by Farlow, LK
"So." I lean in and kiss him. "Very." Another kiss. "Sure." This time, I lick across the seam of his lips, seeking entrance to his mouth.
He opens for me, and the moment our tongues touch, he takes over.
Sterling yanks my body flush to his with one hand while burying the other in my hair. He tugs, positioning my head to just the right angle for him to devour me with his mouth.
"God, baby. I've missed this, you." He speaks the words against my mouth, and I greedily swallow them down, rolling my hips against his.
"Yes, Ster. Me, too. God, me, too."
"I need to be inside you, baby. I need to feel you all around me."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
He stands from the water, and I cling to him as he steps over the edge of the hot tub.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking you to bed, little mouse, so I can fuck you right."
I press my lips to his neck in reply, kissing up and down the column of his throat.
Inside, he lays my dripping wet body down onto the mattress. "You look so fucking good with your skin all pink and your pussy all wet for me."
"Please touch me," I beg, feeling like I might actually die if he doesn't put his hands back on my body.
He moves to lower his head between my legs, but I stop him. "No."
"Baby."
"No, I just want you inside of me. I want you to fill me up and make me feel whole. Please. Can you please do that?"
He rakes his teeth over his lower lip and stalks over to his suitcase to retrieve a condom. "You know damn well I can't deny you anything."
"Then give me what I want. What I need."
He crawls up the bed, settling between my legs and pushes into me. We both moan as my body stretches to accommodate his.
"Fuck, baby, you feel...this feels..."
"Like coming home," I whisper, wrapping my arms and legs around him.
"Yeah,” he grunts as he pulls back before thrusting into me again and holding his hips to mine. "Just like that."
I whimper, digging my nails into his back, urging him to move.
He gets the hint and begins fucking me in earnest. "I love you, Emmalyn."
"I love you, too, Sterling." I wrap my legs around his waist and his back bows as I meet him on every downward stroke. "So, so much."
My heart is thundering in my chest, my entire body shaking with need, as Sterling works me over, hitting all the right spots and whispering filthy promises into my ear until we're both right there, clinging to each other as we both find our release.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Emmy
"Good morning," Sterling whispers, jostling me softly until my eyelids flutter open. "Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" I stretch my arms over my head as I yawn.
"For your first real day of college."
Outwardly, I'm all sass as I roll my eyes, but inside, I melt. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"You still feeling like taking last semester off was the right idea?"
I nod, my head rubbing against the pillow. "Yeah. I feel healthier. Stronger. I'm still a work in progress, but I'm definitely my best me."
"Hell yeah, you are," he murmurs, his eyes heating as he takes me in.
"Nope. No, sir. None of that."
He pouts. "Why not?"
"Sterling Abbot, I am not waltzing into my first class with sex hair."
"You better hop in the shower then, or you'll be going in with bedhead and people will think it's sex hair anyway."
I narrow my eyes at him and he smirks.
"Fine." I kick off the covers and force myself out of his warm, cozy bed. "I'll be back."
"You know," he starts, following behind me, "you could just move in with me and then you wouldn't have to run next door all the time. You're practically here every night anyway."
"Not until Stella finds a roommate," I say, instantly slapping my hand over my mouth.
"Wait, what was that?"
"Um." I dart my eyes from side to side. "Nothing."
"No. I definitely heard something. It sounded a lot like you considering moving in."
I planned on surprising him once Stella found someone to cover my share of the rent. Though, with Sterling as our landlord, I'm not sure it really matters. But she's proud and refuses to take a handout from him.
But, I guess the cat's out of the bag now.
"Fine. I planned on packing my stuff and bringing it over once Stell found a roomie."
"Baby, let's put an ad on Craigslist."
"Shut up."
"You act like I'm bluffing. I'll take out a damn billboard if it gets your clothes in my closet, your smelly-good shit in my shower, and your fine-ass self in my bed every night."
"You're too much."
"Sometimes I worry I'm not enough," he says, letting his guard all the way down. "Sometimes I worry you'll realize you're too good for me and tell me to kick rocks."
"Never. You hear me? Not ever."
"Go shower before I toss you back down onto the bed and never let you leave."
I steal a quick kiss and dart out the door.
"Stell?" I call out as I enter our place.
"Babe!" she hollers back, rushing into the foyer to greet me. "Are you stoked for today?"
"Y'all are making such a big deal!"
"Um, because it is a big deal, sweets," Gabe says, scaring the hell out of me.
"Where did you come from?"
"My mother." He wobbles his head from side to side. "Or maybe my father. Depends on how you look at it. The chicken or the egg, am I right?"
"I—what?"
"Ignore him," Zach says, joining our weird little impromptu entryway party. "You here to get ready?"
"Yep, and y'all are here why?"
"To support you!" Gabe says, like it should be obvious.
"And by that he means we came for coffee."
"I am always down for coffee."
The four of us catch up over steaming hot mugs, laughing and cutting up, until I have to hop in the shower. "Thanks for coming," I say, getting misty eyed.
