Crossroads of the Heart

by Savannah Maris

  I smile for the first time. “But, I don’t need them.”

  “No, you don’t. There’s only one pair of earrings that you need.” He reaches into the folder again and pulls out a brown box. “Your most prized possession.”

  My hand flies to my mouth. “I can’t believe you remembered.”

  “I told you, I remember everything where you’re concerned.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “When you’re in town, I’ll do my best not to work late.” He turns my face to his. “No last-minute dinners with clients.”

  “What if I want to always be in town?” My gaze bounces back and forth between his. “Will that be a problem for you?”

  Noah smiles, and I haven’t seen him smile like this since he picked me up from the airport after my first assignment. “No, baby. Not a problem at all. And from now on, if we’re in the same town, we’re in the same bed.”

  I place my hand on the side of his face. “I like that new rule.”

  24

  Noah

  She’s not getting off that easily.

  “I saw your email. It didn’t say much.”

  “It didn’t, but—”

  “What are your sorry for, Tams?” She didn’t stop me from using the nickname earlier, so I forge ahead.

  “All of it.”

  “No, I want specifics. I deserve them. Are you sorry for leaving me and putting me through hell for the last five days? Or, are you sorry you filed for divorce? For taking your wedding rings off? No, wait, could it be for spending the night with another man?”

  Tamryn gasps. “How did you know about that?”

  “The same way I knew where to find you. Baby, I was already on my way here when the divorce papers arrived. I could have just as easily waited until I arrived in town to speak with the attorney.”

  “But, how?”

  “I hired a private investigator. I needed someone with experience in finding people, so I hired the best.”

  “Noah, I swear nothing happened.” I see the fear in her eyes. “I drank tequila and got drunk after I left Mr. Lee’s office.”

  Tamryn moves to get up, but I held her on my lap. Even though I’m upset, I still want to hold her. “Just tell me.”

  “I couldn’t drive home, so Colt brought me. I didn’t know he stayed until the next morning when I found him asleep…here, on the sofa.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “If you were too drunk to drive, did he undress you?”

  Her head is shaking as she speaks, “No, I remember doing that because I fell against the bedpost and have a bruise on my hip.”

  “I’ll check that out later.”

  “I promise you, Noah, I’ve never cheated. I’ve never wanted to. Even tonight dressed like this, I didn’t want to cheat. I just wanted to know I could turn another man’s head, and not because I’m on the front of a damn magazine. I wanted you to know what you let go by being with another woman.”

  “My God, Tamryn, listen to yourself. Baby, maybe I’ve taken us for granted, but I have loved you since we were fourteen. I’ve watched you grow from a pretty young girl to the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen,” I say as I lay my hand on her chest, “but I love the person you are on the inside more than the image everyone else looks at. Tams, you turn every man’s head when you walk by. Do you know what that’s like for me?”

  With wide eyes, she slowly moves her head back and forth.

  “On the one hand, I’m thrilled because you’re mine. On the other, I know what every one of them are thinking, and that pisses me off. Tamryn, I- do-not-want-any-other-woman. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do I get lonely when you’re gone? Yes, God yes, but not enough to cheat. You’ve provided me with enough spank bank material to hold me over, and the phone sex works when we can make it happen. I will always miss you. That’s why I bury myself in work.”

  “That’s part of the issue. When I’m working, you have work. When I’m home, you still have work, and I have nothing to occupy my time. I know that sounds silly, but…” She shrugs.

  “I can see that. I’ve never thought about it like that. So, answer my original question. What are you sorry for?”

  “All of it, Noah. I should’ve talked to you before I let things get so blown out of proportion. I should’ve never read that stupid article.”

  I’m focused on her when I cup her face with both hands. “Tamryn Fields Carmichael, I love you more than life itself. You understand that, right?”

  “Yes,” she whispers. “Noah, I miss us. The us we used to be. I’d like to take some time off. Try to find us again.”

