Chapter 31
31
M orning number two of waking up beside Essie is heaven.
I could grow used to this, yet I’ll never take for granted.
God, please let it be our future.
Before leaving for Callie’s party, I packed an overnight bag, just in case . Luckily, Essie invited me to stay over. After what happened in my car, if she hadn’t, I’d have been damn heartbroken.
I finally told her I loved her.
I didn’t care if the feeling was mutual.
The three words needed to leave my mouth.
Essie needs to know how damn obsessed I am with her.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I grin.
But then that grin drops when a pang of guilt hits me.
I roll over to look at her sleeping on her back.
I need to tell her about my visiting Earl and my mother’s connection with the PEP. She’ll be upset with me, but the longer I keep it from her, the worse it’ll be.
But, fuck, I’m terrified of losing her.
I made a mistake by not telling her in the beginning. The moment she showed me her scars, I should’ve fessed up and told her I already knew what had happened. I sat there and let her tell me about Earl, knowing he’d already told me his side of the story.
Tonight, I’ll do what’s right and tell her.
“I love waking up with you here,” she whispers.
Her words snap me back into reality, and she turns on her side to peer at me.
Grabbing her hand, I weave my fingers through hers. “This, right here, is something I’ve dreamed about.” I raise our laced hands and kiss the top of hers.
She smiles up at me and runs her free hand along my cheek. “I wish we’d done this in college. For years, this could’ve been our morning routine.”
“From now on, this will be our morning routine.”
“Damn straight.” She strokes my cheek.
“What are your plans for today?”
“First, I need to shower. Care to join me?”
“Baby, you never have to ask me that twice.”
“Grab a condom.”
I slide out of bed and help her out of it. She collects my hand in hers and leads me to the bathroom. It’s one you’d find in a luxury suite in a five-star hotel. It has a claw-foot tub, a shower with four showerheads, and a vanity that runs along the entire wall.
Another perk: the damn floor is heated.
I turn on the water while she tosses two towels in the towel warmer. As the water runs, she wiggles out of her boy shorts, and I drop my boxers. I lick my lower lip as I admire her naked body.
Everything is so perfect about her.
Hands that perfectly fit into mine.
Thick curves and a plump ass.
Since college, she’s been my personal wet dream.
But now, that dream is my reality.
The water doesn’t take long to warm, and as soon as we’re under the showerheads, my mouth is on hers. I feel so alive as I run my hands down her wet body and back her up against the shower wall.
Neither of us worries about even attempting to pretend to wash ourselves.
Our bodies instantly meet, our mouths on each other’s, and she moans when my tongue massages hers. I rip open the condom, drop the wrapper on the tiled floor, and slide it onto my erection. She lowers her hand to my cock, slowly stroking me, and I hiss through my teeth.
When I slip two fingers inside her pussy and stroke her, her hand falls, and her back straightens against the wall.
“Oh my God,” she moans, gripping on to my shoulders as I finger her.
My cock is throbbing as it slides against her leg, but I want to get her off with my fingers first.
With how hard my heart is pounding, I know as soon as I get inside her, my dick is going to be ready to bust.
Essie wraps her arms around my neck. “Don’t be gentle with me, Adrian. Fuck me against this wall hard .”
“All right then, baby,” I say, smiling against her lips while pulling my fingers from her pussy.
A second later, I kneel to line my cock up with her entrance, and she groans when I stand, pushing my cock inside her. I give her a second to adjust to my size, and she tightens her hold on me, dragging me closer.
I pick her up, wrapping both her legs around my waist, and slap a hand against the wall to keep us steady. Her wet hair drips on my face as I pound inside her.
Over and over and over .
She meets my grunts with her moans.
I know we’re both going to be sore after this.
Knowing I’m close, I have to get her off before I do. I rotate my hips, trying to hit every angle I can inside her.
“Right there, right there,” she says when I hit the spot .
I stay there and thrust my hips forward, shoving my face into her neck and sucking on it. A few strokes later, her nails bite into my neck. I hold her body tighter as it goes slack, losing all muscle power. A burst of pleasure shoots through me as I move faster.
I groan her name as I fill the condom with my release.
It takes us a second to gain our composure, and I help her down to her feet.
“Well,” she says, drawing out the word, “shower sex is definitely fun … and dangerous.”
“We’ll do it a few more times.” I smack a peck on her lips. “You and I can perfect everything, baby.”
After we’re showered and drying off, Essie’s phone beeps.
She picks it up and reads the text. “My mom asked if we want to come over for breakfast. Either she noticed your car here or River told them about our sleepover.”
I pull my shirt over my head. “I’m always up for a good morning meal, especially after you exhausted me.” I stop for a second before grabbing my pants. “They’re cool with me staying over, right?”
“That sounds way too high school for my liking,” she jokes. “But my parents know we’re adults. Plus, after last night, I’m positive they’re Adrian fans.”
I playfully drag my hand over my forehead in a phew gesture.
