“If you’d like I can stop by tomorrow and we can go for a drive or something. Maybe even hang out at my house in the Hamptons for a day or two.”
“I’d like that.”
“You would?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard her.
“Yes. I’d like that a lot. I’m going stir-crazy in this place.”
“That’s because you’re used to being busy.”
“That is true. I know you’re working. I’ll let you get back to it. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers. They were so lovely I couldn’t wait until you got home from work.”
“Don’t worry about it. You don’t need to thank me for sending you flowers. You deserve that and much more. Call me anytime you feel like it. It’s not a problem. I’m available to you anytime.”
“I will. Thanks again, Jarred. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Nevea.”
Her heart swelled at the use of the name he’d gifted her with at Heavens. When she hung up she was smiling from ear to ear.
* * *
Josiah Tempest sat out in the garden waiting for his wife to come home. Today, as always, he felt tired, sad and lonely. Josiah had certainly made a mess out of things with his children and his wife. While Clara had forgiven him, he doubted his children ever would. Especially his only daughter. She hated him so much.
If Josiah was honest with himself, he should have never married the beautiful and brilliant Clara McMorris. But he’d taken one look at her and had been smitten with the woman ten years his junior. Besides, if he hadn’t wed her, then he wouldn’t have the three beautiful children that Clara had borne him. Intelligent children.
From the very beginning, he’d been too blinded by jealousy to be the man he should have been. Josiah had seen the way his colleagues and other men looked at Clara. Like they wanted her. As if they wondered why she was with him, instead of one of them. And for good reason, he realized too late. She was a beautiful woman, one he had clearly taken advantage of. Most of the antics he pulled with his wife were to keep her with him. He’d been so afraid of losing her to someone else that he did the unthinkable: He mistreated her. It was a wonder Clara had stayed with him. Any other woman would have left long ago. Especially after the children had gone off to college.
“Oh, here you are.”
Josiah turned to smile when he heard his wife’s voice. At sixty-five she was still as beautiful and as regal as ever.
“How was your visit with Nevealise?” Josiah had never called her by the nickname that everyone else used, preferring to stick with her given name rather than Nev.
“It was fine. I think our daughter is starting to come around. You should’ve seen her face when Jarred sent her a few dozen long-stemmed roses,” Clara said, beaming as she did so.
Josiah smiled again. “He did that?”
“Yes, he did. So how are you feeling today?”
“I’m okay, Clara. You can stop fussing over me.” He grinned. “I’m more interested in Nevealise. How’s she feeling?” he asked anxiously.
“She’s much better. Now what do you feel like having for supper?”
“How do you fancy going out?”
Josiah was deeply saddened by the shocked expression on her face. He’d truly done his family a disservice.
“You’re up to going out?” she questioned.
“Clara, I have a bad heart and a case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ‘COPD.’ I’m not dead. I don’t think a little night out is going to kill me,” he retorted.
“If you’re sure...”
“Positive.” He rose from his chair to go inside. “By the time I get dressed it should be time for dinner.”
“Oh, pooh. You’re not that slow and you know it. I’ll wash up, too, and meet you in the drawing room,” she said as she stepped into the house.
“Clara?” he called.
She turned to him. “Yes, Jo?”
“I love you. I always have,” he whispered. Her eyes watered, and that brought tears to his own eyes.
“I know, but thank you for saying it,” she murmured.
Chapter 22
Jarred watched as Nevea lay on a lounge chair in front of his in-ground pool. He’d picked her up from Cedric’s yesterday and they’d spent most of the day looking for an obstetrician. After finally calling and finding one that they both seemed to like, they’d made an appointment. Since it was the Memorial Day weekend they couldn’t have an appointment until the following week. To say he was excited was an understatement.
He stared at her. She was beautiful, lying there in the sun in a lovely one-piece bathing suit with a sarong cover-up and dark sunglasses. Her baby bump was visible, but not by much. She looked content.
Jarred couldn’t hide his surprise when she’d agreed to stay with him in the Hamptons. This was what he’d been waiting for since their misunderstanding. A chance to be alone with her, to hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loved and adored her.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, settling in a lounger next to her.
“Not at all. I’m just relaxing. Feels good out here,” she sighed.
“How’s Junior holding up?”
Nivea lifted her shades and turned to him. The surprised look on her face almost sent him into a fit of laughter. “What do you mean, Junior? You know it could be a girl,” she said with a sniff.
“Could be. But I’m thinking it’s a boy,” he stated.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” she said, her palm automatically going to her abdomen.
Jarred stared at her hand. He had yet to feel the growth of their baby in her belly. Without giving it a second thought, he reached out and covered Nevea’s hand with his. “I don’t care what the baby is as long as he or she is healthy.”
“Do you know what?” she whispered.
“What?” He raised a brow.
“I am scared spitless. I mean, I can’t even remember to feed myself. How am I going to take care of a baby?”
