"I'm glad you're here," I said and squeezed him tight.

  "I'm happy that you texted me back." He ran his hand up and down my back. "What do you need?"

  It was a weighted question. I needed support, encouragement, and love.

  All the things I didn't feel I gave him an adequate supply in comparison to what he gave me. I needed his compassion and support and understanding.

  I needed him to let me be different in order for me to be what he needed.

  I leaned my head back and stared up at him.

  "First, I need a kiss." He released me and grabbed the side of my face. He tilted my head and laid his lips on mine. It wasn't a quick kiss. Jackson took his time. I moaned as he tongue explored my mouth. He tasted of spice and sweetness. I had to grab onto his forearms to keep from collapsing onto the ground. The power of his kiss enveloped me in his warmth. When it was over, I continued to feel the effects.

  "What else?" he whispered against my lips and kissed me again.

  This, more of this.

  Jackson's hands fell to my shoulders. He slid them down and grabbed my hands in his. I licked my lips and smiled.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  "Oh, yeah." I stepped back. "I need you to listen." I led him over to the bed and gestured for him to sit.

  "First, I want to apologize for running away," I said.

  He smirked.

  "It wasn't from you or our life. I promise. I just needed a moment of quiet to confirm what I already knew but wasn't ready to accept."

  His eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.

  I stood with my hands clasped as if giving a speech. In a sense, I was. I was giving a presentation on my life, and our future.

  "Even before Adam's offer, I’d been weighing my options on how I want to live my life. I tried to keep it simple." I started to pace. "I considered my role in the following categories: mother, wife, philanthropist, and lawyer."

  I peeked at Jackson to make sure he was with me.

  He nodded.

  "I am a mother, but I'm not the type of mother I want to be for Jack or anyone else who might come along in the future." I grinned and placed my hand over my stomach.

  Jackson smiled too.

  "I don't want to make those decisions between work and Jack. Not the way I've done in the past. Weighing some crucial deadline versus being able to hang out with my son. Now that you are in our lives, my focus has changed. I have new priorities. I want to spend time with my family." I paused.

  "Okay," Jackson said. His gaze followed me as I paced in front of him.

  He hated when I fidgeted. I could feel how much he was trying to be quiet and listen. He probably wanted to tell me to sit my ass down. I gave him a smile, reassuring him that my little presentation would be over soon.

  "On the wife side of things." I stood still in front of him. "I want to be your wife. I'd marry you right now if we could. I have some weird mental block about not moving forward with anything until we get married. I don't know why or where it comes from. I know you love me and want me. When I think about our life, our future together, it calms me. It means consistency and stability; something I haven't had in my life since I was in high school."

  "Carrington." He drew out my name and bowed his head.

  I held my hand up. I needed to finish.

  "No matter where we are in life, just being married to you will quiet some of these insecurities."

  "What insecurities?” he asked.

  "Oh, I don't know. The one where you abandon me, where the world ends, where my child tells me he'd rather be with you than me." I shook my head.

  "Carrington," Jackson said as he stood up and grabbed my hands. "I'm not going to abandon you."

  "What about the other stuff?" I asked, staring into his eyes and looking for him to make it better. I knew I shouldn't. It was not what I needed. I needed to take my life into my own hands.

  He cradled my head to his chest and kissed the top of my head. I clung to him. Gripping his shirt to get as close to him as possible.

  I squeezed my eyes shut. I held him tight. I inhaled deep, released a loud exhaled, and opened my mouth.

  "I don't want to be a lawyer anymore." As soon as I said it, I felt lighter.

  Jackson stopped in mid back rub. He pushed me away and set his hands on my shoulders.

  "You don't want to be a lawyer any ...Why?" His voice went up an octave. He coughed. "Why?"

  "I became a lawyer because I wanted to help people. Protect those who couldn't fight for themselves." I gripped his arms. "I don't do that. I work for rich people and help them get richer. I did it for so long because I was good at it and it was what people expected me to do."

