by Holly Jaymes
He shook his head. “I want to see you naked under the moon, Emma. Come on. Be daring.”
I got out of bed. “I think this behavior is what got you in trouble before.”
“This isn’t reckless or sordid. This is a man skinning dipping with a woman he loves. Besides, Wyatt checked out the area, and my car isn’t parked here.”
“You’ve thought of everything.” I took his hand and we walked out back to the lake. The water was cold, but swimmable.
“When your retreat is here, we won’t be able to do this,” he said as he pulled me into his arms in the moonlight of the water.
“I guess we should savor this then.” I kissed him and wrapped my legs round him. “Do the Minors know of your plans? Wyatt says they’re mad at me.”
“They don’t know the plans yet, but I think they’ll be okay with it. They’ll be able to stay here for as long as they want and watch the place come back to life. Plus, they won’t worry about it being razed for condos or something. As far as you’re concerned, they’ll love you because I do, and then because you’re you.”
“I hope you’re right. I love my little house on the lake.”
“Well then, you’ll always have your little house on the lake.” He brushed a strand of hair that had fallen in my face away. “I want to give you the world.” He laughed. “I’ve never felt that before. Is it corny?”
“No. It’s romantic. It makes me hot.”
His eyes widened. “Corny makes you hot?”
“Romance does.” I rubbed my pussy against his dick. “So hot.”
He groaned. “Imagine if paparazzi got a picture of me fucking you in the lake.”
“Imagine,” I said, teasing his tip with my entrance.
“Shall we risk finding out?” he bent his head and licked the swell of my breast bobbing in the water.
“If you want to. I want to give you the world too, Tucker.”
“Yep, that is corny and it does make me hot.” He pulled my hips down, and he slid inside me, making me gasp and then moan as sweet pleasure filled me again.
I had a wonderful life out here at the lake. A lovely home. The ability to do my art while surrounded in peaceful nature. I had no clue that my life could be any better. But now, I had the love of Tucker McLean. He brought love and laughter, and made my world in my little piece of paradise even brighter.
Chapter 26: Full Circle
Tucker
I finally got it. I finally understood how transformative love could be. Waking the next morning with Emma in my arms, I felt like my life was perfect. The only downside was having to leave her in a couple of days for training camp.
Before I did that, I wanted to make sure she was settled, and that the people of Eden Lake knew she was mine and would treat her accordingly. After I made love to her in bed and in the shower, we had breakfast and then walked up to my SUV at the turnout and drove to the Minor’s house.
“Tucker!” Mary said with a large grin that fell when she saw me with Emma. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have camp?”
“I do. But I wanted to spend my last free days with Emma.” I brought Emma’s hand to my lips and kissed it.
Mary’s brows lifted.
“And I have a proposition for you.”
“Ah, here it comes. Tucker McLean is stealing my wife,” Harry said from inside.
“I don’t think so,” Mary said looking at me and Emma. She opened the door wider to let us in. “Emma is with him. It appears they’ve made up.”
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” I said, hoping they’d follow suit and see the beautiful person Emma was. They’d known it before. I just needed to remind them.
“Ah, young love. Looks good on you, Tuck,” Harry said, as we entered their living area.
The visit was a little tense at first, but before long, they were open to Emma again. Then I made my proposition, framing it as my wanting to secure my future financially and help Emma’s business too, so they didn’t feel I was trying to save them.
They were somewhat resistant, but I assured them that they’d be a part of the resort as long as they wanted, and when we left, I told them Mason or I would be in touch with the details and paperwork.
Then, Emma and I headed to Paradise Java.
“I’m nervous,” she said, as we walked from where we parked the car toward the café.
“Why?” I stopped, wanting to give her my attention.
“Janell was pretty sore at me. And people were talking about me. I know it’s silly but—”
“It’s not silly. I’m sorry you were put in that position.”
“I had to resign.”
“Ah fuck…Emma, I’m sorry.” I wondered if she wanted her job back. As far as I was concerned, I wanted her working with Mason and the Minors on fixing up the resort, but I wasn’t going to stop her from brewing coffee, if that’s what she wanted.
She shrugged. “It is what it is.”
I cradled her face in my hands. “First, when you and I walk in there together, they’ll be talking but it will be good. Second, if you want your job back, I’m sure you’ll be able to get it. Or, you could help with the retreat project. I’ll be gone a lot and I’m sure Mason could use the help.” I took a beat. “I don’t want to keep you Emma, but…you wouldn’t need to work. You can do your art. Focus on that.”
Her eyes started to water. “I don’t want you to support me.”
“Consider it a business investment that I’m making in your art. Or go back to Paradise Java. It’s up to you. I’ll support whatever you want.”
“I want to think about it.”
“Perfect. Now I’m going to kiss you in public and everyone in Eden Lake will know you’re mine. No more trying to set you up with Wyatt.”
She laughed. “If you insist.”
“I do.” I made good by giving her a long, full, firm kiss in front of Paradise Java. Then I took her hand, and led her inside. Like I expected, surprised expressions turned to smiles. Yes, Emma would be fine when I left.
