Chapter Twenty-One
Milo
Ifelt terrible that I hadn’t eased Eden into the idea of meeting my parents, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how adorable she was, worrying about whether they’d like her, afraid they might think she was rude.
Though I had only told them a little bit about her, they’d heard much more from my brothers and my nephew.
After game night, Carter practically worshipped the ground Eden walked on, so he’d shared plenty.
But she was the first woman I wanted to introduce to my parents, the first woman I felt this strongly about. They’d adore her, and I wanted her to experience even a fraction of the love and support I’d grown up with.
She deserved all that and more.
While our lazy Sundays together were my favorite day of the week, Monday afternoons were a close second because Eden always stopped in to hang out with me and Carter after school.
They’d trade book recommendations or draw together or play rummy, which was another one of those games where Eden remained utterly undefeated.
For the first time in my life, I was thinking about the future—building a life with someone else, marriage, maybe having kids of my own. I wondered if Eden wanted those things, but her freakout over meeting my parents had put the brakes on any discussion of that nature with her.
Hell, I’d be happy with her in my future, whatever form that took.
Maverick, on the other hand, had zero qualms about bringing it up when he came to get Carter later in the week.
“So she spends more than half her nights at your place, and all of her time off—when are you gonna ask her to move in?”
“I told you what happened when I mentioned dinner with Mom and Dad,” I grumbled under my breath, wondering if there was any chance Carter wouldn’t overhear this conversation.
Maverick rolled his eyes. “Milo, we both saw how she bolted when she realized I knew you two hooked up. Why were you surprised she freaked over meeting the parents? You’re usually more observant than that.”
I didn’t like to admit Maverick was right, but I’d been wondering the same thing all afternoon. Why was I surprised? That boldness I so enjoyed about Eden hid a soft, vulnerable center. Sometimes, it was so well hidden that I forgot about it.
“I screwed up,” I admitted, rubbing my forehead.
“You did, but fortunately, I think she’ll come around. You’re pulling a Mark, bro, falling hard and fast. My guess is Eden can see that, but if you think she’s the one, you need to be sure she’s on the same page.”
I sucked in a breath and nodded. “You’re right. I guess you’re not as stupid as Mark says you are.”
“I could take both of you at once, asshole,” Maverick muttered as he slapped the back of my head, but he grinned. “Get your shit sorted, Milo. Carter’s already calling her Aunt Eden.”
Aunt Eden. Christ, I liked the sound of that.
After Maverick and Carter left, I pondered just how to ascertain that The One was truly The One. And, more importantly, how to know whether The One felt you were also The One for them.
Just before closing time, Eden sent a text that made me grateful it was almost the end of the day.
Package arrived. Hope you’re ready for some fun tonight.
“Fuck me.”
After involuntarily whispering the words, I jerked my head up to make sure no one else was in the store. Fortunately, I was very much alone.
So, SO ready, I replied, tacking on the eyes emoji.
Eden, the little tease, went radio silent after that, but she strolled in just as I flipped the off switch on the neon OPEN sign.
Today’s outfit consisted of a black scoop-neck tee tucked into a patterned skirt that fell between her ankles and knees.
A large tote bag was thrown over one shoulder, a sure sign she was planning to spend the night.
My gaze snagged on the shoes, which were much higher heels than she normally wore for work.
“Is it my lucky day?” I asked, locking the door. “I don’t think I’ve seen these shoes before.”
“It is, and you haven’t. They’re not terribly comfortable, but I decided they would suit the occasion. I changed before I came over here.”
Dropping my head, I kissed her hard and deep, then grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind me until we reached the back door of the shop. Eden laughed, but I forced myself to slow down so she didn’t break one of her pretty ankles tripping over those sexy heels.
I barely remembered the drive home. Before I could blink, we were inside the house, plastered together against the front door. Jiji meowed loudly at such blatant disrespect, so I tore myself away to give him a quick cuddle and a fresh bowl of food.
Eden and her bag disappeared into the bedroom.
The game was on.
I followed more slowly, giving her time to prepare whatever surprises she had in store, but walking in to find her naked except for those sexy fucking heels, standing in front of the mirror over my dresser with some kind of fluffy makeup brush, sent all the blood in my head straight to my dick.
“Are we doing makeovers?” I asked, shoving my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t toss her over my shoulder and throw her on the bed then and there.
Humming quietly, she dipped the brush in a little jar and then trailed it teasingly across her nipples. Unable to look away, I pulled off my shirt before strolling closer.
“That smells like lemon bars,” I mused, watching as she dusted a path from her collarbone down over her belly. “What is this?”
“Edible body powder.”
“Edible, hmm?”
When she turned to me, light glinted off the iridescent trails over her torso and I licked my lips. My eyes locked on the sight of the shimmery powder dusting those dark curls between her legs as I kicked off my jeans and boxers.
“Your turn,” she replied, dipping the brush again before sweeping it along the side of my throat.
Holding still while she stroked the soft bristles over my skin took gargantuan effort.
Her expression was serene, like she was painting a masterpiece, as she dusted the lemon-scented powder across my shoulders, over my nipples, along my ribs, and then finally—finally—painted it along my painfully hard dick with long, teasing sweeps that I hoped she intended to follow with her tongue.
