36. Just wait
Just wait
Elena
“Come on, wake up. Time to see your new home.” I gently shake Cynthia’s shoulder to rouse her.
With a cavernous yawn, she stretches and blinks up at me. “I thought it was a dream.” Her crooked smile widens as she looks around.
There’s still just enough sun peeking over the western pasture for her to get an expansive view of the house, tractor, and fields surrounding us.
“Wow, we’re in the middle of nowhere.” As her head twists, she focuses on the big barn. “Elena,” she whispers. “Does he have horses? Can I have one?”
Wade manages to hear her and starts laughing. “You need to meet your grandpa. I think he has one already picked out for you.”
Cynthia’s grip on my hand tightens as she tugs me to follow him. “I have a grandpa?” she squeals.
God, my heart hurts, it’s so full. Having her back, safe and happy, it’s everything I wished and hoped for.
And to know that she has Wade, steadfast and strong, to protect her…
I really do love him for everything he’s done for me. It’s wild to even acknowledge it, but I can’t deny it any more.
“This is a nice house. Look how huge that fridge is!” Cynthia’s neck swivels.
“Let me show you your bedroom.” I pull her towards where I’ve been sleeping.
It makes my belly flutter knowing I’ll be in Wade’s from now on.
“Wait, I have my own? Like, not with six other kids?” She bounces next to me until she steps in and freezes. “What are those doors for?”
“That one is the closet, that one is your bathroom.” I point, suddenly very happy that I rage cleaned yesterday.
I point next towards the long dresser below the TV. “I have a few clothes I’ve been keeping in here, but I’ll get them out tomorrow.”
Her brow furrows and she tilts her head. “You live here too? Why? Where do you sleep?”
Well, shit.
“It’s complicated, but I, um, me and Wade…” How do I even begin to explain?
Her nose wrinkles with a sour expression. “So, he’s my dad, but you’re with him? That’s so weird.”
“Maybe. But it works for us. He’s a solid man, you’ll see.” I don’t see where she has any room to judge.
Her forehead crinkles as her eyes widen.
“I’m not bitchin’. I don’t care. I have my own television and toilet.
” She kicks out her legs and flops onto the bed.
“You can sleep with Spongebob for all I care.” Stretching out, she tucks her hands behind her head to stare up at the ceiling, her grin returning.
“This is all so crazy, but in a good way, ya know?”
“Tomorrow he wants to take you shopping to get what you need.” My finger wags at her. I’ve always been more like a mom than a sister. “Don’t be ridiculous about it.”
Her palm flies up between us. “There is no way I’m gonna mess this up. This is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I knew she’d be appreciative, but it had to be said.
The mattress dips when I sit next to her.
“I love you, ‘Thia. I’m so happy you’re back.
I know Wade, um, your dad, will have some questions tomorrow about how you ended up at Nancy’s place.
Whoever arranged that, they weren’t very nice people.
” I don’t want her to know just what I had to do trying to find her.
She fixes me with a hard stare.
Holy shit she looks like him.
“Is that why you have an ankle monitor?” She blinks at me blandly, like she just asked how I like my eggs.
“What do you know about those?” Reflexively I tuck my feet against the bed.
She snorts and rolls onto her side. “I’ve been in foster for like a year, Elena. A ton of the kids have parents who are either in jail or on parole.” Her hand flips. “I could teach a class on it. What did you do?”
I shake my head. “I was trying to get you back. There was a man who said if I did certain…things, he’d make sure I could find you.”
Her lips thin. “Did you have to, um, you know?” She rocks her fingers as she looks at me squeamishly.
“No, nothing like that.” Although there was probably a time I had thought it would have been easier.
Then I would have been the only one hurt, not other people or animals.
She reaches out to touch my arm. “I’m really glad. One of the girls who came through had to do that with her mom’s boyfriend just so he wouldn’t hurt her baby sister.”
That makes my stomach roll. What other horror stories has she heard?
I hate that she had to go through it.
“That’s awful.” Now I’m even more grateful of where we are, and how we’re safe.
Loved.
“We’re lucky.” She nods, then yawns again.
I couldn’t agree more.
Damn, it’s dark out already.
I hop up, pointing to the bathroom. “If you need to shower before bed, there’s stuff in the tub. Do you want me to tuck you in like when you were little?” I kinda miss that old routine of a story and a song.
But she shakes her head. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I’m fine.”
I pause before closing her room completely. “Welcome home, ‘Thia.”
She smiles and kicks off her shoes. “I’m home.” Her grin grows and she flops back against the pillows.
A knot forms in my throat as I tiptoe through the dark house.
His light is off.
Should I dare go in? Or go back and snuggle my sister?