Monday morning came way too quickly. I woke Emma just before dawn, enticing her outside for one last skinnydip and love making session, before I showered and headed back west to training camp.
Emma was never far from my mind those training weeks, but I did focus on what I had to do to remain the starting quarterback. By the end of day three, I was sure I had my job shored up, but I didn’t lay off. I ran faster, threw farther, and pushed harder than I ever had before.
It helped that each night I talked with Emma. She was like an energy drink that filled me with football superpowers. Her love made me stronger and more confident. And yes, we managed to figure out phone sex.
A week into training camp, I got word that the granddaughter of Emma’s grandmother’s friend had taken the photos and sold them. I contacted Emma, who didn’t want to expose Ashley or sue her. A part of me understood that. I knew that reckless behavior was often done without a thought to the ramifications. I’d done my share of boneheaded things. At the same time, Ashley had caused a great deal of turmoil for me and Emma. I felt she needed to understand how much Emma and I had nearly lost.
With the help of our attorney, we were able to arrange an agreement in which Ashley wasn’t exposed, but that she had to use fifty thousand dollars of the hundred thousand she’d received for the stolen photos towards the arts foundation that Emma started, in order to manage the retreats and the gallery/studio we were building. The remaining amount, much of which Ashley had already spent, was to be used for her education or career training. She was also required to work next summer at the retreat.
When training camp ended, I felt good about my chances of keeping my job, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous when I was called into the coach's office. Curly, the manager, was there too.
“Tucker, how are you feeling?” Coach asked, motioning for me to take a seat in the chair in front of his desk.
“Strong.” I sat and tried to look calm, even though inside my
stomach was filled with butterflies. Had I won my job back? Would I be starting as the quarterback of the Pacific Coast Sea Lions? I wished Emma was there with me. I wanted to share this with her.
“Let’s not draw this out,” Curly said. “You’re starting.”
I wanted to yell out a hooray, but instead I remained cool. I smiled. “Thank you. I know I’ll play better than ever this season.”
“We’re counting on it. Now, get out,” Coach said.
I was walking on air as I headed out of the building and to my car. Knowing I had a couple of days before I had to be back for preseason, and after one short stop, I made a b-line to Eden Lake and Emma’s home.
“Tucker!” she said when I burst through her door. “Is everything okay? I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Everything is perfect. Or almost perfect.” I lifted her and twirled us around.
She laughed, and the sound of it was perfection. “Does this mean your job is safe?”
“I fucking killed it.” I kissed her hard. “Now, get in the car. I’m taking you someplace special.”
“I’m not really dressed—”
She was in shorts that made me want to run my tongue up and down her legs and a tank top that accentuated the perfection of her tits.
“You’re dressed perfectly.” I took her hand and tugged her out of the house, with her laughing as I put her in my SUV.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” I drove out of the resort and further west to another part of the lake that wasn’t highly used by tourists. It was a local haunt in an area that had once been owned by my ancestors.
I parked in the dirt lot at the trailhead, and pulled out the backpack I’d brought.
She gave me a knowing smile as I took her hand. “I’ve been here before.”
“I know. I have the painting to prove it.”
“I didn’t know what it was when I painted it,” she said.
“Well, I promised I’d bring you here. It’s time you understood its importance.”
She blushed and I had to stop and kiss her again right there. “I love you, Emma.”
Her smile was brilliant. “You fill me with such love and happiness, Tucker, I don’t know how my heart doesn’t explode.”
I felt the same. I tugged her along the path, to the shore, and onto a slab of rocks that jutted out into the lake. I walked us out, and then sat, putting her between my legs so I could wrap my arms around her as we looked out over the water. In the distance, we could see the town of Eden Lake. Boats skimmed across the water, enjoying the August day.
“My family used to own this spot. Over there,” I pointed in the other direction to an area that was now overgrown. “The McLean’s had a home until the Haynesvilles bankrupted them and they had to move into town.”
“I think it’s great that Mason and Willa have mended the two families.”
I kissed her head. “Me too.”
“There’s a lot of folklore in this town,” she said. “The feud. And I’m told that many McLeans were conceived at this spot.”
The actual location was in a small clearing near where the original house had sat, but this was close enough. I grinned down at her, waggling my brows. “That’s the rumor.”
She cocked her head. “Are you planning to bring truth to that?”
The fact that she was asking if I planned to impregnate her was a good sign. “Not yet.”
Her brows lifted.
“First comes love, then marriage, then a baby carriage.” I pulled out the small velvet box that I’d stopped on the way to pick up.
She gasped and turned in my arms. “Tucker.”
I opened the box. “I know without a doubt, Emma, that you’re the woman for me. All my hopes and dreams involve you. Will you marry me?” My heart was thundering in my chest. I’d been chased down by two-hundred pound linebackers, but nothing scared me as much as asking her to marry me. I don’t know why. I knew she loved me.
She threw her arms around me, nearly knocking the box out of my hand. “Yes, yes, yes, I’ll marry you.” She planted kisses all over my face. My lips finally found hers, and I poured all my love into it. Who knew it was possible to be so fucking happy?
