CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
JORDAN
“You wanna press the button?” Seven’s teasing question made me laugh as we entered the elevator in my building. He’d been so doting and sweet to me since I’d been discharged from the hospital that morning.
Given what went down between him and my brothers, I needed to escape. We’d snuck out together in the early hours, before my brothers had a chance to come pick me up. Damian and Axel were also furious with me, but they still wanted to help. I could feel the frostiness in our interactions, though. The suspicion. The growing distance. And after a decade of distance followed by so much warmth, I never wanted to feel that coldness between us again.
“I’d rather race you,” I told him, pressing the button for the fourth floor. “But I don’t want to make you feel bad for losing after you just lost your job, too.”
He bit back a smile, wrapping me in his arms as the doors closed. “That’s very thoughtful. For a brat.”
I laughed and looked up at him, clutching his thick forearms wrapped around me. Everything was a total mess, but in his arms, I could find a little sanity and stability.
And we both needed it.
At my floor, he leaned against the doorframe as I hunted for my key.
“I’ve been dying to see your new place,” he said, his eyes on me rummaging through my purse.
I glanced up at him, and my mouth parted. His bicep bulged where he leaned against the doorframe, his looming, powerful frame an aphrodisiac I wasn’t prepared to behold.
“Can you not stand like that?” I ripped my gaze away from him to re-focus on the task at hand. “That sexy lean is dangerous. I don’t want to alienate my neighbors this early. I’ve only lived here for a few weeks. That’s far too little time to start fucking in the hallway.”
“Mm.” He only leaned harder. “If you hadn’t just gotten out of the hospital, I’d make good on the last part of that sentence.”
I couldn’t fight the grin as I finally found my key and opened the door. It swung open, showcasing my brightly lit, wood-floored paradise. I took it in with new eyes, after my surprise hospital stay. The newest potted plant additions—a fern, an enormous snake plant, and a baby fig tree—all stood bathed in sunlight in the kitchen, not even drooping like I feared they would. I glided in, gesturing around. “Here we are. Home sweet home.”
He clicked the door shut behind us, taking a few moments to look around and absorb everything. Then he nodded.
“It’s perfect.”
“It’s been a slow process settling in. But I think this could be home for a long time. I’m gonna need some wooden spoons as a finishing touch, though.” I smiled up at him as he strode over to me and squeezed the sides of my arms.
“I can handle that,” he said. “Specially carved, just for you. Though I might have already started on your kitchen collection.” His phone vibrated, and he sneaked a peek at it. “You okay if Trojan swings by for a visit? He just turned the evidence into the SEC, and he wants to say bye.”
I slumped a little. A lot happened while I was in the hospital. Not only did Seven lose his job, leaving him adrift and scrambling to pick up the pieces, but he and Trojan had been preparing the evidence we’d gathered over the last couple of weeks to submit it to the Office of the Inspector General. They were under the strict guidance of Federico at every turn to ensure the highest chance of success. And now Trojan was off to his next assignment in Louisiana. I felt like I was losing a friend.
“Yeah. I’d love to say bye to him before he leaves.” I drifted to the coffeemaker, ready to prepare my brew and Seven’s tea. “And to thank him for all his help with this. I can’t believe he’s turned everything in already.”
“You okay if I have him bring my bag?”
Seven’s question hung oddly in the air. I looked over my shoulder at him, surprised to find him looking so vulnerable.
“You mean…to stay with me here?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Of course.” Another grin broke out. I’d done nothing but smile since we’d left the hospital, and it felt wrong to be this happy when the rest of my life was slowly disintegrating. I had a stable, safe apartment. I had a stable, safe partner. Holy shit.
If this were me three months ago, I would have called this the unattainable dream. But now, I knew there were more components of the perfect life worth fighting for. And it involved my family. I’d reunited with Axel and Damian, and my bonus brother, Trace. I’d gained three almost-sisters. I didn’t want to lose them all just when I’d begun to count on them as part of my future.
“It’s cute you thought you had to ask,” I said, returning to my task at the coffee machine. He approached from behind, wrapping his arms around me as I loaded the grounds.
“Didn’t want to assume,” he murmured into the top of my head. Just then, a knock on the door sounded. Seven’s face lit up. “Let me get that.”
He hurried to the door, revealing a delivery person holding a bouquet of flowers in a glass vase. After a quick thank-you and a tip, Seven was back at my side, presenting me with the bursting bouquet of dahlias.
“These are for you. My very overdue housewarming gift. One of many to come.”
I fought tears as I accepted them, admiring the gorgeous blooms. “You’re the first man to ever buy me flowers.”
“Now that you said that, I’ll have to make this a frequent occurrence,” he said.
“Did my brothers kick you out of your place?” I asked as I set the vase on the countertop, selecting the perfect location
“No. I’m renting it on my own now. But I thought we both might like sharing an apartment again, for a little bit at least.”
“You’re the only person in the world I can say that about.” I turned around to face him. He hooked his hands beneath my thighs, hoisting me onto the kitchen countertop. I giggled, wrapping my arms around his neck. “That didn’t take long.”