  "That's all?"

  "Yeah. Well, a little part of me didn't want to hear people say I was giving up my dreams for a man." I nodded.

  "I knew it." Jacksons scoffed. "You're marrying me for my money."

  I giggled. The gossip network would be ablaze with this news. I held my stomach and laughed. Jackson feigned outrage and cracked up. We regained some semblance of control as we collapsed onto the bed.

  Jackson rolled onto his side.

  "Carrington, I told you before, you can do whatever you want to do." He grabbed my hand. "I just don't want you to quit because you think you can't do it or because of any pressure of what you think my wife is supposed to do."

  "No. I know." I waved him off. "It's more has to do with wanting to do what I want to do. I want to be selfish for a bit, you know."

  "So what do you want to do? The first thing that comes to mind," Jackson asked.

  "I want to marry you."

  "Okay. Good." He raised my hand to his mouth and kissed it. "What else?"

  "I want to build our dream house. I want us to argue about stupid stuff like other married couples do."

  "Like what?" he asked and grinned.

  "Oh, I don't know. Like whether to paint the bathroom or wallpaper it."

  "Is that what couples argue over?" he asked.

  "I think so." I laughed. We had our share of huge life moments from love to hate, lies versus honest, life and death. It was time for some simplicity.

  My mind raced with so many ideas.

  "I am so proud of you and want to support you. I hate that people think it makes me weak or unambitious but taking care of you and supporting my family is my ambition."

  "Who the fuck cares what they think?" Jackson yelled.

  "I want to start the foundation. I believe that it would be amazing to finally get to help people." I punched his arm. "Use that fame of yours for something good."

  "Then do it." He leaned into me. "Baby, you can do anything you set your mind to."

  "You are my priority." I reached up and touched his face. "You and Jack. Right now, I don't want to be in charge. I'm tired of making decisions. For the foreseeable future, it's on you."

  "You mean that?" Jackson asked with an evil gleam in his eyes.

  "Yep." I shook my head.

  "That means I get to tell you what to do?" Jackson asked and raised his eyebrows.

  "Well, try it. See how that works out for you." I winked and stood up. Jackson grabbed my hand and pulled me back onto his lap.

  "Okay." He kissed the back of my neck.

  It sent a shiver down my spine. I felt him everywhere. My heart sang.

  He ran his hand up my stomach and over my breast and around my neck. I ground my hips into his lap, and he groaned in my ear.

  "Take that robe off," Jackson said.

  I pushed off him and turned around. I stared into his lust-filled eyes. Our breath shallow, the energy between us buzzed like a hot wire.

  "Okay, you got lucky with that one." I smirked and untied the robe. Jackson watched it floated to the ground.

  I stood there in front of him, naked and not just because I had no clothes on.

  My mind cleared.

  The chaos quieted.

  All the questions and concerns had been answered had been put to rest. I not only felt lighter, I felt more open. The feeling terrified and excited me.

  "Come here," Jackson said and motioned for me. I stepped between his legs and waited. I watched him devour me with his gaze. He took in every inch. When he reached out and touched me, my body quivered. He touched me so many times before, but now it was different.

  He ran his hand down my stomach and rested it on my pelvic bone then reached between my legs. My throat hitched as Jackson ran his fingers through my center. I gripped Jackson around the neck. I straddled his waist.

  He leaned back on the bed while he kissed me as if saying, welcome to our brand new life.

  Chapter 12

  I woke up in a dark room.

  Jackson held me in his arms as if he was afraid to let me go. I got a chill thinking about how good we were together. It was always good, but last night, something changed in me. I knew I’d made the right decision about leaving the firm.

  I stretched and looked over Jackson at the clock on the nightstand.

  Oh, shit.

  "J." I shook him. "Wake up."

  "What's wrong?" He lifted his head.

  "You missed curfew. What happened to your alarm?" I reached for his phone; it was on vibrate.

  "Hey," Jackson said, but I was already up and sorting the pile of clothes on the floor.