We dress, leave her cottage, and find Essie’s mom, Carolina in the kitchen when we walk into the main house. The smell of biscuits and cinnamon wafts through the air.
She turns off a stove burner and smiles at us. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” Essie sings out as I shut the door behind us.
“Good morning, Mrs. Lane,” I add .
“Oh, no, call me Carolina.” She waves her hand through the air. “The only people who call me that are my students.” She pauses as if a thought suddenly hit her. “Though I think they also call me by my first name.”
“All right then.” I nod toward her. “Carolina, it is.”
“Can I help with something?” Essie asks.
Carolina shakes her head. “Everything is almost finished.”
“Mom tries to get everything finished before I can come in and possibly help,” Essie explains. “That way, I don’t mess anything up.”
“Not true. I did leave you the job of drinks,” Carolina argues.
“Now, that’s a very difficult job,” I say with a laugh.
“Yes, collecting juices is very complicated,” Essie comments.
“What can I help with?” I ask.
“You grab the juices. I’ll grab the glasses.” Essie points at the fridge.
I open the fridge, seeing a large selection of juices.
“Just bring them all,” Essie says.
Carolina takes out a plate of French toast and pancakes from the oven warmer. As it cools, she stirs the sausage gravy on the stove.
I set the juices on the counter at the same time the patio door opens. River walks in, yawning and stretching.
“Well, good morning, sunshine,” Essie says.
He yawns again. His eyes scan from Carolina, to Essie, to me, and then he does a do-over to make sure he’s seeing everyone correctly.
“And here I was, running my late-night houseguest off this morning,” he murmurs, smirking at his sister.
Essie rolls her eyes. “No, it looks like your hand is still intact.”
“Essie!” Carolina scolds, swatting her with a towel.
River chuckles. “I’m glad to see my sarcastic, pain-in-the-ass sister has returned. She’s my favorite. But joking, no house guest.”
“Ava had a shift at the hospital, so of course, you didn’t,” Essie fires back.
River ignores her and jerks his chin toward me. I return the gesture.
He walks behind Carolina and kisses her cheek. “Everything smells delicious.”
“That I’ll agree with,” Essie’s father, Rex, says, coming into view. “River and I were up all night, brainstorming ideas for a new game.” His gaze swings to me. “Hi, Adrian.”
None of them seems bothered by my presence.
Even with me being an adult, I’m sure my mom would give me hell if I had a sleepover.
My abuela? Not so much. She’d be the opposite and probably serve us breakfast in bed.
We all gather the food and juices to set the table. My stomach growls as we take our seats, and Carolina sets the massive spread of food in front of us.
There’s no conversation for a good ten minutes as everyone eats.
Carolina’s breakfast might be better than some expensive restaurants I’ve dined in.
“So, Adrian,” Rex asks, “how are you liking Blue Beech?”
I wipe my mouth before replying, “I’m really enjoying it here.”
“Where did you live before?” Carolina asks.
“Des Moines, then LA, and then back to Des Moines.” I take a sip of orange juice.
“Oh, wow, this really is your first small-town experience,” Carolina comments.
“I like how peaceful and laid-back everyone is. They seem to always want to help each other out. When Terrance invited me to Blue Beech, I had no idea if I’d like it. I’m glad that it’s really growing on me. ”
“What made you decide to come here?” River asks with a sly smirk.
The asshole is really trying to give me shit.
“For me, obvi,” Essie says, slapping my shoulder.
“A job,” I explain with a smirk.
“I call bullshit,” River says.
Rex holds up his hand. “I second it.”
Essie rests her elbow on the table. “I third it.”
Carolina drops her fork and sighs. “I guess I need to be the fourth to do it then.” The corners of her mouth turn up into a smile. “I’m happy you’re here, Adrian.”
River relaxes in his chair. “I’m also happy that you two are running competitive businesses, and I get to watch how it plays out.”
“Hey, River, how’s Ava doing?” Essie asks him sarcastically.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you go to my place and ask her?”
“What?” Carolina shrieks. “If Ava is in there, you tell her to come eat—” She stands as if ready to find Ava.
“I’m joking,” River replies, drawing the last word out. “Do you think she’d ever skip out on your breakfast?”
Rex scratches his head. “She might not be at his place, but River sure had to take plenty of breaks to text her back all night.”
“It was for research purposes,” River says. “For the game.”
“Ava is a doctor. What research could she provide for that?” Essie takes a bite of bacon.
“People die in the game. I want to know how to make them alive again.”
“Uh, hit the Try Again option when it says Game Over,” Essie says before taking a sip of orange juice.
I sit back and listen to their breakfast banter.
I’ve always wanted a family like this.
And while I didn’t get it, growing up, I’m glad Essie did.
I also hope that I can experience more meals like this and get to know her family better because I also want to be her family. And someday, I want us to have a little family of our own.
I spend the next two hours with Essie and her family. River and Rex show me the new beta of their video game, and we hang out in the family room.
And right before we leave, Rex stops me at the door. “Thank you, Adrian.”
“For what?” I ask.
“For making my daughter smile again.”