But not yet.
The second she set the brush down, I dropped to my knees, licking and kissing a path along every brushstroke on her body. Her fingers tangled in my hair as I laved her skin with my tongue, reveling in the tart sweetness and the woman underneath.
I took my time, moving top to bottom, collar to navel, sucking and nipping even after the lemon powder was gone, then I eased two fingers into her.
“Fuck, beautiful, you’re soaked.”
Her head fell back as I curled them inside her. “Remember when I said you were an expert at foreplay? It’s true.”
“Foreplay is all well and good, but I need you to sit on the dresser so I can clean all this lemon stuff off your sweet pussy, Eden.”
A shuddering breath slipped from her lips at the command, but she shifted until her ass was perched right at the edge of the wooden dresser. I spread her knees wide, drinking in the sight of shimmering powder and glistening arousal.
“So fucking pretty,” I breathed, blowing a stream of air across her clit.
Her thighs twitched beside my head. “Milo.”
“Right here.” I leaned in and gave her one long lick. “I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.”
The lemon was long gone by the time she sobbed out an orgasm that had her whole body trembling, leaving me desperate to get inside her, but when I reached for a condom, she tutted at me.
“Not yet. It’s my turn. Then I’ll show you what else I got. Go lie on the bed.”
I grinned, always happy to oblige when that boldness surfaced, and Eden took her sweet time cleaning the body powder off of my skin.
Every inch of my skin.
By the time she finished, smirking at me from under a veil of the tousled waves that had been wrapped around my fist, I was harder than I could ever remember being, but she had more tricks up her sleeve.
“Show me.” My voice was hoarse, my whole body quivering.
She grabbed the small paper bag out of her tote and dumped it onto the bed, presenting a host of options I had every intention of using on her in turn. I assessed them quickly and came to a decision.
“On your knees,” I ordered. “Facing the mirror.”
Licking her lips, she moved into position—a position where she couldn’t see which toy I picked out. There was a suctioning rose, a small wand, one with bunny ears, and a vibrator with a moving tongue attachment.
“Oh, Eden, what fun we’re going to have.”
I moved behind her and slid my hands up the outside of her thighs, then over her belly until I was cupping her breasts, my chin on her shoulder to watch us in the mirror. She arched back against me, filling my hands, displaying all that beauty for us both to observe.
Then I released one breast to reach behind me, turned on the first vibrator, and set it between her legs.
One after another, I wrung at least one more orgasm from her with each toy, until I couldn’t stand another minute of not being inside her. I guided her down to her hands and knees, rolled on a condom, and buried myself inside her before the last orgasm had faded.
Each ripple of her muscles threatened to demolish my self-control, but I held out as I reached for the wand again. Thrusting slowly, lazy but deep, I curled my body over hers so I could press it to her clit.
A low moan escaped her throat as her hips jerked at the contact.
“Go on,” I growled in her ear. “You know what I want, Eden. Give it to me.”
She sobbed my name, but her muscles clenched and quivered around me, and I knew she was close. So close. I wanted to push her over the edge one more time before giving into my own body’s demands.
“Milo,” she whimpered, those sexy goddamn heels pressing harder against the outside of my thighs.
“One more. You can do it.”
Her back arched as she came hard one last time, pulsing so tight around me that I had to grit my teeth in order to hold out.
“That’s it, just like that. My beautiful, sweet Eden.”
Even if I hadn’t been used to giving it, the way she responded to that gentle praise, even more than the dirty encouragement that turned her on so readily, would have kept me offering it.
I felt her reaction, from the way her muscles clenched around me to the purr of pleasure that rumbled in her throat.
Tossing the toy aside, I continued gliding in and out, slow but steady, murmuring soft words in her ear and against her skin, until I finally picked up the pace.
Her body continued to ripple around me as I thrust harder, faster, soaking in her whimpers and moans as she rocked her hips back to meet each one.
When I couldn’t hold out any longer, I planted myself deep, came so intensely my vision blurred at the edges, and collapsed carefully over her.
Eden turned her head to smile at me and breathlessly mumbled, “I take it you liked my choices.”
“Fuck, yes. When’s the next party?”
Beneath me, her body shook with laughter. I reluctantly untangled our limbs, unbuckling her shoes before I shifted her up toward the pillows and pulled her into my arms.
“I could sleep for a week,” she said, her words muffled against my throat.
“That sounds like a good plan, as long as it’s in my bed. I’m sure the town will understand if we have to close both stores for recovery time.”
Eden snuggled closer. Just when I thought she might have drifted off to sleep, she sighed, her breath tickling my skin. “Set a date with your parents for dinner, okay?”
“Baby, I told you, it’s fine if we wait.”
“I want to meet them,” she replied.
The statement was firm, resolute, so I kissed the top of her head and said, “Okay. I’ll set it up.”
“But let’s not pull out the body powder the night before we have dinner with them.”
I laughed, my arms tightening around her. “That’s probably for the best.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, relaxing against my side. “Thank you for being awesome.”
“My sweet Eden. Whatever you need, I’ll make it happen. I hope you know that by now.”
As she settled into my side, her body soft and loose after our marathon evening, my mind quieted until a single thought remained.
Eden was definitely The One.