by Jami Denise
"No,” I cried.
"That’s not what I want to hear, cookie. If I have to fuck it out of you, I will. Tell me.” He bit down on my shoulder and I shattered, tightening around him like a vice.
He growled and pivoted his hips before slamming upwards again and again.
I knew what he wanted to hear, but I was scared. Terrified to say those words that would make it all go away.
He abruptly pulled out, lifted me by the waist and carried me up the stairs to our room. It was no easy feat—I was basically dead weight, but he held me tight and slung me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and took the stairs two at a time.
He swung the door open, causing it to slam and bounce off the wall, and kicked it shut with his foot. He walked toward the bed but stopped in front of the dresser, turning us so we could see our reflection in the mirror.
He stood in front of it, pulled me down in front of him and held me with one hand around my waist and the other above my breasts. The way we looked standing there, half dressed and shimmering with sex and sweat, it was magnificent.
"This is us, Jenna. This. Me and you—how could you think I’d want anything but this?”
My breath hitched, and I started to shake my head. It was all too much.
“You’re my life. Everything I need and everything I want I’m holding in my arms. Because of you, Jenna. Because of you I have love. I have a home. I have my children. Without you, I have nothing.”
My chin quivered, and tears slid down my cheek.
"I love you. I need us, Jenna."
"I love you so much," I whimpered.
You could feel the tension fall away from both of us like a bag of rocks. Hard and fast it fell to the floor, ridding us both of the turmoil and doubt.
"Don't you look away. Watch the way I love you, Jenna. Watch me and remember."
His eyes on mine through the mirror, he leaned me over the dresser and entered me from behind.
He started slow with long, deep thrusts, his chest against my back. He kept his arm around my waist to hold me and held my face with the other.
“I don’t want you to miss one second, not one feeling, not one expression. This is all of me, Jenna. You’re meant for me, through thick and thin, until death does us part. I’m not letting you give up on me.”
I watched the two of us in awe, lips parted and eyes hooded. He slipped his hand down to rub my clit, and I fell apart. Every single nerve in my body was on fire. I never wanted it to end.
"Never doubt me, cookie. Never. I fucking love you."
I could tell he was close to losing it, his breath harsh and warm against my neck. His eyes stayed steadily on me as he grabbed onto my hips and slammed into me one last time, releasing everything—his love, pain, anger, and frustration as he fell apart.
We were both out of breath, and I leaned my face against the cool wood of the dresser while he kissed my shoulders. I was euphoric, lost in so much emotional overload I could barely think.
"Are you okay?"
"God yes," I groaned. "Fucking A."
He chuckled and squeezed me tight. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you on the bed.”
I looked like a mess—I should’ve been horrified by what I saw in the mirror. Hair in a rat’s nest, mascara running, lipstick smeared, and my clothes hanging off me, but he didn’t mention any of it. I could see he was holding back laughter, but at least he wasn’t rubbing it in.
"Do you need anything before we fall asleep?" he asked, brushing a hand over my hair.
“No,” I groaned.
Once my head hit the pillow, all I could think about was sleep, and lots of it. The next morning would be hell, but at that moment, I just wanted to bask in the warmth of his arms.
Chapter 19
I woke up to the sun beating against my face, soft pillows under my head, and a killer hangover. I rolled over and reached for Royal, but he was already out of bed. I groaned and pushed my head back into the pillow.
For a minute, I panicked, afraid of what the day held for us after the night before. Even though it hadn't been the reunion I'd been looking forward to, it had turned out so much better.
The very best makeup sex we'd ever had.
Scratch that—best sex we'd ever had, period.
Royal unleashed a side of himself I hadn’t seen for a long time.
I heard voices in the hallway and realized it was the girls talking to Royal. Even though they were whispering, it sounded like jackhammers in my head.
A few moments later, I heard him come back in the room, and I decided to play possum. I wanted a few more seconds to bask in the afterglow. The mattress dipped, and I felt his hand on my hip.
"Wake up, birthday girl," he whispered.
I groaned. "Oh God, I'm dying."
"You sure don't know how to hold your liquor, woman."
I threw my arm over my eyes. "Don't ever let me drink again." I turned over and smiled. “You’re here."
"I'm not leaving."
"I don't want you to. I can't live that way anymore."
He kissed the tip of my nose and then leaned back to grab a bottle of water and a few tablets from the side table. “Me either.”
I took the water and the pills quietly. The night before was a bit hazy, but I remembered enough to know that the love was still there. Everything else was up in the air.
"I know we need to talk, but it's your birthday, so let's just have a nice day and talk tonight after dinner."
"Kay," I said, tired and dazed.
We laid there for a little over a half hour just holding each other. There was no talking—just the two of us, quiet and content. A little while later, a knock at the door interrupted the peace. I wrapped the blanket closer around me since I was still naked from the night before.
"Come in."
I looked up at Royal and laughed. The kids never knocked—unless it was locked, and that was rare.
