Chapter 15
Leather and cinnamon invade my nose, and I find myself smiling before I even open my eyes.
I’m in Everett Rowan’s bed, his glorious king-sized bed that feels as if you’re sleeping on a cloud.
Having him wrapped around me, his warmth like a blanket of protection, he kept me grounded.
The nightmares didn’t come. And for the first time in my life, not only did I sleep through the night, I slept in a bed.
A real bed. Let me repeat myself, a real freaking bed.
Giddiness lights inside my chest and I may or may not embarrassingly let out a little squeal of excitement.
Feeling the cool morning air through his open window, I stretch out and roll to see a note laying on his pillow.
Good morning, my Leora.
How was your first night in our bed?
I was thinking, we have never had sex in a bed. Odd. Isn’t it?
I plan to rectify that after breakfast.
When you wake up, come down to the kitchen.
Breakfast is waiting. And so am I.
– Ev
I drag myself from his cloud bed, placing my warm feet to the cold floor, and stretch my arms above my head, letting out a soft groan at being up so early.
I am seriously not a morning person, but for a good cup of coffee and him, I could be persuaded.
I slip on Ev’s wrinkled cotton black shirt and follow the smell of freshly brewed coffee and something else entirely foreign to my nose.
“What is that heavenly smell?”
I find Ev sitting at the island, sipping from his own coffee.
Shirtless and in a pair of gray sweatpants.
It is truly unfair how utterly perfect he is.
His hair is messed up in an effortless way, and when I walk up to him, I can’t help but run my fingers through it and place a kiss on his coffee-flavored lips.
“That, beautiful, would be eggs benedict.” He slides over a plate and motions to the stool next to him, encouraging me to sit and eat.
"That looks delicious and all but first…" I look around for the coffee pot and hear the slide of a mug against the countertop. Ev winks at me as he sips from his own mug.
"Thank you, sir. I can't participate in any activity without this magical drink."
"Noted."
After a few sips of my coffee, I inhale the plate of English muffin, ham, and egg with a delicious sauce. The only response to such a delectable breakfast are small moans that escape as I savor my new favorite dish.
“You need to put this on your menu one day.” I say with my cheeks full. I feel like a chipmunk, harboring food for when it’s not as plentiful.
“Do I?”
“Most definitely.” Swallowing my food, I take him in as he does me.
"What other ideas do you have for my restaurant?" He turns to face me fully, placing his hands on my legs, leaning in and stroking my skin with his thumbs.
"Me? Umm. I don't know."
"Yes, you. Close you eyes and imagine our restaurant. What do you see?"
"You know I don't like this game." I say as I roll my eyes and shove another bite of this deliciousness in my mouth.
"Indulge me." He pushes and I relent.
I close my eyes and try to picture happiness.
I just let the words flow as my mind forms an image.
"I see a small space, nothing too big. Cozy.
Intimate lighting and… mismatched furniture.
A little bit of modern mixed with vintage.
I see a coffee bar. Like the one at Mill's and shelves lined with mugs.
I can see the customers that speak to us not like strangers but friends.
Regulars that come not just because of your amazing food but because they feel safe in the space we have created for them. "
Opening my eyes, I see his eye shinning. "I'll make that happen. For you."
I push him back by his shoulder, "It's just a fantasy, Ev. Nothing more."
"Not yet. But it will be. Trust me and I'll give you everything, Leo. That's my dream. You."
"You are insane." I notice now that he isn’t eating. He is just staring at me with stars in his eyes. “Why aren’t you eating?”
“I already ate, but I could still eat.” His voice lowers and his chin dips a little, giving me those sinful eyes. Holy cow, my heart beat sky rockets and I feel the flush crawl up my neck and paint my cheeks.
His gaze makes my body nervous, it hums with the need to do something, anything really. I get up and begin opening the walnut cabinets in search of something to make him.
“For what? I’m not the best cook, but I can make you something?” As I'm searching, his hands land on my hips, and he nuzzles then bites at my neck. I give a squeal and try to wiggle away.
“You, Leo. I'm hungry for you. Come here so I can lay you out and feast.”
Hello, heart-wings. Nice to see you fully awakened.
"I—I." I can't form words as he spins me in his arms and lifts so I am seated on the cold white marble of his kitchen island.
The cold against my warm skin makes me shiver.
As he pushes me back, gently moving his shirt up my body, he kisses along my hips and soft belly as he goes.
Suddenly, my panties are now on the floor. Well how did those get there?
“Stay,” he growls then turns to the cabinet and pulls out a jar of honey and a spoon.
“What are you doing?”
He doesn’t answer.
He only smirks. Stupid fucking dimples. He could ask me to streak naked through Aurora High, and I would right now. Every fiber of my being wants to please him. Wants to obey.
He drizzles the honey across my belly, my breasts, my open thighs, then…my center.
“You’re going to make me all sticky!” I try to swat his hand away but he just chuckles.
“Oh, pretty bird. I’m going to make you very sticky. But not just with honey,” he says as he moves the jar of honey out of my reach.
Before I can respond, he bends over the kitchen island and licks up my stomach, following the trail of honey, then up to my breasts before sucking one into his mouth.
I release a long moan and grip his silky blond hair in my hands.
His warm tongue travels up my body, and in its wake, the cold air shocks my system and a gasp leaves my lips.
“That’s it, pretty bird. Let me hear you. Fill this entire fucking house with your songs.”
I close my eyes, relishing the feel of him, the smell, the taste. All of it. All him. I’m overwhelmed in all things him.
Then his warm tongue caresses my thighs, lapping up the sticky honey from atop my scars.
“Fuck, Leo.” He moans, then immediately runs the flat of his tongue from my opening back up to my most sensitive nerves then gives me a playful nip.
I yip in response and jerk my hips away. His arms wrap around my butt, his hands clasping on to my hips to hold me in place. “I don’t think so. You can’t run from me.”
Then he goes back in, mercilessly devouring me until I’m a writhing, sticky mess under his tongue.
“Everett,” I whine, a clear need coating my words.
“What do you want? Use your words.”
“I need to—I need—ugh, I hate you!”
The bastard just chuckles against my center. He runs his tongue across me again, but he avoids my most sensitive part, I need him to touch me there. I need something inside me. I need for him to stop being a tease. I need so much all at once.
“Come on, Leo. Let me hear you beg. Give me that voice. Give me those moans. Give it all to me, baby, and then I’ll give you what you want.”
“Please, Everett, let me—finish, please, fuck, just—ugh. I can’t take it!
” I practically scream the last part. How can he expect me to form sentences and complete thoughts when he has me held down on a kitchen counter, spread open, with honey coating my skin and his kisses covering every erogenous part of my body!
“We will work on using your words, pretty bird.” The gravel in his voice practically does me in.
Then his fingers are inside me, curling as his tongue circles my clit, and I absolutely detonate. I squeeze my legs together, suffocating him in my thighs, and my toes curl, digging into the muscles of his back. I grip his hair so hard, trying to pull him away. It’s too much; I’m too sensitive.
But he just continues to suck and nip, licking his plate clean.
When the wave of euphoria ebbs, I am left completely and utterly motionless.
He pulls back and kisses me deeply, circling his tongue that was just inside me against my own. The taste of honey and myself, wash over my taste buds.
“My new favorite flavor.” He winks and then pulls me up so I am straddling his waist. Lifting me, he begins walking our entwined bodies upstairs.
“Where are we going?” I ask quietly.
“To the bed. You need to be fucked in a bed.”