Chapter 21 #2
She squinted at him while he whirled them around. “How’s that?”
“Because you light up my life.”
Tossing her head back in bright laughter, Fern did just that—lit him up from the bottom of his soul.
“Okay, my turn,” she wheezed. “Chores?”
“What about ’em?”
“How should they be split?” She pulled away, letting Elliott twirl her beneath his extended arm.
“Fifty-fifty? We can figure it out later. I hate vacuuming though, if you’re interested...?”
“I’ll take it. I’ll even do it daily if you’ll keep cooking for me.”
“Forever,” he agreed.
“Forever,” she said through a soft smile, the single word applying to so much more than housework.
Spinning her past the dining table, Elliott danced Fern into the kitchen and around the island. Her sun-kissed freckles and soft mouth beckoned him closer, and he dipped his head to hers, nailing his hip on the oven handle in passing.
“Oof, fuck,” he groaned.
“Are you all right?” she asked, halting their waltz to squat down.
Before he could stop her, her warm fingers snaked beneath the hem of his T-shirt. She lifted it, pulled down the band of his shorts, and kissed him where he was wounded.
“That’s better.” She patted him gently and stood, one hand against the bare skin of his hip, the other settling over his heart.
Filtered sunlight lit the pink in her hair like a neon lava waterfall. A wave rippled over her shoulder, its end tangled in the button of her overalls. Gently, he freed her strands, and when he stepped away, she was staring at him with fathomless eyes, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Fern”—this was the right moment, he was certain—“I love you.”
Her smile grew to a grin, and she grasped his wrist. “I was just going to say the same thing.”
“You were not.”
“Yes, I definitely was. I love you, Elliott.”
For some reason, he hadn’t considered her saying it back.
His chest had already been full with emotion, but the feeling was nothing—nothing—like after hearing those words in return. The world dropped away, and his eyes pricked. “Fuck.”
She scowled at his chest. “Yeah, that’s not—”
“Sorry, I love you so much.” The dam broke, and he couldn’t stop smiling as tears ran down his cheeks.
“Oh! Oh.” Fern lifted her hands, small and secure, to cup his face, rubbing her thumbs over his beard. “Don’t be sad. It’s good! I think. It’s okay to love each other, right? Or is it way, way too early?”
“I don’t care.”
“Me either. Can we have sex now?”
He burst out laughing. “I want to make some joke about you getting your wish since it’s Saturday. But, I need to make sure… you’re positive you want to do this today?”
“I want to do it right now. I was worried about it because of Ren. I’m still sad for her, but feel better about our mating in relation to her heartbreak. We talked after— Oh my god, I forgot to tell you, my mom and I made up.”
He frowned, digging through his memories. “I think you forgot to tell me you were fighting?”
“Oh, well, we were, and you helped me feel better about it all anyway.”
“I did?” Perplexed, he let her pop up on her toes to kiss him, and his hands drifted to her ass, squeezing her through fabric.
“I’ll explain later.” Her fingers found the button on his linen shorts, and she popped it loose. “What animal do you think I’ll become?”
Palms roaming over her curves, he replied, “Hmm, I’m not sure. Definitely something adorable, lovable, and perfect for me.”
She swatted him playfully on the arm. “You don’t want to guess. Why?”
Grasping her wrists, Elliott pulled them together and restrained them in one of his hands.
Fern inhaled as he walked her back into the fridge, the shiver in her breath hinting at her desire—as if he couldn’t smell it in the air.
“My turn.” With his free hand, he unclasped the straps of her overalls. The front flap dropped, and her puckered nipples met his gaze, poking out beneath her braless ensemble. He tipped his head and pulled one breast into his mouth, nipping through her white shirt.
When he pulled back, he said, “It’s too risky to guess. I name an animal, you get your hopes up. You end up something else, you think I’m not happy with what you are.” He shrugged, then pulled her other breast into his mouth, teasing her with his teeth while he pushed her overalls to the floor.
“Does that mean you have a preference?” Sliding her hands under his arms, she urged him to stand, then yanked his shirt up and nodded for him to lift his arms over his head. “I think an ocelot would be neat, a raccoon, seal, bear—black or brown. I literally don’t care.”
“Skunk?” he asked with a raised brow.
She raked her long, false nails through his chest hair, sending shockwaves of pleasure rolling beneath his skin as she went for his shorts and undid the zipper.
“Eh, skunks are cute. I wouldn’t spray you, promise. I know I’m going to get sick first, but I can’t wait to meet my animal—and to be yours forever, obviously.”
“No matter what you are, you’ll be amazing. I’m sure of it. I can’t wait, either.” He kissed her softly as she hooked her thumbs in his waistband and pulled down, leaving him standing there in his boxers in the middle of the kitchen.
Their mouths played while his fingertips trailed up her sides, slipping beneath the hem of her shirt to skim her breasts. She grabbed his ass, sliding her hands into his underwear to get to his naked skin, and he thrust forward, grinding against her.
