Andrew groaned as he felt himself being wrapped in Chris’s warmth. Her body settled around his and he drew in a sharp breath, clenching his jaw as his eyes remained locked with hers. He would never get enough of being inside her.
Fingers grazed Chris’s breasts, pinching hard peaks and softly gripping her sides as she moved slowly, rocking her hips along with Andrew’s. They kissed languidly, tongues mingling and mouths exploring as their movements remained slow and steady; building to a crescendo neither could control.
Chris kissed Andrew’s sharp jaw, enjoying the prickle from his stubble as he whispered dirty things in her ear. “Fuck, I could stay like this forever, beautiful.” But his words were a sharp contrast to his actions as he quickly flipped them over so he was hovering over her, controlling each thrust of his hips with a wild fury Chris had never experienced with anyone.
Andrew hitched Chris’s leg higher over his hip and buried himself deeper inside her, hitting new spots and making her vision blur as her body shuddered from the intensity of her pleasure.
Moaning incoherently, she fisted the sheets, swiveling and bucking her hips wildly in return. She needed to see him come undone, and wanted to make him feel the way he had done for her a few times already.
As his brows knit together and his breathing stuttered, she knew he was close. Her eyes refused to drift from his face as he clenched his jaw and gripped her hips firmly, slamming into her forcefully in three determined strokes as he found his release.
. . .
With her head tucked safely into Andrew’s neck, Chris smiled to herself as her fingers twined with his.
“I still think I’m going to wake up from all of this,” she admitted. Being with him felt so natural and safe; she still couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have reconnected with him this way.
Andrew’s fingers skimmed the skin at her waist, making her shiver. “Ditto,” he said, kissing her hair. “It feels as if I’ve been waiting for you my entire life; and here you are. It’s surreal. I meant what I said last night, Chris. I love you and I always have.”
She grinned, a knot forming in her throat. She was happy, truly and unabashedly so happy. The orgasms Andrew had bestowed upon her body in the past twelve hours made her head swim and her body ache deliciously. “I did, too.” She looked up, her eyes meeting his. “You’re my Man in the Moon.” His brows furrowed in confusion, and Chris giggled. “Nana Laurence and her crazy stories. I just...this is all so sudden, and I never thought I’d have a boyfriend who made me feel like this—so happy and in love.”
Andrew smirked. “So I’m your boyfriend now, huh?”
Chris made a choking sound at the back of her throat; somehow, she hadn’t really meant to call him that, but the smile he gave her clearly indicated he didn’t mind the title. “I, um...I love you and you love me...I mean...”
He squeezed her to his chest and moved her so her face was above his. Her hair created a curtain around them, shielding the outside world from their bubble. “I’m kidding, Chris. I’d be honored to call you my girlfriend. I think I wanted to call you that when I was eight.” He ran his fingers on both sides of her body, smiling as she squirmed. “Ah, and you’re still just as ticklish.” He grinned and proceeded to tickle her while she twisted herself away from him.
“Andrew, please don’t...uncle...I call uncle,” Chris cried through fits of giggles.
Spent and breathless, Andrew pulled her to his side and kissed her cheek. “I do love you, Chris Laurence.”
Chris leaned back, scratching the hairs at the back of Andrew’s neck, earning a groan, and replied, “I love you, too.”
The pair drifted off to sleep, once more, both hoping this wasn’t all a dream.
. . .
After a shared shower, the couple headed out to the diner for a late brunch.
“Do you have plans for the rest of the day?” Andrew asked, perusing the menu.
Chris spooned sugar into her coffee and stirred it, thinking of an answer before saying, “This weekend is probably one of the last weekends I’ll have to myself for a while, but I do have to drop by the shop later.”
Andrew nodded, closing the menu. “Do you want to do something...with me?” he asked, hopeful she would say yes. He’d had the best couple days with her and wasn’t ready for their time together to come to an end.
Chris grinned. “That would be great.”
“Are you two ready to order?” Lynn asked Chris, taking the menus from the table.
“I’ll have the blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon,” Chris answered on instinct. This was her breakfast of choice whenever she came to Lynn’s Diner.
“And you, Andrew?” Lynn asked patiently, already knowing the answer. These two were more alike than they knew.
“I’ll have the same,” he answered, giving Chris a shy smile.
“Copycat,” Chris teased, after Lynn walked away.
He shrugged. “You have good taste in food, Chris.”
“And you have good taste in girls,” she countered with a wink.
He nodded, reaching across the table and taking her hand in his. “That I do.”
They both grinned; looking like love-struck teenagers, as Lynn looked on and smiled to herself. She had been witnessing their relationship for some time now and it warmed her heart to see two nice people appear so genuinely happy.
“So, I’ve been dying to know a bit more about what happened to you,” Chris stated as she sipped her coffee. Their declarations and newfound relationship made her bolder. She wanted to learn all she could about the elusive Andrew Miller Harris.
He grinned; pleased she was interested in knowing more about his past. “Go ahead, sweetheart, I’m an open book.”
