by Ruby Vincent
He bent and pecked me on the lips. “Yes, I do.”
I sighed. “I had to choose the most stubborn men on the planet.”
“You chose men who would do anything to show how much they care about you.” He grabbed my chin and held me fast. “Damn, you’re lucky.”
“Am I?” My tongue darted out and tasted his finger. I had been away from him for too long and my body was feeling the loss. The combination of his touch, sweet scent, and those dark eyes drinking me in was undoing me. “Show me how lucky I am.”
“Oh, I will.” He glanced to the side. “When we’re alone.”
Get yourself under control, Moon. You’re not jumping his bones in the back of a car, but just in case...
I scooted away and put some distance between us. He was too tempting. “Can I know what you have planned?”
“We’re not staying at the house.”
“We’re not?”
“No. Things with Mom are still— Well, I figured it would be better if we had time to ourselves.” I couldn’t resist reaching across to take his hand. “We’ll be staying in a hotel in Chesterfield.”
“Chesterfield? Why there?”
Chesterfield was a town about an hour east of Evergreen. I had never been there, but it was where a couple of my classmates grew up.
“Because it’s where I found it.”
“Found what?”
“My second gift to you.”
“I’m intrigued. Am I going to get this gift today?”
“Yep.” He raised his arm to look at his watch. “We’re going to make it just in time. You’ll get that gift and then tonight”—a wicked grin curled his lips—“you’ll get a few more.”
“You’re so naughty, Ezra Lennox.”
“You have no idea.”
Oh, but I did. The sexual encounters we’ve had have been hot. I could imagine what tonight would be like and my imaginings were driving me wild.
We started the ride on opposite ends of the car, but as we drove through the forest-lined streets, we drifted closer. Soon, I was back where I belonged, resting my head on his shoulder while he threaded his fingers through my hair. I was so content, I ended up jerking awake when the car came to a stop.
“Oops,” I said as I stretched. “I fell asleep.”
“That’s alright. It’s better you do that now, because you’re not sleeping tonight.”
Laughing, I nudged his shoulder. “So are we here?”
He nodded. A pleased grin took over his face as he pointed out the tinted windows. “We’re here. I’ve been looking for months and finally found it.”
Excitement building, I grinned too as I threw open the car door and rushed out to see...
...a movie theater.
I tried to hold on to the grin while Ezra climbed out behind me. It must not have worked because he burst out laughing when he saw my face. “You look disappointed.”
“No, I’m not. I’m happy to be anywhere with you, but... you’ve been looking for months for a movie theater? You know there’s one in Evergreen Promenade, right?”
He laughed again. He was enjoying himself too much and I was starting to think I missed something. “I wasn’t looking for just any movie theater. It had to have something in particular.”
“Reclining seats?”
Grinning, Ezra put his arm around my waist and walked us up to the ticket booth. “Two for Dawn’s Majesty, please.”
I was brimming with confusion, but I swallowed my questions. Whatever it is, I would find out soon enough.
“Are you hungry?” he asked as we stepped inside. “I have dinner reservations but we could get some popcorn or nachos.”
“Nachos would be great.”
He held me securely against his side as we stepped up to the concession stand. A few people lingering in the lobby glanced our way. Appreciative eyes looked Ezra up and down, taking in those piercing dark eyes, tousled hair, fit body, and the fine, expensive clothes that covered that body up. I didn’t see myself as a possessive person, but at that moment, I was glad that he was all mine.
“Large nachos and two large sodas, please.”
“Coming right up.”
“I’ve been wanting to see this movie,” I said as we moved to the side to await our food. “How did you know?”
“A movie about a strong, but dangerous woman plotting to retake the throne from the monarchs who unseated her family.” He gave me a look. “That was all you, baby.”
I swatted his shoulder even while I laughed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I love and fear you.”
A pleasant thrill flooded me at hearing that he loved me. It was stronger than my eye roll. “You’re so ridiculous.”
“Here you are.” The worker returned and set the nachos and two empty cups in front of us. Then he walked off.
“Wait,” I called. “You haven’t poured our drinks.”
“It’s okay, Val. We get them ourselves here.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I grabbed one cup while Ezra picked up the other and the nachos. We headed for the theaters. “I read the reviews the other day,” I said, picking up our conversation. “They said it was great. There’s supposed to be an incredible plot twist.”
“I heard that too.”
“If there’s a sequel we have to... come back... and...” Words deserted me as Ezra stopped in front of the machine. With one look, I knew why we were here.
Suddenly, he appeared nervous. He rocked from foot to foot as he looked from me to the machine. “I’ve been looking for months,” he whispered. “I’ve called a dozen theaters and even phoned the manufacturers until I found out only one theater in our area had these. My next step would have been to fly you out of the state.”
I chuckled, eyes filling with tears as I looked at the customize-your-soda machine. It was the same model as those that used to take up the Evergreen halls.
“Why did you go through all of that trouble? I would have been happy seeing any movie with you while we drank plain sodas.”
“Because.” Ezra slipped his hand into mine and drew me in. “I fell for you over a cup of strawberry root beer. You blew into that library and faced me down without caring that I was a Knight or who my mom was.