“I planned on doing it in the hallway until you ruined the vibe,” he teased, nuzzling my neck.
Laughter cascaded out of me as his mouth drifted higher, our lips finally meeting in soft, exploratory kisses. He pushed at the hem of my sweatshirt, bunching it around my waist as his hands slid hot and seeking underneath. I’d had my brothers bring a few basics to me in the hospital—not even a bra. Seven’s hands coasted over my bare chest, leaving sparks in their wake.
“Mmmm.” He grinned through a kiss as he massaged my breasts, running his thumbs over my tight nipples. “God, I’ve missed you.”
“Don’t lie. You staged this whole spy mission just so my brothers would fire you and you could fondle my naked breasts without issue, right?” I wiggled my hips against him as he filled the space between my legs.
“Guity.” His deep laugh rippled through me, filling me with something so simple and satisfying that I hardly knew how to share it with him. It was like his mere presence filled all the places inside me that ached for acknowledgement. There was no other way to feel around Seven but complete. I shivered through our kisses, ready to say the three words that I felt in my heart every day for this man.
But he spoke first, breaking the kiss. “Jordan, what do you want?”
“You,” I blurted.
A sexy grin curled at his lips. “I mean, do you want to eat? Do you want to sleep? Do you want me to fuck you senseless in the morning light?”
“I love all of those options, but I’ll take C, please. And let’s do it in the shower. I want to wash the hospital off while we’re at it.”
He scooped me into his arms, heading for the nearest door.
“That’s the pantry,” I whispered.
“Oops. I’ll try the next one.” He redirected to the actual bathroom door, and I giggled the whole way. Inside the bathroom, he delicately undressed me, removing every piece of clothing with a reverence I’d never experienced before. My sweatshirt. My leggings. My panties. When all the clothes were crumpled at our feet, he undressed himself. I got the water ready, then we both stepped in. He traced the curve of my waist with his hand as the warm water beat against his back.
Then he washed every inch of me with my washcloth and soap. It was as serious as it was sweet. When he washed my legs, he sank to his knees, lifting each leg in turn to soap up my calves, ankles, and feet.
Then he turned his attention to the V between my legs. He sent me a heated glance, then pressed a kiss against my inner thigh. Then another one, higher. I spread my legs for him, aching for more. I watched with bated breath as he nuzzled between my legs, his lips grazing my pussy. And then his tongue darted out, flattening against my clit, sending an electric spasm of pleasure through me. My entire body jolted, and I fisted his hair for balance.
“Oh, Seven.” My eyes drifted shut, head lolling against the shower wall as he took what he wanted from between my legs. His tongue danced mercilessly over my clit, while he eased one finger inside me, and then another. After he’d licked me almost to my peak, he hoisted me by the backs of my thighs, hooking my legs over his shoulders, trapping me against the wall as he finished me off.
I screamed his name as the white-hot fireworks spread through me. He stood slowly, kissing each of my nipples in turn as he came to his full height in front of me. Then he lifted me again. My ankles crossed behind his back, and we found the perfect position instantly. His cock nudged for entrance at my slippery folds, my clit still throbbing but desperate for more.
“You came so fast.” His gritty voice only turned me on more. I cinched my arms around his neck as he began to sink slowly into me, his cock filling every inch of space.
“It’s not hard when you eat me out like a demon.” My voice was shaky as I focused on the divine sensation of him filling me, stretching me, completing me.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I laughed throatily, but it disappeared as he sank deeper. He groaned, capturing my lips in a kiss.
“You feel so fucking amazing, Jordan,” he bit out when the kiss broke. “You take it so good.”
“Give it to me,” I breathed. “I need it. I need it so bad.”
He grunted, palming one of my breasts while he eased himself out of me, then back in again. The slick slide of him, in and out, deeper than I’d ever been penetrated in my life, sent me spiraling again. He never looked away as he fucked me, the intensity of his caramel gaze only lifting me higher.
“That’s right.” His voice was gritty, strained. “Take it. Take all of it. Mmmm, you really needed this, huh?”
“I’ve been dying for you since I moved out,” I whispered as the tornado of pleasure began to swirl deep inside again. “Ohhh, Seven!”
“That’s right, let me feel you coming on my cock.” He skated kisses over my cheek, up to my forehead. His steel heat filled me, crashing into my throbbing clit. My thighs began to tremble. My head pitched back, and a low, guttural moan escaped me.
His fingertips dug into my ass cheeks as I came, sending the message: Mine. Warmth flooded my body, and for a moment, I couldn’t see anything at all. My chest heaved as he began to groan and slow his movements. His belly jerked, then a moment later I could feel the hot gush of his cum inside me.
He kissed my lips softly as the warm water beat down on us.
“I love you, Jordan.”
Kiss.
“I love you too, Seven.”
Kiss.
I needed this man in my life, more than I needed air. And I needed my brothers in my life, just as badly. As Seven turned off the water and dried me off, I sent up the most urgent prayer I’d ever prayed in my entire life.
Please let my family come together, once and for all. Make all of this worth it.