by Scott, S. L.
I lift her so her legs wrap around my hips and her arms loop around my neck. Our lips crash together again in teeth and tongues, moans and mouth-fucking. Her wet clothes are fucking freezing, so I detour to the kitchen and set her on the massive island. With her heels digging into the top of my ass, I slide her ass across the countertop, the wet leggings easily slipping.
We’re hands and tangled body parts, lust and hunger. I pluck myself from her and find the waistband of her pants. Panting with her eyes on mine, she lifts her ass so I can strip them down. Tossed to the floor, I then go for the shirt. “You cold?”
Little hard buds greet me, calling my fingers to them. I rub my thumb over them and then replace my fingers with my mouth, giving each equal attention before saying, “Lie back.”
With her splayed across this marble, it’s a sight I’ll never forget as long as I live. “Fucking hell, you’re so fucking sexy.”
She licks her lips as she rests her hands behind her head. “Tell me about it.”
“I could spend days telling you about every beauty mark and the way your skin is soft behind your ear, how pink that sweet little pussy of yours is.” Taking her ankles, I kiss each one and then put them over my shoulders. “But I’m famished, and I know just what I want to eat.”
I could pretend she cares about the foreplay and niceties, the buildup, but by how her hips are tilting toward my mouth, I’m thinking we can skip it. I kiss her where she wants me, making out with her lower lips and clit until she’s squirming and her fingers are grasping against the marble to find purchase as her release grows deep inside.
When I fuck her with my tongue, she claws my shoulders, the scrape of her nails encouraging me to go deeper and harder, faster until she’s spilling her release.
Her head lifts, and she says, “Now fuck me.”
“Here or in the bedroom?”
Ready to do it in either place, I’m on standby for her answer. “Where’s the condom?”
“Bedroom.”
“There’s your answer.” She slips off the island and runs down the hall to my room. I’m right behind her, getting the pleasure of watching that fine ass in action. She hops on the bed while I dig a condom from the drawer.
I’m quick to cover myself and join her, but before I settle, I ask, “Top or bottom?”
“I just want to be with you, Joshua.” Her eyes were filled with adoration.
“I want to make love to you.”
She lies on her back, her hand resting on the crook of my neck as all the fun, games, and frenzy of before dies down. I kiss her, her lips caressing mine as she rubs my shoulders. “I love you,” she says, “bigger than the sky.”
Dipping my head to the side, I kiss her in that spot that sends goose bumps to pebble across her skin. “Bigger than the universe, baby.”
Her knees grip my sides as I reach down and position myself. Returning my hands to either side of her, I dip to kiss her again, pushing into her white-hot heat. Her love, caresses, and faith in me wash through me, and I kiss her neck as I pull back and push into her again. It’s never less than all-consuming. I want to give her every part of me, for her to feel how she makes me feel—whole as a person—content to live inside her forever.
Her quiet moans and little shifts have me dragging my hand down her body, kneading her tits before I go lower between us and rub tight circles until she’s tremoring around me. My name, a whispered chant against the shell of my ear. I kiss her, swallowing every word she’ll give before I fall over, catching the glory of my own release. “Chloe,” sounds harsh and hateful, but comes from pure ecstasy.
As much as I love makeup sex, I like creating love with her more. Our fingers, bodies, and souls entwined, I say, “I thought you’d want to take this slow, but there’s just no going slow with you, baby. No end and no beginning.” Now I’m the one who sounds crazy. Lying next to her, I inhale her scent and run the bridge of my nose along her temple. “There’s no more just you or just me.”
Kissing my chest, she breathes, “Only us,” against my skin, her eyes closing.
“Only us.” I don’t care about sounding crazy anymore. Following my heart has never felt so right. I slip out of bed to the bathroom, but I’m quick to return and slide under the covers.
She snuggles into my side, and though we’re exhausted—bodies, hearts, and minds—from the tumultuous night, she whispers, “My position isn’t continuing at the hospital.”
