Chapter Sixteen Darien
Chapter Sixteen
Darien
I’m still on a high from the solstice, even though it was almost a month ago.
Rex and I are officially official. I’ve told my brother, and both he and Kade are genuinely happy for me.
I’m not close with the rest of my family—the few who are left—so I don’t feel the urge to make an announcement right now.
But as long as I’m visiting LA in September, I’ll also tell the rest of our gang about him while I’m there. They’ll either be cool with it or they won’t. I’m so in love with Rex, I don’t care anymore.
I pause, setting down the duster I’ve been using at the front counter.
I’ve never confessed my feelings to Rex. At least, not with those words. I sense he feels the same, but I don’t want the moment to be forced. I’m ready for my fireworks.
Virgil moseys into the shop from the back. “You can go on ahead, son. We’ll be closing in a few, and it sure as heck has been slow today.”
Virgil’s become used to either Rex picking me up or me leaving to go see him almost every day.
“I think it’s because everyone’s at the Lake Shootout, so they’re more in that direction.”
Rex was the one who first told me about the popular speedboat racing event held at the Lake of the Ozarks. The bash kills business on the Arkansas side for the weekend as well as a couple of days on either side.
Virgil is scratching his chin, frowning. “Huh. Well, I’ll be. That’s right.” He shakes his head and shrugs. “I used to keep careful track of all the events, plan around them.” A faint smile crosses his lips. “I guess after all these years, I’m not as interested in that stuff as I once was.”
I feel so bad for him. More than once he’s talked about visiting his brother, who retired down in Florida, and how nice it would be to relax in a warm climate. I’m starting to think Rex was right when he suggested Virgil might want to close the store.
“I don’t have to go right away if you want to go home. Rex and I don’t really have a set time to meet up.”
I decline to mention that Rex gave me a magical token so I can come and go as I please. It kills me that I can’t tell Virgil about the Howler from his childhood camping trip, but I’m now a loyal defender of the Monster Network. My lips are sealed.
“Nah.” Virgil shoos me away. “I’ve got nowhere special to be.”
“Well…”
Virgil winks. “Treasure every moment with your man. Don’t ever take them for granted.”
My eyebrows shoot up. This is the first time Virgil has ever alluded to my status with Rex.
“I won’t.” I smile. “Thanks, Virgil. Before I go, I want to buy one of the beet and two of the ham salads.”
Rex told me that Jimbo made pot roast, so we just need some sides to go with it.
Tomorrow’s my day off, so Rex and I are going to do a day trip to Little Rock to check out the Historic Arkansas Museum.
I’m curious about my new home, and Rex remembers much of it from that time, so it’ll be a trip down memory lane for him.
After I buy our food, I take off for Rex’s cave. I don’t need to bother bringing an overnight bag anymore. I’ve brought so many of my things over there at this point; it wouldn’t make sense.
I reach the turn-off, then drive down the private path and park, leaving Rex enough space for his truck. He’s probably still getting our food, but I never leave the store without my token.
Once I undo the wards and set them again, I’m met at the cave opening by Winston. I’ve barely had a chance to lean the wood panels against the entrance before he’s jumping against my legs, begging for treats. The little furry menace is relentless. Clover begs too, but she’s much more polite.
“Okay, okay.” I set down the tote on the kitchen counter. “You act as if you’ve never eaten before.”
I unpack everything, then slice up an apple. I give both Winston and Clover a piece, and they’re temporarily appeased.
“Hey, babe!” Rex calls from the entrance. “I’m glad you’re here already. I’m starving.”
I turn, and I’m met with his smoldering gaze. As usual, it’s obvious he’s hungry for more than food. Okay, I confess. I am too.
We meet halfway and share a searing kiss.
We use our hands to roam each other’s bodies, and I’m thinking that cold pot roast isn’t the worst thing in the world.
It’s been two whole days since we’ve been able to get together, and I’ve been losing my mind.
Our mutual promise not to jerk off when apart is our way of saving ourselves for each other.
Doesn’t mean that it’s next to impossible. I can’t even think about Rex without popping a woody.
He breaks the kiss, laughing as I chase his lips with mine.
“Let me put the food down, sweetheart.”
Rex squeezes my ass, his grip strong, and I’m reminded of the night we fooled around when he was in his Howler form. I find his free hand and lace our fingers together, trailing behind him. He drops the bag onto the counter, then turns, pulling me to him. Our arms encircle each other’s waists.
