CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Mia and I stood in Zach’s room for a while. I held her against me, embracing her small frame, hoping the painful trip down memory lane could help her start her healing process.
No matter how hard it would be, we’d be side by side. Where we both belonged.
We walked into her home, and I missed having Hugo sniff and jump on us. Since we were gone for our last assignment, Mia had left him with her parents. It was crazy how we could get used to some things so easily.
I anticipated Hugo’s greeting; it had become part of my routine, a routine I was growing to love. I could navigate through Mia’s house in the dark as if it were my own. I couldn’t remember anymore what it was like to wake up without her in my arms.
Without realizing what was going on, we were creating a life together.
And there was nothing else I’d rather do.
She turned to me and smiled shyly. “I know I’ve drained you today. But I might need some milk and cookies. Are you up for it?”
I grinned at her. “Anything for you. Go ahead to get it ready. I’ll lock the door and leave the front porch lights on. I’ll meet you later in the kitchen.”
Mia beamed at me and pulled me down by my neck for a sweet kiss on the lips.
I wasn’t sure when our relationship had changed. But it was evident we were trailing a new path, a better one. I was exhilarated. Of all the people I could’ve met, I’d found the perfect woman to fall for and have by my side.
I felt like nothing could go wrong.
And that thought was a stupid mistake.
As it was our new normal, after our healing session with milk and cookies, we headed for her bed. We talked for hours, entangled in each other. Every little bit of information I learned about her made me fall even harder.
Finally, we drifted off to sleep, and having her beside me felt just right. It was like I had found my place, with the partner meant to enrich my life. After so long working alone and feeling isolated, I discovered the joy of being part of a team—not just a professional one, but a team for my life. I woke up and carefully disentangled myself from her to leave the bed. After the utter emotional day she had, she needed her rest.
As silently as I could, I walked to the bathroom wearing only my underpants, eased the door closed, and organized the sink for me to shave. I’d just applied the shaving cream on my face when Mia opened the door.
She was barefoot and wearing one of my shirts, her smooth legs on display, while her dark hair framed her beautiful face. I felt my cock swelling at her sight, but I let her lead the scene.
Mia gazed at the products laid on the sink, pushed them to the side, and hopped up to sit on it. She pulled me by the waistband of my underpants until I stood between her legs, took the razor from my hand, and pecked my lips. “Morning, Phoenix.”
I smiled at her and cleaned the shaving cream from her lips. “Morning, Fire. Is it safe for me to let you shave me?”
She grinned with mischief. “There’s only one way to find out. Don’t worry, I’ll try not to kill you.”
I chuckled. “That makes me feel much better.”
Mia circled her legs around my hips and began to shave me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Every time our eyes met, I felt a pang in my chest, and my cock turned harder. I held her by the hips and marveled at her soft hand on my chest as she slid the razor over my skin with the other.
I’d never experienced anything more intimate than that moment. And it couldn’t have been with anyone else but her. I didn’t want it to have been with anyone else.
She tended to every single spot. Every time she slid the razor, she pressed a warm and wet towel over the area and then kissed the freshly shaved spot. As she cared for me, I let my hands roam over her legs. I touched her soft skin, played with the hem of her underwear, and caressed her back.
When she was done, she pressed the towel over my face again, picked up my aftershave, and squeezed it on the palm of her small hands, so she could gently rub and massage my face.
Mia rested one hand at the base of my neck, while the other one played with my hair. “I tried so hard.”
I pulled her hips to the edge of the sink until my still-covered shaft rested against her core. “To do what?”
“Not to have feelings for you. But the further I ran, the bigger they became.”
“Is having feelings for me so bad?”
She ran her fingers over my cheeks, my nose, my lips, as if trying to memorize my face. “I used to be a believer. I prayed, I was confident, I was sure I could protect the ones I loved with just a few faithful words. Then my whole world fell apart. I’m not sure I could endure losing you, too. I’m free-falling, but I have no faith left in me.”
“Then lean on me. Let me be your faith!” I urged her quietly.
“I’m afraid to fall,” she whispered.
“So, fly in love with me! I’ve already fallen, and I can assure you it’s worth the risk. We can land together.” I pressed a kiss on her lips. “I promise to be your shelter. And when you need more, I’ll be your storm. Let me keep you warm. You’re already my Daisy. Let me be your forever.”
She bit her bottom lip. “You already are.”
With my heart thumping in my chest at her confession, I took her lips in mine. It wasn’t raw and savage. It was an admission, a promise. Mia thrust her fingers into my hair, and I caressed her skin under her shirt—my shirt—until I found her breasts.
Every gasp, every moan, every plea moved me forward.
I broke the kiss only to take her shirt off, then went back to taste her again. Our tongues danced languidly as we grinded against each other. I could feel her getting wetter and warmer, and I knew my control wouldn’t last for long.