“Jesus, Elliott. Can we do this already?”
His bear rumbled appreciatively, and Fitz ripped Fern’s shirt over her head, grabbed her, and lifted her. Her arms wrapped around his neck and long legs locked behind his back. Soft and warm, her breasts pressed against his clavicle, and he breathed her in as he carried her to the bedroom.
“Our first time’ll be on the bed. After that, kitchen island. After that, anywhere goes. But I want to see you, to worship you today. Got it?”
“Got it.” Burying her face in his loose hair, she brought her mouth to the spot where his shoulder met his neck and nipped him.
He moaned, depositing her gently on the bed. He wasn’t sure if he was in for brattiness or obedience and welcomed either. As he climbed up at her feet, he locked eyes with her and asked, “Are you going to be so good for me, Fern? Ready to do exactly what I want?”
Dropping her legs open, she whispered, “So good.”
And his cock throbbed.
She’d replaced her thong with mesh panties. They were sexy, but a little scrap of cotton still hid her pussy from view, leaving the slit at the top visible above the lining.
When he dragged his finger down her center, she squealed.
“I need you to come for me, sugar. If you can do that, I’ll give you my cock.” He slid her underwear to the side and crawled between her legs, bending to kiss her clit. Pleasure lanced through him, insistent and bold, from the control he held over her.
Taking her between his teeth, Elliott bit down with measured pressure, and Fern whimpered, pressing herself against his face.
He considered himself a pretty mellow guy, but there was something about doing exactly as he liked in this one specific type of situation that skyrocketed his need to new levels.
And she loved it.
He bit her again, then soothed her ache with a twirl of his tongue.
“Fuck me,” Fern moaned.
He was pretty sure that was a compliment and not a request. So he did nothing but taste her, and slid one finger—then a second—inside her while he worked her closer and closer to orgasm. “You’re so soft, so wet, so perfect,” he chanted against her delicious skin before lapping at her again.
She tasted like heaven, like berries and cream, and fuck, he would never tire of her.
“Elliott,” dragging out his name, Fern grabbed the back of his head and held him to her, pressing his nose against her mound while he devoured her. An incomprehensible cry escaped her lips as she came, her thighs tightening around his head, her pussy squeezing his fingers.
Mother fucker, he needed to be inside her. “Look at you. So good. I love when you do just as I ask.”
“Come here, please,” she begged, pulling him up her body. “Make me yours, Elliott. Make me a shifter.”
She was so squirmy, so adorable, trapped between his huge arms as he propped himself over her. Her legs wrapped around him, ankles locking behind his ass, and she tugged him closer.
“I’m not lined up,” he mumbled before kissing her. While his tongue slicked over hers and she teased him in return, he reached between their bodies, fisting himself, and running his head down the seam of her wet pussy.
“Oh, god. Now, Elliott. Please.” Fern lifted her hips, urging him to dip into her entrance.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t— Or if you do, it will only be for a second. Just fucking do it.” Her ankles locked behind his ass again, and she squeezed her legs, urging him into her.
He groaned, unable to form coherent thoughts when she enveloped him.
“Give me all of you,” she demanded.
And he did, sliding into her with an animalistic roar that was half him and half bear. She constricted, pulsing frantically as she adjusted to his size. Eventually, she wriggled, whimpering when he bottomed out.
“Fuck, Fern, I love you,” he breathed, slowly pulling out. Magic was beginning to flood him already, his intent clear without him ever thinking a specific thought.
“I love you,” she replied, using her legs to pull him in again. “I can feel it, I think. Warm, hot, sizzly. And you’re fucking huge.”
They fell into a rhythm, slow and steady, each thrust bringing them closer together, every breath a silent promise to stand by her side always, to support her, to love her, to care for her when she needed him, and even when she didn’t. He loved Fern P. Walsh, and he wanted to keep her forever.
“It’s Patrick, by the way.” He moaned, grinding into her.
“What?” she gasped, raking her nails down his back.
“My middle name.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“I was thinking about it—kinda.” Holding himself up on one arm, he drove into her over and over while he squeezed her breasts and explored her smooth stomach.
“Wait—” She shrieked when he rolled his thumb over her clit. “Wait—Elliott Patrick Fitzpatrick?”
“Yep.”
“Fuck, oh fuck!” She squealed, half laughing as her pussy tightened around him in a clench that could only mean one thing. “I fucking love you, Elliott Patrick Fitzpatrick.” She gasped, then came with a cry.
He roared along with her, pumping his release into her over and over and over again. “Forever, Fern, forever,” he breathed, muscles shaking as he lay down beside her and pulled her to his chest.
“Forever.” She snuggled into him for a second before she stiffened and arched her back. “Oh, I feel weird. I feel... I should be relaxed, but I’m...?”
“Excessively horny?” he chanced, seeing as blood was currently refilling his cock.
“Yes.”
“Same.” He grinned at the ceiling.
“This is the best day.”