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Stopping in the soft, warm sand, he inhaled the slight tang of salt in the breeze. He felt at home close to the ocean. He turned toward her and looked over her delicate features. She appeared petite and almost fragile, but his Bee was far from fragile—strong, brave, hilarious, a fighter. They’d probably have a battle tonight talking through their past. So be it. Jagger had never shied away from a battle. Especially if there was a chance the reward was sweet, honeyed kisses from his Bee.
“What happened with you and Mike?” he asked, realizing that was a very loaded question. Would she start with how she fell in love with the man or why they weren’t together now or anything in between? Could he handle hearing about her marrying the man that had stolen her from him? Funny that he’d always wanted to fight her dad again but had never blamed Mike for stealing her, never wanted to hunt him down and dismember him.
“We lived separate lives with me traveling so much, and we could never have a baby. That hurt both of us.” She shrugged and put a hand to her shirt, right below her neckline. He’d noticed her gold chain and a small pendant or something always under her T-shirt but couldn’t determine what it was. “I can’t say that I ever loved him like …” she trailed off and swallowed, focusing on the ocean.
Jagger watched her smooth neck bob. Hope filled him. Maybe this wouldn’t be painful after all. If she still loved him. He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and turned her toward him. Her blue eyes were hopeful too.
“Loved him like …” Jagger was proceeding as cautiously as he ever had in his life. He wanted her to say she loved him first. He’d kiss her until he took the edge off the hunger he had for her, then they’d somehow talk through the pain and separation.
Instead of rising to the bait, Belinda put both hands on his chest and shoved at him. He released her and held his hands up. “What?”
“Do you love Mercedes Belle?”
His brow wrinkled. “What does that have to do with the price of eggs?”
“Don’t be cute with me,” she hurled at him. “You said you loved Mercedes, and Shawn said she loved you or maybe you loved her. I don’t know.” Her voice was full of exasperation and her blue eyes full of frustration. “And Mercedes said she loved you ‘desperately’ on the video.”
He nodded and pushed a hand over his hair. “Loves me like a brother.”
She blinked up at him. “And you love her …”
“Like a sister. Did you honestly think Mercedes?—”
He didn’t get any more out. Belinda gave a garbled yell and then launched herself at him. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck and pulled herself up onto tiptoes, pressing her body against his.
Jagger let out a groan and wasted no time wrapping her up tight and bowing his head to hers. He wanted to say so many things and still had loads of questions.
Bee apparently was done with conversation. She arched up and kissed him.
Jagger’s lips fused with hers, and every part of him lit up with a warmth he had longed for these past fourteen years. Her kiss was intense and fiery, and he responded with all the passion he’d stored up for her.
Wrapping his hands around her lower back, he straightened and lifted her clean off her feet. He carried her down into the surf, the soft waves breaking against them. The rush of Bee and the ocean and their lips fusing together would never be equaled.
She clung to him, let out the most appealing laugh, and then she kissed him so forcefully he saw stars—or maybe they were wedding bells. All he could truly see was Bee. Her honeyed kisses were better than even his memories.
Everything in his world was instantly set right. The ocean ebbed and flowed against them, and heat swirled inside his chest. He was floating.
Sparks and joy and not one bit of anguish.
Bee was his. She was in his arms, and he would never let her go again.
Chapter
Ten
The instant their lips connected, Belinda heard heavenly choirs shout hoorah. The kiss was more fiery and powerful than her memories of their connection.
This kiss was one hundred percent her Jag. He took command of her lips, and her heart sang. What could possibly keep them apart? What from their past hurts could ever override or damage the love she felt right now? Nothing. Only Jag mattered to her.
Sliding his hands to her lower back, Jagger straightened and lifted her feet off the ground. He carried her into the water. The surf pressed against them, but nothing could take her Jagger down. She held on tight and laughed.
Jagger smiled against her lips and then kissed her thoroughly. The pulse of the ocean and the paradise of this island combined with the magic of his kiss. He kissed her with a longing born of years apart and the confidence of a man who could conquer anything in this world. With their lips fused together, any worries disappeared and every happy possibility was in their future.
Jagger swooped her up higher as a larger wave pushed against them. He slipped one arm under her legs and cradled her upper body against his strong chest.
Belinda was airborne. She was soaring. She giggled and clung to him, kissing him with every bit of craving she had stored up. Fourteen years of yearning for these moments, needing this perfect man in her life. She had no desire to sting like a bee, only to give him loads of honey.
They kissed until she couldn’t catch a breath or see straight. Luckily, she didn’t have to stand on her own two feet as he was holding her. Jag would always hold her, support her, be there for her.