Chris licked her lips, rearranging her thoughts. She had so many questions. Their round of twenty questions from the other night had barely covered surface stuff, but she really wanted to know about his high school experience and past girlfriends. Not that it mattered much, but for some reason, it bothered her they hadn’t been a part of each other’s lives during those crucial years, yet here they were with a second chance at love.
“How was high school? I mean, it must have been difficult to move in the middle of fourth grade like that. Did you make friends? Andrew, I had my entire life here and when Mom died, and I shut myself down, it wasn’t easy.” She pressed her lips together, fearing she had said too much already. The mood between them was light, and the last thing she wanted was to dampen it with her inane questions.
He nodded and took her hand in his. “I’m not gonna lie and say it was easy. I missed you. I missed your parents. I mean, they were like an aunt and uncle, you know? But Mom was...inconsolable. I knew we had to go. It was too hard for her to be here with all the reminders of their life in Westfield. She had a cousin in Chicago and the two had always been close. I was okay once we were settled, but it was never easy.”
Chris nodded in understanding. She could see so much of Henry in what Andrew was saying. She wondered if it would have been easier if they had moved away when her mother died. But then again, Henry had Nana by his side to guide him through the grief while, with the exception of a few close friends, Julia didn’t have any family here anymore. “I guess, but still. You were so shy. I mean, you were always with us girls.”
Andrew wiggled his eyebrows cheekily and grinned. “What can I say, I liked girls. And they liked me.”
Chris rolled her eyes, grateful for the lightening in the mood between them. “Jesus, so arrogant.”
He shrugged and squeezed her hand. “In all fairness, Chris, I was young and I immersed myself in playing baseball. I made friends pretty quick that way. It wasn’t all bad.”
She nodded. “And high school? Any girls?” Chris felt her cheeks heat up. Of course there were girls. If he was this attractive at twenty-nine, there was no way in hell he could have been any less attractive as a teenager.
“A few,” he admitted easily. “But when I got older, I was shy around girls
, believe it or not. You were up there on a pedestal and they just...weren’t like you.” He watched her face closely as he admitted this, laying himself bare before her. He had been in love with her his entire life and this was simply a fact he could no longer hide.
Andrew watched Chris intently as her cheeks flushed and her eyes bored into his. He still couldn’t believe what was happening. He felt as though he was floating, or maybe even dreaming.
Chris’s chest was so full of warmth for him; she was bursting from the inside out, ready for him to lead her anywhere.
“And your tattoo? Tell me about that,” she finally asked, finding her voice.
“I was young and it was something I always wanted. I thought of you and my dad, and got the artist to make something up. I loved the symbolism.” He smiled, and averted his eyes. “I had always hoped you’d get to see it someday.”
Chris bit her lip, her thoughts going back to the previous evening and the feel of Andrew’s skin under her tongue. “I love it.” She beamed. “It’s beautiful.”
“Every time I look at it, I think of you and what we had. I’m hoping we can have that again.” His voice was soft as he opened up to her. “And who knows, maybe someday I’ll want to add something to it.”
Chris blushed fiercely. “And you say I’m the dazzler,” she whispered, shaking her head, meeting his eyes. The warmth and want in them seared her in place and grounded both of them; their connection unfathomable. “I want everything with you, Andrew.”
It was a good thing they were seated in a public place, otherwise she would have taken advantage of him right in that booth, and there was no way he would have ever refused her.
Chapter 8
“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing later?” Chris asked around a mouthful of pancake. The two had been eating in companionable silence while sharing sweet smiles, both lost inside their own heads.
Andrew still couldn’t believe what had happened the night before and how everything had felt so natural with Chris. The connection they shared was beyond anything he had ever had with anyone. He knew, without a doubt, she was the one he was meant to be with. He was head over heels for her and would do anything to keep her by his side.
Chris’s head was still reeling from her questions from earlier. She had gotten answers and felt relieved that his life hadn’t been as sad as what she had originally thought.
“I want to show you something,” he said cryptically, taking a sip of orange juice. “If I tell you now, it’s no use to show you later.” He winked and tucked into his plate.
Chris smirked, narrowing her eyes. “Fine, just remember, I’ve been living here practically my whole life. I may not know everyone, but I know the area pretty well.”
Andrew put his fork down and rubbed his hands together. “Oh, but this, my lovely Christina, I know for sure you don’t know.”
“It better be good, Harris,” she warned playfully.
Nodding, Andrew shook his head and smirked. “I promise, you’ll love it.”
. . .
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Mrs. Davis drawled as she stuck a lilac in to the funeral arrangement she was working on.
Andrew squeezed Chris’s hand, which he hadn’t let go since they had left the diner, and gave the old lady his signature lazy grin. “Hey, Mrs. Davis.”
“Just wanted to make sure everything was okay for tomorrow’s delivery,” Chris said, ignoring Mrs. Davis’s playful stare and knowing smirk.
“Yes, everything will be fine, dear. I’m finishing Mr. Young’s bouquet right now, may he rest in peace, and I’ll leave it in the fridge so it can be delivered first thing in the morning.”