"Wouldn't be anywhere else," Zach says, hugging me before passing me over to his boyfriend, who redefines the term bear hug.
"Good luck today, sweets. You're going to kick all of the ass."
"Thanks, guys."
Stella sees them out while I hop in the shower. I soap up and rinse off in under five, tossing my wet hair into a braid before tugging on a pair of jeans and the hoodie Sterling bought me when I was in the hospital.
I like to think of it as my lucky hoodie and wear it pretty much all the time.
Stella's waiting for me in the kitchen when I finish getting ready. "I have something to tell you."
A million different scenarios bombard me. Deep breaths, I remind myself, you can only control what you can control.
"What's up?" I ask, pleased when my voice comes out smooth and even.
"I found someone to take over your portion of the rent."
"Really?" The worry that tried to trip me up morphs into excitement.
"Yeah. A girl named Frankie. She's in my art class. Oh, wait. Sterling won't mind a kid staying here, right?"
"She has a kid?"
Stella nods. "Yeah. She's a single mom and is trying to make a life for her and her son."
"He totally won't mind."
"I'll let her know today." She smiles. "Now, go forth and kick ass, babe."
Quick as lightning, I wrap my arms around her and hug her tight. "I'm so glad you're in my life. I'd be lost without you, Stell."
"Back at you, Emmy." She breaks our embrace. "Now, go get a good luck kiss from that man of yours."
"You don't have to tell me twice."
I grab my bag and dart back to Sterling's place, the smell of bacon greeting me.
"Made you some breakfast." He holds a piece of bacon out toward me, and I snatch it from him. "Most important meal of the day, you know?"
"False. That's coffee."
"You're an addict."
"Truth."
"You want me to drive you or..."
"I'll drive myself. Gotta assert my independence over the universe and whatnot."
"Okay, little mouse. I'm proud of you."
"I love you." I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his face down to mine, sealing our lips together in a toe-curling kiss.
"I love you, too."
"Oh, and before I forget," I say as I head for the door, "Stella found a roommate."
"Does that mean what I think it does?"
I nod.
"You're not fucking with me?" He steps closer, his face full of hope. "You're moving in?"
I nod again and he rushes me, wrapping his arms around me and twirling me around.
"Hell yes! This is the best day ever!" he exclaims before crushing his lips to mine.
I can't help but agree. Today is the best day ever.
It's my real fresh start and the official first day of the rest of my life with Sterling Abbot at my side.
Epilogue
Emmy
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I smooth my hands over the front of my pretty white dress. My makeup is perfect, and there's not a single strand of hair out of place.
Just breathe, I tell myself, trying to settle the swarm of nerves twisting through me.
My phone buzzes and I grab it from the table.
Stella: Today's the day! Are you so excited?
Me: I'm mostly just nervous. You know?
Stella: You will kick all of the ass! Promise!
Me: If you say so…
Me: I wish you were here!
Stella: Ugh! Me, too, babe. But noooo, I’m at a family reunion in the middle of BFE.
Me: It’s fine.
Stella: It’s not. Send me a selfie. I want to see you in your gown.
Me: Will do. Love you!
Stella: Love you more!
God love her, she always knows the right thing to say. And today of all days, I need the extra help.
Holly says bad days are normal, but luckily, they’re few and far in between. But today, I can feel it itching to take hold and derail my plans.
Deep breaths. Today is going to be a good day. I will not allow my past to derail my future.
I feel marginally calmer after repeating the affirmations Holly taught me.
Some days, it's a little hard to believe that I've made it this far—that we've made it this far—but we have, and I know that together, Sterling and I are going to do great things.
It wasn't easy getting here, and it definitely wasn't always fun. But I know I'm exactly where I am meant to be, and damn if that doesn't feel good.
"Knock-knock," Sterling says before entering the room.
Scowling playfully at him in the mirror, I ask, "What are you doing in here?"
He hitches his thumb over his shoulder. "It's time to go."
"Already?" I ask, turning to fully face him.
His gorgeous gray eyes eat me up as he takes in every little detail. "You look beautiful, Emmalyn. So fucking beautiful."
"Thanks. I'm almost ready."
"You look perfect to me."
I roll my eyes and turn back to the mirror. Of course he would say I look perfect; he loves me and would think I was hot dressed in a potato sack.
"I just need to put on my necklace."
His eyes spark, and he steps completely into the room, moving with purpose until he's at my back. "Let me help you."
I pass him the necklace—a stunning family heirloom his mother passed to me on the second Christmas we celebrated together as a family—and he sweeps my hair out of the way and fastens the delicate chain around my neck before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to the sensitive skin there.
"There," I say, assessing myself one last time.
"Perfection," he growls. "You're perfection."
I turn to face him. He's standing so close I have to look up to make eye contact. "Is it dumb that I'm nervous?"
He settles his hands on my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze before sweeping them down my arms to interlock our fingers. "You're going to do amazing. Just remember when you walk down the aisle, keep your eyes straight ahead."
