chapter five
♥
Ri had almost forgotten how amazing it was with her husband and how dirty he could be. She loved it and she loved him.
She especially loved his stamina. After the first time, Jackson had put her on her side so she could recline as he kissed her all over. She’d come crying out his name as soon as his lips connected with her core.
Now she was on her back but propped up with a mound of pillows for support. As he clutched her close, her hands didn’t know where to land. She caressed his shoulders, his back, trying to connect skin to skin everywhere possible. Due to her belly, he couldn’t get as close as she wanted but he made up for it by kissing her face, her neck, everything his lips could reach. And he hadn’t been joking about his obsession with her breasts. The entire time, his eyes kept coming back to her full cleavage.
Ridley shuddered, the carnal look in his eyes making her feel completely feminine and desired. Jackson didn’t appear to mind doing most of the work either. He looked like a kid in a candy store.
“Oh my god,” she cried. Her hands came up and tangled in her own hair as his thrusts got wilder. His hands left her hips to stroke between her legs, following her rhythm until she cried out again. The sound seemed to make Jackson want to please her more, and he eagerly strummed until her tight, clenching muscles pushed him over the edge, too.
“Yes,” she mumbled, shuddering with him as he growled his own release in her ear. He rested his head on her breasts, letting out a satisfied sigh.
An unmistakable sense of warmth stole through her as she looked down at him.
Too soon, he sat up. “Come on. You need to be on your side.”
Ridley moved slowly, smiling at the burn of thigh muscles that hadn’t gotten such a workout in a long time. Jackson caught her grinning to herself and chuckled.
“I guess I don’t have to ask if I hurt you this time, huh?”
Ridley settled beneath the covers with a happy sigh. “Mmm. I feel all warm and gooey.”
Jackson scooted behind her, spooning her in the cradle of his body. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner. There shouldn’t be anything we can’t talk about.”
Ridley nodded then paused. Her eyes went to her nightstand drawer. Did she really want to go there?
“What’s wrong? You just tensed up again.” Jackson’s soft question pulled her out of her thoughts.
Before she could change her mind, Ri leaned forward and pulled the drawer open. The crumpled white business card was in the back right corner. She handed it to Jackson without meeting his eyes.
“Oh Ridley. How long have you had this?” Jackson kissed her shoulder. “Look at me baby.”
She rolled over to face him, immediately stung by the look of disappointment on his face. Now that some time had passed and especially after the way they’d just reconnected, she was completely sure Jackson wouldn’t cheat on her. There had to be a reasonable explanation and she was ashamed she hadn’t trusted him from the start.
“I missed you so much and then I saw that card.” She sniffled and wiped away a tear that slipped from her eye. “But I know that’s no excuse for going through your coat.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I want to explain something to you but I might mess it up, so bear with me.”
Rolling the other way, Jackson put the mangled up business card on his own night table.
“Alana’s manager reached out to ask if I’d consider producing a song for her. I said no initially but after a little thought, I decided to offer the job to Mac. He’s been trying to grow and branch out and this is a good opportunity for him. I only had the business card because I wouldn’t know how to contact her otherwise. Because I don’t keep tabs on her or stay in touch at all. I’m not interested in what she’s doing or where she is normally. Quite frankly, I don’t think of her at all.”
Ridley bit her lip, ashamed at how pleased that made her. “I know you don’t. I trust you.”
“Good. Now lets get ready for bed. I’ll bring you some tea and give you a foot rub.”
She watched him climb out of bed, her eyes fixed on his perfectly toned ass as he left the room. Then let out a giggle.
Life seriously didn’t get much better than this.
♥
Ridley finally found the energy to get up. If she didn’t wash the makeup off her face, she’d end up with a break out. It didn’t seem fair that she now had problematic skin on top of all the weight gain that came with pregnancy but now that she knew her husband loved her curvy figure, maybe it wasn’t so bad. It was definitely fun to have enough cleavage for several people.
She washed her face and then started the process of toning, moisturizing and then applying an entire cabinet full of skin care products. When she was almost done, her eyes went over her shoulder in the mirror to see Jackson watching her from their bed.
“Hey, you’re back. Sorry it’s taking me so long.”
Jackson just continued to watch her with a curious little smile on his face.
“What?” she asked.
“It’s one of my favorite things, watching you get ready for bed.”
“It is?” Ridley found that a little hard to believe. She didn’t even like going through the long process so she could only imagine how boring it was for someone else to observe.
But Jackson nodded. “I love watching how serious you get selecting just which bottle to use next. Although I guess it doesn’t even matter which one you choose. I just love watching you exist. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Ri. Never forget that.”
Ridley’s hand slowly lowered from her face. “You are just the sweetest thing. How could I have ever doubted you?” She flicked off the light in the bathroom and then climbed in bed next to him, cuddling up under his arm.
He propped his head on his hand. “You’re going to occasionally have doubts. Everyone does. You don’t think I have them?”
Ridley glanced at him in surprise. Jackson had doubts? Did he seriously think that she would cheat on him?
“Don’t look so surprised.” He shrugged. “I don’t think you have any idea how amazing you are, Ri. Sometimes I want to hulk smash other men for even looking at you. Because I know that every one of them is wishing for a shot with a woman like you. Not just because you’re beautiful, even though you’re absolutely breathtaking. But because you’re kind. And loving. Before I met you, I was determined to live a good life because the boys needed me but I was just going through the motions. Then I met you and you brought joy back in my life. You made me want to be here. I feel lucky every day to wake up and spend my days with you. I can’t even imagine wanting anyone else.”
Ridley had no words. His words had humbled her, thrilled her and also expressed exactly how she felt about him. So she leaned forward and pulled him down for a kiss.
“Jackson, I feel the same way. I’m not sure what I ever did to deserve being an Alexander but I’m so glad I fainted in Raina’s yard that day. What if I’d just turned around and gone back to the bus station? I’d have never met you. I’d probably still be hiding out from a crazy stalker, watching my back every two seconds.”
Just the thought that she could have missed meeting him, loving him, was terrifying.
“Fate isn’t that cruel. It wouldn’t bring you so close to me only to let you get away. This was meant to be. Even if I’m a bonehead and sometimes forget to show you I worship the ground you walk on, know that you are the very best thing in my life. In all of our lives. The boys absolutely adore you. It wasn’t just my life you saved when you chose to hide out here.”
Suddenly Ridley felt a strong thump right under her ribs. “Oh wow, I guess we woke the baby up!”
A slow smile spread across his face. “I think he agrees with me that you’re the best mommy ever.”
Ridley finally gave up trying to hold back tears and just let them flow freely as she pressed her hand on top of his. They’d decided not to find out the sex of the baby, wanting it to be a surprise. But Jackson was sure it was a boy, saying that since Raina had given birth to a girl, the universe wouldn’t task them with another who’d grow up as gorgeous as her mother and aunt.
“I think SHE agrees that mommy and daddy belong together. Forever,” Ridley added.
Jackson leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her stomach. A few moments later, another thump pressed right below his lips.
“Of that, I have no doubt.”
* * I hope you enjoyed reading One More Chance and catching up with the Alexanders again. Flip the page for an excerpt of Bennett’s book Just One Thing and find out how many ways a brilliant man can mess up dating!
Bonus Material: Want more Alexanders? There is another very special bonus epilogue available to my VIP list!
Everyone’s favorite anti-social brother, Bennett Alexander, has been invited to the bachelor party of family friend Tank Marshall. If you think Ben's awkward now, imagine how he'll react in a strip club. LOL :)> Also Tank isn’t doing so well because all he wants is to sneak home to the bride.
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