***
“So why was…” Ty trailed off as it finally dawned on him. The jig was up. Tanesha couldn’t read Ty at that moment. But she sensed just how hard he was trying to control himself. She actually flinched when he cupped her cheeks in his hands. “Don’t ever do that to me again.” He said quietly. “Please.” Ty never ever wanted to feel what he’d felt that evening again. It’d hurt. Fuck, had it hurt. It had been the worst feeling ever.
“I just wanted to…I needed for you to hurt too. That was just a fraction of what I’ve been through.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t. I know you’re hurt and thought I deserved to have a taste of what it felt like to have your heart ripped out of your chest. But believe me, for over three months my heart has virtually been stopping every day for you. Have any idea how it feels to watch the life of someone you love, at stake?” Ty asked gruffly.
Tanesha’s eyes widened. “You loved me even then?” She asked in a small voice.
Ty nodded. “I did. I just didn’t know it then. Listen Tanesha, what I went through this evening, seeing that man…” He trailed off and groaned deep in his throat. “I was in hell. I could have killed.”
“Oh my God,” Tanesha whispered as the import of how her little stunt had affected Ty finally hit her. “I’m so sorry, baby.” She reached up to kiss him on the mouth.
“Just don’t do it again.” Ty rasped, softly rubbing Tanesha’s cheek to wipe away all traces of tears.
“Never again.” It was a promise.
“Thanks.” Ty gazed at Tanesha with eyes filled with so much love she gasped. “Fuck, I missed you.” He hugged her to him. “So damn much. And not just for sex, don’t get me wrong.” He leaned back and looked at her with sincere eyes.
Tanesha’s eyes twinkled with amusement at the wary look on Ty’s face. “Hey, relax.” She closed the distance between their lips and kissed him gently. “We both needed this,” Tanesha murmured against his lips. “That was some damn mind-blowing release.” Tanesha purred, causing Ty to shake with laughter. “And I…”
“Tanesha?” Tanesha heard her mother’s voice and immediately moved towards it. “Honey, I told you she’s okay. She’s with Lt. Cdr. Wesley. What better hands can you hope for?” Dora Ashton laughed as she turned to look at her husband.
“Are you okay, angel?” The question was directed at his daughter but Paul Ashton’s eyes remained on Ty with a slight frown. “I got worried when I couldn’t see you after the band stopped playing.” He finally gave Ty a nod.
“I’m alright, daddy.” Tanesha went to her father. “I was having a chat with Lt. Cdr. Wesley.”
Dora Ashton moved towards Ty with a brilliant smile on her face. “We haven’t had a chance to talk, Lt. Cdr…”
“Please call me Ty, Ma’am,” Ty said politely, wondering whether he should remind the woman that she and her husband had said thanks to him after the ceremony that morning. A look of surprise passed over his features when Tanesha’s mother went up on her toes as if to kiss his cheek. Ty bent towards the elegant woman to accept the kiss but…
“You hurt her, they’ll never find your body.” Dora Ashton hissed into Ty’s ear and then stepped back with the sweetest smile on her face. “Close your mouth, darling.” She murmured. “And the name is Dora.”
The look on Ty’s face was priceless. He’d been rendered totally speechless. “Are you okay?” Tanesha asked Ty, who only nodded. She watched the naughty smile on her mother’s face as she linked her arm with her husband’s and strolled off.
“Coming?” Dora called, not turning to look at them.
“Right behind you, mother.” Tanesha’s eyes flashed. She knew her mother had told Ty something probably outrageous. She linked her arm with Ty’s and fell into step beside him. “What did she say?”
Ty gave a deep sigh which ended with a chuckle. “Your mother just threatened my life.”
“What?” Tanesha gasped and stopped walking.
“And guess what? I’ve had my share of threats from badass soldiers and criminals. But your mother’s threat was hands down the most lethal of them all.”
“I’m going to kill her.” Tanesha resumed walking.
“What I wouldn’t give to have my mother threaten someone on my behalf like that,” Ty murmured with a wistful look on his face. “I like her.”
“You’ve earned the right to ask your mother to threaten me, baby.” Tanesha chuckled.
“She can’t,” Ty responded smoothly. “Been dead my whole life.”
“Oh Skull…” Tanesha looked like she was going to burst into tears.
“Hey don’t worry about it. I never met her but I’ve seen her pictures. And she’s a beauty.” He said, trying to lighten the mood. “Besides, I have a sweet step-mum so I’m cool.”
Tanesha realized she didn’t know anything about her man. She knew they had to talk but she didn’t want to mar their reunion with any serious talk. She simply wanted to savour the moment. The band started to play again just as they got to the entrance of the hall.
“I’m so sorry about your mother,” Tanesha said quietly.
“Hmm…I’m sure she would have loved to meet the woman who’s not only rocking her son’s world but also owns his heart.” Ty murmured and pressed a kiss to Tanesha’s temple. “Damn, I love touching you.” He husked.
Tanesha swallowed past the huge lump that had formed in her throat at Ty’s words. How could the man manage to sound so sweet and sexy at the same time, she wondered looking up at him with eyes filled with so much love.
“And I would have loved to meet the woman who gave me my world,” Tanesha said shakily, her eyes welling up.
“Dance with me,” Ty murmured.
Tanesha laughed despite herself. “Real dancing or just allow myself to be groped by you?” Tanesha murmured as they stepped into the hall.
Ty chuckled. “You’re a fine one to talk,” Ty said huskily, remembering what Tanesha had done to him on the dance floor earlier. “I just want to hold you so we might not even dance at all.”
“Works for me just fine.” Tanesha sighed, turning to lean against Ty and coiling her arms around his neck even though the band wasn’t playing a slow number.