"What if I trip?" I ask, kicking out my right foot to emphasize the heels Stella talked me into.
"Then look down and avoid eye contact at all cost."
I laugh, breaking his hold on one hand so I can smack his chest. "A lot of help you are!"
"But, I made you smile. So..."
"You are something else, Sterling Abbot."
"But you love me."
"With my whole heart."
He leans in to kiss me, but pulls back at the last minute. "Don't wanna ruin your lipstick."
"You better kiss me right this very instant!"
With his lips curled up into a smirk, he gives into my command, kissing me like his life depends on it.
"Better?"
"So very much."
"Good. Now, come on, little mouse, the ceremony waits for no one."
The drive to the venue is a quick one—just enough time to fix my lipstick—and by the time we're there, my nerves have settled, because I know that this is the first step in achieving the many things I want out of my life.
We park near the back of the very full lot. "Do you have everything?"
"Just need to get my bag from the trunk."
"I'll get it, baby."
Sterling grabs my garment bag from the trunk and drapes it over his left arm, wrapping his right around my waist. He walks me all the way to the side door, where we have to go our separate ways. "You've got this!"
"Where will you be?"
"In the very first row." He hands me my bag. "And when they call your name, I'll be the one cheering the loudest."
"Love you!" I say, darting inside before I get too emotional.
* * *
STERLING
"Is it still on?" Gabe asks from where he's seated beside me.
"Yeah.” I nod decisively. "Definitely."
"Are you nervous?" Zach asks, peeking around his now husband.
"Nope. Not at all." I lean back into my seat, resting my ankle on my knee.
"My, my." Gabe shoots me an amused look. "Aren't you confident, Mr. Abbot?"
"Fuck yeah, I am!" I exclaim, causing someone in the row behind us to shush me. All three of us turn around and glare. Like they've never heard someone drop an F-bomb before.
"You're positive she's gonna say yes?" Gabe asks, playing the devil's advocate like he loves to do.
It took a long time for us to warm up to each other, but now we're so close that we talk daily.
"How could she say no?" I ask, just as the lights overhead flicker, alerting us that the ceremony is about to begin.
I zone out for most of it. Graduation is graduation. I'm only here for one thing, and that's to watch my little mouse claim her diploma. Although, I guess she's not much of a mouse anymore.
No. She's bold and vibrant and the bravest person I know and, if everything goes right today, she'll eventually be my wife. Emmalyn Abbot has a ring to it, and I’m about to put a ring on it.
I'm so caught up in my thoughts that I almost miss them call her name.
"Emmalyn Price."
I jump to my feet, along with Zach and Gabe, clapping and whistling and cheering like we're at a football game, as she walks across the stage.
She looks my way, and I wink, mouthing the words proud of you, baby.
* * *
"Proud of you, sweets," Gabe says, shouldering me out of the way so that he can hug her first.
The blond giant is also a giant asshole.
"Thank you!" She smiles up at him and then hugs Zach.
I'm practically pouting by the time she makes it to me. "Best for last," she whispers in my ear, before slinging her arms around my neck.
"Damn straight, baby."
"Are y'all joining us for dinner?" Emmy asks.
&nb
sp; "Ah, no can do," Zach says. "Gabe here has an interview."
"This late?" Emmalyn's eyes widen. "Where? With who? Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's online because of time differences." He shrugs. "And, I didn't want to jinx it."
"Okay, well. Good luck! Break a leg. Whatever applies."
Gabe shakes his head. "You're too much, sweets. I'll let you know the outcome."
They hug again and then it's just the two of us. "You ready?"
"Starving. Wanna tell me where we're eating?"
"Why do you always want to ruin my surprises?"
She rolls her eyes. "Fine."
We drive with the windows down and the radio on, enjoying the fresh mountain air.
"Oh!" A smile flashes across her face as recognition sets in. "Café on the Corner, huh?"
I park the car and cut the engine. "That's right. This is where I took you on our first date, so it seemed like the right choice for today."
"Hmmm." Emmy climbs out of the car and I follow.
"What?"
"I'm pretty sure you made it quite clear that our lunch here was not a date."
"Fair enough. But if I wouldn't have brought you here, I don't think we would've ended up here."
She smiles softly. "Here's a good place to be."
I stop her from reaching for the door and pull her off to the side, wanting a private moment before we head inside. "Anywhere is a good place if you're there."
Emmalyn laughs...loudly. "Who knew big-alpha-macho-man Sterling Abbot was such a softy?"
"You're the only person I'm soft for."
She licks her lips and drops her eyes. "I like it better when you're hard for me."
"Dammit, baby, if you keep this up, we're not gonna make it to lunch."
"I've got something you can eat." She bats her lashes and steps in closer.
"That's enough." I place my hands on her shoulders and nudge her back a step. She's too damn tempting, and while I'd love nothing more than to take her home and devour her, I've got fucking plans.
"Okay, fine. But only if you get me nachos."
"I can handle that." I clasp her hand in mine and pull her back toward the door.
She glares at me as I pull it open. "Cheesecake, too."