by Steph Nuss
"Yes, Mickey," I said, as he started drying me off. His eyes never wavered from mine as he slowly dried every inch of my body and hair. Then I got a show watching him dry his golden, god-like body that I loved so much and nearly fell over with another orgasm. I definitely felt another one on the horizon. He was unbelievably hot, especially with his hair all tousled and wet, dripping water onto his broad shoulders.
"I love you," I said cheerfully, my voice glowing and humming like the rest of my body. I felt drunk on him. Sex mixed with his incredibly strong, sexy body intoxicated me.
He made me love drunk.
"I love you, too," he said, pressing his body up against mine. He settled his warm hands at the small of my back and ran his eyes over my naked figure. His hot fudge gaze worked its delicious magic, melting over my vanilla skin, making me crave another bite of him, and he knew it. He smiled and lifted me into his arms, carrying me into the bedroom.
He slid us under the sheets and covered me with the warmth of his body. "Listen, I don't care what we fight about, we have to talk it out. At the end of each day, I want to be right here, making love to you just like this. I never want us to go to bed fighting."
"We won't," I said, smiling up at him. "I promise."
Chapter Seventeen
Carter
Early dawn peeked its orange and yellow rays through Elly's windows as I peered down at the woman I loved. She was sound asleep, her breathing deep and even. With her back nestled into my chest, I watched her and thought about yesterday. She was ready for a life with me. I'd be able to watch her like this every morning for the rest of our lives. Hearing her confess her fear about cancer scared the fuck out of me, though. I hated the thought of losing her as much as I hated the way she tried to push me away yesterday. That would never happen. I wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't going to lose her. I knew the moment I found out about her mom that we would always have cancer in our rearview mirror, following us around, but I also knew how strong Elly was. I knew we would fight it no matter what, but as I gazed down at her lying next to me, I said a silent prayer that we'd never have to. I wanted an infinite amount of mornings just like this with her.
I moved our fight and cancer to back of my mind and continued admiring her. I loved being wrapped up in her, limbs tangled around one another, the warmth of our bodies blanketing each other. Her creamy, pale skin next to my darker complexion looked like a unique painting you'd find in a museum. Something beautiful. Something rare. Falling asleep in each other’s arms at night and waking up together to welcome a new day were the two most comforting things about my life now. How I went without her for so long was a mystery to me.
She must've felt my gaze as she began to stir and stretch. We could always sense one another. I loved that about us—the way we possessed one another. The electricity between us was organic, unlike anything I'd ever felt with another human being.
She was my other half.
She turned toward me and snuggled closer, eyes still closed, and the sheet slipped down and exposed her naked upper half. She muttered hoarsely, "You're staring."
Of course I was staring. Has she looked at herself naked? I'd never get tired of looking at her. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her as close as possible. My hands slid down her back and grasped that perfect little ass of hers. "When am I not?"
She hummed in agreement, nuzzling her face into my neck. "What time is it?"
I glanced up at the alarm clock on her nightstand and read it was only six. Too damn early. "Six."
She settled in for more sleep. She rarely made it to work before nine on a Monday. Luckily for me, I didn't have class today.
Elly didn't know that though.
I rolled her over onto her back and she made the adjustment without protest. I kissed and sucked on her neck, running my hands up and down her sides, petting over her warm, enticing skin. Crawling down her body, I made my way to her breasts. As I kneaded one with my hand, massaging her nipple in between my fingers, I sucked and ran my tongue around the other, waking her arousal.
Watching her face as I teased her breasts, a small smile spread across her lips, and she opened her mouth and arched up into me. She still had yet to open those amazing brown eyes of hers and I wanted to see them. Taking the other breast in my mouth, I started massaging the one I'd just left. She was slowly coming undone and observing her undoing was the perfect start to my day. I got off on getting her off. Watching her writhe in pleasure, the smell of sex seeping from her, hearing her moan my name while I feasted on her delicious body and felt her let go left me endlessly satisfied.
