when she did, he slanted his mouth over hers. Janae moaned, parting her lips to take his tongue. For an instant, he darted it in and out of her mouth in rhythm to the movement of his cock. Then he seemed to lose it and grasped her hips to raise her higher.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, and while they stood beside the bed, he brought her down on his cock. Her folds opened, accepting him. His tight erection slid deeper, and Janae held onto his shoulders for dear life. No matter how much weight she had put on, he was strong enough to hold her like this. Matt was everything.

  “Matt, it feels so good. Please, I want it all. Give me all of you.”

  “Honey, you’ve had all of me from the beginning.” He laid her on the bed and followed her down. His cock found its way back inside her, and he began to pump slow and easy. She grasped her knees to pull them higher. Working her inner muscles, she gripped him and thrust upward. He cried out her name.

  “Faster,” she begged. “I want it hard.”

  “Not with my baby in you.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “Shh.” He brushed the hair from her face that had fallen onto it. Janae imagined her belly swollen and how hot it would be for him to take her from behind.

  She pushed at his chest, and he pulled out. She hurriedly rolled over and stuck her ass in the air. Her husband filled her. She screamed his name. Looking over her shoulder, she watched as his tanned but paler body met her darker one. He didn’t need to pound into her heat to make her feel good. The position alone made her juices flow, and Matt seemed to swell thicker.

  “I’m going to come,” she whined. Her core muscles coiled, ready to unleash a powerful orgasm. She couldn’t wait and pushed back on him. Matt held onto her hips and picked up the pace. He thumped his dick deep into her pussy, and she screamed again. Reaching between her legs, she pinched her clit, but it didn’t matter. Her orgasm shattered her mind.

  Just when she thought it was over, her body rolled into a second orgasm, and Matt timed his to match it. He buried his cock to the hilt and held himself there. Janae laid her head on the bed, eyes shut, and enjoyed the sensation of her man filling her up with his come.