“Nevea, sweetheart, don’t worry about it. It’ll come naturally to you. And you’re already taking better care of yourself. Don’t forget I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m in your life and my baby’s, to stay. So get used to it,” he said matter-of-factly. “Besides you and I, our parents are there, too. You know they’re going to spoil the little one to pieces. Right after my mother brains me,” Jarred said with a snort.
Nev’s look of shock made him chuckle. “Why would she do that? Your mother is one of the nicest people I know.”
“True. She is. But when she finds out I got you pregnant, she’s going to have my head on a platter.”
“Oh, no! Jarred, you didn’t tell them, did you?” she asked, panicked.
“Nevea, I don’t have to tell them. They’ll find out soon enough. You forget our parents are friends,” he reminded her.
“Honestly, I never thought about it. Ugh, I am such a dunce,” she moaned.
“No, you’re not. You’ve had a lot on your mind of late. And let’s not forget the morning sickness.”
“More like morning, noon and night sickness. I am so glad that’s almost over with. Now I just wish this lethargy would go away,” she groaned.
“It will. The iron pills that Cedric’s doctor friend prescribed aren’t working?” Jarred asked.
“Not really. Cedric’s going to fax the new doctor the initial blood workup.”
“Good. You’re drinking enough water to keep from being dehydrated, right?”
“Yes, I believe so. I’ve cut out all caffeine after my sickness subsided. My appetite is random still. I’m thinking that’s from not wanting to eat for fear of vomiting. I hate that. Ugh.” She cringed.
“What do you fancy having for lunch?”
“Whatever
you’re having.” She looked around the pool area. “This place is so beautiful, Jarred. Will your family be here for the weekend?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t want to presume that you wanted my family around.”
She speared him with a look, even though he couldn’t exactly see her eyes behind her sunglasses. “Jarred, why wouldn’t I want your family around? I love your brothers. And by the way, where’s Kat? I haven’t heard any of you speak of her.”
“I haven’t a clue where Kat is at the moment. She’s in design school and she also travels a lot. Besides, the only people she checks in with are the parents. She says that Langston, Brice and I are just a little too overbearing. Her words, not mine,” he explained.
“I could just imagine. I have two brothers, so I know. Cedric’s pretty good. Elijah, however, is another story. For some reason he thinks he’s my father rather than my brother. I miss him, but goodness, he’s a pain in the behind,” she said lovingly.
“Considering what you went through with your father, can you blame him?”
“I guess not.” Her scowl deepened.
“Have you spoken to him?”
“Who?”
“Your dad,” Jarred said quietly.
“No, not yet. He asks how I’m doing through my mother,” she said quietly.
“So he knows about the baby?” Jarred questioned.
“Yes. He knows.”
“You may not want to hear this, but I think he did what he did, as far as the company is concerned, to protect you. There was some real shady stuff going on there.”
“I kind of sense that from all the cloak-and-dagger stuff. I can’t figure out why your dad would buy the company knowing that it was falling apart.”
“I guess he was trying to help a friend out,” Jarred said.
“I suppose.” She was quiet a moment before she spoke again. “Will my father go to jail?”
“I don’t believe he will, but I don’t know. For all his other faults, Nevea, Josiah Tempest is a brilliant businessman. There’s still a long way to go, but I believe he’s out of it. Keeping us out of this mess is the challenge now.” Jarred and his brothers and Emerson were still going through the records. Among the many other issues they had to deal with, corporate espionage was a serious charge.
His assurances about her father must have worked on her, because Nevea didn’t pursue the subject. Instead, she spoke about her mother. “She seems much cheerier now. I don’t know what’s going on, but she jokes around and smiles a great deal. She’s happy.”
“Maybe she and your dad have worked out their differences,” Jarred said.
“Hmm, I don’t know. I never ask. My mother is happy and that’s all that concerns me,” Nevealise said.
Jarred suddenly realized that his hand was still covering her belly. He looked down at it. It felt right. This close to her, he figured it was finally time to make right the wrong he’d done to her. Removing his hand, he swung his feet down and turned in his seat to face her.
“Come here, Nevea,” he said quietly, taking her by the hand, helping her up and pulling her onto his lap. She looked nervous.
“There’s nothing to fear, Nevea. Let me say this, and please don’t interrupt me. Just let me say what I have to say. Can you do that?” he asked. Once he got her nod of approval, he proceeded. “I realize that I jumped to the wrong conclusions that night, and I sincerely regret that. You hadn’t given me any cause to doubt your faithfulness to our relationship. I was putting old hurts onto you and it wasn’t fair. All I’m asking now is that you give us a chance. I love you with all of my heart. It’s taken me a little while to come to terms with it. However, I have. Now I’m asking that you give me, you and our baby a chance to be a family. A real family,” he said softly.
“Jarred, what are you saying?” she whispered.
“I’m saying that I want you to become my wife, Nevea.”
“For the sake of the baby?” she asked.
“Oh, I guess you missed the part where I said that I love you. I love you, sweetheart,” he repeated, this time slowly, “and I suspect that I always will.” He ran a finger down the side of her face. Nevea closed her eyes and buried her cheek in his hand.