I had closed my eyes but open them to seek her reaction in the darkened room. “What does that mean?”
“They told me I don’t have a job after June first.”
Maybe it’s late or I’m slow to download this information, but she’s always succeeded. She wanted to work there. She said as much. With my arm around her, I rub her bicep. “Why?”
“There’s not enough funding.” I expected her to sound more devastated. “Do you want to hear the kicker? She said I should have followed in my father’s footsteps. That’s a position they can fill.”
“Shit. How are you?” Moving her hair back, I want to see her eyes. Today was a hard day for my girl.
She slides up, readjusting until we’re eye level. “Better than expected, I guess. Losing you would be worse.”
I kiss her head. “You didn’t. You won’t. Not ever.”
“Makes losing the position easier, but you’re getting a jobless, soon-to-be homeless, and with no backup plan girlfriend.” She’s grinning, and though I’d assume from the past that she’s hiding the pain inside, her smile says otherwise. It’s genuine.
“Sold.”
Laughter shakes lightly through her. “That simple?”
“That simple.” Running the back of my fingers along her cheek, I say, “Move in with me.” I don’t have to think these things through. I don’t want to waste any more time that I can spend with you. I mean it. I want us together—messy mornings and late shared spaces, sleeping during the day and cooking at night. I want that with you, Chloe.” I know in my soul this is it. This is our future. This is everything I’ve ever wanted.
She lifts and through a curtain of her hair, our lips find each other, and when our tongues embrace, her arm wraps around my neck. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she says, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
51
Chloe
A week slipped out from us before we knew it, and we found ourselves in June. In the past four days, I’ve become a lady of leisure in this huge apartment. As much as I’d love to enjoy the time off, I have that need to find my next adventure.
It’s been fun moving into his apartment. I’d forgotten how incredible living in our own little world could be where we’re the only ones who exist.
Well, except for Frankie and Dwayne Evans. They sit on the windowsill next to the tub because there was a kerfuffle with Basil Evans on Tuesday, and it was just easier to separate them for now.
With the bubbles dissipating faster than I’d like, I make the most of the rest of my bath and text Ruby and my mom: I have news. Are you sitting down?
Ruby: Are you pregnant?
My mom: Did you get a new duvet?
Me: I don’t even know what to say to that, Mom. I don’t own one duvet, so I can’t say I got another. And no, Ruby, I’m not pregnant.
Though if looks could do it, the one Joshua gives me when he comes home would knock me up in a heartbeat.
Ruby: *pouts* Tell us!
Mom: Did you get the position at the hospital?
Excited to share the good, I want to share my disappointment, too. I drag water over my shoulders to warm up, and then type: No, long story short: No funding for me. It’s okay. I’ll find something else.
Ruby: I legit just checked my phone to make sure I was talking to the right Chloe. “It’s okay.” Is that a cry for help? Do you want me to come over?
I start laughing.
Me: No. I really am fine. I just thought you two should be the first to hear since you’ve been so concerned. My
vagina is in therapy. Nightly. Sometimes twice a night. On Saturday, I saw the therapist four times. She’s doing well. Happy as a clam. I giggle over the pun.
Since there is no immediate text returned, I add: I’m also madly in love with Joshua Evans. I moved into his apartment last Friday. Surprise! We’re back together. We’re living together. We’re all the togethers together.
Heartbeats pound in my ears waiting for their response. They’ve been with me, loving me through it all, and yet— I’m a little scared they won’t approve.
My phone rings. “Hello?” I try for nonchalant.
Ruby says, “I’ve conferenced Cat in. Now what the hell is happening? Have you lost your ever-loving mind?”
“Yes,” I say, smiling. “I have. Maybe I’m dumb in love, but we’ve worked through so much. And one day, I’m going to marry him. Mainly because I want to, but also because I’m going to hold him to that promise.”
Ruby laughs. “Competitive much?”
“A little.”