  "It's after eleven. You have to go to the hotel." I reached out with his underwear and the robe. "Oh." I dropped them and looked for his shirt.

  "Carrington. Stop." I looked up. "Come here. It's fine."

  "But what if they fine you?" I asked.

  "It was worth it," he said with a sexy smirk as he pulled me back into bed.

  "What if they bench you?"

  "Please." He chuckled. "I'm Jackson Mitchell. They can't bench me."

  "Wow." I nodded.

  "What?"

  "I devote myself to you, and your modesty went right out the window." I reached down and gripped him, stroking his member as it grew in my hand.

  "Hey." He gripped my jaw. The pressure of his fingers on my flesh made me hot. "I've got you on my side. There's nothing I can't do."

  He pulled my face to his and kissed me. He pushed his tongue in my mouth. His forceful nature came out to play. I accepted it, knowing, in reality, I had all the power over him.

  We made love again, with more urgency. It was no less powerful and no less affirming. Here in his arms awake or asleep was where I belonged.

  I woke up the next morning to the sound of Jackson on the phone. I curled up against him with my head on his chest as he ordered breakfast from room service.

  I kissed his ribs and his chest and crawled back on him and kissed his face.

  "Good morning," he said between kisses.

  "Morning."

  "Breakfast is on the way." He smoothed my hair back. With all the activity of last night, it was a mess.

  "Good. I'm starving." I rested my hands on his chest. "It's hard work to maintain you."

  He smirked and leaned up to kiss me.

  I stopped him.

  "Seriously, isn't your team worried about you?"

  "I planned to stay all night but for different reasons." He rubbed his face. "I called Coach last night and told him I had a family emergency. You know he's all about family." Jackson pushed my unruly strands away from my face. "I texted him a minute ago to tell him crisis averted, and I'd be at the stadium on time."

  "Why did you think you were going to have to stay?" I asked.

  "To convince you not to break up or move away from me." He touched my face. "Turns out the mere suggestion of it was enough to get you to change my mind."

  "You are good with those Jedi mind tricks but don't flatter yourself, Mr. Mitchell." I buried my face under his chin and held on tight. "You’re stuck with me whether you want me or not."

  "Is that so?"

  "Yep." He tickled me, and I squirmed but didn't move.

  "Well, turns out I have no intention of living this life without you, so I guess we're stuck with each other."

  I reached up and placed my hand on either side of his head. My face hovered over his. I started into his eyes and set my jaw.

  "Fine," I said with a tilt of my head.

  "Fine." He mimicked my gesture.

  We stared for a while longer until the knock on the door pulled us out of our challenge. With his swift reflexes, Jackson rolled me on my back and planted the loudest and deepest kiss on my lips. The type of kiss that made me forget my name. I fell into the kiss as if diving into an ocean. It was terrifying and exhilarating, because when I jumped, this time, I wasn't alone.

  I had my Jackson.

  I groaned when Jackson ended the kiss. He pulled on his shirt and pants and threw the robe at me.

  I crawled under the covers as Jackson opened the door.

  The waiter rolled in the tray of food with his head down.

  "Good morning, Mrs. Butler." He stopped to adjust the plates of food. "Where would you like it set up?"

  "Leave it on the cart," Jackson said. The waiter looked up startled. He held the check up with shaking hands.

  Jackson took it, signed the bill, and handed it back to the guy who hadn't taken his eyes off him.

  "Hey, so, uh, have a great game today," the waiter said as he backed out of the room.

  "Thanks." Jackson grinned.

  The man finally noticed me and nodded before turning and leaving.

  "I wonder what he's thinking," I said as I crawled to the end of the bed and surveyed the food.

  "That I snuck off to have an illicit affair with some hot chick the morning of the biggest game of my life." Jackson chuckled.

  "Cool." I laughed.

  Jackson plopped on the bed and handed me a piece of bacon before he uncovered his ham and cheese omelet.

