Chapter 30
30
Ezra
I’ve allowed Millie to give Kane and me as much “time to adjust” as I can stand. I’m no idiot. She’s using this as an excuse to avoid me.
What I can’t figure out is why she’s doing it. Cam gave me a little peace of mind when he reminded me that Joey grew distant and pushed back when their relationship got intense.
Is that what Millie is doing? Is she afraid of commitment?
I’m about to find out.
After Kane takes off for summer school, I walk the few blocks to Millie’s. I’ve never been inside, but I finagled her apartment number out of Joey by telling her it was the least she could do after she used me to make Cam jealous the night we met.
I slip in behind a resident, bypassing the call box outside her building. As I knock on her door, two elderly women pop their heads out from the apartment next door.
“May we help you?”
I look over my shoulder to confirm they’re talking to me. “I don’t think so, but thank you.”
“Are you here to see our Millie? ”
Their Millie?
“Yes,” I respond as a wave of trepidation rolls through me.
The smaller woman scans me from head to toe. The intensity in her demeanor instantly tells me I should be scared of her, even though she’s half my height.
“What are your intentions with our girl?” She asks the question at the same time the door in front of me flies open.
“Ezra.” Millie’s wearing an emerald satin robe, her exquisite cleavage on full display.
I’m pretty sure my tongue lolls out of my mouth at the view.
With a scowl, she pulls the robe around her tighter, hiding all that gorgeous skin. “What are you doing here?”
“Apparently getting the third degree.” I nod to my right.
“Peg, Fran,” Millie scolds. “What are you up to?”
“Don’t mind us. We’re just checking out the new guy.”
The new guy, huh? Stepping forward, I extend my arm and turn on the charm. “I’m Ezra. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The smaller one shakes my hand first. “I’m Peg, and this here’s my wife, Fran.”
“Do you plan to be around long?” Fran asks, eyes narrowed.
“For as long as she’ll have me.” I don’t know whether she wants to know how long I’m staying today , or how long in general , but either way, the answer is the same.
The women’s faces light up with glee, so I must have passed some sort of test.
“We good here?” Millie asks, leaning against the doorframe.
“We just need samples. Urine and blood will do. Then you two can be on your way,” Peg says.
“What?” I choke on a gasp.
“Ignore her.” Fran cackles. “Let’s leave these two very attractive young folks alone. It was nice meeting you, Ezra. It’s been a while since someone’s knocked on that door.”
Millie lowers her head and picks at her nails .
“It was nice meeting you too,” I reply.
Fran is already shoving her wife through the door, saying something about a cockblock, I swear.
Millie welcomes me into her apartment, and I lead her to the sofa by her wrist and pull her onto my lap before she can speak. Her robe separates when she straddles my hips, revealing nothing but luscious skin underneath. The golden wisps of hair that have grown between her legs since I last saw her have my cock aching within my shorts.
I grip her thick thighs, but when my fingers slip against the satin, I grasp her ass and pull her in until her bare belly is flush against my shirt.
“I missed you.” Angling in, I capture her lips. My tongue requests entrance, and she opens, welcoming me with a tender urgency.
All too soon, she pulls back, leaving my cock protesting. Her fingers are linked at my neck when she says, “Should I call you Principal now?”
With a swat to the side of her thigh, I growl. “I haven’t gotten the job yet.”
“You will.” Her eyes shine with adoration and confidence.
“Speaking of jobs…”
“Ugh.” She releases her hold on me and drops her hands to her sides. “Can we not?”
“Why?”
Slumping onto the cushion next to me, she covers her body with her robe.
Dammit. Why did I have to go and open my big mouth?
Her arms are crossed, her body language closed off, but she remains angled toward me. “My agent’s been after me about auditions.”
My first instinct is to say “that’s great,” but her expression makes it clear that would be the wrong response .
A heavy sigh escapes her. “I don’t think I want to perform anymore.”
With my thumb and forefinger at her chin, I guide her head up so she’s forced to look at me. Her eyes swim with hurt.
“But you love performing.” I wipe at the tears that crest over her lashes. “I’ve seen you. Watching you on stage is… is magical.” It’s the truth. Each time I recall watching her shine, I break out in goose bumps.
“I love the theater,” she admits. “But I need to rethink what that looks like. Maybe there’s a way to keep it in my life without bending and breaking and starving myself for it. I just don’t know what that is yet.”
“What if you coached? Or taught theater at Asher’s camp? Oh, there’s that dance studio between my apartment and yours. You could teach there.” I’m practically bouncing off the sofa with ideas now.
“Ezra.” She puts a hand on my thigh, her expression serious. “Can you not do the typical man thing?”
“What?”
“Don’t try to fix it,” she says, eyes pleading.
Shit. Like an idiot, I jumped straight to Mr. Fix-It mode.
“I’m sorry.” Heart pinching, I gather her by her nape and kiss her forehead. “Do you want to be helped, hugged, or heard?”
“Huh?”
“It’s what my mom used to say to me when I was young. So, do you want to be helped, hugged, or heard?”
“Hugged.” She throws a leg over my lap, resting her chest against mine.
With one arm around her waist, I tangle the other in her hair and comb through the strands with my fingers. After a few minutes, she relaxes into me like I knew she would.
“Thank you.” The words are whispered into my neck. She follows up the sentiment with a kiss to the edge of my beard. Her next kiss is in the same place, but this time, it lingers.
With a slow exhale, I drag my hands down her back. In response, she rocks into my hips and follows up the move with a lick to the skin below my ear. When she rocks a second time, I get the hint.
I thread a hand between us and untie her robe, and while she sucks and nips at my neck, I slide the silky fabric down her arms, caressing the soft, warm skin there. I sink my teeth into the soft flesh at her shoulder, eliciting a moan from her. Then she’s rocking her hips against my growing erection with more intensity.
“Hey, Millie?”
“Mmm?”
“Do you want to be helped, hugged… or fucked?”