by Coll, Lea
“No, it’s not.”
I turned, still holding his hand to see the corners of his mouth tipped up. “What is this?”
“It’s mine.” He pulled me into his body. “I bought it.”
“You bought a house?” He’d said he was making plans to move forward in his life but to see the evidence of that was overwhelming.
He picked up a packet of papers from the countertop and tilted them to me so I could see. “And I signed the papers for the bar. I’m part-owner.”
“That’s amazing.” I couldn’t even express how proud I was of him. Everything he’d always wanted but never reached for was in his hands. “You have everything you’ve ever wanted.”
He dropped the papers back onto the counter, pulling me flush against his body. “Not everything.”
“Oh? What don’t you have?”
“I don’t have you.”
“Don’t you?” I tilted my head, a playful smile on my lips.
His lips descended to mine as he kissed each corner of my mouth, his hands in my hair. “Are you mine, Taylor?” Instead of waiting for an answer, he was kissing me and my hands wrapped around his neck.
My mind screamed Yes as my body showed him my every thought and desire. I wanted him. I wanted this life.
“Well?” he asked finally, pulling back slightly to see my face.
My hand felt my lips which felt swollen from his kisses. “Yes.”
“Thank fuck.” Then he lifted me so my legs wrapped around his waist. He carried me up the long narrow steps to the second floor. He walked into the last bedroom at the back of the house allowing me to slide slowly down his body, so I felt every hard inch of him. “I was prepared to work forever to get you back.”
The words settled over me, providing comfort. I was hesitant to take this next step with him, but he was making a concrete effort to make a better life for himself and he was determined to make things work with us too. I could trust him. I could trust us.
My hands rested on his forearms as I took in the room around me. One large king bed, open windows covered the entire back of the house, fluttering the sheer gauzy curtains, and opened to a large balcony. “This place is beautiful.”
“I knew you’d want a large balcony.”
“But this place is yours.”
“I’d love for you to move in, eventually.” His face was uncertain.
My mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. He was so confident in his feelings for me—in our relationship. He’d chosen my neighborhood. It was on the streetcar line to my work. It was safe and—
“This neighborhood reminds you of home and I want that for you. I want you to feel comfortable here. I want you to call this place home—here with me.” He gestured at the open and airy room.
“What about Zach? You won’t be able to see him as much.” It wouldn’t be the same as living next door to him.
“Family services is working on getting them better housing and that’s one of the reasons I got a car. Lizzie agreed to allow me to mentor him so I can pick up him several times a week and hang out with him.”
“That’s amazing.” Everything Gabe had done in the few weeks I’d been gone was impressive.
“Not as amazing as having you here in my home.”
“I think it’s time to christen this bed, don’t you?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He smirked. He took his time undressing me, laying me down on his brand new bed, and reacquainting himself with my body. He took his time loving me, caring for me, until I knew coming back to him was the best move I’d ever made.
Epilogue
Gabe
We spent the next few weeks decorating my new home, and Taylor spent almost every night there. Even though she wasn’t officially living with me I knew it was a matter of time. I was ecstatic she took me back after my colossal fuck up. I didn’t deserve her—not really. I’d spend each day proving that I was worthy of her—and her love.
I never admitted to Taylor that I still felt unworthy of her. It had nothing to do with self-confidence at this point or even putting myself down. I just felt so fortunate to be with her—that she loved me—that I ran into her in the alley that first day. Lucky she didn’t tell me to fuck off and walk away.
“Are you ready for the block party?” Taylor asked, humming with excitement as she shot off texts to Hadley.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“I’m so glad you’re not working tonight.”
“You’re the star of the party. I want to support you.” I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Lately, I’d worked fewer hours managing the bar. We’d trained two more bartenders so we could handle the management of the bar and paperwork side of the business. That meant fewer late hours. Isaac and I alternated evenings managing the bar.
“Thanks, babe.” She kissed my lips quickly. “Come on, let’s go. Hadley wants us there early to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“Don’t worry. It will.” She gave me that soft smile that I loved so much and I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her again.
“We need to go. Stop kissing me.”
“Stop looking so cute.” I usually saw her in suits or leggings and sweatshirts but today she wore a sundress and sandals. She looked so young and happy.
We were on our way to the bar when Taylor got a call.
Taylor shot me a regretful look. “Sorry, it’s my boss.”
“No problem.”
“Dean? Yeah?” She shot a concerned look at me. “I did but—I don’t think I want to move right now. What?” Excitement filled her eyes.
Why was she talking about moving? Had she reconsidered taking that position in Baltimore? Just the thought caused a pit to form in my stomach.
“That would be amazing. Thank you so much for letting me know. Have a good weekend.”
“What was that about?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.
“Dean said that new prosecutor position opened up and he wanted to let me know so I could apply.” Her smile was huge. “Wouldn’t it be great if I got it?”
“The job in Baltimore?” I barely managed to choke out. I thought she was happy and content here with me. I’d finally planted roots here, buying a home and buying into the bar and now she was leaving? How could she even consider it?
Her eyes widened. “No, they opened a position here. New Orleans received a grant to create a new position similar to the one I wanted in Baltimore.”
Thank fuck. There was no way I could live across the country from her. Those few weeks away from her when she’d broken up with me was enough separation for a lifetime. “That’s great. I hope you get it.”