I left her beautiful breasts swollen and aroused and crawled further down her body. I settled in between her legs and draped her slender thighs over my shoulders. The minute I met Elly, I wanted her beautiful legs just like this, over my shoulders, in the perfect position for me to taste her. Now that I knew what she tasted like, I craved her even more; she was one addiction I would never want rehabilitation for. I started placing kisses along the insides of her thighs, moving toward her glistening sex that I couldn't wait to feast on.
When I slid my tongue into her wet folds her eyes flew open and her breathing hitched. Her hands instantly went into my hair and began tugging while my tongue stroked up and down her tight lips and sucked hard on her clit, lapping up every ounce of her sweet juices. She started bucking into me and I heard her whimpered little sighs of pleasure each time I slowed to a torturous pace and then sped up again. Soon, her legs began to shake and her muscles flexed with her impending orgasm, and I gripped her hips harder, pulling her further into my mouth, ready to take every piece of her she'd give me. She cried out in a loud, throaty moan and fisted the sheets, and I tasted her delectable release on my tongue and licked every bit of her up.
"Beautiful," I said, kissing her bare mound. "I love tasting you first thing in the morning."
She was panting for air as she hauled me up her body and kissed me hard on the lips. Deepening the kiss, my tongue plunged into her mouth and said good morning to hers, tangling and sucking, allowing her to taste herself on me.
I broke away, and she looked up at me through hooded lids, a playful smile on her lips. "Don't you have to go to work?"
Positioning myself at her opening, I nipped at her earlobe. "I have the day off," I whispered into her ear. I pushed into her in one smooth motion and she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and her legs around my waist, kissing and sucking on my neck.
"What do you plan to do on your day off?" she asked with a moan, her voice hoarse and soft just like it always was right after she woke up. She arched toward me as I continued sliding in and out of her. I loved the way we fit together so perfectly, loved being able to feel every bit of her as I moved inside her.
Every time with her felt un-fucking-believable.
As I placed kisses all over her chest and neck, she tightened her legs around my waist and I laced our hands together above her head and sped up our tempo. "You," I said, powering into her. "I plan to make you come … as many times as I can … before you talk yourself into going to work."
"God, I love you," she breathed, her nails clawing into my hand as she neared her second orgasm. I almost came just from hearing my favorite words in her airy, sex voice. Another thrust and her eyes rolled back in her head, she moaned my name, and I buried my head in her neck and emptied myself inside of her.
I collapsed on top her, our hands still linked together above us on the pillow, and I placed more kisses all over her while she lolled underneath me, perfectly content and smiling. "I love you too, babe."
* * *
Elly left for work a few hours later, and after I took Stag on a walk, I filled his food and water and locked back up again. I heard the door to the apartment behind me open and turned to find Janice leaving her place. She had quickly become one of my favorite people after Elly introduced us. She reminded me a lot of my Grandma Ceci back in Texas. She was brutally honest and treated all her grandson's friends as if the
y were her own grandkids. She insisted on doing all her domestic chores herself and cooked extra food for all of us.
Yup, she was the New York version of Grandma Ceci.
"Hello, Carter," she said cheerfully.
She slowly made her way over to the stairs and I grabbed her arm to help her down. Elly warned me after we started dating that Janice always insisted on taking the stairs, so there was no use in trying to get her to use the elevator. "Hey, Mrs. J. How are you this morning?"
"I'm good. Why aren't you at the university?" she asked, glaring up at me.
"No classes today," I replied, smiling.
"Oh, yes, that's right. Justin mentioned that yesterday. Well, what are you doing with your day off, then?"
"I'm going to visit my sister and get some things done around my place."
When we reached the landing she thanked me for helping her down the stairs and I offered to share a cab with her. If I hadn't, she probably would have walked to wherever it was she was going, insisting she needed the exercise.
