24. Chapter 24
I’ve been a bundle of excitement all day. I was practically bouncing off the walls at Ink Me. So much so, that Jaxon put a lock on the coffee. Which is just ridiculous. I need that afternoon cup. But caffeine had nothing to do with it. I can’t help it if I was excited to get to the bakery.
Staring at the blank wall in front of me, I have so many ideas running through my mind. I want to do something nice for Olly, something special. I want to paint something that means something to him, something that, when he looks at this wall every day it makes him smile… and I know just how to make that happen.
Getting to work, I quickly grab the supplies and the powder-blue paint I had Spencer order for me. I’d dropped it off last night when I came to pick up Olly.
I lay down a painter’s cloth, so I don’t get paint all over his brand-new floors, and then I get to work. I lose myself, just like I do every time. It’s euphoric, honestly. It gives me a high, and not just on paint fumes. Painting takes me to a place where all the fucking worries tumbling around in my brain vanish.
I take a black paintbrush and start with the outline of my design. I don’t get too far when a warm set of arms wraps around me.
“What are you painting, baby?”
I breathe him in. “Oh, nothing, just a little surprise.”
“Today is filled with all kinds of surprises,” he whispers in my ear.
I turn my head and look at him. “Life is full of surprises.”
He kisses me lightly. “When do I get to see it?” he asks.
“I’m just getting started, but this area is off-limits to you for two days. No peeking until I’m done. I want it to be a surprise. Promise me you won’t peek. I don’t stand for cheaters.”
Olly laughs. Who doesn’t love that sound? “I promise, I won’t peek, but I also have a surprise for you.” This time, I turn all the way around in his arms.
“You have a surprise for me. Why? You’re the one opening the bakery.”
“Because everyone deserves a surprise every once in a while.”
“Yes, surprises are good. I agree. Know what’s even better? Not having to wait for surprises. There is something to be said about instant gratification.” I have no patience, never have. It’s been an issue my whole life.
“Okay, stay right here. I’ll be right back.”
“That’s just ridiculous. You’re bringing me a surprise. Why would I go anywhere?” Olly just shakes his head. But the best part is the soft sparkle in his eyes as he smiles. He’s not laughing at my ridiculousness. He’s enjoying the ride.
I don’t want to change who I am at my core, but I want someone who can see me at my core. Olly has always done that. I know I frustrate him with some of my more excitable choices. But that did not stop him from seeing past all that. He put in the work instead of tossing me aside.
I turn back to continue my mural, careful not to give too much away before I get this area blocked off and covered. I want to do something that will represent his grandparents. Their influence on his life is profound, and seeing him today, he mirrors both of their best qualities. I think they would burst with pride at his accomplishments.
And I’m excited to meet his sister—aside from the butt snafu—when she comes out to visit in a few weeks with her family. The small child, on the other hand, we’ll have to see.
I’m nervous. I’ve never met someone’s family before. I’ve never been with anyone long enough. Or never allowed myself to get close enough. I feel my chest tighten at just the thought. Fuck, what if she doesn’t think I’m good enough?
The sight and sound of Olly carrying a giant box through the swinging kitchen door pulls me from my downward spiral just in time. “What is that?”
“Well, umm, the sign for the bakery came in.” The usually confident man, with his red flannel shirt and backward cap, dips his head, allowing me to see a sliver of his vulnerability.
“What do you mean? You came up with a name? You never told me that. What is it? ”
Olly grabs my shoulders and spins me around. “Stand right here and close your eyes.” I do as he says because I’ll always do what he says.
The urge to peek is strong. Again, my patience is null. What if I crack one eye open? I doubt he’ll notice. A color, if I could just get a hint of color. That’s not really peeking. Ugh… I want to look. “Are you done yet?” I complain.
He wraps his arms around me from behind, the breath of his chuckle skimming my ear. “You’re worse than an eight-year-old.”
“Hey, I’m better than an eight-year-old… on most days,” I argue, my voice breathy. “I’m better than an eight-year-old on most days.”
With his hands on my waist, he turns me, his fingers skimming the skin just beneath my shirt, as we stand chest to chest. I can feel the heat radiating off his body.
“Keep them closed,” he says one last time before his body heat is gone. I can hear him from the right. It sounds like the box is sliding around, making all sorts of noise.
Finally, he utters the magic words, “Open sesame.” The air is thick with anticipation as I open my eyes. The oxygen I desperately need to live is trapped in my lungs, the words frozen in my throat. My eyes sting as I blink away the tears building.
“I hope you like it. My grandfather always had this theory that the name of The Diner would come to me one day, and I would just know when it was ‘the one.’ It seems the same can be said for the bakery.”
“But you never named The Diner,” I point out.
He shrugs. “I have ideas. ”
I look at the sign again, and this time there’s no blinking away the stream of tears streaking down my face. I’ve never been on the receiving end of a grand gesture before.
Standing in front of me is an outline of a giant cupcake with the words Vanilla House.
“I think the work Matthew did was important. The lives he touched were important, and the impact he had on you is significant. I know I never got to meet Matthew, but he deserves to be honored.”
I can’t take my eyes off the name as all the emotions… sadness, happiness, grief rush through. And when I look up at Olly… it’s love. Love is what I see. He took something that means everything to me and made it part of his life. A big part of his life, almost like he’s making me a part of his life, like maybe he plans on keeping me.
I take one, two, three steps until I am wrapped up in him. “I love you. Thank you,” I say, looking up into his endless brown eyes. He bends his neck, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I hope you like it.”
“Olly. No. I love it. I love it so damn much.” I kiss his lips, soft and slow, enjoying the feel of them on mine, while reveling in the warmth of his body pressed against me.