“Thanks. I still have to apply but Dean said he’d put in a good word for me. I think my department has a high turnover rate.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” I didn’t blame her for wanting to change jobs. She frequently came home upset about whatever file she was working on. She felt things too deeply to do that job day in and day out. And I couldn’t stand to see her upset. At this point, I’d circled several times and couldn’t get close to the bar due to traffic. “This can’t be because of the block party, is it?”
Checking her phone, Taylor said, “Hadley said there’s a huge turnout already.”
My frustration turned to elation. “That’s great news.” If this party was successful, we’d do more of them. Hopefully, it would increase business and encourage other businesses to come to the area.
“Oh my God. This is amazing,” she said, reading something on her phone as I finally found a spot to park.
“What?”
“Charly from Head over Heels posted about the party, stating she was scouting the area for a possible new location for her store.”
“Didn’t you talk to her when you went in to shop there?”
“Yeah, it was a while ago though. I didn’t think she’d actually follow through.”
“You’re amazing, babe.” I leaned over and kissed her before we got out and
walked hand in hand, just enjoying the time together. Since she worked days and I worked nights, these few evenings we spent together were the best.
We stopped at Isaac’s make-shift bar on the sidewalk where Patrick and Isaac were serving drinks.
Hadley spotted us and said, “There you are!” She pulled Taylor away from me, talking a mile a minute.
“That one’s a firecracker.” Isaac had moved from behind the bar to stand next to us. “She’s been driving me nuts the last few weeks.”
“Yeah, I found Taylor annoying at first too and look how that worked out.”
He slapped my back. “Now you’re whipped, and I have you working for less pay.”
I received a percentage of the sales now that I was the owner versus a salary, which worked out better for me. It had allowed me to purchase the house and the car. I was getting closer to being the man Taylor deserved in her life. His words about being whipped didn’t even penetrate.
“You’re not worried she’s going to move back to Maryland?”
“Not unless she takes me with her.”
“Uh, you signed some specific papers that keep you here.”
“For now. Maybe we should think about expanding the bar. We could always open another location in Annapolis.” I’d make sure we traveled home to see her family often, so she didn’t feel like she was neglecting them. She’d recently mentioned some of her law school classmates were opening a law firm in Annapolis.
“Annapolis, huh? Would we serve crab cakes?”
“You’d have to in Annapolis.”
“We’ll see. Might not be a bad idea. But I’d need someone to manage this one so I could travel more.”
“I don’t think it would happen anytime soon. She’s applying for another job here. One I think she’ll love.”
“She’ll eventually want to move back and be closer to her family.”
I nodded. I knew that. Once her parents passed, she wouldn’t leave Caleb alone in Maryland. He was on the waitlist for housing there. It wasn’t easy to switch states and bring him here.
“You’ll figure it out.” The band set up on the corner where there was a small lot next to Omar’s store. “I’d better get inside. Once the band starts playing, people are going to want drinks.”
“I hope so.” I hoped it would be the biggest night in sales we ever had. I wanted this to be a success for Taylor and all the businesses on the street. Somehow, Hadley and Taylor managed to get an article in the paper about our street being an up and coming area. She literally accomplished everything she set out to do. With a reminder every now and then that she deserved to live a life separate from Caleb she’d be fine. Just like I’d be fine as long as I was with her.
* * *
Later that night, Taylor opened the door from the bathroom, the light illuminating her way through the dark bedroom. “I love this room. The balcony, the open windows.” We slept hot most nights because she loved having the windows open and I couldn’t say no to her.
I was going to wait to ask her but seeing her here in my house these last few weeks I never wanted her to leave. “When are you going to move in?”
“Oh? I didn’t think you’d asked.”
Technically, she was right. When I showed her this house, I said I’d like her to live here someday and there was no time like the present to get started on that wish. “Taylor Leeds, would you please move into my home with me?”
She giggled and shifted in my arms. “I’ve never heard a better offer. Yes, I’d love to live here.”
“You’d make me the happiest man ever.” I kissed her then, her mouth immediately opening and allowing me in. I’d never get enough of her. I shifted until my weight covered hers.
“It would make happy too. Especially, with our crazy schedules. I like knowing that you’ll crawl into bed with me at the end of the night.”
I kissed her nose and then her mouth. “Me too. Now, you’re wearing entirely too many clothes.”
I shoved up her silk nightgown kissing her stomach and palming her tits.
“I love you, Gabe,” she said breathlessly.
“I love you.” Then I sucked her nipple into my mouth with her nightgown at her neck.
“So much.” She arched into me, trying to make contact with my cock.
“Not yet.”
She groaned. “I need you now, Gabe.”
I moved down her body, spreading her legs with my shoulders, and breathing in the sweet scent of her arousal. “Not as much as I need you.” Then I sucked her clit into my mouth. I had an insatiable need for her mouth, her body, her brain—everything. Once I added my fingers, she detonated, her spasms squeezing my finger. I moved up her body, lining my cock with her pussy.
“Inside.”
“You’re needy tonight.”
“I’m always needy around you.” I entered her in one stroke, the walls of her pussy closing around my cock. I never knew what I was missing before I met her. Sex was so much better with someone you cared about—someone you loved. And the feeling I got when I was around her? I was a better man in her eyes. Our life together would be amazing no matter where we lived, as long as we were together.
The Boudreaux Universe
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About the Author
Lea Coll worked as a trial attorney for over ten years. Now she stays home with her three children, plotting stories while fetching snacks and running them back and forth to activities. She enjoys the freedom of writing romance after years of legal writing.
She currently resides in Maryland with her family.
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