Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
OSCAR
Iwatch her through the glass for a second as she rubs at her brow. When I look at my mom, I find her already staring at me, her face pulled into a shit-eating grin. I’ve been at the station most of the day, but my mind’s been on her the whole time.
Mom picks up her bag and moves to leave, gesturing at me as she goes.
Freya’s eyes meet mine and I’m hit by that feeling that never gets old, that whoosh that starts in my chest and spreads to everywhere I have senses, almost knocking me off my feet.
Her frown softens, replaced by the soft smile that I used to think was her being shy, but now I know better.
That’s the smile she gives when she’s completely calm, when she feels safest. It makes me prouder than I should admit.
That, most of the time, it seems to be reserved just for me.
Mom passes me on the sidewalk, giving me a pat to the chest as she goes, chuckling all the way down the street. Freya and I keep staring at each other, separated by the glass. It feels like days since I last saw her, rather than just hours.
I half stumble toward the door, my arms itching to have her back in them. I move like I’m in a dream until she’s within reach. Then it’s just a hand around her waist, a quick tug, and there she is. Right where she belongs.
“You look like you had the same kind of day as me,” I say into her hair, the strands tickling my face.
She hums her agreement.
All day, people have been asking questions, trying to be casual, that nosy fake-nice that small towns do so well. At least I’m used to it. I don’t have a clue how Freya’s handling all this.
Her face burrows deeper into my neck and I have the urge to scoop her up, to take her somewhere far away from all the prying eyes, somewhere quiet where I can have her all to myself.
I may not be able to do quite that, but I can get pretty close.
“I checked in with Mack, and your building’s been cleared.”
That perks her up. “I can go home?” she says, eyes bright.
“Yeah.” I kiss her rosy cheek. “You want to go now?”
“I just need to close up.” She practically bounces away, checking her watch before she flips the sign over.
I move to the back, grabbing the broom and sweeping in the same pattern I’ve watched whenever she does her closing routine.
While I do that, she bustles around me, picking up stray yarn and tidying the shelves.
We dance around each other, never once colliding or getting in the way, and in twenty minutes, I’m fastening the last button of her duffel coat and leading her out towards my truck.
“I don’t know why I expected it to look different,” she says quietly as she flicks on the living room light.
“None of the damage made it to this floor.”
“I know, I just expected… well, I’m not really sure.”
I toe off my shoes, lining them up next to hers in the entryway. Freya bustles around, straightening up the trinkets that line the shelves and refolding a blanket left haphazardly on the couch. She seems nervous.
“You want me to head out? Give you the night to yourself so you can settle in?”
I’m halfway through the sentence when she turns to me, scowl in place at the mere suggestion.
“No!” she exclaims. “I mean, not unless you want to go.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Then stay.”
I smile, heading to where she is and pulling her in for another hug. I’m all over her tonight, but I can’t help it.
“Do you want a drink or something? Dinner? I don’t have much, but maybe I can make something?” she asks.
“I’m good.” I kiss the top of her head. “I can go pick up some takeout later, if you want?”
“Mmmm,” she hums happily. “I could really go for some pizza.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She tugs me over to the couch and nudges my shoulders until I sit. Then, with hesitant movements, almost like she’s waiting for me to tell her no, she climbs into my lap, legs on either side of me. I can’t stop the dopey smile that crosses my face as I pull her close.
I nuzzle against her hairline, breathing in her faint rosy scent. She cuddles closer, resting her head against my shoulder, and I take the chance to toy with the ends of her hair. I’m obsessed with her hair. I can’t stop touching it, always reaching for it whenever she’s close enough.
I realize that this is it. This is the thing I’ve always been waiting for, wanting.
Even when the dream didn’t look like this, even when I didn’t know what it could be, there’s never been anyone else I’ve wanted this way.
I’ve tried with other people, I even got close once or twice, but nothing’s ever felt quite like this.
Her head shifts, nose brushing my collarbone. I can feel her puffs of air through my shirt as she presses in. It’s like she wants to burrow inside me. I’d let her. She’s already half there anyway, lodged next to my heart.
“You can’t fall asleep,” I whisper as I feel her head droop. “We haven’t had dinner.”
“I’m not sleeping,” she grumbles. “You’re just comfy.”
With a huff, she straightens up, propping her arms on my shoulders. I run my hands up and down her ribs as I stare up at her, marveling at this goddess, inexplicably in my hold.
“How’s Harvey?” she asks.
“Good. He misses you.”
“He told you that, did he?”
“Mm-hmm.” I lean forward to kiss the corner of her smile, loving the way she shivers.
“And do you guys have a lot of deep and meaningful conversations?”
I move my kisses down further, working my way down her neck. “All the time,” I murmur into the silky skin at the hollow of her throat. “He’s very insightful.”
