Chapter 22 - Zoe
After all our careful planning and acquiring supplies for the baby shower, the day had arrived, and I and Ezra spent the morning preparing.
Sebastian took Lydia and Callie out for breakfast to give us a chance to set everything up, so we took advantage of that time and hauled everything over from the house.
Before long, the backyard was completely decked out with everything I deemed necessary for the day to be a hit. It was all there, from decorations to snacks, drinks, games, and the gift table.
To give us some extra hands, the other guys showed up with their families and pitched in before the guests arrived. Then, when it was all perfect, the backyard was soon full of everyone close to Sebastian and Lydia.
With all of us gathered, the three of them approached the backyard, and we excitedly surprised Lydia.
Her face lit up immediately as the realization set in, eyes moving from all of us to the decorations. "No way!"
Everyone smiled at her joyous reaction as she entered the backyard fully, and I approached for a hug.
"This looks incredible," she said, visibly touched by the gesture. As we pulled back from the embrace, Lydia grinned. "Did you do this?"
Smiling back at her, I nodded. "I sure did. But I had some help, of course."
As her smile lingered, she glanced back at Sebastian. "I should've known that sudden breakfast out was suspicious."
"Suspicious?" He questioned with an amused grin as he put an arm around her. "Or perfectly timed?"
Lydia rolled her eyes playfully but smiled and seemed overly happy about the whole thing. "Regardless, this is so wonderful."
As Lydia and Sebastian greeted their guests, Ezra and I stood off to the side near the games table.
I glanced over at him. "Did you remember the pudding for the diaper-changing game?"
Ezra nodded as we arranged everything that was needed. "It should be inside. I can go get it."
Giving him a grateful smile, I nodded in return. "That would be great."
That gaze lingered for a moment, and without meaning to focus on him, I couldn't help but admire how the light caught his eyes and resembled a forest bathed in sunbeams.
It stirred those feelings within me, and they begged to come out, but I immediately reminded myself that it wasn't the time.
Noticing and apparently feeling the same thing, Ezra's smile pulled as he looked at me for a moment longer. "I'll go get that pudding, then."
Nodding to dispel the distracting thoughts, I murmured, "Of course."
With the faintest grin, he walked off towards the house.
As the expecting couple were occupied with conversing, I glanced over as someone asked to feel Lydia's stomach while Sebastian's eyes were firmly on me.
It caught me off-guard, having not realized it until then. But as he glanced between me and then to Ezra's retreating form, his brows furrowed slightly with that questioning expression.
Returning my focus to the game's table, my heart clenched at the realization.
The night Ezra and I met up with his parents, I went to Sebastian's place and confided in him about what happened. I even spilled everything about our history together and how Ezra broke my heart.
In hindsight, I shared too much, but I had no choice at the moment. When I showed up to his place crying, I had to say something.
And with Ezra and me acting more cordial for once in front of everyone, he could surely tell that I wasn't torn up about it anymore.
He was probably piecing two and two together, and I felt incredibly guilty for going to him in the first place.
It didn't paint Ezra in the best light, and it was fortunate that Sebastian hadn't already torn into him over it. But we patched things up between us, and I didn't need him to play the role of protective big brother—I just didn't have the opportunity to explain all of that to him yet.
Although, I knew I had to at some point. I had to spare Ezra from Sebastian's growing irritation, but given that it was the baby shower with tons of people around, it would have to wait.
I assumed that was likely why Ezra was even still there—Sebastian hadn't had the chance to unload on him yet.
Forcing myself to play it cool, I tried to keep a reasonable distance from both of them as the baby shower festivities continued. But as hard as I tried, it was hard not to feel affected by being near Ezra.
Ever since we both accepted the bond and stopped resisting, that urge to constantly be close and maintain some sort of physical contact was nearly impossible to ignore.
The feeling of his skin was so beyond addicting, along with his warmth and the way he could push me over the edge so easily. It didn't take much for my thoughts to run wild, and with such a fresh bond, those feelings were fairly volatile.
Between those glances and knowing looks we shared throughout the day and the few moments when we had to be close for various reasons, it was getting harder to resist.