"Come on. I'll share a cab with you," I said, ushering her toward the street.
"That's sweet of you, dear," she said, patting my forearm before raising her eyebrows at me. "I saw Ellyson this morning. She looked very pleased."
She shot me a huge grin and patted me on the back as if I'd done a good job. The action would've embarrassed the hell out of me had she been my actual grandmother.
"That's what I'm here for: to please her," I said, opening the cab door for her and helping her in.
She laughed and shook her head. "I'm sure that's not the only reason she keeps you around. You're fun to look at, too."
"Thanks," I said, shutting the door behind me. "I plan on being around for the rest of her life." I told the taxi driver our destinations and felt Janice's soft blue eyes on me. Meeting her stare, I saw her red-stained lips pursed together smiling. "What?" I shrugged, smiling back at her. Her little old lady smile was contagious.
"You really plan on marrying her?" she asked, sounding elated.
I leaned over like I was getting ready to tell her a secret and lightly nudged her arm. "If you haven't noticed, I'm kinda in love with her."
She rubbed her hand over my arm again and sighed contentedly. "Oh, I'm so happy to hear that! You're perfect for her. I've never seen—or heard—her this happy in the three years we've been neighbors."
That's good to know. "She's pretty perfect for me, too."
The cab pulled over and I helped her out. She grabbed my arm firmly and looked up at me with a serious expression. "But before you ask her to marry you, you better ask for her hand in marriage." She let me go, looked around at all the people wandering the sidewalks, and waved her arm at a young couple passing by. "I know that kind of thing is old school nowadays and you guys don't think it's necessary, but do it for me, Carter. Ask her father if you can marry her so that when I leave this earth someday I leave knowing that chivalry isn't completely dead. It's so easy to get a divorce nowadays that people just jump in and out of marriage. Nobody wants to work for anything anymore. They expect everything in life to be handed to them, for everything to come easy. Well, I'll tell you something. Relationships aren't easy. They're anything but, and marriage is a hell of a lot harder. It takes a lot of work and a lot more patience to make love last. Two things your generation just isn't willing to endure."
If I'd only heard this speech a day earlier.
I nodded because she was absolutely right. I already planned on asking Elly's dad for her hand someday. Not only was it the chivalrous thing to do, but also a way to show her dad respect. That's just the way I was raised. When Janice mentioned patience, it reminded me of yesterday. Even though Elly and I talked everything out and made up, I had to remember to be patient with her because relationships were hard. No matter how much I loved Elly, every day with her wasn't going to be sunny and clear like this morning. We'd have to work at our relationship every day and battle the storms that came along, like the one we had yesterday. My family might've had a lot of money, but I certainly never had things handed to me. I knew how to work hard for the things I wanted, and if I wanted a life with Elly, I'd work my ass off to make it last.
"We had our first fight yesterday," I said, looking down at her.
"I know. I heard," she said, comfortingly. "But that's not necessarily a bad thing, dear. Couples grow through conflict and resolution. Love makes enduring all those hard, irritating times with Elly worth it. When my late husband, John, and I first started out, sixty-some years ago, it seemed like we fought about everything. But we worked everything out. We learned which battles to fight and which ones to let go. It strengthens you as a couple. Since I also heard you two this morning, I think it's safe to say you worked everything out?"
I laughed at her question and nodded. "Yeah, we worked it out. I'm sorry you heard all of that, especially this morning. We'll try to be quieter next time."
"Like hell you will!" she said, smacking me on the arm playfully. "If you think I'm complaining then think again. It's been awhile since yours truly had her boat rocked, but I remember what it's like being young and in love and not being able to keep your hands to yourself. Don't you dare try to cool that down, because one day your bodies will betray you. You'll need pills to get your buddy up and she'll need lube to make her slide slippery. Trust me, Carter, take advantage of your body's performance now because it will only go downhill from here."