  "We should do this more often," he said.

  "What?" I asked as Jackson fed me a bite of his eggs. "Have sex in hotel rooms the night before games? I don't think that will be financially viable."

  "Expensive sex." He scrunched his face.

  I raised my eyebrows.

  He grinned, and I smiled back with food in my mouth.

  "No. I mean take a break from it all every once in a while. Even if it's for one night, I need to get you in environments where you can scream freely. It helps your mood," Jackson said.

  My brown cheeks grew hot.

  "I agree." I crawled over and sat on his lap. "It's important for married couples to find time together."

  "And speaking of married couples, let's do it," Jackson said.

  "Do what?" I asked.

  "Get married." Jackson held me with one hand while poured coffee and added half-and-half from a small pitcher into my cup with the other. He handed it to me. Yes, my man knows how I like my coffee.

  "Jackson, I think you've already asked me that question." I flashed my hand with the sizable rock on it. "I said yes, remember?"

  "I mean let's get married tomorrow," he said with wide eyes.

  I stared.

  "We can go to the justice of the peace in the morning." He shifted me back to the bed. "I don't want you to go any longer without feeling secure about our relationship."

  "You're serious?" I reached for him.

  "Yeah." His eyes darted around, waiting for my response.

  "No." I shook my head.

  His eyes dropped.

  "But I'll marry you on Tuesday." I touched his chin.

  "What's the difference between Monday and Tuesday?" he asked.

  "Because I have a brilliant idea, and I need another day to implement it." I gave a reassuring nod.

  "You going to let me in on this idea?" he asked, as he pulled me back into his lap.

  "You're the groom. I guess I have to." I laughed as Jackson stared at me with confusion.

  If we were going to get married on December twenty-fifth, I needed one more day to make it perfect.

  I showed up at the game ten minutes before kickoff.

  "Hi, Ms. Carrington," Mr. Thomas, the VIP elevator attendant, greeted me.

  "Hi, Mr. Thomas. Did my family show up yet?"

  "Yes, ma'am?" He pressed the button for suite level. "Mr. Jack likes to get here early."

  "Yes. He does."

  Mr. Thomas rubbed his bald head as we ascended.

  "How's Mr. Jackson?" He sucked a breath through his teeth. "He going to get home field for us today?"

  "God, I hope so. The guys deserve it." I nodded and smiled.

  "Yep. This city deserves it, too."

  He had to win. I couldn't imagine the enormous amount of guilt I would feel if, after last night and this morning, Jackson lost the game.

  I entered the suite, and time stopped. Jack ran for me and crashed into with a thud. He wrapped his arms around me.

  "Momma," he said and hugged me tight.

  "Hey, baby." I kissed the top of his head and hugged him back. I lifted his little face.

  He blinked back tears.

  "What's wrong?" I asked. The rest of the crew released a collective sigh of relief when I looked up.

  "Nothing." Jack wiped his face and hugged me again. "I just missed you last night. That's all."

  "Oh, sweetie. I'm sorry. I had some stuff to take care of."

  "Just don't leave without saying when you're coming back, okay?"

  "Okay." I rubbed his face and pulled him to me. "I promise."

  He sighed and let me go.

  I was taken aback. Mrs. Mitchell, my mom, and Kayla approached me next.

  "You okay?" Mom asked.

  "Yeah, of course, why?" I took the glass of champagne from Mrs. Mitchell's outstretched hand.

  "The way you ran off last night . . ." Mom's voice trailed off.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you." The champagne tasted good sliding down my throat.

  "Well, we didn't until Jackson came over and tried to act like it was no big deal," Kayla said. "I tried to tell them you were fine, but they didn't believe me."

  "Is everything okay with you and Jackson?" Mrs. Mitchell asked.

  "Oh, my God." I set my drink down. "Mrs. Mitchell, Jackson and I were together last night. We are so good."

  She stared into my eyes and narrowed hers. She nodded and took a sip of her drink.