The girls walked in, Skylar with a tray in her hands, Macy with the Sunday paper, and Laney with a bundle of flowers. "Happy Birthday, Mommy."
"My girls are so good to me. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I hope you’re in the mood for pancakes and bacon," Laney said, smiling at Royal.
I grabbed a slice of bacon and popped it in my mouth. "Gosh, this looks so good." I looked over at Royal and back at the girls. "Did you make some for Daddy, or do I have to share?"
"We did, but his is downstairs." Skylar smiled at me sheepishly and shrugged.
I stared to sit up, but remembered I wasn’t dressed. “Can one of you grab my robe? I wanted to talk to you girls for a minute.”
Macy grabbed my ratty old pink robe, and I swung it around my shoulders and pulled it on.
"So, girls," I cleared my throat and wiped my hands on the napkin. "Daddy and I have decided that it's best if he moves back home."
Macy snorted, and my eyes snapped to her. "What?" I asked, annoyed.
"Are you back together?" Skylar asked quietly.
"Obviously," Macy quipped.
Macy got up and started toward the door. "What's wrong, Mace? Talk to us. There has to be more talking in this house."
Skylar and Laney giggled and Macy glared at them both. "Shut up!" she hissed.
She slipped out of the room, and the girls fell into a fit of laughter. Royal and I shared a questioning look.
"What's going on?" Royal asked.
"She’s embarrassed. She, um, she heard you guys last night—you know.” She blushed and looked down at her lap.
I gasped, and Royal groaned. I had no idea she was home, and we’d been, well, we’d gotten a little out of hand and a lot loud. God only knew what she’d heard or seen.
"I can't believe—shit.”
"Mom, we know you and Daddy have sex,” she whispered. Her cheeks lit up bright red.
"Skylar," I gasped. "That's just, well,” I sighed. What was I supposed to say?
"When we used to share a room, we could hear you sometimes. You know—the matt
ress sounds."
Royal barked out a laugh, and I glared at him. "This is not funny, and it’s all your fault."
"What'd I do?" He fell back on the pillow and put his hands behind his head, grinning.
"It's okay, Mom, like you told us when we had the talk, it’s beautiful when you're in love."
Royal stopped laughing and sat up. “No. It’s only beautiful if it’s me and Mom. You’ll lose all your hair and get fat if you do it.”
I rolled my eyes. "Girls, can you go on downstairs? I just want to spend a few minutes with Daddy and eat."
Once they were out of the room, Royal leaned over and tried to kiss me.
"Hey, don't worry about it, Jenna. I mean, yeah, we were pretty loud, but don't stress."
"Ick," I said, waving him off. "I have yuck mouth. Don't kiss me yet."
He shook his head. "I've seen you worse, cookie, and I've never wanted you more. Kiss me."
I brushed a hand over his cheek, overwhelmed having him next to me again. Tears fell, but for once, they were happy ones.
"No more tears. Not today. We're going to be happy today even if it kills us all."
I laughed. "Okay. I love you, Royal."
"Say it again."
"I love you."
Chapter 20
Two Months later
After a hectic morning of grumpy kids and a very tired and equally cranky Royal, I dropped Ben off at school and then headed to the cemetery. I’d stopped to pick up a Snapdragon plant, having forgotten to pick some from the garden before I left. I grabbed it off the seat, along with his little cars from Benji, and started my trudge toward his grave.
My steps faltered when I saw the figure sitting in the damp grass, head hung and knees bent. I pressed a hand against my mouth to stifle my cries. I’d never, not once, seen Royal visit Teddy’s grave, and it hit me much harder than I expected.
As I got closer, I realized he was crying. Hard, sloppy sobs and it broke my heart. I dropped the flowers and kneeled beside him, my own tears coating my face.
"What are you doing?"
I could see in his eyes why he never came with me. He didn’t want me to see that weakness, or what he presumed to be weakness. What I saw was the same thing I felt, the loss and the ache for something we’d never get over.
He cleared his throat, and I rubbed his shoulder, encouraging him to open up to me.
"I come here, too, sometimes. Alone. Not all the time, but sometimes," he explained. I nodded and sat down next to him. "He wasn't supposed to die, Jenna. I couldn't do anything to stop what happened. I am so fucking sorry that you had to go through all of that. God, I would take it all back if I could. Why? What I don't understand is why?"
I gasped and wrapped myself around him tighter. The anguish was too much, and I could hear in his voice all the pain he’d held on to for so long.
"I went to my father,” he said quietly. I held my breath and waited. He almost never talked about his father, and when he did, it was never good.
“I was scared, and I wanted to show your dad I was worthy enough to hold on to you. I told him about Teddy.” He took a shaky breath and shook his head. “I asked him for a loan. He laughed at me.” The look on his face told me the memory was still so fresh and hurtful that it made my stomach churned.
That bastard.
"He told me I was lucky, that I'd dodged a bullet. He said if I stayed, I was a fucking fool. That I was ruining my life—like he had."
I gasped. "Why didn't you tell me this?"