  I hold her stare. “Baby, you shook me to the core for five days. You made your point loud and clear, now I need to make mine.”

  She nods as best as she can. “Okay.”

  “If you ever file for a divorce again, you better know that’s what you want because the next time it won’t have the same effect, and I won’t stop it. I will not live my life afraid of you leaving me.”

  Tamryn wraps her arms around my neck. “Oh Noah, I am so, so sorry. Please forgive me.”

  I run my hands up and down her back. I want to throttle her ass, but I need her more—and not just sexually. I’ve never been as torn as I am in this moment. Do I forgive her? I close my eyes because I know my heart already has. “Baby, part of me is still mad as hell, but we both know it won’t last long. I’ll always forgive you, just don’t abuse that power.”

  I bow my head to bury my nose in her hair and take a deep breath. The first full breath I’ve taken in five fucking days.

  “Never again,” she whispers.

  She releases my neck, and I tangle my fingers into her hair as I bring her face toward me. I watch as she slowly closes her eyes before I lean in to seal the kiss. What started out sweet and loving, full of forgiveness turns into a kiss full of pent up passion. How have I lived a month without devouring her lips?

  “Let’s go work on forgiving each other.” I stand with her in my arms. “Which bedroom?”

  “Left. I wanted to see the lake.”

  “Good choice.” Her feet barely touch the floor between the bed and dresser when her wedding rings catch my eye. Once she’s steady on her feet, I gently pick up the rings and slide them on her finger. “These don’t come off again.”

  “Promise.”

  I kiss her finger before I turn her around. “Let me help you with this.” I slowly slide the zipper of her dress down, wanting her to feel the anticipation I’ve felt since I laid eyes on her in the bar. As the dress starts to part, I trail warm wet kisses down her back. “Not having a bra to deal with is one of the things I love about this dress.”

  “What else do you love about this dress?”

  I rub my hand over her backside. “Have you seen how it molds to your ass?”

  She looks over her shoulder with her face a beautiful shade of pink. “Noah…”

  I slip the dress over her shoulders and down her arms. When I let go, it falls the rest of the way to the floor, and a red strip of satin greets me as it disappears between the cheeks of her firm ass. “Fuck,” I mumble. I grab one cheek in each hand and knead them as my cock grows harder. I lean close to her ear. “Tams, my dick needs relief.”

  She turns around which forces my hands to rest on her hips. I see the bruise she said would be there, and I know in my heart she isn’t the kind of woman who cheats as I pull her to me.

  Taking a step back, she works the buckle on my belt. I keep eye contact because she has needed that since the first time we rounded first base. The button slips through the hole, and she cups me over my jeans. I close my eyes as I enjoy her fingers massaging me before the zipper moves down.

  “Noah?”

  “Yeah, baby?” I pepper kisses between words.

  “Um, the thing I tried to tell you when I was on my photoshoot…” My eyes pop open, and she’s looking at me with hesitation in her eyes. “Yeah?”

  She blinks a few times. “I didn’t take my birth c
ontrol with me. When we couldn’t connect, I planned to tell you that first night I was home.”

  “Intentionally or accidentally?”

  “Initially, it was an accident, but when I saw Maggie, the makeup artist I told you about, I think subconsciously it was on purpose.”

  “Is that what you want, Tams? A baby?”

  “I want you first, but if a baby comes along, I won’t complain. I don’t want to put pressure on either of us. It’ll happen when it happens.”

  I pick her up and wrap her legs around my waist. “I like that plan.”

  I set her down on the bed then finish stripping out of my clothes. She sits on her heels watching me with heavily-lidded eyes and her mouth slightly open. I freeze because the vision she is at that moment would make any centerfold jealous. She looks like an innocent angel and a sex kitten at the same time. I step closer and cup her breasts, stroking my thumbs over her nipples until they pucker before I lean down and kiss her neck.

  “I don’t think I’m going to last too long.”

  She looks at me from under her lashes. “Why?”