I took the unique ring with twin-vine-like bands holding a square, rare, sparkling green diamond that I felt fit her artistic bohemian style, from the box and slipped it on her finger.
“It’s perfect. So perfect.” She looked up from the ring. “Like you.”
“I’m not perfect. I suspect I’ll fuck up, but I’ll always love you, Emma. That you can trust.”
“I love you, Tucker McLean. And when the time comes, we’ll come here to make our babies.”
“Can we practice now?” We were exposed on the rock and it was a hard surface for love making, but when I wanted something, I was pretty good at getting it. I pulled the blanket from the backpack, then used the pack as a pillow for her head as I made love to my beautiful bride-to-be at McLean’s Corner.
On a bye week in November, I married this wonderful woman. I was having the season of my life in football, but it was the day that Emma walked up the aisle, with our friends and family around us, that was the highlight of my year. My life really.
From then on, I felt like I was invincible. Football was fulfilling, but with Emma in my life, I felt like everything had fallen into place. Life was sheer perfection. I played the best I’d ever played, and when I was with Emma working on the renovations of Pine Rest Resort and planning her retreat, I was in heaven.
On the first Sunday in February, I woke up early in my Los Angeles penthouse feeling like a swarm of butterflies had invaded my stomach. Today, I was playing the Superbowl in my team’s city.
“Nervous?” Emma asked next to me.
“I think I might throw up.”
“Here, let me help you.” She slid down my body, and with my dick in her mouth, made me relax and forget, just for a little bit.
At 3:30 that afternoon, the ball was kicked off to start the biggest football game of the year, and by 7:30, my team and I were Super Bowl champs. Holy fuck.
“Quite a year you’ve had,” Mason said, in the wee hours of the next morning as the parties had ended and everyone else was asleep. We were back at the penthouse having a last beer.
“No shit.”
“I knew you had it in you,” he said.
“Even when I didn’t.” My phone beeped with a text.
Are you still celebrating? You’ve been up all night. The bed is cold.
I smiled. Emma had gone to bed hours ago. I was an idiot not to go with her, but she insisted I stay to enjoy the victory with my teammates. When Mason and I got back, it seemed only right that he and I share a beer. He was a part of all this as well.
I looked at Mason. “I gotta go.”
“Emma?”
“Yep. I think of all my accomplishments this year, marrying her has to be the best.” I stood and stretched.
Mason smiled and then laughed. “A part of me thinks that you wouldn’t have either without the other.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant, unless he was saying I wouldn’t have achieved in football without Emma by my side, to which I had to agree.
Mason went to the room he and Willa had reserved in the hotel, while I made my way back to bed, climbing in next to my real trophy.
“Are you tired?” she asked as she snuggled against me.
“Yes, but wired.” I kissed her head.
“I’ve been wondering what it would be like to make love to a Super Bowl champion.”
I grinned and my dick perked up. “I’m all yours, honey.”
Epilogue
Emma
I woke early, my belly a jumble of nerves. I turned my head where Tucker lay next to me. I smiled. My Super Bowl champion. My husband.
Nearly a year ago, both our dreams were on the rocks, as was our relationship. Now, a year after he walked into Paradise Java and bought my painting, both our dreams were coming true, bu
t even better, we were building them together.
I slipped from bed and padded my way to the kitchen to start the coffee. When it was brewed, I went out to the deck, watching as the sun slowly lit up the lake.
A hand slipped around me, pressing on my belly and pulling me back against a hard, strong body. Soft lips kissed my cheek.
“Morning, love.”
I pressed my hand to his cheek resting against mine. “Morning. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“The bed was empty. You know I can’t sleep without you.” We stood quietly for a moment looking over the lake. “Nervous about today?”
“Yes. I know everything is ready, but…I just want it to go well.”
“It’s gonna be great, baby. Just keep your tablet away from your artist friends.”
I smiled. “I’ll lock it up. Your fine naked body is only for me.”
He kissed my cheek again. “Damn straight.”
“I should get dressed. My mother will be here soon.”
Tucker groaned.
I turned in his arms, looping mine around his neck. “I know she’s difficult, but she really does like you.”
“She thinks I’m going to leave you heart broken. How does she not see that you have my heart lock, stock, and barrel?”
“She does. But old habits die hard,” I said, brushing back his hair that he’d let get a little longer since football season ended.
“At least you don’t think all men are scum.”
“No. Not all.”
He grinned and leaned down to kiss me. “I’ll remind you everyday that I’m a keeper.”
Now, as winter was turning to spring, the snow melted and flowers were starting to bloom, we returned to the house to get ready for the first day of Pine Rest Artists retreat.
The last eight months were filled with cabin renovations, updates to the lodge, and retreat planning. It was nice to have something to occupy my time when Tucker was out of town for away football games. It also brought me closer to Mason and Willa. Willa, in particular, I felt a debt of gratitude, as I was certain she was instrumental in my reconciliation with Tucker.