She gasps, tipping her head back to grant me better access. I slip my hands further around her, greedy to have her closer. My fingers fist in the fabric of her dress and I have to fight not to yank her toward me. I don’t want to push her, but I trust her to know what she wants.
I feel myself hardening against my zipper and shift slightly in the hopes she doesn’t notice. Tonight’s about her, I don’t need anything more than this.
But, if the edge of her shirt slips over the curve of her shoulder, then who am I not to take advantage and continue pressing kisses across her collarbone? And, if her hands creep into my hair, then why shouldn’t I lean into her touch, groaning as she scratches my scalp?
She moves her hips, sliding them against mine, and I let out a pathetic little whimper. Jesus Christ, what is she doing to me? She grinds again and this time she’s the one moaning, but the sound seems to startle her because she jolts back, cheeks flushing.
“Sorry, I—”
“No.” I pin her with my stare. “No sorrys.”
Her face burns even hotter and she ducks her head, trying to hide. No way. I lift her chin with my knuckles until she meets my eyes. “You’re perfect,” I say. “You’re beautiful, and I’m so happy to be here with you.”
“I’m happy to be with you too,” she whispers. “It’s just a little intense.”
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. But intense isn’t always bad. As long as you feel good, then you can do whatever you want with me.”
“I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
“You’re doing so good, just do whatever feels right.”
“I want you to like it as well.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” I huff a laugh. “Anything you do, I’ll like.”
“Promise?”
I grin at her, taking her face in my palms and capturing her lips in a slow kiss. “Have your way with me, woman,” I speak into her mouth.
She kisses me back with the most enthusiasm I’ve ever seen from her.
It’s so intoxicating that I can’t help but match it until we’re both panting messes.
Freya starts rocking, her hips moving back and forth in stuttering, unsteady movements.
I use my hold on her hips to guide her, helping her find a steadier rhythm as our kisses turn frantic.
She rises and falls over me like a queen, and I’m fucking obsessed. I could die here, just like this, and I’d die a happy man.
Her movements turn faster, more desperate as she chases the friction she needs. I lift my hips to meet her but it’s not quite right. Freya breaks away on a frustrated little grumble, her face drawing into a frown. “I don’t… I can’t…” she pants, tucking her face into my neck.
“It’s okay.” I palm the back of her head, equally breathless. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
I lift her up just enough to slide a thigh between her legs, hoping that’ll give her better purchase.
“Try that.”
She starts slow, but soon enough she’s riding my thigh, chasing the pleasure that I can see in every line of her body. She rests her forehead on my shoulder as she moves, and moves, and moves.
Each brush of her leg against my erection has zaps of sensation licking up my spine, and it’s a battle to keep still, to not thrust upward.
Her hot breaths come in puffs against my chest, faster and faster as she finds what she’s looking for.
I cuff the back of her neck, rubbing my thumb in soft circles under her ear.
“Oscar?” My name comes out like a question, like she’s looking for me.
I’m right here, honey.
It’s just her and me.
“It’s okay,” I breathe. I have to squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t embarrass myself—the sight of her like this, flushed and sweaty and writhing, is almost too much. “I’m here, I’ve got you. You’re doing so well.”
She frowns, focused.
It might be the single hottest thing I’ve ever experienced. Watching her like this, it’s almost unbearable.
“You got it, baby.” I’m half growling into her ear. “You’re right there, just take it.”
She rocks hard once, twice, and then she shatters. Her head falls back on a soft sigh, her eyes squeezed shut as the flush on her cheeks spreads all the way down to her chest. I wish she was looking at me, but this moment is for her.
When she finally surfaces from whatever depths she’s been swimming in, it takes a minute for her eyes to land on me, and when they do, they look glassy, a little embarrassed.
Fuck that.
“Hey,” I say gently. “What’s going on?”
She shrugs, looking a bit lost. “I don’t know, that was a lot.”
I grin. “It was fucking incredible.”
“I think I ruined your jeans.”
I look down to where she’s propped, and, yeah, there’s a tiny wet patch. I have to shake away the ideas I should not be having, of balling the fabric in my fist and inhaling it like an animal. “I don’t care. I’ll fucking frame them, hang them on my wall.”
That just makes her blush harder, her cheeks like ripe apples that I want to bite down on.
I pull her into me, tucking her head underneath my chin as I wrap her in a hug. She molds into my embrace as she slowly steadies her breathing.
“You did so good, honey,” I murmur into her hair. “You’re so perfect, so beautiful, so strong.”
I keep speaking sweet nothings at her as she comes down, running rhythmic strokes along her spine. She stirs after a few minutes, lifting herself up and bracing her hands on my chest. She studies a button near my throat, her fingers toying with it as she says the words that nearly finish me off.
“Can we keep going?”