  “Baby, I haven’t been inside you in a month.” I move a hand and slide my thumb across her bottom lip as I hold her chin. “Don’t worry, we’ll make up for lost time. I hope you got plenty of rest today because you’re not getting any sleep tonight.” I kiss her thoroughly because I can’t wait any more. Her hands snake up my chest and around my neck as she pulls me toward her. I swallow the moans leaving her and unwrap her arms.

  “Tams.”

  When she pulls back, the head of my cock is glistening, and she looks me in the eyes before she bends to swipe the head with her tongue.

  “Hmmm... Tams, don’t. I’ll drown you, baby.”

  She catches my eye and smiles big. “Let me do this.”

  “I want to be inside you.”

  “You can do that next time.” A playful smile stretches her lips as a sparkle lights up her eyes. A sparkle I haven’t seen since the first minute she walked into our bedroom last Wednesday, so I agree.

  She plants her hands on my hips and slides me into her mouth. The feel of her lips wrapping around my cock causes my eyes to roll into the back of my head, and my hands instinctively go to the sides of her head. The moan that leaves me comes from a visceral place.

  “Tamryn,” I whisper.

  She moans, and a shiver runs through me. Sweat beads on my lower back and the familiar tingle starts in my balls. I widen my stance because I know this is going to be the mother of all orgasms. Her finger slips behind my balls and massages the area between them and my asshole. Holy fuck! I won’t last long.

  My balls tighten as I hold her head and thrust into her mouth. “Shit, Tamryn. I’m sorry,” I say as I fuck her mouth to release. “Oh fuuuck!” Her throat contracts around my cock, I groan from the release that hurts so good. She releases me and backs away as she licks her lips.

  “Feel better?”

  “Not quite, I haven’t tasted you yet. Get on your back, baby.”

  When she turns toward the center of the bed, I wrap my fingers around the thin red strip of satin at her hips and pull it toward her knees. She lifts one knee then the other to shed the red G-string. Once I’ve divested her of the scrap of cloth, I move to the foot of the bed where I have an unobstructed view of my wife.

  “Open your legs, baby.” She does, and I can see how aroused she is. “Have you missed me, Tams?”

  She nods for emphasis. “Yes, Noah. Earlier today I thought about our first time. It was all I could do, not to touch myself.”

  I cock a brow. “Why didn’t you?”

  “It’s not the same as when you do it.”

  A mischievous grin tilts my lips. “That’s because I’m going to get you off with this.” I wiggle my tongue as my eyes focus on my target. I slip my arms under her thighs and wrap my arms over her legs with just enough length to open her labia. When I open her up, the tight bundle of nerves peeks out from her folds, so I flatten my tongue and take a full swipe. Every muscle in her body must contract because the bed moves.

  I lift my gaze to hers. “You okay?”

  “Uh huh.” She closes her eyes and rolls her lips inward.

  “Oh, baby. You’ve been wanting this?”

  “Yes, Noah. I’ve missed you.”

  One side of my lips tilt upward. “Let’s see how long you can hold off without giving in.”

  “Not long, Noah. Please.”

  I dip my head and lick her entrance. “You taste good. Let’s see how much better you taste inside.”

  Her head tilts back and a moan leaves her as my mouth presses against her. I fuck her with my tongue as she writhes beneath me. I know her body, and I wait for what will come. When she begins to tense, I move back to her clit and suck until she starts to come undone, and I rake my teeth over the bundle of nerves and watch her fall apart.

  “I swear, you’re never more beautiful than when you’re uninhibited.” I crawl up her body and kiss her lips. “And I’m the only one who gets to see it. I’m one lucky son-of-a-bitch.” I smile down at her.

  25

  Tamryn

  Noah rolls to his back and takes me with him. I play with the scattering of hair on his chest. “How did we get so far apart, Noah? I’ve missed us for so long. I don’t ever want to go back there again because I felt so lost. You’re my true north.”