“Our lives are so different, Jarred,” she murmured.
“And?” he questioned.
“I don’t know if it will work out. Look at my parents...”
“No, let’s not look at your parents.” He cut in with a shake of his head. “Answer me this. Do you love me, Nevea?” He held his breath and waited for her response. Each second she was quiet was like a stab in his heart. Jarred needed to hear the words. If she couldn’t say them now, he’d love her so much she would have no other choice but to marry him. And he hoped someday he could earn her trust enough for her to love him in return.
“Jarred, do you seriously think that I would have given my body to you if I didn’t love you? I’ve crushed on you since I was, like, sixteen.”
“Sixteen! Really? I thought it was eighteen, according to—never mind. You were saying?” He smiled, knowing she was about to say what he wanted to hear. He wanted the words to actually come from her lips.
“As I was saying—” she stressed the words and rolled her eyes “—of course I love you. I wouldn’t put so much energy into anything that I didn’t think...”
Jarred didn’t hear another thing she said. All he heard was that she loved him. His insides were doing flip-flops.
“Nevea, sweetheart, we are not a science project to be dissected. You loving me is all I need to hear.” He pulled her head down and met her tongue with his. It had been too long since they’d kissed, since he’d made love to her. He was about to change that. “Let’s go inside. I don’t want to give any nosy neighbor a peek at my woman.”
They walked side by side into the house, where Jarred led her to the master suite.
He came to a stop in front of the bed, looked down into her hazel eyes and whispered, “I love you, Nevea.”
“I love you, too,” Nevealise said, wrapping her arms around him.
Jarred stepped back and lifted her chin up so that her lips met his. He parted her mouth with his tongue and kissed her with the hunger of a starving man.
He grabbed her by her hips and lifted her up into his erection, rubbing against her. Jarred walked her backward until her knees hit the bed, and then pushed her down gently. He followed, lying half on top of her, brought his mouth back down to hers and kissed her passionately.
His hand roamed freely across her sensitive breast.
“Ah!” She cried out and bucked against him.
“Do they hurt?” he asked breathlessly.
“Yes. A good pain, though,” she moaned. Jarred continued to tweak her breast between his thumb and forefinger. She writhed against him.
Slipping his fingers under the sarong, he shed it with ease, then went to work on the straps of her swimsuit, pulling them down until her breasts lay bare for him to see. They were fuller, no doubt from the pregnancy. Not being able to wait any longer, he leaned over and brought one hardened nipple into his mouth and suckled. Nevea went wild beneath him. Jarred continued his assault on her breasts, moving from one to the other. When his mouth finally left them, she cried out. “No!”
“Easy, baby,” he said, seeking her lips. Her mouth opened under his. That was all the encouragement Jarred needed. He took over the kiss, his tongue latching on to hers. Their tongues danced in harmony.
* * *
Nevealise hadn’t realized how horny she was until Jarred started making love to her. She’d missed him oh so much, and apparently so did her body.
She marveled at the feel of his tongue inside her mouth. Jarred knew how to please her in every way. She felt her bathing suit being dragged down her body, slowly, sensually. Her hips ro
se slightly to allow him the room to remove the suit. And then she was naked before him.
Jarred’s lips left hers to place little kisses all over her, across her neck and down between her breasts.
“Oh, Jarred, that feels so good,” she purred.
“Baby, you haven’t felt anything yet,” Jarred murmured as his tongue slid across her breast. Nevealise gasped with pleasure. Throwing her head back against the pillow, she crooned out her desire.
Under his tender touches, Nevealise was about to come unglued. Jarred manipulated her body like a well-played instrument. He knew exactly what chords to press, pluck and pull. In minutes she was already at the crest of an orgasm, though Jarred hadn’t gotten started yet.
Her ragged cries for him to fill her urged him on. She began to writhe against him in hopes that he would give her what she wanted: him inside her. Filling her to the brim. Nevealise’s already sexually charged body began to heat up even more until she was sure one more lave of her breast would send her over the edge.
“Jarred,” she murmured. “I don’t think I can hold on for much longer.”
Jarred released her nipple, got up from the bed and quickly shucked his clothes. He then returned to her. “Wait no longer, beautiful,” he whispered breathlessly. In one smooth motion he parted her legs with his and slid inside her.
“Oh wow! Oh jeez!” Nevealise chanted, as sensation after sensation flooded through her. She began to move her body in tune with his. As quickly as his thrusts started, Nevealise found herself straddling him.
“You said you learned some new moves, Nevea,” he drawled. “Show me what you’re working with, baby. Take your pleasure.”
Nevealise looked into his beautiful eyes surrounded by dark lashes. They were smoky with passion. She gazed down at him, a bit confused. However, it felt as if he were touching her womb, and it felt oh so good.
“You want me to...”
“Ride it like you stole it, baby. Ride it like you stole it,” he breathed out, half teasing. “This way you’re in control. Have your way with me.”
And have her way she did.
Love Me Forever Page 16