He gave me a sad smile. "I was ashamed and embarrassed that I had to go to him in the first place. I felt like such a failure—I didn't even have enough money to bury my son! Do you have any idea what it felt like to let your parents pay for his funeral? For his tiny coffin... the fucking thing..." he choked, placing his fist against his mouth to cover the sob. "The tiny fucking box we had to put him in—he deserved so much better. If I hadn't been such a piece of shit, I could have done more."
"Oh God," I cried, climbing into his lap and wrapping myself around him like a coat. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry. He was wrong. He was so wrong."
I held him and we rocked in each other’s arms and wept. We were each other’s strength. We’d lived on the love we had for each other for so long. It had always been all we needed; it would get us through anything. It had to.
"All I've ever wanted was you and those kids. All I ever wanted was for us to be happy. I'm so sorry I fuck up all the time, baby. Please, you can't ever leave me. I can't do it alone, cookie. You're all I have."
He’d been through more than enough—beaten himself up over things I couldn’t, and wouldn’t change. From the very moment we’d found out about the baby, down to the day we had to tell our parents, he’d held my hand and stood next to me, fierce and determined to do the right thing.
I could still feel the grip of his hand on my fingers when he’d announced to my father what he’d intended to do. How brave he was, and how frightened I was. He was my strength; he’d never let me down.
The memory was bittersweet, but we’d lived through it, and we’d continued to live. We’d built a family more beautiful than anything either of us could ever imagine. We’d come through a time I never thought we’d have to face, and came out stronger, better, and more in love.
I held him a little while longer and then decided it was time for us to go. I pushed his hair away from his face and kissed both of his cheeks, his eyelids, and then his lips. “Let me take you home.”
Special Thanks
I have many people to thanks, and each one of these women are so much more than beta readers, editors, proofreaders and pre-readers. I could call each and every one of these gals my co-authors. Without them, this would not be.
Misty, this story brought you to me. I will forever and ever be grateful that a dumb story about a dumb jerk brought my missing piece to me. What in the world would I do without you. From my daily flailing to bitching and moaning and laughing and crying, I can’t imagine my days without you. Thank you for every nitpicky task I gave you, all the picture hunting, title thinking, plot twisties, and character naming. You’re just precious to me. This is yours girl.
Erin, thank you for just about every single thing ever. My soul sister, partner in crime, my best friend. Thank you for trusting me when I can’t trust myself. I couldn’t go without your hugs and your smiles and your gentle-and not so gentle-nudges. I love you more.
Beth, Kennedy (Nic), Mair, Crissy, Anna, Vera, Jackie, Deb, Branson, Jamie, Wendy, Sarah You girls, were my special group, and by special I mean invaluable. Thank you for your input, your ideas, your support, your friendship, and most of all, just for being there for me. You guys were there with me when it started six, almost seven years ago, and you’ve seen it through to the end with me. I’m such a lucky bitch to have such amazing women in my life.
Nic, thank you for taking the chance on this the first go, and even though you read between your fingers with one eye closed, you trusted me and shared your love with the masses. Your big ol’ heart is just beautiful and so are you. Thank you my friend.
Maryann, My cheerleader, my friend, my rockin sister. You don’t even know how much you mean to me. Thank you for all your words, the smile in your voice and for picking my ass up when I need it. You always know and I love you for it.
My editor, Lia Fairchild, thank you for being you. The awesome friend, dynamic author, and kick ass editor. I’m so grateful for meeting you at my very first book signing, and for the friendship that has evolved.
A very special super thanks to D J S White for picking the Title for Tiny Threads. You’re so right—it’s perfect. Also, thank you for being my second set of eyes and putting my butt straight and editing this story so pretty. I adore you always!
And as always, thank you to all you readers and bloggers that give authors like me a shot, to read our words, share your time and your thoughts and help us make our dreams come true. A special hug to all my fandom sisters for your friends
hips and support all these years.
And last but never least, thank you to LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations for my beautifully perfect cover. You never let me down and I love you to death.
Next in the Snapdragon Series
Coming 2017
Broken Ties
Roped In
Entwined
Wrapped Up
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Did you love Tiny Threads? Then you should read Damned Sinner by Jami Denise!
Vince Donovan has lost a lot in his life. He has lived life under a code of greed, lies and crime - never allowing anyone to get too close. After losing the empire he fought to build at the hands of a psychotic man in pursuit of revenge, Vince vows to rebuild what he once had. Along with his once protege and now partner, Jayne King, he sets out to create an empire that is based on beautiful women, sex and sin.
Kelsey Franklin is young, beautiful, sexy and should be forbidden. Kelsey is also the one woman that Vince has vowed never to have and yet is the one woman he wants and needs.
When love happens in the unlikeliest of circumstances Vince must ask himself - Is love fit for the damned and the sinner?
Read more at Jami Denise’s site.
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About the Author
Jami Denise is an up and coming writer from Southern California.
She writes Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Erotica.
She’s always had a strong desire to write. She fell in love with books at a very young age. She loves the freedom to express herself through her stories and share them with others.