No More Wasted Time (37 page)

“I know, but for some reason I needed him to know.”

She observed him quietly, knowing he had more to say. He
grinned again, but the sadness he’d gotten so good at hiding from everyone else
didn’t work on Tess. She waited patiently for him to open up.

“Listening to you and your kids share family stories makes
me feel like I’ve been missing something. I would’ve loved being a part of your
life a long time ago.”

“You’re a part of their lives now, Tom. My job as a parent
is entirely different than it used to be. It’s easier now. I get to be myself
again.” She paused, trying to put herself in his shoes. “In five, ten, twenty
years from now, when we’re all here at the cabin having Christmas, they’re
going to be telling family stories about you, too. I know you would’ve been a
great father. But just think. In a few years, you’ll get to be a grandpa.” She
chuckled.

A smile touched his lips. He ran his hand over her tummy and
kissed her stomach right above her jeans. “I would’ve liked to have had
children with you.”

She lay silent, stroking her fingers through his hair,
contemplating. “Tom, if you really want a child, I’m sure there are ways we
could have one. I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve never thought of having any
more kids. It’s not something I truly want, but if it means that much to you, I
would. We could find a way. People adopt babies all the time.” 

Tom swallowed hard, turning his typically tan cheeks ashen
white.

She uttered a soft laugh. “Or you can simply enjoy being a
grandpa some day. I think it’ll be nice to be a grandma years from now. You get
to give them back when they’re crying or being ornery.”

Tom stared at her in astonishment. “So you are telling me,
if I want to have a baby, you would do that for me?”

“I really wish I could do that for you, but unfortunately my
body won’t have any more babies. If you really want a child than, yes, we could
find a way.” Her voice cracked and her eyes dropped away from his gaze. Regret
rushed through her veins like fire. It broke Tess’ heart to know she couldn’t
give him a baby.

Tom spoke softly as he lifted her chin with his finger. “I
can’t believe you’d do that for me.”

“I love you, Tom. I’d do anything for you,” she whispered
sincerely.

He rolled over and stared at the ceiling in silence. She
dozed off curled up next to him and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, he stirred pulling her into his
embrace. “I love you so much, Tess. I don’t want to have a baby. To be honest,
if you and I could make our very own baby together, I would, but I’ll be
perfectly happy having grandkids someday. It means so much to me that you love
me enough to offer.”

She tucked her feet between his and snuggled closer. “I
think you’re just going to have to settle for three young adults instead.”

Christmas Eve had finally arrived. The kids snowboarded all
day, Lisa and Benny ran into town to get a few last minute gifts, and Tom had
helped Tess wrapped presents in her room. 

Tess wanted to make Tom’s Christmas Eve memorable. Tom
waited for her when she got out of the shower.

“I have something for you,” he said with a gift in his hand.

“Can we put presents under the tree first?”

“We can if you’d like,” he flirted, taking her towel. “Or we
could do presents later.”

“Let’s do presents first.” Tess slipped into her silky robe
and strolled toward the door.

Tom tossed Tess’ present on  the bed. They headed downstairs
to put gifts under the tree and were back upstairs after midnight.

Tom untied her robe, holding her close, placing her hand in
his. Dancing with Tom had turned into one of her favorite things. Tom swayed
her slowly around the room, and Tess couldn’t contain her excitement any
longer. “I have something for you, too.” She went to the closet and retrieved a
wrapped box.

“Can you wear this present for me tonight?” he questioned
suggestively.

“No, that’s hanging in the closet. This is something you’ll
like even more.”

Full of intrigue, he grinned curiously. “How
much
more will I like it? Are we going to use this together tonight?”

She playfully swatted at him. “No,
that
is not what’s
in the box. You make me feel so incredible that I haven’t had an urge to get
anything like that for us. But judging by your face, you have definitely
thought about it.”

He smirked sexily. “Maybe.”

Tess suspiciously eyed his box lying on the bed, wandering
if there was a toy inside. Tom burst out laughing. “No. That’s not what I have
for you. I think you should open your gift first.”

“Please, can you open mine first?” She practically wiggled
in her seat with anticipation.

He conceded and proceeded to open her gift. “Are we going
somewhere warm, Tess?”