I laughed again, gave her a hug, and watched as she entered her friend's building to make sure she made it inside safely. She turned and waved at me through the glass door, and I smiled and waved back. Janice Jameson was like a diamond in the rough. She looked like a quiet, little, old lady, but when she opened her mouth wisdom just poured out of her. I grew up learning to respect my elders and, just like I would with my Grandma Ceci, I listened to every word Janice said. They were wise old broads who knew what they were talking about, who'd seen a lot, and endured much harsher lives than any of us ever would, and after talking with Janice this morning, I felt even more confident about my future with Elly. If our elders could make love last, we could, too.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, the taxi arrived at Harper's building and I paid the driver and climbed out. I was greeted by Willy, the elderly doorman, before I rode the elevator to Harper's penthouse. She lived in a five bedroom, six bath near Lincoln Square, overlooking Central Park. Inside, her place looked like a damn castle, like something the Queen would own.
Her home reflected her personality, though, and Harper was anything but ordinary. She was very artsy and enjoyed antiques. She turned the ten-million-dollar penthouse into something of her own by adding a variety of unique artwork and plush furniture to every room. I used to find her place creepy and weird and very medieval, but I've since gotten used to it.
I heard the sound of Harper's boots coming down one of the halls toward the foyer before she rounded the corner and motioned for me to come on in.
"No classes today?" she asked, leading me into the living room.
"Nope. I just stopped by to see if you had plans for the weekend. I was hoping we could reschedule dinner."
She picked up her sketchbook and pencil and sat down on the dark brown leather sofa. She crossed her legs and continued working on the design she was drawing. "Will Elly be joining us for dinner?"
I took a seat on the sofa opposite from her and rolled my eyes. "Yes."
"Well, then, of course I'm free!" she said, smiling at me. "What night were you thinking?"
"Saturday. We're free either day so it's really up to you, but I think Saturday would work best."
"Saturday it is then. Seven work for you guys?"
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Awesome," she said, swiping her pencil across the paper in quick strokes. "I can't believe I'm finally going to meet the Elly. Is she excited?"
"Yeah, she's excited to meet you. She was a little worried about us taking that next step—you know, introducing each
other to our families. It's something neither of us has ever done before, so it's a big step."
"That's understandable. When are you going to introduce her to Mom and Dad?" she looked up from her sketch and her eyes danced with excitement. "You should bring her to their anniversary party in a few weeks! It's their thirtieth, and you have to go. The whole family is going to be there; you might as well bring Elly and introduce her to everybody at once."
I shrugged, wishing we could skip over the topic of our parents and their party, which I really didn't want to go to. I loved my family, but my parents were overbearing and put a lot of pressure on us to be perfect. They wanted my sisters and me to do exactly what they wanted: work for the family business and marry who they thought was best for us. It was suffocating. All they cared about was status, and money, and their social standing. They didn't care if we were happy, or followed our dreams, or fell in love.
"I haven't decided yet if I'm bringing her to their party. I don't want Mom or Dad to say something rude to her—especially Mom. You know how she can be. I wish I could get by with Elly never having to meet them."
"I know, but maybe if you explain to her beforehand how they can be, she won't let them get to her." She smiled again. "She's a therapist, right? And her dad's pretty well-known and has money. She probably already knows how parents like ours can be."
"That's just it," I said, shaking my head. "I haven't met her dad yet, but he sounds nothing like ours, and her mom died of cancer when she was younger."
"Then definitely talk to her about Mom and Dad before your flight lands in Dallas. I want her to come. I've made gowns for Bayler and me to wear to the party, and I'm almost finished with the one I'm making for Elly."
"You made her a gown for the party?" I asked incredulously. "You haven't even met her. You don't know her size or what she looks like."
"Um, have you heard of Google, Carter?" she asked, rolling her eyes. "I looked her up and found a picture of her. I'm pretty good at eyeballing sizes, and the emerald dress will look absolutely amazing against her alabaster skin and her red hair. I can't wait to see her in it!"