Chapter 22
EZRA
Iwake to Scarlett’s head resting against my chest, her hair a messy cascade over my shoulder.
I take a moment to look at her, admiring how perfectly she fits against me. I brush a strand of hair from her face, and her eyes blink open, heavy with sleep. She gazes up at me, lips curving into a drowsy smile.
“Mornin’,” I say, my voice still raspy.
She stretches lazily against me, her body pressed close enough to send sparks through my bloodstream all over again.
“Good morning.” Scarlett squeezes her thighs together. “I feel where you were last night.”
I chuckle and lean over to kiss her. “I’m sorry?”
“Don’t be.” Scarlett’s lips part immediately beneath mine, and it deepens into something else. “I want to cash in my final O-coin.”
“Right now?” I ask, already hard for her. Truthfully, when am I not?
She laughs, shifting herself above me, her knees on either side of my hips, and she carefully takes her time, sliding down onto my cock.
She adjusts as needed, her breaths growing ragged.
I stretch her wide, molding her body just for me.
When our ends meet, she trembles and takes a second to recompose herself, but I see the way her heartbeat ticks rapidly in her neck.
“It feels like you’re going to rip me in half,” she says breathlessly.
“Go slow, sweetheart. We’re in no rush.” My thumbs press into her hip bones as she slowly rocks against me.
“You’re the best part of my day, Ezra,” she confesses, leaning forward, her hair falling around us. Scarlett’s fingers rest against my cheek as she kisses me, and I get lost in her. Her wet pussy glides up and down my length, and it feels so damn amazing, I almost convince myself I’m dreaming.
“We’re meant to be, babe,” I whisper, as she increases her pace.
“I believe that,” she says.
The early morning sunlight filters through the curtains, drawing patterns across the tangled sheets. Whimpers release from her as she takes complete control, going from my tip to the base. It’s agonizingly incredible.
Just as the orgasm threatens to take us both under, a voice floats through the house.
“Ezra? Honey, you awake?”
I freeze, my eyes bolting open. Scarlett pulls back immediately, panic flickering in her gaze. “Who is that?”
“Millie.”
Scarlett’s mouth falls open. “Your aunt?”
“Yes, shit, I’m so sorry,” I say as Scarlett scrambles off me. My cock is raging hard as I move out of bed.
Scarlett’s eyes go comically wide. “Do you think she’ll come up here?”
“Maybe,” I tell her, grabbing a pair of joggers and sliding them up my legs. I pull a T-shirt out, too. “I don’t want to find out.”
“Me either!” Scarlett looks panicked. “First impressions are important.”
“Ezra?” Millie’s voice echoes louder from downstairs. “I brought sausage bread! Willow is starving!”
Scarlett lifts a brow, fighting back a laugh. “She brings you breakfast. That’s sweet of her.”
“Food is her love language, but I think she’s just being nosy,” I say, tossing Scarlett a pair of shorts with a drawstring and a faded T-shirt from Paris Pottery. “Put these on.”
Scarlett does what I say, and I can’t help but laugh because they’re too big.
“I’m keeping this shirt,” she tells me, adjusting the band of the shorts.
“You can have whatever you want, sweetheart.”
Scarlett looks ridiculously cute.
I grin. “You look—”
“Don’t you dare say adorable,” she warns.
“I was gonna say guilty,” I tease, kissing her quickly as I head toward the door. “But adorable works, too.”
She sighs. “I’m nervous!”
It makes me laugh. “Don’t be. She already loves you,” I explain, preparing myself for the hurricane of questions my aunt will ask.
“Ezra Reed!” Millie yells.
I kiss Scarlett. “Take a minute, then meet us downstairs, okay?”
She nods, and I leave, adjusting my dick on the way to the kitchen.
Millie stands at the bottom of the stairs, sausage bread in hand, eyes sparkling with a knowing humor that makes me feel seventeen again.
When I was a teenager, my mom had left for a pottery convention, and I stayed home for the weekend.
I invited my high school girlfriend over, and guess who caught us?
Millie. Though she never snitched, I got the “wear protection unless you want kids” talk.
“Good morning,” she singsongs, looking me up and down.
I lean in, kissing her cheek and taking the bread from her grasp.
“You know, a heads-up would be appreciated,” I say, moving to the kitchen to turn on the light. I place the bread on the counter, then feed Willow.
She arches a brow, not buying my casual tone for a second. “Honey, if I’d called, you’d have had a chance to hide whatever you’re up to.”
“I’m not up to anything.” The corners of my mouth betray me, twitching up, despite my best efforts to keep a straight face.
Millie folds her arms, head cocked slightly. “Your shirt’s backward, Ezra.”
I glance down. “Wow, didn’t even notice. Maybe because it’s so early?”
As I start the coffeepot, Millie notices the book still on the counter where Scarlett left it yesterday.