My pulse pounds in my ears at the thought of being able to actually sleep with him for the first time.
He told me to.
At least, that’s what I repeat to myself as I push the door quietly open.
Only a faint glow from his bedside clock lights the room, just enough to illuminate his form under the covers.
His even breathing fills the air as I strip soundlessly and lift the blankets.
There’s a small hitch in his inhale and he turns, helping me lift the comforter. “Got her all tucked in?” he murmurs sleepily.
“Mmhmm. She’s really happy to be here.” I work my way between the cool sheets until I find the heat of his body.
He pulls me tightly, wrapping his arms around me and tugging my leg up to lay over his.
Perfect.
Nestled against his broad chest, I listen to the deep rhythm of his heart as my fingers weave into the fine hairs.
“I figured you’d want some time to catch up.” His mouth brushes the top of my head. “I hope this whole thing isn’t too strange for her.”
“She said I could be sleeping with Spongebob if it made me happy,” I snicker against his warm skin.
“Are you?” he asks, slowly rubbing a small circle on my side with his thumb.
It makes my limbs tingle.
“More than I ever thought possible.” Tears sting my eyes at the overwhelming sensation.
After everything I’ve been through with Mom dying, losing Cynthia, and then the hell of what I had to do to try and find her, I can’t believe that I not only survived it, I found an amazing man as well.
“Me too,” he rumbles, the sound vibrating against my cheek.
Reaching up, I cup his strong jaw and raise my lips to meet his.
I want him to know how much he means to me. That I see everything he’s done and am so grateful.
Nibbling tenderly, I lure his tongue with my own in tender strokes.
This isn’t the feral viciousness that we’ve had before. It’s a gentle passion that pushes me to straddle him and press my bare breasts to his skin.
Tasting his silent strength in a slow touch, I let my fingers tangle in his hair as his palms explore me in long caresses.
It’s luxurious, the feel of him under me and between my thighs, as he moves his hands up and down the length of my body, every inch being electrified with his attention.
I want it. I crave the feel of him.
Every inch of me presses and writhes to gain more contact, more friction of him against me.
Rocking my hips lower, his hard cock rests against my wet seam. The need to have him fill me is overwhelming.
With little gyrations, I manage to align the tip into the hollow of my pussy.
But before I lower myself, I find his mouth again with mine for a consuming kiss.
“Wade?” I pant as his mushroomed head pushes inside, stretching me around his thick ridge.
His thumbs rest against my pelvis and he stills my progress. “Hmm?” The reverberation ripples through my ribs in a wave.
“I really do love you,” I manage to gasp as he pushes himself into me.
Months of being with him, through the interrogations and learning to live together, has shown me just how steady and caring he really is. The gruff exterior that he always tries to show hides a huge heart and a will to do anything for the people he cares about.
I saw the raw emotion that he was fighting to hide today when he met Cynthia for the first time. And how hard he tumbled into wanting to give her the world before he even knew her.
One of his broad palms rises to wrap my throat, his thumb tilting my chin until he can meet my gaze. “You gave me something I never thought I’d have. Purpose.” He pushes my knee lower, then shifts me onto my back.
His weight is delicious over me as he pulls out slowly, setting a maddenly methodical pace as his lips move a line of fire down my neck.
Every lick of his scorching tongue draws a blaze to crash through me.
“I was stuck in the past,” he exhales, then takes my nipple between his teeth. “But you showed me the future.”
When he withdraws his stiff length, it leaves a hollow void, making me whine piteously until his hot mouth closes over my clit.
The shock has me arching, raking his scalp with my nails.
His skillful tongue teases me higher until I’m trembling on the edge.
Then he pauses, leaving me quaking, begging to shatter.
He crawls up my body to find my lips, then impales me with his cock in the same breath.
“Yes,” I hiss, my knees wrapping his hips and spurring him with my heels. “Please?” My tiny whine makes him knot his fingers in my tresses.
“You’re all I see in every timeline.” His voice is hoarse as his thrusts get harder. Deeper.
Faster.
“You’re mine,” he growls, crushing my mouth with his.
The fever of his kiss cascades me over the cliff. My body gives in, shuddering with an unending wave of pulsations. They’re heightened when he groans against my ear, spasming through his own climax.
He drops his shoulders to the side, still buried between my thighs as we both twitch through the aftershocks.
When our breathing evens, he reaches down and tugs up the tousled blankets to cover our sweaty bodies.
“This is all I want. You, here, in my arms.” He rolls so I’m pressed against his chest, with his softening cock sheathed inside me.
“It’s my favorite place to be.” My words roll out thickly, the euphoria still heavy in my veins.