A thin curl of smoke rising
Chapter twenty-four
Penny
The first thing I feel is Evan’s palm drifting beneath the hem of my sleep-rumpled T-shirt, his knuckles slow against the soft skin where my hip meets my thigh.
We’re spooned so tight I can feel the lazy thump of his heartbeat against my spine, the thick length of him pressing against me, and when he noses into my hair, his breath is warm and possessive.
“God, you’re so soft here,” he rumbles, slipping his fingers lower, stroking me. “And so wet for me, even before I’ve said good morning.”
A shaky laugh slips out. “This feels like a pretty decent wake-up.”
He nuzzles the curve where my neck meets my shoulder with an open-mouthed press. I answer with a hum that vibrates through both of us, and my arm reaches back to thread my fingers through the short hair at his nape.
I can feel the shape of his smile against my skin, that sleepy grin of his that undoes me. He grazes my earlobe with his teeth, while his fingers hook into my panties and peel them down my legs. I respond in kind by reaching backward and grasping his hard cock, finding his boxers already gone.
We shift slowly, until his thighs brace behind mine and he fits himself against me, and I feel the tip of his cock nudging at my pussy.
He stills there for a second, breathing hard against my neck, and I know what he’s asking without him saying it. We had the conversation a couple weeks ago, while fully clothed and clear-headed, because that’s how Evan cares for people—with both hands and all the facts.
“Still green?” he asks. “Should I grab a—”
“No,” I whisper, pushing back into him. “All green.”
He licks a slow stripe up the back of my neck in response, and I arch into him, guiding him with a roll of my hips. His hand slides under my thigh, hitching my leg higher so he can push in deep, hips flush to my ass.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmurs against my ear.
“Fuck, it’s so good,” I breathe, and I feel the smile that curves against my neck.
“Yeah?” His hips drag, slow and deep, and his hand finds my breast, thumb flicking over my nipple until it peaks hard and I moan his name.
“Oh, you like that, baby?” He rolls the bud harder between his finger and thumb. “Fuck, I love how fast you give it to me.”
A helpless sound slips out of me as he pinches lightly, the sting chased immediately by the roll of his hips.
“Evan—”
“Mm?” Another deliberately gentle thrust. “Need something?”
“You know I do.”
“Tell me, then.” Another teasing pinch. “Tell me how good my cock makes you feel.”
His hand trails lower again, fingers slipping between my thighs to find where we’re joined, and the slick glide of his fingertips over my clit makes my breath catch sharply. My hips rock back instinctively, chasing the friction.
“It’s—fuck—it’s perfect,” I gasp out. “You’re so deep, I can feel you everywhere.”
He swears under his breath and thrusts harder, enough to push me into the mattress.
“Yeah?” His grip tightens on my thigh, holding me open for him. “You gonna let me stay right here and fuck my good morning into you?”
The circles on my pussy sharpen suddenly, and I jolt as the pleasure coils tight, wet sounds filling the quiet room. A groan breaks past my lips as he speeds up, adding a slap to my clit that makes my thighs tremble.
“Evan—please—”
“Please, what?”
“Harder.” I’m already shaking. “Fuck me harder.”
“Mm, atta girl. Feel that?” His grip tightens on my thigh as he drives deeper, the mattress creaking under the new rhythm. “That’s me right where I wanna be.”
I whimper as his hips roll again, slowing down enough to feel every inch of him.
“So fucking wet for me,” he mutters. “Christ, Pen. You keep squeezing me like that, and I’m not gonna last.”
“Don’t you dare,” I choke out, reaching back blindly until my nails catch against his hip. “Make me come first.”
A low laugh vibrates through him and into my back.
“Bossy little thing.” His fingers circle my clit once, deliberately light and teasing. “Alright, but you’re gonna count for me first.”
I barely manage a breath. “What?”
“Ten seconds.” Another deep thrust that punches a moan from me. “Think you can do that for me, Pretty Penny?”
The nickname hits low in my stomach, warm and dangerous and unfair.
“Evan—”
“Count.”
His mouth closes around the spot beneath my ear as his fingers start moving again, slow circles that make my thighs shake instantly.
“One…” I gasp.
“That’s it.”
“Two…”
His hips snap deeper, and I break off with a helpless sound.
“You already struggling?” Amusement roughens his voice. “C’mon, baby. We’re only at two.”
I can hear the smile in it, can feel it against my skin, and it makes everything hot and worse and better all at once.
“Three… four…”
“That’s my girl.” His hand slides higher on my thigh, spreading me wider for him. “Taking me so fucking well.”
Pleasure pulls tight and sharp in my belly, my body already trembling around him and ready to break.