“You never cared about any of that stuff. You’ve always just seen me. Even when I didn’t want you to see what was underneath, you’ve opened me up, called me on my crap, and pushed me to be a better man.
“When I looked at you over that cup of soda, blushing even while you were annoyed with me, I saw that future. I saw our future. You were going to be the person who undid the perfect mask I was trying to create. I know that I don’t deserve you. You’ve given me everything I hoped while I’ve let you down, but we’re here now. We’ve made it to us, so it’s right that we go back to where it started.”
The tears were falling now—running hot down my cheeks as my heart filled with so much love, I thought it would burst. A thousand replies sprang to my lips. I wanted to tell him that he did deserve me. I wanted to say that he had given me so much over the years too. I wanted to say as beautifully as he did the future I saw for us. There were a thousand things I wanted to say, but I could only think of one that could say it all. “Ezra, I love you too.”
Ezra captured my lips in a kiss that wasn’t the wild battle of tongues, but sweet and slow like the night he first told me he loved me. I poured everything else I needed him to know in that kiss, and as he kissed me back, I knew he understood me.
“So,” he began when we broke apart. I loved that he struggled to catch his breath. “What flavor you in the mood for? Orange Sprite? Vanilla Coke? Crème brûlée Pepsi?” He stepped back. “I think I’ll try the—”
“No.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him up short. A strong feeling had overtaken me and I wasn’t pushing it aside any longer. “We need to go now.”
He blinked. “Now? But what about the movie?”
“Fuck the movie.” I spun and tugged
him after me. “Is the driver still here? He needs to bring the car around.”
“But— But— I got us dinner reservations.”
“Your hotel better have room service.”
We escaped out onto the sidewalk. I immediately swung my head around looking for the car. I thought I spotted it when Ezra stepped in my view.
“Val.” He took my face in his hands. “Trust me, we want the same thing right now, but I want to do this right. I planned the whole night—the entire apology. The restaurant we’re going to has peanut butter brownies and a courtyard where we can eat and look at the stars. I also—”
I gently placed a finger on his lips. “Ezra, that is so sweet and romantic. It means a lot to me that you’ve done all of this to show me how you feel, but I need you to listen. You don’t have to apologize anymore, because I know how you feel. You love me and you don’t have to prove it to me anymore. You’ve shown me in every way except one.” I moved my hand and cupped his cheek. “So tonight, let’s be together like we’ve been waiting so long for. What do you say?”
He let out a breathy laugh as he gripped my hand. “I say the hotel better have room service.”
We found the car and the driver idling in a parking space and Ezra practically yelled “Chesterfield Grand Hotel” at him.
We made out furiously in the back seat as he hurried to the hotel. Our clothes stayed on and our hands above the waist, but the windows were nicely fogged up when the driver dropped us off in front of the sliding doors.
I thought I would burst out of my skin as Ezra checked us in. Months of waiting and now all that stood in our way was a chatty receptionist.
“Dinner is being served in the dining room now,” she said. “You can also have room service delivered up to eleven o’clock.”
“That’s great,” Ezra replied. He bounced on his heels as we tracked her movements. She was in no hurry as she made our key.
“Breakfast is from six a.m. to ten. May I suggest you enjoy it on the terrace tomorrow morning? If you wake up early enough you can enjoy the sunrise.”
“Yep.”
Beaming away, she set the key down in front of her instead of handing it over. I almost screamed while she typed something into the computer. “Do you have bags that need to be brought up?”
“We’ve got them.” His hand inched toward the key. “What’s our room number?”
“You are in room 254,” she said brightly. “You’re all checked in. I hope you have a pleasant stay at the—”
“Thank you.” Ezra snagged the key and we ran for the elevator, not caring how it looked to people watching.
We attacked each other before the doors closed. Our hands were everywhere—pulling, tugging, and caressing. I had his shirt half off when he put his mouth to my ear.
“The things I’m going to do to you tonight...”
I moaned as my core pulsed with heat. “Please, finish that sentence. Tell me what you’re going to do.”
He laughed and I shivered as his breath skated over me. “I’d rather show you.”
We fell out of the elevator when the doors opened and hurried to our room. Ezra got the door open. I shot past him, racing toward the bed, but he caught me in the living room.
I shrieked as he spun me around and grabbed the hem of my dress. He had it over my head and on the floor in seconds and the rest of our clothes soon followed.
Ezra lifted me up. His hands cupped my ass as he carried me to the bed.
I couldn’t stop myself from getting one last tease in. “You do have a condom this time, don’t you?”
“You’re very funny, Moon. I’ve got a box of condoms in that bag and no reason to leave this room. We’re finishing what we started in that sauna.”
I yelped when I suddenly found myself flying. Ezra threw me on the bed, and then jumped on top of me before I could recover. He kissed me mid-laugh. I was brimming with happiness. I loved him. I would finally show him how much.
We smiled at each other when he pulled back. “I promised the first time we did this that I would go slow and take my time. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my promise.”
“That’s okay.” I draped my arms around his neck. “We can count the last year as going slow.”
