Chapter 20 Everything Changes #2
Running a shaky hand over my face, I exhaled, then lowered it to her thighs, gently parting them. I stroked her clit through the fabric of her panties. Just a light tap at first. Summer gasped as her body relaxed under me with each teasing motion.
When I slipped a finger under the lace of her underwear, fire engulfed my body in response to the wetness I found there. She moaned again, and our eyes met. For a small moment, the both of us just stared.
“I swear your pussy is just like I left it,” I growled. “Tell me she hasn’t missed me. You’re already soaked.”
Summer looked away, smiling shyly. “You’ll make me blush.”
Gently, I slid her panties down her legs. They clung to her skin. My mouth followed the trail, kissing along her thighs. I looked up at her, and she nodded. I moved between her legs and pressed a kiss against her wetness.
“Oh God,” she exhaled. “Please.”
I did as she asked, moving my tongue against her slowly and savoring the taste of her.
Her body writhed with pleasure. I slipped my fingers inside her, the way she’d always liked.
Her body responded, moving in time with my strokes.
I stared up at her face and watched her as she came against my mouth.
“Your turn,” she said, panting. She pushed me onto my back and sank down on top of my cock.
“Fuck,” I moaned.
She began to move. I reached up and tugged her nipples. She threw her head back, moving her hips faster. I pulled her body against mine and thrust into her. She nestled her face into my neck.
“I’m going to come again,” she said.
Thank God, I thought. I couldn’t hold on much longer. Her weight pressing down on me was torment and pleasure in one.
Summer shuddered around my cock, her pussy tightening in rhythmic waves. I followed a heartbeat later, releasing deep inside her.
“I’ve always loved you,” I whispered against her neck.
She looked at me with searching eyes. “Me too.”
After another hour of enjoying each other’s bodies, we finally ate our room service dinner on the terrace.
Once we’d finished, we pushed the plates to one side, and Summer’s head rested on my shoulder.
I smiled as I wrapped my arm around her.
It was so peaceful up here in the mountains.
I kissed the top of Summer’s head, and she sighed.
Neither of us said a word. It wasn’t necessary.
For once, we had said everything we needed to.
Summer
I grabbed a cup of herbal tea from Aston’s hand and wrinkled my face in disgust. Coffee was what I wanted in this damn cup. I could easily give up alcohol, but coffee was hard.
“It’s good for the baby,” Aston reminded me, so I didn’t hurl the warm piss in the trash can as I left the house and jumped into Thad’s car.
I had to get down the hill and to Marni’s office in under five minutes.
I could hear Thad now, scolding me about driving too fast down the hill, so I lifted my foot off the gas.
Like Thad said, I was carrying precious cargo, so I had to be super careful.
A smile crept over my lips as I imagined his disapproving face.
Who’d have thought that the same scowl that sent me into a spiral weeks ago was now one of my favorite sights?
I kept a collection of his colorful expressions locked in my memory—the different angles of his smirks, the one time he did puppy dog eyes, and how his face would curl up when I added too much lemon to a dish.
His expressions had become precious gold to me.
Glancing at the time, I thought, So what if I’m a little late?
Marni knew me by now. It had been over ten years, after all.
Wow, for more than ten years I’d used these visits as a crutch.
I wouldn’t have gotten through everything without her.
Once I was finally there, I hurried from the car, greeted her secretary, and pushed the door open to find a surprise.
“Where’s my couch?” I gasped.
Marni stood from her desk and came to my side. “That old beat-up thing with the cracked leather? I got a new one.”
I stared at the new one, my mind spinning. “I guess it really is out with the old and in with the new,” I said, then slowly lowered myself onto it. It was stiff, definitely not as comfy as my old one.
“Summer, it’s okay if you don’t like the new couch.”
Good, because I hated it. “It’s just a couch. Eventually I’ll get used to it.”
Marni gave me a warm smile, but something else in her expression concerned me.
I sat up. “What is it?”
“Summer, I think you and I have come to the end of the road.”
What? She’s dumping me? Can a therapist do that?
“Summer . . .”
I blinked a few times and tried to steady my breath. “Yes?”
“You’ve come a long way, and I really think you can handle things from here.”
Who, me? My mouth fell open. “But . . .”
She tilted her head, and I knew she understood how huge this was for me. “I know change isn’t easy, and if anything new should come up, I’m still right here, but I honestly believe you’ve gotten all you can out of our sessions.”
Marni spent the next twenty minutes explaining why I didn’t need her anymore.
By the time she was done, I believed her.
“Will you at least come to the wedding?” I blurted out.
Marni’s smile faltered. “I can’t. Guidelines prohibit me from attending, strict two-year policy, but this is such a small town, I’ll definitely see you around pretty often.”
Phew. I didn’t want to never see her again.
Next, we moved to a more pleasant topic. “How’s Thaddeus?”
I couldn’t help the goofy grin that was spreading across my face. “He’s fine. We’re fine.”
Marni’s eyes filled with tears. “Good.”
“I’m determined to give forgiveness a chance and set an example for Thaddeus and our child,” I said, twirling the engagement ring on my finger.
Marni lowered her writing pad and pencil, then removed her glasses. “If anyone can do it, you can.”
I nodded. “I’m hopeful it will work. I love him. I never stopped, and it was harder fighting the feeling, so giving in should be easier.”
Marni stared at me like a proud mother whose toddler had just taken their first steps. She opened and closed her mouth like she was about to say something but thought better of it.
“What?” I asked.
“Can I make one suggestion?” she asked in a softer voice than before.
I straightened up eagerly. “Of course, any suggestion from you is one I’d follow.”
Her tone turned serious. “Don’t stay in that house. You both need a fresh start, and I remembered Fitzgerald Inc. is building homes that will be ready right around the time the baby arrives.”
I stilled. Of course! The project we worked on would be ready to house families in seven months, and I loved the idea of us living in one of the units.
“I like the way you think.” I grinned.
I pictured Thaddeus and I curled up in the cozy new living room, changing diapers in the nursery, and eating in the kitchen, together with our child.
Making memories like Mr. Dorman did, the sort you hold on to with your last breath and let nobody take away.