She pushed the waistband of my underpants down and palmed my ass, pulling me even closer to her. I let them fall and kicked them to the side, then offered her the same courtesy. She lifted her hips enough for me to pull her underwear, and as soon as it was out, I stepped closer again, running my cock over and over her wet slit.
I let go of her lips and kissed down to her chest, pulling one of her pebbled nipples inside my mouth, while I played with the other between my fingers. I alternated between the two, marveling at her sweet mewls as she pleaded for more.
Returning the torturous favor, she fisted my cock, applying enough pressure to drive me wild, but not enough to end our exploration too soon. Rubbing her hands up and down, she pulled my shaft closer to her entrance, but there was something else I wanted to do first.
I gently pushed her hand away, placed her feet on the edge of the counter, exposing her to me, and kneeled in front of her.
She panted. “Ethan…”
“It’s been a while since I last tasted you. I’m starving.” I landed my mouth on her pussy, and she buckled on my lips.
As Mia fisted my hair and rubbed her core against me, I devoured her lips. I licked her from the entrance up to her clit, circling her nub with my tongue and sucking on it until she gasped.
Alternating between sucking and nibbling on her clit, I inserted two fingers inside her, driving them in and out. She was so wet that my fingers slid inside easily, and we made a mess on the sink. But I couldn’t care less. I was feasting on my woman.
“More, Ethan.”
Her wish was my command.
I ran my fingers over her slit, making them wet, and while I sucked relentlessly on her bundle of nerves, I slipped again my index and middle fingers inside her entrance and poked my ring finger on her puckered entrance.
She gasped and fisted my hair even tighter, not once faltering her rubbing against me. I pushed and pushed until it was sliding inside to my knuckle and proceeded to move my fingers in and out of her channels, sucking her clit, until she shattered crying my name.
I stood up and looked at Mia leaning against the wall, her hair plastered to her face, a satisfied smile on her lips. She’d never looked more beautiful.
“Let me just grab a condom—”
“Wait.” She held my arm. “I’m healthy and on the pill…”
She let the suggestion hang between us .
“Are you sure?”
Mia nodded. “I trust you. And I want nothing between us.”
I pulled her face for a new scorching kiss, letting her taste herself on my tongue, and positioned my shaft on her entrance. Pulling her hips even closer, I entered her in one smooth slide, and let her get comfortable to my size, my girth, and my piercing.
She crossed her legs on my butt again, and we devoured each other’s lips between gasps for air, until she moved her hips, urging me to thrust.
So, I did.
What started slowly soon became frantic and out of control. I pounded inside her, groaning her name between kisses, and Mia met me stroke for stroke.
We gasped, we moaned, we kissed, we felt everything. Each other, our feelings, the beginning of our future. It all moved us forward.
I circled one arm on her waist, not once stopping my thrusting, and ran my hand down until I found her clit. Mia broke our kiss and threw her head back moaning. I applied more pressure and felt her squeezing my cock.
As her legs began to shake, I pounded with even more vigor, circling her clit to the point of no return. She went over the edge, moaning my name and fisting my hair, as I followed her, pressing my face against her neck as I groaned her name and spilled inside her, spur after spur of desire and love.
We stayed entangled in each other, trying to control our breathing.
I lifted my head, caressed her sweaty back, pulled her hair behind her ear, and stared into her eyes. “I love you.”
Mia touched my face, and I leaned my cheek against her palm, closing my eyes. She pressed a peck on my lips. “I love you. Please, don’t hurt me.”
We kissed leisurely, and after our heartbeats normalized, I pulled her down the counter.
She and I cleaned the bathroom, took a shower—together, for more shenanigans—and got ready for a day of resting and walking around town. We both needed it.
I smelled the coffee she was making and smiled about it, knowing she was preparing it for me since she avoided drinking it.
I stepped out of the bedroom and walked to her. Cradling her face in my hands, I kissed her lips, and we smiled at each other.
She walked to the living room, and I picked up the cup waiting for me next to another one of her notes.
Thank you for being my Phoenix.
Love ,
Your Troublesome Spitfire .
Grinning, I slipped the note into my pocket and turned around to look for her.
Mia was facing yet another one of her demons. For the first time since I met her, she touched one of the frames facing down on her mantel. She took a deep breath and turned it upright.
She exhaled a shaky breath and ran her fingers over the picture most likely portraying her brother. Mia nodded in self-reassurance and looked at me with a nostalgic and bittersweet smile on her beautiful face. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
I nodded in acknowledgment at the huge step she took but didn’t say anything about it. “I’ll be right there.”
Once she was out, I sipped my coffee and strode to the mantel to finally meet the man who meant so much to the woman I was in love with.
I picked up the frame and felt a punch in my stomach when I looked at the photo of Zachary Bryant side-hugging Mia.
I concealed my gasp as much as I could. But there was no ignoring my increasing heartbeat, my frozen insides, my rounded eyes, and the tingle in my hands as I whispered, “ Fuuuck !”