I hear a shaky breath, and ask, “Mom? Are you okay?”
“If you’re okay, I’m okay, honey. I always adored Josh. What happened with you two wasn’t your fault. To know you’ve found your way back to each other, well, I’m happy for—”
“Your vagina,” Ruby adds, bursting out laughing.
When we all recover from shock and the lightness we can joke about, my mom adds, “I’m happy for you and your heart. The right job will come along, but you two share a once-in-a-lifetime love. I can’t be happier for you.”
“Thanks, Mom, that means a lot.”
Ruby asks, “When’s the wedding. I want to be your photographer.”
“Slow down. It’s only been a week.”
My mom says, “When it’s right, it’s right. Why waste time?”
It’s something Joshua and I say all the time too. Seeing the time, I add, “I need to go, but maybe we can get together in the next few days?”
“I’m in,” Ruby says.
My mom laughs lightly, delight coming over her. “Let me know when and where, and I’ll be there. We can shop for a duvet, too, while we’re out.”
“Absolutely. I love you both.”
We hang up shortly after, and I hurry out of the bath, excited to put my plan into motion. I dry off and touch up my makeup. Hurrying into the kitchen, I lay the towel across the island so it’s not so cold this time and perch myself on top. I hear the key in the door and tilt my head back while resting up on my hands. Quick to bend my knee, I close my eyes and wait for him, feeling as beautiful in my body as he sees me.
“Well, that is a surprise,” a woman’s voice says, startling me.
Holy. Shit. I scramble to catch myself but lose traction on the towel and slip off the side. My body thuds to the floor just as I hear Joshua yell, “Chloe!”
That’s going to leave a mark. I rise to see Patty staring at me. “Are you all right, Chloe?”
“Fine. God, so good. Fine.” I try to pierce Joshua’s heart with my glare. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
His big arms come around me and kisses my head under deep chuckles. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t—”
“Yeah, I know.” An embarrassing heat runs through me. “My cheeks probably match the beets.”
The professor is brought into the fold. “I finally found a place to park—” He stands in shock and then turns around. “What’s going on?”
Patty says, “Why don’t we go put our stuff in the bedroom?”
As soon as they’re gone, I ask, “They’re staying?”
“We have a lot to talk about, you and I. Things have moved fast.” With his arm around me, we walk down the hall. Well, I limp, but we get there eventually. He closes the bedroom door, and says, “I bought the diner.”
“What? I, uh—”
“Yeah. I couldn’t let her sell it. Now that they’re married, they want to travel the country.”
I sit on the bench, still stunned, and I’m not sure I’m grasping the concept. “But you own Salvation.”
“I do. I have investments everywhere now.”
“Okay, this is a lot. Guess that economics degree is helping you spread the wealth around.”
“One day, I’ll finish my degree,” he says with a fire under him. “I can apply with my work experience. As for Salvation, I was thinking about letting Todd take over as head chef and giving him a percentage of the profits. He’s earned it.”
Wait. Does this mean . . .? “That’s fine. I’m sure he has, but does that mean you want to move back to New Haven?”
“It didn’t occur to me until you weren’t working at the hospital anymore. I’ve been unhappy with the hours at the restaurant for a long time. What if we both go to New Haven?”
I lean closer, letting doubt sneak in. “Would you go without me?”
“No,” he says with a reassuring smile as he kneels in front of me. “I go where you go, Chloe. They do have great hospitals, though.”
“Yeah. They do.”
“So you’ll consider it?”
He looks so hopeful, and he’s right; I can work wherever there’s an ER. Holding his cheek, I say, “How could I not? If you want to run the diner, I’ll support you however I can. We’re a team, after all. Worst case, I’ll be your new Todd.”
When he stands, I stand, and we hug and then kiss. He says, “You looked incredible on that island, and you really nailed that landing. Todd wouldn’t have.”