Rex gazes down at me with a soft smile. “My favorite thing ever. Coming home to find you here.”
I chuckle. “Mine is waking up in your bed.”
“Mmm…” Rex nods. “That’s my favorite too.”
I arch my eyebrows. “You can’t have two favorites.”
“Who says?”
Rex leans down and captures my mouth again, the kiss languid and soft. He finishes by brushing our lips together, then rests his chin on top of my head as he holds me close. He lets out a sigh, and I pull back, peering up at him.
“What is it?”
His eyes bore into mine. “What if it was your bed too?”
I hope he’s saying what I think he’s saying, but I need him to use all his words.
“What exactly are you asking me, Rex?”
“Move in. I know it’s a long drive to the market, but my schedule’s flexible. I can give you a ride every day, so it won’t be too much of a burden on you. And didn’t you say your hours will be cut after Labor Day?”
“Rex, I’m not going to make a major decision on our relationship based on driving distances.”
“Oh.” He licks his lips. “Then what will you base it on?”
“The fact that I love you with every fiber of my being and don’t want to live without you.”
Rex’s jaw is hanging open like he’s catching flies, and for once, I’m the one who makes a shocking statement. Still, he is leaving me hanging. He snaps his mouth shut, then swoops me up in his arms. I squeal, Winston makes a hasty exit, and Clover retreats to her basket in the far corner.
Thankfully, they’re not voyeurs.
Rex tosses me on the bed, then straddles me, his feral eyes locked on me.
“I’ve been in love with you from almost the moment we met.” Rex lowers himself to his elbows. “Somehow my spirit knew you were the one for me, the love I’ve yearned for these many lonely years.”
I hate that he’s had to experience such a solitary existence over so many decades. I’m not sure how it will work given the disparity in how we age, but even if I can’t be with him as long as we’d like, we can still have a lot of time together. As Virgil said, cherish every moment.
I clasp the back of his neck and encourage him closer. “Then we shouldn’t let a few measly miles keep us apart.”
Rex grinds against my hip, his breathing picking up a quicker pace. “We won’t let anything keep us apart.”
“Then fuck me, Rex.”
I have no idea why that popped out of my mouth, but I’m done holding back with Rex, no matter what it is.
“You don’t have to—”
“I want it,” I interject. “I’m so fucking hot for you all the time, never mind what you can do with those magical fingers of yours. It’s like you wrote the book Fun with Prostates.”
Rex’s brow creases. “There’s a book? And I didn’t use any magic, not for something so personal. That was all me.”
Oh my God. He slays me with how innocent he comes off sometimes.
“I know it’s all you, my love.” I smile. “Take care of me though, okay?”
He whispers, “Always.”
Rex’s weight shifts as he reaches for the drawer of the nightstand. I watch his magnificent muscles flex, the way the dim light catches the contours of his back. Rex turns back to me, lube in hand, but his eyes hold a question.
“Tell me if anything is uncomfortable, or you need to stop.” Rex’s husky voice carries a light tremor. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
That’s all I can manage as Rex helps me remove my clothes. The cool air kisses my skin, raising goosebumps, but my body burns with anticipation. Rex traces patterns on my chest with his fingertips, then moves lower, teasing.
Rex furrows his brow. “You’re trembling.”
“Not from fear,” I suck in a deep breath. “I need you.”
Rex’s eyes darken as he coats his fingers with the slick.
The first touch is gentle, exploratory, the way he always is when penetrating me.
I close my eyes, surrendering to the sensation.
This is familiar, hot. I can’t tell you how many times he’s made me come with his fingers stuffed in my ass.
Sometimes, it’s happened without him ever touching my cock.
Rex adds a second finger. My breath catches as Rex’s fingers sink deeper, curving just right. The stretch is exquisite, my body yielding to him the way it always does. Heat pools in my belly, my cock twitching against my stomach.
“That’s it,” Rex murmurs, his voice like velvet. “You’re so beautiful like this.”
I want to tell him he’s the beautiful one, but coherent thought isn’t my friend right now. His fingers find that spot inside me, and my toes curl.
“Rex!”
He wraps his free hand around my cock, stroking in rhythm with his thrusting fingers. The dual sensation has me panting, my fingers clutching at the sheets.
“You’re so ready for me, baby,” he growls next to my ear.
I nod frantically. “No lie detected there.”
He lets out a throaty chuckle and adds a third finger. The stretch burns in the best possible way. “I’ve imagined this for so long. Filling up your tight ass with my hard cock, fucking you so hard you scream my name.”