“Maybe!” she squealed.

Inside the box, Tom found new swim trunks, a bikini, a
bottle of Monoi oil, flip-flops and a bottle of Vodka for martinis, as well as
reservations to stay at her new favorite place in Bora Bora, the private island
he took her to their first night together.

“Are we going back to Bora Bora for our honeymoon?” Tom
grinned.

His smile made her deliriously happy. She threw her arms
around his neck, tackling him on the bed, rolling him over to sit on top of
him. “Yes, we are! I checked with the woman on the phone and they didn’t have
any reservations under your name. I figured you hadn’t made plans to go back
yet. These were the only dates they had available.”

 “No, you’re right. I haven’t made any plans to go back
there, yet.” Tom wore the most immense cocky smile.

The grin on his face made her nervous. “Did you make other
plans for us? I can change the dates, or we could go someplace else if you’d
rather.”

Tom couldn’t quit laughing. “No, it’s perfect. We leave in
three weeks. Trust me. I can’t wait to go back.”

“I didn’t book a flight, because I don’t know how you do
that so…”

“I’ll take care of the flight.”

“Merry Christmas, Tom.”

He held her gift. “Sit up for a second. Close your eyes,
Tess. No peeking.” He kissed her fingers as he fastened something around her
wrist.

She squirmed and giggled with her eyes closed. He held her
face kissing her softly. “You can open them now.”

Tom clasped a beautiful silver watch with a royal blue face
around her wrist. “I love it, I don’t have a watch.”

“I know. You always check the time on your phone. There’s an
inscription on the back.”

No more wasted time.

Tears stung her eyes as she smiled. “I really love it, Tom!
No more wasted time. It’s perfect.”

“It’s a dive watch. I know you wouldn’t care for a showy
watch. I think you’ll get a lot of use out of it.” Tom paused for a moment. “I
won’t waste one more day of my life without you, Tess.”

Completely enamored by his words, tears pricked her eyes.
What he didn’t know was that Tess also had a dive watch for him downstairs
under the Christmas tree.

“Merry Christmas, Tess. Did you say you have something
hanging in the closet for me?”

“Yes, I do, but I think I’ll just wear this tonight.” She
held up her new watch. “I’ll save that for tomorrow night. It’s not very much,
really.”

“Oh, good, those are my favorite kind, the ones with not
very much to them.” He tickled her side with his teeth and unshaven face. “Turn
over.” He reached for the monoi oil.  “Do you remember the first time I did
this for you?”

She became aroused instantly from the memories running
through her mind. Tess squeaked, “Oh, yeah. I remember.” Goose bumps covered
her back as oil drizzled down it.

“You were wearing your blue bikini. My favorite.” His tongue
traveled up the small of her back. “You had goose bumps all over your body,
just like you do now. I wanted to touch you and taste you so badly that day,
Tess.” Tom massaged her back, working his way up her inner thighs, getting so
close, trying to tease her. Her passion accelerated thinking about their spa
day in Bora Bora. “Do you want me to touch you?” He murmured.

“Jesus, Tom. I’m not even sure if you need to touch me.” The
words came out as a whisper.

“Oh, I think I do.” He slid his fingers too close and she
guided her hips to find them. Overly excited, Tess peaked instantaneously,
moaning loudly. “Shhhh, Tess,” he whispered sweetly in her ear.

Out of the corner of her eye, Tess saw the satisfied grin on
Tom’s face. This just made it worse or better for her, knowing he enjoyed
driving her to the edge only by touching her. Her eyes rolled back as she slowed
down for just a moment, squeezing her legs around him, flipping him on his
back. Staring down at him, she could see the lustfulness in his eyes as she
teased him at first, taking in only his ridge.

A low groan escaped his throat. “Tess.”

“Wait for me.” She sat motionless atop of him, giving him a
moment to regroup, needing him to last.

“I always wait for you, Tess,” he said, watching her face
intently.

Tess entwined her fingers in his hair and kissed him
fervently. She lowered herself down fully, taking him in. Tom rolled her over,
drawing her leg over his thigh. Straining to get closer, her fingers dug deep
into his side, pulling him forcefully into her body.