  “We lost our sense of what’s important, but I won’t let that happen again. This, us, we’re what’s important.”

  I mindlessly run my fingers on his chest. “Yes.” I raise up on an elbow. “So, what do you think about me taking some time off?”

  “Tams, I’m all for it. We need some time to reconnect. I think both of us working the hours we have is part of our issue.” His hand moves from my lower back down over my hip. “Plus, if we’re going to make a baby, I hear it works better if we’re in the same location.” The smile that tilts his lips is one of my favorites. It shows he still has some playfulness inside. He isn’t all work. I need to see some of the boy I fell in love with inside the man who owns my heart.

  “I’ve only sent a text to Harold telling him where to send the balance of my paycheck from the last shoot. I’ll call him tomorrow and tell him I’m officially taking time off. I might consider taking a local shoot but that’s it, and only if you agree.”

  “Baby, something local is fine, a weekend shoot so I can go with you, but let’s back away from the two, three, four-week shoots, okay?” He leans up and kisses my nose. “I won’t take anymore impromptu client dinners unless you’re going with me. I’ll tell Carol no more than two client dinners a week, and only as a last resort because I want to be home impregnating my wife.” He squeezes me tight.

  A giggle erupts. “I do hope you leave out the impregnating part, and that it’s not the only reason you’d want to be home with me.”

  He rolls me over and pins me to the bed with my hands trapped above my head as he narrows his eyes. “You know better.” He bites my ear. “I’m wrapping my head around this whole baby thing, and right now you getting pregnant is step one. Having said that, I think we need a lot of practice to get it right.” He kisses my neck from below my ear, up my jaw to my mouth.

  “Noah, oh…” I roll my hips up. “I agree with practicing, but hun, you’ve got the baby making part down pat.”

  I arch my back so my breasts press against his chest. He slides down my body just enough that his arms are fully extended and his mouth can take in my breasts. Keeping my wrists secured with one hand, he uses the other to push a breast into his mouth.

  “Ahhh...” I arch even more and roll my head back so my neck is completely exposed as my thighs tighten. He switches sides and my moans get louder as he intertwines our fingers. He moves back up and places our hands on either side of my head as he rocks into me. Once he’s deep inside, he rests his forehead on top of mine.

  “If I move right now, this will be over quickly, baby,” he says as I clench my vaginal muscles, and
he slowly slides out and back in while a growl escapes him. “Tams, you’re going to milk me without me even moving. Fuck.”

  “Oh, Noah, please. Move.” My entire body shakes with need. If only he’d move a little more, a little faster. My hips shift in a counter action, and my eyes roll into my head.

  “Tamryn, be still.”

  “I can’t.”

  Noah picks up the pace, and within moments we’re both coming undone. With each of us calling the other’s name, we’re sated. I pull him to me and bury my face in the crook of his neck. I’m ripped open and every emotion pours out of me, sobs wreak havoc on me. Noah tries to pull away, but I hold him tighter. He’s so close that he can only speak into my ear.

  “Tams, baby, what’s going on? Let go so I can look at you.”

  I loosen my grip so he can see my face. He leans down and kisses my tears away before he gives me a look that he hasn’t given me in a long time. Before I can react, he gives me butterfly kisses, and when he pulls back, the look he gives me is pure love.

  “Why did you cry?”

  “That was beautiful. It just hit me that I almost screwed up and would never have this again. I am so sorry.”

  My lips quiver and more tears flow. “Stop. We both almost screwed up. At least you did something to snap us both out of the trap we were falling into.”

  “I know, but…”

  He gently lays his lips on mine. “I absolutely hated the last five days, but baby, we needed something to shock us.” One side of his mouth tilts. “And you really gave us a shock.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” He places a kiss on my forehead. “Let me get something to clean us up, then we can rest and see how we feel in a bit.” He winks, and I feel warmth growing in my lower abdomen again as he turns, and I get a view of his perfect ass.