Chapter 6
Once I finished lunch, I headed back to work and locked myself in my office. My conversation hadn’t settled my nerves about my relationship with Steph, and I couldn’t talk to Ty right now because I was afraid he would make things more complicated by asking questions I didn’t have answers to. So, I buried myself in billables until it was time to leave.
At quarter to seven, I closed down my computer and headed out. Ty had left over an hour ago, so at least I no longer had to dodge him as I left the building. A cool breeze blew through the air, bringing the smell of Chinese food from next door. It wasn’t my favorite, but my stomach growled, and I wondered if I should pick up some takeout.
I wasn’t sure what she would want for her celebratory dinner, but I thought a surprise might be better than calling her. She loved a little barbeque place three blocks over, so I went there. If I could show I was thinking about her, maybe she would see that I was trying to put her first. When you’d been single most of your life, it was weird having to consider how your actions could affect your partner, even when you weren’t around them.
After picking up some ribs, chicken, and every side on the menu, I stopped by the only liquor store. The choices were limited, but I found a nice Bordeaux that paired well with ribs.
By the time I was done with my errands, it was twenty after seven, and I hoped we would arrive around the same time. I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t keeping my word.
With my hands full, I juggled opening the door and called out, “Steph, you home?” I sat everything down on the entryway table as I walked inside and kicked off my heels.
I scanned the room and didn’t see her, so I listened…nothing. I must have beaten her here, but that was okay. It would give me time to pour her a glass of wine and plate the food. But first, I would get out of this suit and into something more comfortable.
As I made my way to our room, I started stripping off my clothes so I wouldn’t waste time. But when I opened the bedroom door, I saw Steph on the bed, with her long legs crossed like she was waiting for a meeting to start—except she was completely naked.
“Whoa!” I stood in my bra and skirt, wondering if I was dreaming. “When you said you wanted to stay in, I didn’t realize this was what you meant.”
She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward with her elbows on her knees. Accentuating her cleavage. “Did you have a better way to celebrate?”
I swallowed hard. This was not where I saw the day going, but I wouldn’t fight it.
“It’s your day, and I want you to have whatever you want.” My nipples hardened and rubbed against the lace of my bra.
She was breathtaking, and when she walked toward me like a lioness would its prey, I questioned how I had kept my hands off her for so long.
“What I want is you.” She leaned in so close that her bare breasts pressed against me, causing goosebumps to cover my body. “Let me help you out of these clothes.” She reached around my back, unsnapping my bra, and the moisture built between my legs. With each piece of clothing she removed, she made sure to brush her body against mine, causing me to be weak in the knees.
“Why don’t we take this to the bed?” she purred.
I wanted that so badly, but I remembered the mess from today, and I couldn’t do anything before I showered. As much as I didn’t want to put her off, I wouldn’t get out of my head until I was clean. “Can you give me five minutes to rinse off?” I pleaded, and she smirked.
“Why waste any time apart when I can join you?” She led me to the bathroom without waiting for me to respond.
I loved that she was taking the lead, but I wanted her to know how much she was desired. Recently, my actions made her believe I was indifferent, and I needed to show her that wasn’t true.
As we moved into the bathroom, she started the shower, steam filling the room. I followed behind her, placing my hands on her hips and kissing her shoulder.
She was a good four inches taller than me, but it was the perfect height if we were facing each other. With little urging, she spun around, and I brought my lips to her neck. She leaned her head back as a form of permission. She growled as I roamed down her body until I reached her perfect breasts.
As the shower continued to heat up, I took one nipple into my mouth and sucked as I gently squeezed the other. The sounds coming from her made me think she was as ready as I was.
“The water’s probably warm enough. You still want to join me?” The look in her eye told me there was no question. I stepped into the walk-in shower and let the spray hit me as if washing away all the stress from earlier in the day.
No sooner than I got inside, Steph was on me. Her mouth covered mine as she pinned me against the wall. She pushed her body into me, and her hands slid down my sides and settled on my ass. She pressed one of her thighs between my legs and pulled me closer. She moved closer, urging me to take what I needed from her. I rubbed my throbbing clit on her leg as her lips made their way to my ear.
“We have some lost time to make up for.” While making sure there was no distance between us, she slid her fingers over my center, and with a few slow strokes, she’d given me a release I didn’t even realize I craved.
How did I let it get this off between us? She deserved an attentive girlfriend, and I was ready to be one. Trading places with her, I backed her up until she was seated on the bench. I would show her body the devotion it had been missing.
As I leaned in, the water pelted my back, and I nibbled on her earlobe before sliding my tongue down her neck. Once I hit her collarbone, I sucked lightly on the pulse point. My hands roamed her body—I wanted to touch every inch of her. I dragged my short nails down her stomach as I got on my knees. When I gazed up at her and saw her eyes pleading with me, I hated that I hadn’t realized how distant we had been.
This was my time to prove what she meant to me. I moved my head lower, then slowly peppered kisses from her calf to her hipbone. Then I lifted that leg over my shoulder to give myself better access as I swirled my tongue in circles around her clit.
She arched her back, grabbed my hair with one of her hands, and whimpered as I continued caressing her lips. When I slid two fingers inside her, she involuntarily moved into me. As I glided my tongue up her wet folds, I curled my fingers inside, hitting her sweet spot. She pulled my head back so I was looking her right in the eyes as she screamed out in ecstasy.
When she finally came down, I placed her leg back on the shower floor and carefully made my way to standing. When I was upright, she joined me, pressing her lips to mine before pulling my tongue into her mouth and deepening the kiss. I wanted to get lost in that moment, but she ended it before I could.
As both of us slowed our breathing, I thought of all the things I should say, but all I could come up with was, “I’m so sorry, Steph.”
“I believe you.” She kissed my nose, and I hoped I saw forgiveness in her eyes. “Sometimes, life gets in the way of things. But if we make an effort, it doesn’t have to.” She was right—relationships took work, and it was time to step up.
“I will always want you. You’re my first relationship, and I’m unsure how to navigate sometimes, but I promise I will try to be better for you.”
“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.” She smiled, but it didn’t seem she would return the sentiment. “Now, you finish cleaning up, and I’ll wait for you in bed. This was just our warm-up.”
She exited, and I stayed under the warm water, trying to let the worries leave my body. If I could let go and live in the moment, this could be a night to remember.
The bass was so loud it reverberated through my body. I had no idea where I was, but I was being dragged through a throng of people. My feet were moving on their own accord until something forced me to stop in the middle of a dance floor.
This woman was moving her hips in front of me, and my heart hammered in my chest. I couldn’t see her face, but I recognized her essence. My pulse was racing, and I had a drive to be near her—to touch her. But the way she swayed her body was hypnotizing, and I couldn’t move. Then everything disappeared.
I jolted awake and turned to see Steph sound asleep. She appeared so peaceful, and after last night, I hoped my mind would have been more at ease, but I knew in my heart that she wasn’t the woman in my dream.