Chris nodded; happy the job would be done. “I’ll make sure Raymond gets it. I know how he is about these things. I can’t blame him, though.” Raymond was the funeral director at the Westfield Funeral Home. He was a rather creepy little man. Standing at barely five feet, he also had a bad case of OCD and an even worse case of halitosis. He wasn’t a bad man, per se, just particular about what he liked, and what he liked was early deliveries to ensure his day ran smooth.
“I’ll come in tomorrow afternoon after I’m done my errands. If you have any last minute things you’d like to ask, now’s the time to start thinking about them, dear, otherwise it’ll be two weeks before you see this old, wrinkled mug.” Mrs. Davis grinned wide and winked in Andrew’s direction, making him chuckle as he stood back and watched the interaction between the two women.
“I’ll do that, thank you,” Chris replied. “Amy is coming in all week, right?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Davis confirmed. ”Don’t get used to it, though. Come September, she’ll be busy at school and won’t be around as much. It’s usually less busy then, anyway, with a lot of flowers being out of season and all.”
Chris nodded. “I won’t. I should have most of this down by then.”
Mrs. Davis regarded Chris carefully. “Oh honey, you’ll be fine. You’re wonderful with the plants, and the arrangements always look fresh. You have a good eye for detail. Don’t let your nerves get the better of you.”
Chris smiled, grateful for Mrs. Davis’s encouragement. “Thank you, Mrs. Davis. I’m just nervous about being here alone.”
Andrew squeezed her hand, and Chris looked up to meet his eyes. What she saw there made her feel as though she was eight feet tall and bulletproof. “I can always help out,” he offered.
Chris nodded, knowing he probably had a green thumb. After all, he was Julia’s kid. “Thank you.” She pushed herself up on her toes and kissed his cheek.
“Well, kids, I’m done here.” Mrs. Davis took the bouquet and brought it into the giant walk-in refrigerator. She couldn’t help the smile playing on her lips as she thought of what she had witnessed. “They’ll be just fine,” she told herself with a happy sigh, as she settled the arrangement on a shelf inside the fridge.
Once Mrs. Davis got back from putting away the bouquet, the trio said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
“Where to?” Chris asked as she hopped inside Andrew’s car, not even waiting for him to open the door for her this time.
He shook his head, chuckling at her enthusiasm as he got into his car.
. . .
“The bookstore?” Chris looked around the parking lot, wondering what the heck they were doing at the bookstore.
Andrew shrugged and wordlessly exited the car, grinning as he rounded the front and opened the passenger door.
Chris looked up at him, unmoving. “What are we doing here, Andrew?”
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and helped her out of the car. “You’re being so difficult, Chris. Last time I checked, you loved reading. Or is that something that changed when I left Westfield?”
He knew very well it wasn’t, but he liked teasing her nonetheless.
She rolled her eyes and followed him into the store. “Of course not, I’m confused. Wait, are you a writer now?” she asked excitedly.
He grinned. “Follow me.”
“Oh, so that’s it, huh? You’re a writer. Oh, do you write porn, Andrew? Are you, like, one of those raunchy story writers?” She laughed as his ears pinked in embarrassment.
“Woman, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not a writer...of porn, or otherwise.” He picked up a book and handed it to her. “But, you see this cover?” She nodded. “I designed it. That’s what I do.”
She looked at the book cover, examining the artwork in detail and turning it over in her hands. “So this is the big secret? You don’t write the porn, you just make it look pretty?”
He chuckled at her amusement. “I don’t just make it look pretty. I design websites for the authors and work closely with agents and publishers to make sure it’s marketable.”
She nodded. “That’s actually pretty cool. Do you like what you do?”
“I love it. The people I work with are phenomenal and I couldn’t ask for a better group of clients. The money’s decent and I
always get a printed copy of whatever they publish.”
Chris read the synopsis on the back cover of the book she was holding in her hands. “So your house is full of bodice rippers, huh?”
“Yeah, well, let’s just say that Mom gets a lot of entertainment out of my job.” He winked and wiggled his eyebrows. “I don’t keep all of them and they aren’t all...bodice rippers.” He laughed. “Some are mysteries and supernatural. I have a whole slew of genres to work with. It’s never dull.”
“I bet. So this was the big secret?” she teased, handing him back the book.
“It wasn’t a big secret, but I figured this was the easiest way to tell you before I bring you to my house. A lot of the books end up at Mom’s, but I do have a ton of them in my office and a few would probably leave you wondering about my preferences.” Andrew perused the shelves and took another book out, handing it to Chris. “I’m working on the sequel to this one right now.”
Chris couldn't help the loud giggle that escaped her lips. “My, my, Andrew—blindfolds and whips? I didn’t think you had that in you.” She grinned lasciviously.
He blushed, taking the book back and placing it on the shelf. “No, actually, I don’t have that in me. I’m sorry, but I could barely get past the first few chapters of the first book. The author is great, though, but it’s definitely not my cup of tea.”
Chris nodded. “I can’t tell you how truly happy I am to hear that.”
He took her hand and led her down another aisle. “That’s good. I’m glad we could get that awkward conversation out of the way.” He squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead. “I also do some work for a children’s book publisher.” He held out a small, colorful book, which Chris immediately picked up.
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