Water splashed and this time it overflowed the side of the tub. Neither of them cared. His balls were pulled so tight they were practically climbing into his body. The lower part of his shaft tightened. The candlelight danced in the air, casting them in shadows.
T.S. reached around her and found her clit, teasing it with his index finger. Her breathing hitched and then became faster as she continued to move.
“Come for me, sweetheart. I can’t hold on.” Even as he said it he knew it was too late. It started in his balls and shot up through his cock. His orgasm exploded and he came inside her.
She cried out, throwing back her head and keening. Her inner muscles gripped his cock hard, milking it until there was nothing left for him to give. Missy fell forward, splattering water everywhere. At the last second, he managed to grab her before she ended up face first. Moaning and laughing, she clutched the sides of the tub and turned toward him. “I love you.”
T.S. froze. He hadn’t realized how badly he’d wanted the words until she’d said them. Those three tiny words filled all the lonely spaces inside him. He somehow felt like more than he’d been only moments before.
“I love you too.” He cupped her face in his hands, leaned forward and kissed her. She shivered and he realized the water had cooled. “Time to take this elsewhere.” He pulled the plug, stood and dragged them both from the tub. He toweled her off before drying himself.
Then he scooped her into his arms and took her back to bed.
Chapter Fourteen
“Do you think she’ll like me?”
It was the tenth time she’d asked him that question since they’d gotten in his truck to make the drive to his mother’s home. It wasn’t like Missy to be so insecure. It was a testament to how important this was to her. To both of them.
“She’s going to love you as much as I do.” He reached out his hand and she took it. As always, she twined their fingers together.
It had been a week since they’d declared their love for one another, but it felt like a lifetime. Both of them had changed so much. Missy didn’t feel the need to be so regimented, so in control. And he no longer felt the need to protect himself behind a shield. In a way, that had been his form of control. Show the world a laid-back guy with good humor and it masked the deeper emotions that bubbled beneath. With each other they could simply be themselves. It was both liberating and scary as hell.
They’d shared the news with their friends. Candy and Lucas had both been pleased. Lucas had insisted they come over for dinner to celebrate. It had been a different experience to kick back with friends and be part of a real, committed couple. He liked the feeling.
“Are you going to tell her we’re moving in together?” For the third time, Missy checked the flowers she’d insisted on buying for his mother. God, he loved this woman so much he could barely breathe, his chest was so damn tight, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Yeah, I am. I’m not ashamed. Are you?”
She scowled at him, wiping away the worried look that had filled her eyes the entire way over. Now she looked more like his Missy. “You know better than that.”
He raised their clasped hands to his lips and kissed the top of hers. “I do.” He released her and concentrated on turning the truck into the driveway. His mother didn’t have a car, didn’t want one. She’d never learned to drive and had told him a hundred times she had no desire to learn at her age. The bus and her two feet did just fine, thank you very much. He worried about her, but she had refused to let him buy her a car.
He glanced at Missy. She and his mama had a lot in common. They were both determined, stubborn ladies. Not that he’d ever tell them that. He did have some common sense when it came to dealing with women.
He turned off the engine and undid his seat belt. Beside him, Missy hadn’t moved yet. He undid her restraints and took her hand. “Everything will be okay.”
“Easy for you to say,” she muttered. “You don’t have to meet my family.” They’d discussed that at length. Missy hadn’t had any contact with her family other than her sister for years. She’d flat-out told him her father was a bigot and wouldn’t like him because he was white. He couldn’t care less about what her father thought. He only cared about what she thought.
They’d decided not to bother to contact her family. She’d made a life for herself that didn’t include them. T.S. could understand that. He’d talked to his mother several times this week, telling her all about Missy. She couldn’t wait to meet her. She had more than enough love to share.
“Let’s go.” He climbed out and came around to the passenger side. As usual, Missy hadn’t waited for him, but was already standing there waiting. He frowned at her but she just laughed and patted his chest.
The wrapping around the flowers crinkled in her hand. She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
He shook his head. Missy had never known the love of family. Luckily, he had. That and Lucas’ friendship had been the only things to get him through the dark time in his life. His brother had wasted his life, losing it far too soon. T.S. hadn’t made the same mistake.
He put his hand on the small of her back and led her to the front door. He unlocked it and let himself in. “This is another one of my buildings,” he told her, hoping to take her mind off her nervousness.
“How many buildings do you have?”
“Six, including the one I live in. Seven, once we find something you like.”
Missy stopped and stared up at him in wonder. “What does that mean?”
“It means, I want you to have the home you want. We’ll go looking at buildings. When we find something you like, I’ll buy it and we’ll renovate.”
“We’ll buy it,” she corrected. “I’ve got money and I’m part of this relationship.”
“Whatever you want. Whatever makes you happy.” He dropped a kiss on her luscious mouth.
She shook her head. “Buy me a building,” she muttered. “Are you crazy?”
He spun her around, crushing the flowers between them. “Crazy in love,” he agreed as his mouth captured hers. He was sizzling when he released her a few moments later. “We’ve got to get going or my mother is going to be down here any second. I know she was watching and saw us drive up.”
Missy practically shoved him away. “Ohmygod. Do I look okay? Did you mess up my makeup?”
“You look beautiful, as always.” The compliment was nothing less than the truth. Beneath her coat, Missy was wearing a black skirt that hugged her hips and a white silk blouse that made her chocolate skin look utterly delectable. The gold necklace she wore matched the hoops hanging from her earlobes. She looked cool and poised and confident.
And if they’d been going anywhere but his mother’s place they’d have never made it out the front door of her apartment.
They started up the stairs again until they hit the second landing. “This is Mama’s place. Not too many stairs, but she’s above the ground floor, which is safer.” He reached out to knock on the door. Before he’d barely had a chance to do so it was whipped open.
His mother stood there in one of her Sunday dresses, the ones she kept for church or special occasions. Her dark hair was styled and there was a huge welcoming smile on her face. “Come in. Come in.”
Missy stepped in beside him. To take some of the pressure off her, he reached for his mother and gave her a hug. “Hey, Mama.”
She cupped his cheeks in her hands. “You look so good. I hope you’re hungry. I made plenty of food.” She turned to Missy, who was still clutching the flowers to her chest. “And you must be Missy.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. MacNamara.” Missy thrust the flowers toward her.