“Until You,” she says. My aunt flips open the pages and reads the inscription.
Laughter escapes her. “You know, I’d forgotten your mom wanted to hook you up with Scarlett.
My memory erased that until just now. That signing was so long ago.
Over a decade.” Millie’s eyes widen, and she rubs her arms. “Okay, that just gave me chills!”
“Who would’ve thought my mom would be playing matchmaker from the afterlife?” I ask pointedly.
Millie bursts into a fit of laughter as she takes my hand and squeezes. “Your mom always did get her way.”
Footsteps on the second floor interrupt the moment.
Millie’s gaze drifts upward. Some of the tension eases.
“Scarlett is here?” Millie asks in a whispered tone. “Are you two…serious?”
“No labels.” I shake my head.
Millie’s smile widens into something dangerously close to mischief. “Oh, I hear wedding bells.”
Laughter bubbles beneath the surface. “This reaction is exactly what I’m afraid of.”
Footsteps creak on the staircase, and I glance toward the hallway, heart galloping with anticipation and amusement.
Scarlett steps cautiously into the kitchen, cheeks flushed, my clothes hanging loosely off her petite frame. She grins wide, tucking her hair behind her ears like she’s preparing herself for a walk of shame.
Millie grins wide, practically buzzing with excitement. “There’s my future niece!”
Scarlett laughs and moves forward politely. “Hi, I’m Scarlett.”
“Scarlett Collins,” Millie says, pulling her into a tight hug. They hold one another for a long while until Millie pulls away. “Welcome to the family.”
“Aunt Millie,” I say, shaking my head with a laugh. “You’re going to scare her back to New York.”
Scarlett’s eyebrows lift, and she’s amused. “Thanks for the pecan pie. It was incredible! Ezra has told me a lot about you.”
“Only glowing things, I hope,” Millie says.
“Oh yes,” Scarlett tells her.
I pull three mugs from the cabinet and make us each a cup of coffee. I distribute them as Millie glances between us eagerly.
“I’m a huge fan,” she finally blurts out.
Scarlett laughs. “Thanks. I appreciate that. I’m a huge fan of your baking.”
“Aw, sweetie, thank you. I brought you two some sausage bread this morning. It’s a town favorite when the temps start lowering. Plus, it’s still warm. Just took it out of the oven about twenty minutes ago.”
“It’s my favorite,” I explain to Scarlett. “A family recipe. Mom used to bake it on special occasions like Thanksgiving morning and Christmas.”
“Aw,” Scarlett offers. “It smells really good.”
I can’t keep my eyes off Scarlett and how pretty she looks without even trying, and of course, my aunt notices.
“I didn’t have kids of my own, because I couldn’t, so Ezra is like my son.” Millie laughs, delighted. “Finally, someone who can keep his attention. I was beginning to think he’d never find you.”
My chest tightens at Millie’s easy, genuine approval.
Scarlett relaxes. The hearty scent of sausage and cheese mingles with fresh coffee.
I unwrap the bread, then cut Scarlett a slice. I hand her the plate and a fork.
Scarlett laughs, the sound breaking the last remnants of tension, as she takes a bite. “Oh my God, this is incredible.”
Millie beams proudly. “You should taste my wedding cakes.”
“Millie!” I shake my head.
“I’d love to. I love sweets,” Scarlett encourages.
“Don’t amuse her,” I playfully warn. “Trust me.”
Millie looks between us. “Are you two dating?”
“Relentless,” I whisper to Millie, then glance at Scarlett. “You don’t have to answer that.”
Scarlett focuses on Millie. “The answer is yes. I’m very hesitant to put a boyfriend title on anything because, well, because I’m Scarlett Collins.
But it’s easy for me to imagine a life with Ezra, if that’s what you’re asking.
We’re extremely compatible. He’s caring and makes me laugh.
Also, he’s very attractive, talented, and inspires me like no one else ever has,” she says, eyes bright as she sips her coffee.
Her honest admission shocks me, and I nearly drop my mug of coffee. Of course, I knew these things, but I never expected her to be so honest.
Millie’s smile softens. “My Ezra is a treasure.”
Their conversation continues like I’m not even there.
“You know, I was told you’re a fan. I’d be willing to bet you know me better than most,” she says, and I realize she’s right. Millie does know things about Scarlett that I don’t. Hell, the whole world practically does.
“You’re right about that,” Millie offers. “I also know what kind of man you’ve been searching for, Scarlett. Ezra is it.”
A sudden certainty fills me, a rightness that settles deep into my bones. This—Scarlett here, laughing in my kitchen, teasing Millie, fitting perfectly into my life—is what I want.
“Believe me,” she says, holding her gaze, “I know.”
I clear my throat playfully. “I’m still here.”
Scarlett takes another bite of sausage bread and changes the subject. “Did you put a love potion in this one, too?”