Epilogue
Three months later
Kenzie
First big college friends’giving. Ten of us, all cooking and bringing food to pass around while we watched football, played games and ate our faces off.
My heart had been so full thinking about it and when it had come to fruition, it felt damn good.
I ran over my list of things to do before guests arrived at the house—Aaron had insisted on having it at their place since it was the biggest—and despite not living there, Greta, Callie and I did most of the decorations and set up.
Stupid boys were not helpful.
My coffee was perfect, not too hot or cold, and I took a sip just as Tanner stirred in bed next to me. Those beautiful dark brown eyes stared at me, evidence of sleep still on his face, and he smiled. “Morning, babe, why are you up already? It’s barely seven.”
“Going over everything for today. You know…cleaning and making sure the cooking gets done. I read a lot about how to prepare—”
“You worry too much.” He carefully took the mug of coffee out of my hands, the notepad from my lap, and set them both on the table. “I think I know what I can do to make you relax…”
“There isn’t time. I need to shower…” I trailed off when he played with the hem of my shirt. It was one of his, his name on the back, and I wore it to bed as often as I could. He tickled my sides and touched just under my breast, knowing damn well it would make me jump. “Tanner.”
“My girlfriend is hot. I want to appreciate her body. I am thankful for you. Let me show you.” His voice was sleepy and hoarse, all sorts of sexy, and it got me panting. “Mm. Let me take this shirt off you so I can see those perfect nipples of yours.”
I panted. He positioned himself over me, removing the shirt and staring at my hardened nipples. He had a fixation with my tits—I wasn’t complaining at all—and I squirmed at his attention.
“Goddamn, these never get old.” He held eye contact, tracing the outline of one with his pointer finger, teasing the end enough for me to arch my back underneath him. “I love your reactions when I touch them. Every fucking time.”
He used his other hand, kneading and caressing each breast until he lowered his head. “Watch when I do this.” He flicked his tongue against my pebbled nipple, making me hold tighter onto the sheet. “You make this sound in the back of your throat that I love.”
He teased me for another minute before taking one into his warm mouth. His beard rubbed against my skin, causing the perfect amount of friction, and the low burn of an orgasm kindled. “I love your mouth on me,” I moaned.
He liked that. He hummed against my skin, pressing kisses along the center of my body. My chest, my belly button and lower…biting the hem of the black boy shorts I’d bought to wear for him and dragging them down my legs. “I know what my appetizer could be.”
“Jesus.” I snorted at his stupid line. “No, just…oh.” He brought his tongue to my folds, probing me wide open so he had full access to every part of me.
I gripped his crazy curly hair, pulling on it when he sucked every part of me.
Hard, fast, slow, gentle, and I gasped his name when he brought me to a powerful orgasm. “Wow.”
“So fucking beautiful.” He pressed another kiss just above my clit, before reaching for a condom from his drawer. I helped him put it on, and he flipped me over so I lay on my stomach. He spread my legs wide and slipped inside me, covering me with his large body.
I loved it.
“God, you feel so fucking good,” he groaned, rocking his hips against me in a steady rhythm. He bit down on my earlobe, increasing his pace, just as he brought his hand to my clit. He swirled in a perfect pattern, matching his thrusts, and I gripped the bedsheets to prevent myself from crying out.
“Yes, Tanner. Please.”
“Nothing makes me happier than hearing my name on your lips.”
He kissed me on my spine, just below my neck, and helped me reach another orgasm before he continued his practiced movements into me.
Rocking at the right angle, adjusting my hips so he went deeper, filling all of me.
We remained like that, sweat pooling between our bodies, and he tensed, holding down harder on me. “Yes, Kenzie, Jesus!”
He spilled into me, giving four final thrusts before he stilled. He didn’t make any hurried moves to get up, though—just pushed my hair from my neck and nuzzled his nose there. “I love you, so fucking much.”
My face heated. Despite our insane sex life, his words and actions that showed me how much he loved me made me blush.
They were intense feelings to have, ones I hadn’t thought I was ready for, but it worked for us.
Give and take, going slow, making sacrifices for each other.
I smiled into the pillow even though he couldn’t see it. “I love you, too.”
“So fucking much?”
“Yes, Tanner.” I wiggled my ass against him so he would move. I turned around, faced my handsome boyfriend and ran my fingers through his hair. “So fucking much.”
His eyes lit up, but his smile fell just a little. “You didn’t want to increase our three-night rule to four, though.”
Oh man. That face. He had full lips that had me drooling every time he pouted. Plus, I knew how they felt against me. Anything he did with his mouth got me hot. But I remained strong. “Coming from the guy who didn’t think he had time for me because of baseball. Ironic, huh?”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“You didn’t ask one,” I fired back, loving our constant banter. He sighed, discarded the condom into his trash and rejoined me on the bed. He remained in his naked glory, picking me up so I sat on his lap as he leaned against the headboard.
“Such a cute pain in the ass. My unasked question was why? What do I gotta do to try and get four sleepovers with you? I hate waking up alone…and poor Jeff, I hate sharing a wall with him now.”
“Poor baby,” I cooed and patted both his cheeks with my hands.
“I need time to myself. I have no doubt we’ll live together again someday in the future, where we can do it in every room you want any time, but, TJ, I need this sliver of independence for myself.
It has nothing to do with you. Trust me. ”
“I’m a selfish bastard, I know.” He rested his forehead against my shoulder. “It makes me happy to see you doing well. Your friends are awesome and you smile all the time. I feel lucky I get to be a part of it.”
My eyes stung just enough for a sniffle, but I relaxed into him. “You realize the dorms close for four weeks during the holiday break, right?”
“Are you…can you…four weeks?” he asked, looking wide awake now. “With me? In my bed?”
“I’m hoping you’ll let me stay.” I gave him my cheesiest smile and it worked. He crushed me against him in a huge hug, and I felt overwhelmed by how much I loved him. “I take it as a yes?”
“Fuck, yeah. I can’t wait.” He kissed me again, moaning into my mouth. “Let’s convince your brother to stay with Greta so we can get the place to ourselves.”
The mention of my brother was like ice water in my veins. “Good call. I hate to leave this naked hug, but speaking of Aaron… I need to shower and get ready for our parents to stop by. My list is a mile long and your sexy body distracted me too much already.”
“I’m the best at distractions,” he said with too much pride. I flicked his pec and hopped off the bed, getting more and more used to the happy feeling that glowed inside me. He slid off, too, dressing in old shorts and a rugby shirt.
“What are you putting on clothes for?” I slid into old sweats, a sports bra and a fitted shirt.
“I’ll help you.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to spend more time with you, but also I love how excited you get when you cross something off your list.” He said it like it was no big deal, but it was to me.
“God, you’re the best person, Tanner Johnson.”
He slid me that look, the one that made my toes curl and my stomach swoop. “I’ll never stop trying to be that, either.”
Falling in love? Check.
Finding my own tribe of friends? Check.
Becoming my own person? Check.
Figuring out what I wanted to do in life? No check—but that’s okay.
Life was about the adventure and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.