“Five—fuck—”
“Yeah, fuck.” He groans softly when I clamp down on him again. “You’re gonna kill me, Pen.”
“Si…” The number dissolves into a moan as he grinds deeper, the wet drag of it obscene in the quiet room.
“You hear that?” he asks. “Hear how needy this pussy gets for me?”
My face burns, and I bury it harder into the pillow so my moans don’t echo through the whole damn town.
“Seven—”
His fingers press harder against my clit, and I jolt.
“Oh my god—eight—”
“Almost there.” His breathing’s heavier now, too, the restraint of him fraying around the edges. “Don’t you dare come early, Pen.”
I’m shaking so hard my voice barely works. “Nine…”
“That’s it,” he says softly. “Time’s almost up, baby.”
The tenderness of it wrecks me more than the filthy talk.
“Ten—Ev—”
“Come.”
The word is a growl against my neck, and he slaps my wet clit once.
Pleasure tears through me so hard, I sob a moan into the pillow, my body locking around him as the orgasm hits in hard pulses. Evan swears against my neck, thrusting deep through it once, then twice, then whimpers my name as he buries himself fully inside me, fingers flexing hard against my skin.
For a few seconds, neither of us moves, and the only thing I can feel is our synchronized breathing and his heartbeat hammering against my back.
Then his mouth brushes the curve of my shoulder, kissing a damp path up to my jaw, still buried inside me.
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “How am I supposed to go to work after that?”
I sigh, blissed out. “That was definitely better than the standard ‘good morning.’”
He grins against my skin. “And tonight I’ll have a great ‘good evening’ lined up for you, too.”
A warm, ridiculous flutter takes root in my chest, but instead of dwelling on it, I twist to kiss him. Eventually, duty calls, and he eases away with a rough little sound, pressing a kiss to my forehead before disappearing into the bathroom and flicking the shower on.
A moment later, he comes back with a warm cloth and cleans me gently, like he has nowhere else to be, even though we both know he does.
Once he’s back out of the shower, he heads to the closet for his duty uniform, and I sit up against the headboard, knees hugged tight, watching the muscles in his back ripple as he buttons, tucks, and threads his belt.
“Remi said she’ll be by for Elle at about two,” he reminds me as he turns.
I nod. “So nice of her to offer.”
He looks up at me from his belt. “She likes you. Wants to make sure you get time to yourself too, away from all the bullshit.”
“I’m fine,” I say lightly. “But I appreciate it.”
“I know.” His smile is soft as he leans down to cup my jaw and kiss me. “Text me when you’re up for real?”
“Mhm,” I hum with a nod. “Be safe out there.”
“Always.” He leans back in and steals one last slow kiss.
“See you tonight, Lucky Penny.”
A smile curls my lips as I watch him go. The ease of this still startles me sometimes. Being touched like I’m something precious instead of temporary, waking up already wrapped around each other.
But damn, do I feel lucky.
***
“Penny!”
Elle’s voice snaps brightly through the quiet, and I blink, forcing myself back into the rhythm of the day.
“Coming,” I call, walking into the living room.
She’s got one sneaker on, the other dangling from her fingers as she hops to keep her balance. Her backpack sits open on the couch, contents spilling out like she packed it in a rush, which she probably has.
“I can’t find my other sock,” she announces.
“You’re holding it, bug,” I point out gently.
She looks down at her hand, pauses, then grins. “Oh.”
I bite back a smile and crouch in front of her, taking the sock and helping her tug it on properly. “Remind me again where you’re going?”
“Remi’s,” she says, already wriggling out of my hold so she can chase Gus, who’s stolen a plushie from her bag and is trotting proudly toward the kitchen. “She said we might watch a movie, and there’s snacks. And—” She skids to a stop, spinning back to me. “Can I take my penguin book?”
“It’s already in your bag,” I tell her, zipping it up before anything else can escape her toy shelf. “Shoes. Both feet this time.”
She plants herself in front of me obediently, even though her energy is vibrating under her skin. I slide her sneakers on, double-knotting the laces because I know she’ll forget otherwise.
“You excited?” I ask, brushing a hand through her hair.
She nods hard enough that a piece falls loose again. “Remi said I can help make popcorn.”
“That sounds like a big responsibility.”
“I’m very ’sponsible,” she says solemnly.
I huff out a quiet laugh and press a quick kiss to the top of her head. “I don’t doubt it.”
A few minutes later, we’re out the front door, waiting on the porch. Remi’s car pulls up right on time with Max and Zela in the back, and she leans out the window with a grin.
“There she is,” she calls. “Our VIP guest.”
Elle beams, and she rushes forward. Remi steps out to meet her halfway, crouching to pull her into a hug that’s warm and easy.
“Hey, kiddo,” she says. “You ready for a fun day?”