No More Wasted Time (32 page)

“Thanks, but that’s not why I woke you up.”

“You’re still unbelievable. What’s up?”

“You need a ring.”

Tom chose a platinum band with five diamonds spaced evenly
around the ring. When the jeweler asked Tom why he favored that particular
ring, he replied, “This band represents my new family. One diamond for each of
us.”

Tess buried her face against his chest and started bawling
right in front of the jeweler. “We’ll t…take this one.” She managed to sniffle
before wrapping her arms around Tom’s neck and crying again.

After leaving the jewelers, Tom pointed to the top of a
cliff. “There’s a restaurant right over there on top of the hill, can you see
it? A little old man and his wife own it. We’ll go there after the wedding. His
wife is going to make the cake for us. I just need to tell her what kind you
want. What’s your favorite?”

“I love any kind of cake, but chocolate is my favorite. What
about you?”

“Believe it or not, I’m not big on cake, so chocolate is
fine.”

“You don’t like cake? she asked in surprise. “Any kind of
cake?”

“Nope, I’m more of a cookie guy. Chocolate chip is my
favorite.”

“Let’s have dinner there tonight so you can check it out.”

Old-world ambiance filled the restaurant. Crisp white table
clothes with blue napkins dressed the tables and pictures of Greece hung on
white textured walls. The older couple sat with Tess and Tom, drinking a glass
of wine while they discussed the menu. The small, dark-haired man had weathered
skin and his eyes smiled when he talked. He spoke to Tess in his heavy accent,
suggesting several special dishes for the wedding. The woman’s long, gray hair
was pulled back into a bun and her eyes twinkled as they discussed the cake.

They enjoyed a wonderful dinner on the patio.

“This is perfect, Tom,” she said softly. “It’s incredibly
romantic.”

By now, they were the only couple left sitting outside.
White lights were strung from one side of the patio to the other, creating a
starry canopy. Tom rose from his chair. Tugging gently on her hand, he pulled
her into his arms. Laying her cheek to his chest, he danced her across the
floor.

“Just think, Tess, in forty eight hours, we’ll be standing
here doing this exact same thing, only you’ll be Mrs. Mathews-Clemmins.”

She tilted her head, gazing into his dark eyes. “I was
thinking Mrs. Clemmins.”

“Really? Are you sure? I assumed you’d want to keep
Mathews.”

“I’m positive. I have wonderful memories as Mrs. Mathews,
but I want to make new memories as Mrs. Clemmins. I’m one hundred percent
yours, Tom.”

He stopped dancing, touched by her decision. “I don’t know
what to say.”

“You’re supposed to say, ‘Thanks!’, ‘Great!’ and ‘That’s
perfect!’”

“Good morning. How long have you been up?” Tom kissed Tess’
cheek.

She sat by the pool going over her checklist. “Not very
long. It seems impossible, but I think everything is taken care of.”

“It’s going to be perfect. Let’s just take it easy today.
Your kids don’t fly in until this evening and Benny and Lisa will be here
tomorrow morning. What would you like to do today?”

“It’s our last day single. What do you want to do?”

Tom picked her up and tossed her in the water. She
automatically wrapped her legs around his waist, which is exactly what he
wanted.

“Let’s wait,” Tess suggested.

“Let’s not.”

“Seriously. Let’s wait. It’s only one day,” she laughed.

He walked up the pool steps with her legs still wrapped
around his waist, carrying her to their room. Tom kissed her with so much
desire she didn’t even pretend to stop him.

“Tess, this is going to be the last time we make love while
we’re single. Forever.”

“It’s not going to be different tomorrow, Tom.”

“Actually, I have a feeling it’ll be better tomorrow, but
I’d like to think I tried my best today, Tess.”

“Umm hmm.”Tess understood his last day of being single
marked a significant moment in his life. Tom was on a mission to make this the
best
last time
he’d ever have before getting married. “You mean you want
to have incredibly great sex before you get married? Is that what you’re trying
to say?” She wiggled her eyebrows, settling deeper around his hips.

“Yes, I do.” He gripped her ass as she unfastened her legs
from his waist, lowering her toes to the floor.

