Page 100 of Mic Drop

Jenna either doesn’t see my indecision or refuses to believe we’re over. In any event, she takes a couple more steps toward me, then stops. “I was wrong. I wanted Ma to live and railed at the universe for taking her away. And by ‘universe,’ I mean you. I blamed you. Shutyou out. Pushed you away. You didn’t deserve this, especially when you were being nothing but amazing. You were being you, Bennett.”

She runs the final distance to me, landing with a thud against my chest. I long to wrap her in my arms, yet my limbs remain lifeless at my sides.

“I’m not going through with it, Bennett. I called off my attorney. When I went to her initially, I was out of my mind with grief. Still am. But you make everything easier. Truth is, I want you in my life, as my husband, forever.”

I need more. “Because I got rid of the women saying your clinics are a prostitution front?”

“No.” She takes a step backward, easy since I never hugged her. “Well, thank you for that, but that’s not it.”

“Then why?” I’m not sure what I need her to say, but I haven’t heard it yet. Despite what my body begs me to do.

She tucks her loose hair behind her ear, but it springs free again. “Why?” She swallows. “Because you sang that song to mea capella, and only I know what that truly means. Because you’re the last person I want to speak with at night and the very first one I want to hear in the morning.” She offers a wan smile. “Whether it’s true morning or rock star morning.” She continues, “I want to be a buffer between you and your mother because you never deserved the way she treats you. You’re such a good man, Bennett. I’m sorry I kicked you out of my life. I never want to be the cause of you being abandoned again.”

I grasp everything she’s said. However, my arms remain motionless. “Thank you.”

She looks all around the beach and blurts, “Because I love you with my whole heart. And more.”

This. This is what I needed to hear. “Thank fuck.”

All resistance drains out of my body, and I drag my wife to me, savoring how she fits like a missing puzzle piece. Against my chest, her entire being shakes. I kiss the top of her head, then look down the beach to see Elias walking away. Tipping my head backward, I lookup to the pool area. All of my friends give me their thumbs up, and return to partying. Luke’s the last one to turn, lifting his beer high in the air.

My attention zeroes in on my wife. I bring my fingers under her chin and lift her head to mine. Gray eyes, reminiscent of Faith’s, are filled with tears. “Hey, don’t cry. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Her pink tongue darts out. “I was awful to you. I don’t deserve you.”

“Sweetheart,” I step back because I want her to hear me. My hands lift to her shoulders and press down, needing her to be calm and hear what I’m saying. “I love you with everything I am. I’ve been miserable without you, hoping in vain to see you around corners, and not sleeping. I know grief drove you to do this horrible thing, but it can be undone.”

“The divorce papers aren’t being filed, Bennett. Never.” She takes a deep breath. “I burned them.”

Her words give me the last push I needed. “It’s just you and me against the world from now on. Faith raised a fantastic daughter, and now I have the opportunity to be at your side since she can’t. I’m here, holding you, because you make my world sing.” I smile. “You fixed my groin pull, but you did much more than that. You gave me love, excitement, and friends.”

“Friends?”

“Luke. The band. You made me realize they are not simply my coworkers, but myfriends. I’ve let them in, and it’s awesome. But I wasn’t complete, because you weren’t here.”

“I’m here now,” she breathes.

I don’t know which one of us makes the first move. Whether I pull her body to mine, or she presses against me, it doesn’t matter. The next thing I know we’re kissing as if our lives depend on it. Which they sort of do. Without her, I cannot function. Without me, I pray she’s learned she can’t either. Together, though, the whole world sings the most amazing song ever created.

My hands roam up and down her body, ending on her ass and tugging her tighter against my already rock-hard body. I trail kisses down her neck, which she extends. A groan starts low in my belly.

“I want to make love to you for hours,” I whisper.

“I want that too.” Her hand skims across my bare chest, her fingers following the ridges of my muscles, and ending at my bathing suit’s waistband.

I take a moment to glance around, to figure out where I can lay her down and have my way with her. All I see is the beach. I bring my lips to her ear. “While I don’t care about getting naked with you right here, right now, I don’t want to have sand between me and those leather pants Nese has me wearing onstage.”

“Huh?” She looks up at me. Her eyes are filled with trust. Love. And desire—so much desire.

My fingers clutch her delightful ass. “Unless you want sand in every single one of your unmentionables, I think we should take this to my room.”

Recognition blooms. “Oh. Can I have one more kiss before we make that long trek?”

“Sweetheart, you can have as many as you can handle, and then some.” I close the distance between us and score her lips with my tongue.

Her arms encircle my neck as she returns my ardent kisses. Bending down, I lift her off her feet. “Wrap those gorgeous legs around my waist.” As soon as she complies, I abandon my solitary spot on the beach and stride toward the house.

She breaks our kiss, but I don’t break my stride. “Your groin pull?”

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