Somewhere among all the right and wrong turns I’ve taken while trying to find my way, I fell in love. I sure as fuck wasn’t looking for it. It started with a man who held all the pieces to a puzzle I needed to solve.
My obsession, my muse, my love.
Soon the simple, sweet kiss turns passionate, which then turns dirty. I’m for all kinds of kisses. I don’t discriminate .
“I need you,” I tell him, because, oh, do I ever need to show him exactly what this meant to me. I attack his lips, walking him back slowly until his ass hits the counter.
Olly’s hand goes to the back of my head, fingers gripping my hair with every nibble on his bottom lip.
You know what I love about Olly wearing flannel shirts? They button. So, one by one, I make my way down, popping the buttons as I go. When my lips make it to his chest, they have free range to roam.
My tongue takes up residence, swirling around his pebbled nipple. He pulls at my hair, like it’s taking everything within him to hang on.
“What are you doing, Jasper?” he says in a hollowed breath.
“I’m giving you a proper thank you—frosting not included.”
“Bummer.” Olly chuckles. “You never need to thank me, but I’ll enjoy whatever you’re about to give me.”
Then, I do what I do best. I sink to my knees, staring up at the man who has changed my life. A man who’s worth stopping running for. He allowed me to face the emotions that I’ve kept bottled up. All the anger I felt when Matthew passed, all the anger I still feel. I love Marcus and Jacob. They’re my family, yet the absence of Matthew leaves a gaping hole, a nagging ache for the missing link.
With open-mouthed kisses on his denim-covered cock, I look up and our eyes meet, filled with want and desire. I found my missing link. It’s Olly. Finally, all the pieces feel like they’re falling into place.
Instead of feeling sadness for Matthew, I just want to celebrate him. It breaks me that a good man could be taken so soon.
“Thank you,” I say, from my knees.
“I would do anything for you.” Olly cups my cheek. “Anything except for burying a body. I mean, I may help you dig the hole, but carrying the body, you kinda got to do yourself.”
I bark out a laugh, unbuttoning his jeans and lowering his zipper. “Don’t distract me, Mr. Pierson. I’m trying to give you a proper thank you.”
“Please, don’t let me interrupt,” he says, punching his hips forward. He lets out a gasp when I yank his pants and underwear down to mid-thigh. “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.”
Olly’s cock springs free, hitting his stomach, leaving behind a smear of precum that I greedily lick clean. His hands find their way back into my hair, which is becoming his new favorite place.
I mouth at his cock, desperate to devour him. His finger finds my chin, stilling me as he tilts my head up. In a silent command, he grabs the base of his cock, rubbing the pre-cum that has pooled at the tip over my lips.
“Open for me, Jasper.”
My eyes roll back as he feeds his cock down my throat. Oh, fuck… it’s so hot, I moan around the stretch of my lips.
“If this is how you want to thank me in the future, I will have no complaints.”
I slowly move my mouth up and down his shaft with powerful pulls of suction.
“Jasper, that mouth of yours is going to make me shoot down your throat in five seconds, but I need that ass, baby. It’s my turn.”
Before I even register what is happening, Olly is hauling me up, spinning me around, and bending me over the counter .
His hand sneaks around, giving my cock a squeeze through the material before he undoes my leather pants and slides them down. A move he’s become quite efficient at.
He moves in such a flurry that I’m not prepared when he spreads my cheeks apart and licks a stripe from ass to taint, causing my cock to twitch.
My cock is aching, throbbing between my legs. Olly pulls back from devouring my ass. “More,” I beg.
“Don’t worry baby, I’m nowhere near done with this ass. But these,” he says, trailing a finger over my balls, making them draw up tight. “So full and beautiful.”
I gasp at his words. “Jesus, Olly,”
He laps and sucks each one into his mouth. An explosion of heat zings through my veins, landing with each pass of his tongue.
There’s a heightened sense of excitement as Olly eats out my ass in the middle of his bakery. The storefront windows are covered, but I don’t think the front door is locked, and anyone could walk in. New kink unlocked.
He adds a finger with his ruthless tongue. My hole is so ready for him that it slides right in.
“Fuck, baby, your hole is greedy.”
“More,” I grunt, trying to hold it together.
He stands, his finger never leaving my ass as he adds another, and his body blankets mine.
“Do you need me to fuck you, Jasper?”
“Shit! Yes, but it’s supposed to be me thanking you.”
“Oh, you are, baby. By giving me your hole.” The word hole is punctuated by a pass at my prostate, causing my body to rise .
“Fuck, Olly, you’ve had your fun. Now fuck me before I come,” I say through gritted teeth while fighting for my life, trying to hang on to my orgasm.
“I’m here, baby,” he whispers in my ear, his cock notched against my hole. “I’m right… here.” He slides in, slow and steady. We both moan. I arch my back, meeting him halfway with each thrust. Always meeting him halfway.
We find our rhythm. It’s not hard and punishing or slow and languid, but equal parts of push and pull.
I cry out when he angles his hips, and his cock pegs my prostate. “Oh, fuck. Right there, Olly.”
With a hand braced on my shoulder and another hugging my hip, he takes me to the edge of ecstasy.
“Come, baby. Come for me… come for me,” he chants.
As soon as his hand wraps around my hard cock, I explode. Not that I needed his hand. His aim is so spot on I could’ve come hands-free.
My cock swells and pulsates with each thrust. His hips stagger before I feel him swell, his hot cum filling me deep inside.
If this is how I thank him for the sign, I wonder how he’s going to thank me for the mural?