But as the baby shower went on, with games being played, food made, and gifts unwrapped, I could feel my self-restraint fraying little by little. It was getting harder to keep my hands to myself.
The attraction I felt for Ezra seemed to have tripled since we fixed our bond and smoothed things out between us. He didn't have to do much of anything, and I'd already be pulsing with that need to be near him.
As much as I tried to focus on the day and appreciate the time spent with everyone gathered, my mind kept going back to him. To go back home and relieve that pressurized desire within me.
When it was time for cake, I went inside, pulled the themed dessert out of the fridge when Ezra came in, and let go of a breath. He leaned against the counter with his eyes on me.
"Anything I can help with?"
Even being alone in the room with him was enough to trigger that longing in me, and I had to stop and collect myself as I looked over at him.
He looked far too appealing in his dark-wash jeans and the casual cream button-down he had on. Even if it seemed somewhat dressed up for him, he made it look so effortlessly sexy, and I couldn't get enough.
He lifted a brow at me as I stared at him without saying anything. "Everything all right?"
Swallowing hard, aware that I couldn't hide it, I sighed. "Today has been...a struggle."
"A struggle?" he asked, looking curious yet vaguely concerned. But when he moved a bit closer, the realization flickered in his eyes, and whether he could sense it or just assume it, he seemed to understand perfectly with that faint grin on his lips. "You're feeling some type of way, hm?"
If I hadn't found him so attractive, I would've torn into him for teasing me, but I could only sigh and nod at that moment.
"Why did you have to look so good today?" I asked, feeling as that warmth moved through me.
Ezra chuckled and stepped closer, towering over me like always. He reached out and gently tucked some hair behind my ear. His voice was low and far too appealing for my own good. "If I had known it didn't take much to get you worked up, I would've tried a little less."
Despite his amusement, his evident desire overshadowed it as he looked down at me and let the back of his finger brush against my cheek.
I nearly shivered from the touch, eyes closing. "You're torturing me right now."
Ezra chuckled. "Obviously, we can't do anything right now...but how about something to tide you over?"
Even with my mind clouded by lust, I knew it wasn't the best idea. It was a risk and not the best timing, but something in me didn't care. I just wanted something. Anything.
Feeling both at ease thanks to our proximity and needy for his attention, I could only look up at him and nod.
Grinning, he cupped my cheek softly and leaned forward until our noses were gently pressed side by side. His forehead just barely rested against mine as we both seemed to breathe the other in.
"You'll have to restrain yourself, remember," he murmured, voice tinged with amusement.
Letting go of an impatient breath, I nodded again. "Just hurry, would you?"
Ezra chuckled at that, slowly moving his lips closer, letting them brush against mine as he spoke. "You're lucky this is a precarious situation, or I'd take my time teasing you..."
The moment I felt his lips press against mine, a shiver went through my body, and I wasted no time deepening it.
That desire washed through me, and while it was satisfying, it simultaneously made me crave even more.
With one hand cupping my cheek while the other held my hip as his fingers gave me a teasing squeeze, Ezra entertained my whim long enough for us to lose ourselves in the moment.
Our lips melded together, sending a rush of sensations through me. My skin was warm all over and demanding to be touched.
Our bond, bright and vibrant between us, felt perfectly content, and I didn't want it to end.
I hummed as he gave my lower lip a playful flick with his tongue, making my stomach flip.
But before I could get ahead of myself, Ezra pulled back and chuckled at my immediate huff of disappointment.
He let his thumb graze over my lip, eyes sparkling with mischief. "That's all for now. Everyone's waiting for cake, remember?"
My cheeks were warm as I looked up at him. I deflated somewhat, but I knew he was right. I nodded. "I know..."
Catching my slightly dejected tone, he hummed his amusement and stroked my cheek again. "Hey, we'll continue this later when we don't need to worry about anyone else seeing us, alright?"
As impatient as I felt, I smiled at him at the prospect. "I'll hold you to it then."
He chuckled and gently let go of me to grab the cake. "You'd better."