Her hand fell to the center of his chest and she shoved him
onto the bed. “Do you want me to make this day memorable for you, Tom?” She
moaned with exaggeration, teasing him as she climbed on top of him. Tess
caressed her breast, extending fingers downward to touch herself. Her head
dropped back, brushing her hair against her back. She squeezed her legs against
his sides, only rubbing against him, not letting him have what he desired.

Tom stared intently. “I want you to feel me,” he said,
gripping her hips, attempting to shift her body.

Tess kept control, needing him to be hungrier for her. She’d
never really cared for talking dirty, but knew he’d like it. Her long hair fell
around his face as she brushed her nipple over his wet lips. She moaned in his
ear, “You want me to feel you? What else do you want?”

Releasing her nipple from his mouth, Tom’s lips pulled to
the side in a grin. “What was my second option the night of the premier?”

Tess rolled her tongue over his earlobe, whispering in her
sexiest voice, “You want me to fuck you real slowly? I believe that was your
other option.”

At that exact moment, he flipped her onto her back, staring
into her eyes, teasing her once before diving deep inside
. Oh shit. How the
hell did he do that so fast?
Turned on more than ever by the sheer lust in
his eyes, she said words she’d never said before, sending both of them into
overdrive. Tess moved aggressively, sinking her fingers deep into his
shoulders, keeping up stroke-for-stroke.

Tom sat back on his knees, rolling her over onto her tummy,
lying on top of her, giving her just the tip. “Is that what you want?” he
toyed.

She raised onto her knees and elbows, probing for control,
and he backed off. “Don’t stop. I want to feel you,” she whimpered.

Tom gave in to her desires. Leaning over her, grasping a
handful of hair, he took command of her entire body. “Can you feel me now?”  

Distantly, she was aware of her own voice crying out. “Oh,
yes! Holy crap!”

The strength in his fingers loosened, giving her freedom to
ride freely. Reversing the roll of her hips, Tess stretched her arms out flat
on the bed, dropping her cheek to the sheet, allowing him to plunge deeper. As
she felt his body contract, her zealous need intensified, vigorously thrusting
against him to climax again.

Tom groaned deep in his throat. “Oh, shit.” He collapsed on
top of her, shuddering with his own release.

Reaching around, Tess grabbed his hair in her fingers.
“You’ve been holding out on me, Tom Clemmins.” Her ears were ringing as blood
surged through her veins. She peeked over the edge of the mattress that had
scooted two feet away from the box spring. “We need a sturdier bed,” she
panted.

Tom chuckled while trying to suck in enough air to catch his
breath.

“What’s so funny?” she questioned, her voice still shaky.

“I’m thinking maybe we could make love Monday through Friday
and have incredibly great sex on Saturdays and Sundays.”

She laughed with him. “Weekend sex. I love that idea.”

“I thought you might. I’m so lucky. I get to take you home
every night. No matter what we’re having.”

As they drove to the airport, Tess couldn’t wait to see her
kids and Shayla. When their plane landed, she enveloped them in her arms. Joey
the photographer was there, as well as Marco the stylist and his partner, Rick.

That night, they ate dinner at a restaurant by the beach.
Tess hadn’t seen her kids much since the middle of summer. She enjoyed sitting
back and relaxing with her kids and Tom, wanting to share him with them so they
could be a family. It was important to her that they like him and it was
important to Tom, too. All of the pieces of her life were coming together.

After dinner, Tom and Tess trailed behind her kids and
Shayla, strolling hand-in-hand down the narrow cobbled streets.

“Are you happy, Tess?” Tom whispered in her ear.

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I hoped it would be
like this.”

“Me, too. They seem thrilled for you.”

“For us, Tom. They’re happy for us.”

When they returned home, Tess and Tom lay in bed and Tess
said, “Thanks for bringing Marco here to do our hair and makeup.”

“Marco is fond of you. He was more than willing to make the
trip.”

“I was surprised to see Joey. The two of you seem friendly,
but not that friendly.”

He hesitated for a minute. “I need to talk to you about
that. We’ll need to release a statement and pictures from our wedding.”

“What? Oh shit!” Tess suddenly realized, “It’s a big deal,
isn’t it? You getting married. That didn’t even cross my mind.”