“Just the sous chef part. Not the rest.” I start laughing. “I’ll be feeling that fall for days.” I go to the closet to get dressed. “So, uh, we have company, and they’re staying?”
Leaning against the doorframe, he says, “She brought the paperwork for the diner. We can stay in or go out. Whatever you want.”
“It’s good to see your mom again. I just wish it would have been under better circumstances than me sprawled out naked on the countertop.”
He’s chuckling. “She’s happy for us, by the way. Started talking grandkids already. Too soon for that.”
Pulling a blouse from the hanger, I shrug. “Maybe.” I start to get dressed under his watch. “Which room are they sleeping in? I can get it ready.”
“The master. It’s ready.”
I stop with my skirt halfway up. “I thought this was the master bedroom?”
“No, it’s on the other side of the entryway. It’s a hidden door that you have to push.”
“You have a secret room?” He nods, smiling with pride. “Then why do we sleep in here?”
The smile softens, but it doesn’t disappear. “Because my dad set this room up for me. Granted, he did it when I was thirteen, but it still works.”
Going to him, I hug him. “It works perfect.” When we let go, I say, “Let’s go out. We have a lot to celebrate.”
“A whole new life ahead.”
“New adventures.”
52
Chloe
Two Months Later . . .
“Don’t seek perfection because you’ll never find it. Happiness is a nobler mission.”
My mom was right.
I still have a few regimented tendencies to break, but the happiness I’ve found when I let some things go and hold tighter to what matters far outweighs the task.
Looking behind me at the plants secured with seat belts, I double-check them, again, just to make sure. Turning to catch Joshua’s amusement, I say, “Don’t make fun of me.”
He’s still laughing when he leans over for a kiss. I meet him in the middle. “One day, Chloe Evans, you’re going to make an amazing mother.”
Not wanting to waste another minute without each other in it, our destiny was sealed three weeks ago by the lake outside of New Haven. Holding a bouquet of handpicked flowers from Joshua, we stood with our closest family and friends and exchanged our vows, saying, “I choose you,” instead of I do.
Because that’s what we are doing. We are choosing every day—morning and night and all the hours between—to be with each other,
to honor each other’s dreams, and to love each other for eternity. It was the easiest promise we ever made.
Joshua shifts the Blazer into gear, and we pull away from the prestigious address in the Upper East Side. I see him look back once and reach over to rub his arm. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. It was never really mine anyway.”
The apartment may have been Joshua’s consolation prize, but he was his dad’s, and the only member of his family to carve out time to spend with David Evans on his deathbed. Nonetheless, forty-nine was too young to die. My heart breaks for David, but also for Joshua, who seemed to believe there was hope between him and his father before tragedy struck a couple of years ago. I wish I could have been there for him back then.
I could pack a U-Haul full of regrets to drag along with us to New Haven, but instead, I live, I love, and I see each day as a fresh opportunity. We learned a lot from the fight we had last May. Like the storm, we needed to blow through our anger and get the pain out. We live with our eyes wide open, flaws, acceptance, joy, and respect. That’s how teams work best. I don’t need perfection. I have happiness instead because I choose it. I choose Joshua.
The apartment was sold in less than a week, freeing us to leave sooner than expected. We’re not complaining. With the apartment gone and the restaurant now run by Lola and Todd, I ask, “Besides the apartment, how do you feel about leaving your baby behind?”
Cocking a grin, he says, “You’re my baby.”
“Charmer.” I angle his way but leave my belt on, nice and snug. “You built Salvation from nothing.”
“I built Salvation because I’d lost you. I put the fanciest fucking food on that menu just to prove I could do it. Doesn’t matter I had the seed money from my dad. I won the critics over with the cooking. I did it. I don’t have to prove anything else to the world or myself.” Judging by the contentment settled into his expression, I believe him. “I’m looking forward to taking over the diner.”
“A refined home cooking concept, huh? All your talents in one.”
“Well, let’s not go that far. I have a few other talents. A skill set that you appreciate nightly.”