She raised her hips and rolled herself against him. It didn’t take long for her soft moans to grow until she was coming as he lapped up her juices.
“Good God,” she muttered, flopping her body against the chair.
“Glad to be of service.” He chuckled, wiping his mouth on his arm and ignoring the hard-on behind his swim trunks.
She shot him a wry look as she slipped her bikini bottoms back up. “Let’s go cool off,” she said, rose, and started for the ocean.
He followed, completely enthralled with this woman who was now his wife.
They spent the rest of the day alternating between the sun and a cabana, Macy drinking piña coladas and Jaxon his cousin and brother’s Dirty Dog Vodka, neat. It was the first truly relaxing day he’d had in ages, and he’d never had such a peaceful time enjoying female company.
She confided in him about how hard it had been growing up having lost her mother, her father’s attempt at finding a replacement, and his disappointing ultimate choice of Lilah as his second wife and her stepmother.
They’d already discussed Jesse Prescott that night at dinner with Hannah, so he didn’t see the need to bring up the subject today, and apparently neither did she. Which was why, when she did ask him about his family, the subject was a surprise.
“So tell me about Paul being your biological father.”
He coughed on his vodka. “It’s a weird situation,” he admitted. “On the one hand, it was a relief to know Jesse wasn’t my dad. That his disappointment in me stemmed more from his feelings about himself, not making pro ball due to an injury. Not being able to have kids. On the other hand, it would have been nice if my mother, knowing the truth, had stepped in.”
“I’m not making excuses, but I’m sure she found herself in a tough situation,” Macy said.
He nodded. “I know she did. She’s admitted as much. My father Jesse’s behavior got worse as time went on. She’s a good mom, was a buffer when he got to be too verbally abusive. But I have to admit it was a relief when Paul needed a kidney and Mom told us the truth last year.”
“Austin was the donor.” She shifted on the chair.
He nodded. “I wasn’t surprised. I love my brother but he is the golden child. Football player when Dad wanted one, naturally talented, Paul’s savior. But he’s a great guy. And I would always want him to have my back.”
She sighed. “That’s how I want Hannah to feel about me one day.”
“And she will. You’re there for her, you’re fighting for her, you do right by her. She’s lucky to have you and she’ll grow up knowing it. Or come to realize it,” he assured her.
She tipped her head to the side, meeting his gaze. “I hope you’re right.”
He grinned. “I usually am.”
She laughed. “Good to know.”
She turned her body to her side so they were facing each other. “So I have another question, and you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to.” She propped her head in her hand, waiting for him to reply.
“We’re husband and wife. No secrets, right? Go ahead and ask.” Though he wasn’t looking forward to the question, he figured they were being open and honest.
“Why don’t you believe in marriage? Or at least the happily-ever-after part?”
Once again she’d taken him off guard, but he decided to fill her in. “Well, when I was younger, I did believe.” Facing Macy, he forced himself to tell the story. “Katie and I met in college. We got very serious very quickly. She always knew I wanted to play Major League Baseball. And she knew what that entailed. One hundred and sixty-two games a year, excluding postseason, no control in the early days of what state or team I’d end up on. No guarantee of big money, though I was talented.”
She laughed at his deliberate tossing in of ego. “Of course you were.”
“Anyway, she went into the relationship with eyes wide open. I just don’t think she realized my first stop in the minors would be Washington State.” His stomach cramped at the reminder of having to deliver the news. He hadn’t thought she’d like it, but he had believed they were in it together.
“Pretty far from Florida. I take it that’s where she was from?” Macy asked, eyes full of compassion.
“Yes. And suddenly, she couldn’t handle the lifestyle. She dumped me very easily considering the plans we’d made.”
Reaching out, Macy grasped his hand. “You didn’t deserve that.”
“Regardless, it did teach me a lesson. Family life isn’t for me.”
She narrowed her gaze. “I realize you were hurt but don’t you think that’s shortsighted? It’s not like you’ll play forever, and a more understanding, stronger woman could most definitely handle being on her own.”