Ezra bent and kissed me again. His mouth remained on mine as he nudged my legs apart. I knew what he was going to do as I slid my hand down between us. Ezra swallowed my gasp when he slipped his fingers into my core. Then I swallowed his.
I wrapped my hand around his length and stroked, matching his pace as he probed the spot he knew drove me crazy. He picked up speed and my back arched off the bed until I couldn’t maintain our kiss. I moaned as I tugged and stroked him, enticing the most delicious sounds from Ezra. I wanted to make him feel as good as he was making me.
The sensations tantalizing my body were reaching a fever pitch. He crooked his finger and black spots danced in front of my vision. I knew it was coming and I went faster. I wanted us to go over the edge together.
“Fuck, Val,” he hissed. “You have no idea the things you do to me.”
I might have said something in reply, but Ezra hit that spot again and the black spots exploded into bursts of light. A breath after me, I heard him groan and I stroked his length as he rode the wave down.
“Damn.”
I laughed breathlessly. “My thoughts exactly.”
Ezra didn’t have time to recover before I grabbed his shoulders and shoved. He let out a small shout as I flipped him over and straddled him. His hair wasn’t perfect anymore. I pushed back the strands that fell across his face and bit my lip hard when I looked into his eyes. A dark promise of passion and all-consuming lust were held in those obsidian pools.
Our eyes were locked as he put his hands on my thighs. “Don’t move,” he whispered.
“I won’t.”
He didn’t break eye contact as he moved down the bed and positioned himself between my thighs. It was me who closed my eyes as he licked my core. A moan ripped from my throat as my eyes fluttered shut. Ezra’s tongue tasted and probed me until another orgasm rocked my body.
I slipped off of him and fell boneless at his side. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath. “C-condom,” I got out. “Now.”
He chuckled. “I kinda like a lady who is bossy in bed.”
He moved quick but I landed a whack on his arm as he dove for the bag at the bottom of the bed. We were grinning at each other like fools when he came back to me and pressed his body on top of mine. Being with him was what sex should be. I felt safe and comfortable with him. I had fun with him. It was everything I once thought it couldn’t be.
“I love you, Valentina.”
“I love you too.”
Ezra pushed inside of me as I uttered the final word and I lost the capability to speak. We devolved into moans, cries, and pants as he moved. My cries reached their peak as he thrust hard, and soon, I was brought to a screaming orgasm. My nails dug into his back as he followed me.
Ezra peppered kisses along my jaw as the room came into focus. He settled next to me and pulled me to him until we were gazing at each other across the pillows, noses brushing.
“I knew it was going to be good,” he said, “but that was incredible.”
Giggling, I gave him a peck on the lips. “How big is that box of condoms? ’Cause I’m pretty sure we’re going to need more.”
“HEY, THAT’S MINE.”
I smirked at him as I popped his fry in my mouth. “I’ve let you do unspeakable things to me for the last two hours. You can share your fries with me.”
We were snuggled up in bed, naked as the day we were born, and indulging from the trays of rooms service laid out before us.
He laughed. “I guess that’s fair. Want to steal my salmon too?”
“Yes, please.”
Ezra cut off a piece of the flaky, buttery fish and fed it to me. I sighed as I snuggled into his side. “This is perfect. I don’t want to leave.”
“I wish
we didn’t have to. It’s nice to get away and do something that’s...”
“Normal.”
“Yeah.” Ezra turned his head toward his bag. “Normal.”
My smile dimmed. “Your bag has been buzzing all night. Is it your mom?”
“Most likely. I told her I would be gone for the weekend, but I didn’t give her details. I know she wants a decision.”
“About what?”
He sighed. “About us going to counseling.”
I raised my head off his shoulder to look him in the eyes. “Counseling?”
“She’s been having a hard time. She thinks that if she hadn’t worked or traveled so often, she would have been there to see what was going on. She’s trying to make up for it now, but I think the counseling is mostly for her.”
I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Do you want to go?”
Ezra held still for a while, but after a minute, he nodded. “I do, and I’ll call her and tell her that I will, but right now”—his lips curled into a grin as he looked at me—“is all about you.”
Smiling, I slipped my hand under his arm, reaching for his tray. “Can I at least finish your dinner before you have your way with me?”
“Nope.”
The room service spilled to the floor as we went down laughing.
“I’M GOING TO DROP YOU off at school. Then I’ll go back home to get my things and talk to Mom.”
“Sounds good.”
The car pulled up to the gates of the academy. I kissed Ezra goodbye and hopped out. Evergreen Academy expected students out on a weekend pass to return to school by noon on Sundays. Ezra got me back five minutes before the deadline. Stepping onto the pavement, I saw that I wasn’t the only one cutting it close.
Sofia and Zane strolled across the pavement, laughing at a private joke. She lit up when she saw me. “Hey, Val. Did you have fun with Ezra?”
“It was amazing. What about you guys?” I wagged my eyebrows at her. “Did you have fun?”
She grinned unrepentantly. “We definitely did. The double date went well too. We went back to my place after, but Paisley and Kai stayed in the Promenade and ended up at the park. She said they stayed up all night talking.”