He peeled her fingers from his side, placing her hands above
her head, moving slower and more aggressively. Her heavy breathing turned into
a very loud moan mixed with a lot of,
Oh, shit! Holy crap! Oh my God!

 “Shhhhhh, Tess,” he murmured.

He asked her to
Shhh
, but Tess couldn’t
Shhh
at
all because the louder she moaned, the more stimulated he became. His movements
came in strong deliberate strokes, fueling her hunger. He covered her mouth
with his, quieting her cries as she peaked. Tom waited as long as he could
before allowing his own release.

Tom spoke to her, but she couldn’t hear him. She stared
directly at him, watching his lips move, but could only hear buzzing in her
ears. Tess laughed softly, holding her pointer finger up to say
just a
minute.

Tom nuzzled his face in the hair by her neck panting, “Merry
Christmas.”

“Holy cccrap,” were the only words she could utter. “M…Merry
Christmas.”

“This is by far my best holiday ever.” He held up the monoi
oil. “This is our new Christmas Eve tradition. Every year, Tess, from now on.”

“Every year,” she agreed, still trying to catch her breath.

As they lay sprawled out across the bed, Tom snickered.
“Don’t be surprised if you catch crap about this from somebody tomorrow.”

“I was not that loud. Besides, we’re upstairs.” She smirked,
positive no one heard her.

“Yes, you were loud enough. Aren’t Benny and Lisa below us,
Tess?”

“Oh, great!”

“Ten bucks says you catch shit from one of them tomorrow,”
he chuckled.

“Even if I was too loud, I don’t care.” She curled up next
to him. “It was definitely worth it. That may have been a first for me.”

He still wore a haughty smile. “Really?”

“Fine, ten bucks says they didn’t.”

Christmas morning came four hours later. Kim woke up Tracy
and JC with giddy squeals of delight that Santa had been there. Tess' girls
knocked on their door at six thirty. Tess glanced at Tom, making sure he was
covered up. “Come in.”

“Merry Christmas,” both girls mumbled, half-asleep, dragging
themselves into the room, plopping down on the bed next to Tess.

Tess and Tom both said, “Merry Christmas.”

“What, no coffee this time?” Tom asked.

“It’s not finished brewing,” JC groaned.

“I’m kidding, but thanks,” he said.

“Come on girls, Kim’s waiting. We can take naps later,” Tess
said as Tracy and JC stumbled out the door.

Kim had begun opening presents before they’d even made it
downstairs. Tom hadn’t experienced a morning like this since he was a kid, and
Tess was happy simply watching him snap pictures.

Tom appeared completely baffled when he opened his gift. “We
think too much alike,” he said, shaking his head at the handsome dive watch with
a black face.

“I’d like to put the same inscription on the back.”

“I’d love that.”

Tom gave her a sound system for their bedroom and her
favorite perfume. She gave him a couple of things for the cabin. What he loved
most, however, were his pictures Tess had framed for the bedroom.

That afternoon, Tess and Lisa hung out in the living room. 
“Thanks for having us, Tess. We’ve had a great Christmas. I wish we could stay
longer,” Lisa said.

“I love having you here. It’s been wonderful.”

“Benny’s a little upset with you, though,” Lisa sighed with
disappointment.

“Me? What did I do?” Tess asked curiously.

“Benny was exhausted last night, plus he had one glass of
wine too many.” Lisa struggled not to laugh. “I had to wake him up in the
middle of the night to drown out the noise coming from upstairs.”

Tess flinched and her mouth dropped open. “You’re lying. Tom
told you to say that.”

“Benny wasn’t happy at first because he was so worn out, but
he got over it in a hurry.” Lisa teased, laughing her ass off.

“Great!” Tess scoffed, absolutely mortified.

Lisa mocked. “I’m sure it was!”

“Very funny. Don’t say anything to Tom or I’ll never hear
the end of it.”

“Oh, I won’t, but Benny already gave Tommy shit first thing
this morning. And you’re right, you probably will never hear the end of it.”

Tess tried to read Lisa’s face. “You’re screwing with me,
aren’t you?”

“Not me. blame Tommy. Good thing you didn’t give that room
to your kids.”

“Shit.” Tess slumped back on the couch, humiliated.

“Thank god I have a guesthouse for you two to stay in when
you come to visit.”