“Yes, it’s going to be a very big deal for the media. If we
put the story out ourselves, it’ll be much easier. We can release photos we
want the public to see and I think we’ll need to do some interviews with a few
reputable magazines. I hate doing interviews, but if we don’t do anything, the
media will be brutal.”

“So how does that work? I’d rather the press be positive. I
don’t want to see lies about us on the cover of a magazine.”

“Well, if I pay Joey an obscene amount of money to take
pictures for us, he’ll keep his mouth shut. Then, we can release them however
we decide.”

“How much money is an obscene amount of money?”

“It doesn’t matter. When we release the photos, we’ll make
it back, plus some.”

“That’s just bizarre.”

“It’s the business, Tess. I was thinking we could take the
money from the photos and give it to your kids and Shayla. It’ll be a nice
amount for each of them. You can give it to them now or in increments, however
you decide. It will be enough money that, if they wanted to buy a condo or put
money down on a house, they would be able to.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you serious?”

“Trust me. They’ll pay a lot of money for these pictures.
You don’t need the money and I don’t need the money, so why not?” He smiled
nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

“That’s extremely generous of you. Are you sure? My kids
aren’t going to think more of you if you give them monetary things, Tom.
They’re not materialistic like that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they’d love
it, but you don’t need to buy their love. My kids love you because you’re a
good person. Not because of your money.”

“I already know that. They’re exactly like you. Trust me, we
don’t need the money and it would give them a nice start. Shayla, too.”

“Speaking of money, Tom...”

“Yes,” he said very slowly, as if he knew what was coming.

“Don’t you have some papers for me to sign? Something that
says that I promise not to take you to the cleaners or something to protect
yourself and all of your millions from me? Like maybe a prenup?” she said,
playing with his fingers.

“Nope.” he replied smugly.

“What do you mean ‘nope’? You’re supposed to, aren’t you? I
was expecting one,” she muttered in confusion.

“I mean, no. I trust you. And better yet, I trust myself,”
he proclaimed proudly. “I don’t plan on divorcing you. I don’t even like saying
the word.”

“I don’t want anything from you.” Panic-stricken, she sat
straight up in bed.

“That is not entirely true, Tess. You do want something from
me. You want
my word
that I’ll never be with another woman. That I’ll
never be unfaithful, right?”

“Well, yeah, of course. That’s not an option, Tom.” Her tone
turned serious.

“I know. I’m one hundred percent positive you’ll be faithful
to me, and I’ll always be faithful to you. I’m so sure of myself and how I feel
about you, I don’t need a prenup, Tess,” he boasted, ridiculously satisfied
with himself. “Divorce isn’t an alternative.”

“I’m flattered, Tom, really, but I’d feel better if you had
one. I don’t want people to think that-”

“Tess, I’m not going to argue over a prenup. I love you more
than you realize. I don’t give a
damn
what anyone else thinks.
I
trust you. I’m not doing it. So please don’t ask me about it. And if you sit
here and get all stressed out the night before our wedding over a stupid
prenup, I might just get pissed at you.”

“We can’t have that now, can we? I don’t think I’d like it
if you were pissed at me, and just so you know, if I thought there was a chance
in hell we’d get divorced some day or if I had one doubt about us, I would’ve
said no to you.” She curled up next to him. “Can we have one rule Tom? No going
to bed angry or upset with each other.”

“Did this rule help you over the last twenty-five years?” he
asked inquisitively.

“Yes.”

“Then I agree. No going to bed angry. I’m not mad, Tess, I
just believe in us. So much that I won’t go into this marriage thinking it
might fail someday down the road.”

“You’re right.” Tess giggled with excitement. “Tomorrow,
we’re getting married.”

CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE

Tom was sound asleep, sprawled out naked, lying face down. A
smile broadened across Tess’ face.
I get to wake up next to his fine ass
every day for the rest of my life.
She lightly ran her fingers down his
back.

“Morning, Tess. Today’s the day.” Tom rolled over and asked,
“Are you ready to marry me and be my wife until death do us part?”

“Yes, I am. Would you mind if we say, as long as we both
shall live?”

“Absolutely. That would be perfect.”