CHAPTER TWENTY
CATHERINE
“Wren, relax.” Elliot pulls me into his arms and kisses me until I see stars. “Your aunt is going to love it. There’s nothing like coming home from a long vacation to a home-cooked meal.”
“The food is not what I’m worried about.
She loves balsamic chicken over Parmesan risotto with asparagus.
It’s the news.” I glance down at the shell bracelet on my ankle, the one Elliot had gifted me in congratulations for starting my new job.
He’d said it was just an anklet, but the weight of it felt like so much more.
“Catherine.” He tilts my chin up until I meet his brown eyes. “Your aunt is going to be nothing but proud. You’ve faced your fears of swimming, opened yourself to your magic, and scored a perfect job. I’m proud of you.”
“Yes, but what about this?” I gesture between the two of us. “We haven’t really talked about what all this means.”
“What do you want it to be?” His thumb traces the edge of my jaw, and I close my eyes, leaning into his touch.
“What do you want it to be?” I repeat his question.
I’d started my new job last week, mostly doing virtual meetings and getting caught up on my first responsibilities in the company.
I would be required to go up to the city for a week to shadow, but when I’d explained I was house- and pet-sitting for another two weeks until my aunt got home, they rearranged my in-person new employee training until after she was back.
“Catherine Prescott, as long as you are by my side, I will be happy. We can date, for real this time. You can stay here or move in with me. Mango practically has.” He grins at the table where the little lizard is munching on a bowl of mealworms. Elliot had surprised me by adding what could only be described as a lizard’s dream house to his guest room, a portion of the extended terrarium overlooking the ocean through the back window.
“I’ll have to admit to my aunt I spent more nights at your house the past few weeks than I did at my own.” I pull out of his arms to finish carrying everything to the dining room, but he drags me back, fingers digging into my hips, his cock straining through his trunks against my abdomen.
“Are you complaining?”
“Depends. How are you going to fix it if I am?”
“I guess I’ll just have to spank you.” He smirks, eyes twinkling mischievously.
“Elliot!” My cheeks burn, heat licking up my ears and down my neck.
“Fine. Maybe I’ll just kiss you speechless so you can’t even remember what you were complaining about.” He nips my bottom lip, his other hand threading through my hair at the base of my neck.
I moan, arching into his touch. I can’t get enough of him, his touch, his kisses. The sweet, tender way he encourages me to try even when I’m on the verge of giving up.
We jump apart at the headlights flashing through the kitchen window, giggling and doubling over like teenagers caught kissing for the first time.
Mango chooses that moment to scuttle across the kitchen counter. He climbs up onto an upturned pot and peers down at the perfectly layered dessert.
“Don’t you dare.” I reach out just as he jumps belly first as the door opens, splattering strawberry preserve, cake, and frosting everywhere.
My aunt wipes a glob of strawberry and whipped cream from her face, popping her finger into her mouth before glancing between me
Elliot standing across the counter, Mango covered in whipped cream with a cherry from the top of the dessert perched on his head, and Gin barking happily while licking whipped cream from the floor.
Her face breaks into a wide grin as she holds up a bottle of champagne.
“I had a feeling a celebration was in order, so I had the driver stop at the store on the way home from the airport.” She hands the bottle over the counter, and I take it.
“I guess I should have grabbed some dessert too.” She chuckles.
“Let’s sit down, and you can tell me all about your summer adventure in Crescent Cove. ”
I break out laughing, tears streaming down my cheeks as I run around the counter and embrace my aunt, whipped cream and all.