Page 147 of Rough and Rugged

Her whimpers soon turned to moans as she demanded more and more from him. His tongue sought hers, performing an intricate dance, as he scooped her up in his arms. She wrapped her legs around him. Since she was bare except for his flannel shirt, he could feel the warmth of her female essence burning through his clothing and searing his skin, as he carried her to the bedroom as fast as he could.

Chapter Six

Marissa

Hourslater,longafterthe rain had slowed to a comforting drizzle and the sky had gone completely dark, Marissa lay in Mac’s bed nestled into his side, lulled into a relaxed state by the sound of his steady breathing as he slept. Her body tingled with pleasure all over as she recalled the escalation of their passion into a coupling so intense, they had both shed tears.

And now she got it. She’d been so deep in her own feelings all these years, and so angry at the fact she’d been denied so much, that she hadn’t even considered how it had been for Mac. He’d lost a child, too. He’d had every right to be angry, to be sad, to be lost. Just like her. Everything he’d thrown at her earlier had been his grief talking, not hatred of her.

As he woke, she cleared her throat to speak.

“Mac, how did we get here?”

She took pleasure in the rumble of his laugh against her body as he responded. “Well, darlin’, it’s usually what happens when two people give in to their passion.”

Her insides warmed at the memory of all of thepassionthat had occurred over the last few hours. “No. I mean how did we getthere? After being together for most of our lives, we just split. Went our separate ways. We never talked about it. And then, after a certain amount of time passed, I was stuck. I couldn’t move backward or forward. Ten years lost. Wasted. Time we’ll never get back.”

Mac pulled her up onto his chest, tucking her head under his neck. “I really don’t know. But what I do know is this. Despite how I acted toward you earlier, I never stopped loving you. Wanting you. Needing you. I just didn’t know how to tell you. I was stuck too. And I assumed you’d moved on, so I decided you were better off without me. I was hoping you’d found the peace you were looking for, and it appears you have, since you’re looking for that divorce decree. And the reason you couldn’t find that paperwork is because I couldn’t bring myself to sign it. Legally, you are still my wife.”

Marissa’s breath hitched and her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. But before she could respond, he continued.

“Since I now know for a fact you’ve moved on, I’ll give you what you came for. I’ll sign the papers.”

“But Mac…”

“Don’t worry, Marissa. The fact that we slept together doesn’t have to change anything. We just got caught up in the moment. You deserve your best life, and that’s not here with me. Go back to Chicago.”

Marissa sat at her gallery desk, sending emails and making notes, preparing for a leave of absence. She’d been back in Chicago for two weeks. In that time, she’d thought a lot about her future. That future no longer included Andrew, so she’d returned the engagement ring. He’d actually appeared to be relieved, wishing her well.

As she worked, a song came on the radio that solidified her decision. She stopped what she was doing and listened, humming along to the lyrics of “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”

When the song ended, she thought if only she and Mac had fought, ten years might not have been wasted. And that’s why she was determined to fight now. For her man, for her marriage, for her life. She was going home.

Epilogue

SixMonthsLater

Mac helped Marissa into the front passenger seat of the Chrysler minivan he’d recently purchased. Yep, he’d become a soccer dad. Seriously, though, he’d purchased the vehicle with all the bells and whistles as soon as he’d learned that Marissa was pregnant. The baby had been conceived that night in the cabin during the storm.

As he gently drew the seat restraint across her belly and snapped it into the buckle, Marissa giggled. “Honestly, Mac. I’m not helpless. The baby and I are just fine,” she said as she caressed her stomach.

“And I aim to make sure it stays that way.”

She supposed she couldn’t blame him for being cautious, although the doctor assured them everything was on track and there was no indication of a high-risk pregnancy.

Once he was in the driver’s seat, Marissa exclaimed, “Mac, give me your hand! Our little one is very active today.” She placed his hand on her tummy.

“I think we have a future athlete. I can’t wait to see what he or she does with a soccer ball or football.”

“Or if your cousin has anything to say about it, perhaps a baseball as well.”

They were on their way over to Mac’s parents’ house for a combination baby shower and gender reveal. Marissa didn’t need to know the sex of the baby, but the respective grandparents were beside themselves with happiness and wanted to do all the baby-related things, and she wasn’t about to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. As far as she was concerned, they’d all been given a second chance at happiness, and she was here for it. She was thrilled that her parents and in-laws had put their differences behind them now that she and Mac had reconciled and were expecting.

Every day, they mourned the loss of their little bean who hadn’t been given a chance to develop, and promised to always communicate with mercy, compassion, and love, no matter what life threw their way. Marissa knew that just like her, Mac was thrilled about their future and the prospect of becoming parents after so many years apart. They had expanded their businesses in Chicago and locally, spending time in both places as needed, and bought a new home in Green Springs for a fresh start. The mountain cabin would always hold special memories as the place where love prevailed and the product of that love had been conceived. As Mac drove them to the celebration, Marissa looked over at him, her heart bursting with love for her husband, who would always be her mountain man.

Thanks for reading! Get to know all the couples in Green Springs by reading theBe with Meseries! If you like small town romance with heat, you’ll love these stories set in the small southern town of Green Springs, Mississippi, where the days are hot and the nights are hotter! If you haven’t already read Meg and Drew’s story, see where the journey begins in .

She’s haunted by tragedy. He’s no stranger to pain. Can they honor the loved ones of yesteryear and embrace a joyous future in each other’s arms?

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