Chapter 24 #2
Without delay, I positioned myself and slid inside. The urge to slam into her, to take her roughly, was so strong. But with her lack of experience, I didn’t want to go too hard too soon.
Whether it was luck or divine intervention, I didn’t know.
But no sooner had I worked up a steady rhythm, Tessa found a way to participate.
She reared back on me, setting the pace and the depth.
It was just what I wanted, what I needed.
And it shouldn’t have surprised me that Tessa seemed to know exactly what I’d been desperate for.
Having realized she could handle more than I’d been giving her, I no longer felt the need to hold myself back. I drove in deep, my hands putting a bruising grip on her hips. Tessa took all I gave, tilted her ass higher, and begged me to keep going.
How she thought I could stop now was a mystery to me. My hips slammed forward, the punishing pace of my thrusts propelling us both toward the edge of that cliff. Tessa’s panting had turned to whimpering.
“Ace.” Her voice came out like a plea. “Please don’t stop.”
I went harder. Deeper.
And the next thing I knew, Tessa threw her head back as her orgasm washed over her. I’d just barely been able to see her through when I pulled out and spilled my release over her ass and lower back.
One hand remained firm on her hip to hold her steady as we both fought to come down from the high. I’d gotten there first, gave her hip a squeeze, and said, “Stay just like that until I come back.”
“Okay.”
I ran into the bathroom to grab a cloth so I could clean Tessa up.
When I stepped back into the bedroom, I hadn’t prepared myself for what I’d see.
Tessa was just like I’d left her—hips in the air, cheek to the mattress—and the sight had stolen my breath.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. ”
Her eyes were soft and lazy, her expression warm. “And yet it took you all these years to notice me,” she teased.
Chuckling, I crossed the room and cleaned up the mess that I’d left on her. Once I had, Tessa dropped to one side and sent a sated smile my way.
“You look like you want to take a nap.”
“Well, I’m not used to doing so much work in the morning. Have a little compassion for me.”
“Maybe it’ll help if I make you some breakfast. Once you get some food in you, it’ll help with your energy.”
Tessa shot up to her knees on the bed. “No!”
“No?”
“I’m making up for your birthday morning. You can’t cook breakfast for me. You have to sit and watch while I make breakfast for you.”
I wrapped my arms around her naked body and pulled her close. “It’s just breakfast. I can help.”
She shook her head. “This is not negotiable.”
“Fine. But if I’m only allowed to sit and watch, then I want you wearing one of my T-shirts while you’re doing it.”
Tessa’s entire face lit up. “Really?”
“Why are you suddenly so excited?”
Her eyes danced. “You want me to wear your shirt. I think that says that things are serious between us.”
Laughter spilled out of me. “Princess, I think things got serious when you asked me to make love to you last night. Or when you woke me up this morning, so you could suck my dick. Or when my face was buried in your pussy after that. Or when I came on your ass just minutes ago.”
“Wearing your T-shirt is different.”
“I agree. It’s far less serious than anything else I just mentioned.”
She rolled her eyes and groaned. “Are you getting me a shirt or not?”
I touched my lips to hers in a chaste kiss. Then I got her a shirt while I pulled on a pair of jeans.
Afterward, Tessa and I made our way downstairs. She was in the middle of scanning the refrigerator, deciding what to make, when my doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting someone?”
I shook my head. “No. But I wouldn’t put it past my sister to just show up here. She does that on occasion.”
Tessa returned her attention to the refrigerator. “Maybe I’ll be making breakfast for three this morning.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I turned and made my way to the front door, fully expecting my sister. But when I opened the door, nothing could’ve prepared me for who I saw.
My parents.
My mom stepped forward, wrapped her arms around me, and said, “Happy birthday, kiddo!”
Feeling stunned, I hugged her back. But my mind was racing.
Based on the look on my dad’s face, I got the feeling he sensed something was wrong, but he obviously had no clue what it was.
And when he learned the truth, there was no telling how he’d respond. Tessa’s dad was his best friend. None of the parents knew that Tessa had been living with me for a week now.
Fuck.
My mom released her hold on me, and my dad hugged me next. “Happy birthday, Son.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Is this a bad time?” he asked.
I parted my lips to speak, but my mom beat me to it. “We’re here to take you out for breakfast. Since you were out with everyone last night, we didn’t want to intrude on your dinner and fun then. So, we figured we’d just come by today to celebrate with you this morning.”
“Are you free to go?” Dad asked.
Again, my mom cut me off. “Your aunt and uncle are going to be there. They’re already on the way.”
“My aunt and uncle?” I repeated. “You mean, Aunt Lexi and Uncle Cruz? Or Aunt Kendall and Uncle Logan?”
I prayed it was one of them.
“No. Although they all want to see you as well. We’re meeting your Aunt Monroe and Uncle Stone there.”
My stomach dropped. Fuck.
Before I could even think of what to say, my dad added, “Stone actually insisted on joining us this morning. He said he’s been meaning to talk to you about something, but he didn’t have time to explain it to me. Any idea what that’s about?”
“Yeah, um—”
“Hey, handsome?” Tessa called. She wasn’t in view of the front door, but I could tell she was making her way here. “Do you think you and Lark could come join me in the kitchen again? I came up with some—”
Tessa came to a stop several feet away and gasped. She tugged at the hem of my shirt she was wearing, even though all the important bits were already covered.
I looked at my parents. My dad’s head snapped in my direction. “I think I got the answer to my question.”
“Are you two…” My mom shifted her attention between the two of us. “How long has this been going on?”
“Oh, my God,” Tessa murmured, burying her face in her hands. “I’m mortified.”
Immediately, I moved to her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and curled her into my chest. “It’s fine, Tessa.”
“You didn’t tell me your parents were coming over.”
“And if I did, what would that have changed?”
She glanced down at her body before narrowing her eyes on me. “For starters, I’d have some clothes on. But that’s probably because I would’ve made sure I wasn’t here.”
My brows shot up. “Oh? And how would you have accomplished that if you’re living with me and your car is all banged up from you being run off the road by a madman a week ago?”
“What?!” My dad was furious, and I knew that fury had nothing to do with the fact Tessa was living with me and everything to do with her being run off the road.
My mom focused her attention on Tessa and asked, “Do your parents know about any of this?”
Tessa shook her head.
“Well, kiddo, you better figure out how you’re going to tell them, because they’re meeting us for breakfast this morning.”
“My dad is probably going to lose his mind,” Tessa murmured.
My dad nodded. “Yeah, I’m thinking there’s a high probability of that happening.”
Stone could get upset all he wanted. It wasn’t going to change how I felt about Tessa or that I intended to be with her.
“Look on the bright side, Princess,” I said.
“I really don’t think there is one, Ace.”
I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You don’t need to make me breakfast.”
My mom giggled, clearly overjoyed by this surprise this morning.
Tessa buried her face against my chest, groaning at what was ahead.
And my dad’s eyes met mine. While he might’ve been able to sympathize with Tessa’s dad, there was no question he was happy for me.
In the end, even if Stone lost his mind, I knew he’d eventually come around. And from where I stood, I thought it was time we shared the news anyway.
So, I asked my parents to wait while Tessa and I got ourselves ready.