Chapter 40
FINN
I never knew it could feel so good waking up to someone in my arms, but with Alexis, it's as natural as breathing.
I lie there just watching her sleep, lazily tracing her body with my fingertips, unable to get enough of her.
Her eyes start to flutter and she gives me a tired smile then stretches her body, purring like a cat before burrowing in close, pressing her face to my chest. Wrapping my arms around her, I kiss her head, breathing her in.
The storm has stopped and the power must have come back on during the night because I can see the kitchen lights on from here. I startle looking at the clock, it's after nine. I never sleep this late, hell, I haven’t slept a full night in what feels like years.
“Why’d ya tense?” Damn her voice is groggy and sexy in the morning.
“Just realized this is the first time I slept all night in quite a while.”
Her head pops up. “Really? Same.”
I cock my head to the side and raise up slightly so I can see her better. “What do you mean?”
“I rarely sleep all night, haven’t since I was a kid. Once my parents stopped coming home before bedtime, I became such a light sleeper, always listening for danger. Silly, I know, but at ten, going to sleep all alone in that big house felt straight out of a horror movie.”
Pushing all the way up to a sit, needing to see her face, I ask, “Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me you were left alone, and even put yourself to bed at ten years old?”
She worries about her lip, grinding it between her teeth. I reach up, tugging it free before she breaks skin. “It’s no big deal, Finn. That’s just how things were, and I was a silly paranoid kid that watched too many true crime movies.”
Pushing her hair away from her face, I lean in and kiss her forehead.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Anger rises inside, pressing against me, ready to boil over.
Who does that to a kid? How long was she just wandering through life alone?
Well, she sure as hell isn’t alone now, and I'll make damn sure she knows that for as long as she will let me.
Her phone rings in the other room. “Oof, that’s probably Marcee or one of the girls wondering if I'm coming.” She waddles off bundled in the blanket. I find my discarded pants, pull them on, and head to the kitchen to make coffee.
“It wasn’t the girls,” Alexis states, still staring at her phone.
“AAA called to let me know they’re back up and running and should be able to get my car later today.
” Silence stretches between us. I wonder if she wants to leave, every instinct screaming against the idea of letting her go.
“I guess…I mean, can you take me to get my bags so I can have clothes on for the tow truck?”
Swallowing down my disappointment, I nod. “Yeah, I can run out and get them for you if you want.”
“That would be great. What if I stay back and mix up some pancakes for us?”
“Sounds good.” I grab her keys from the counter and head for the door, disappointment weighing me down.
Walking back into the house with two bags in my hands, each step feels like I’m slogging through wet cement, my feet not wanting to move.
Bringing these to her feels like goodbye and I don’t want that.
I hear music blasting in the kitchen and can’t stop my smile at seeing her in there, dancing and singing into a spatula, wearing one of my button-up shirts.
Her blonde hair is piled on her head, little wisps have fallen down and are framing her round face.
“Stay.” The words burst out of my mouth before I can even think to stop them.
“What?” She pauses the song, turning to me.
“Stay. You’re on break, right? Stay here, with me.”
She looks skeptical. “Really? You want me here for longer?”
Huffing out a breath, I walk to my girl and grab her hips. “I want you here always,” I whisper before lifting her onto the counter and kissing her until we’re both breathless.
“I’m in. I’ll text my friends and let them know I won't make it this week.” Grabbing her off the counter, I spin us in a circle, her legs wrapping around me as she throws her head back laughing. My chest feels like it might burst, I’m so damn happy.
Setting her down and giving her a quick peck, I pick up her bags and head to my room. “I’ll put these in my room and be right back so we can eat.”
“Your room?”
Stopping with one foot on the first step, I pivot to look at her.
“Where else would I put them? You’re sure as fuck not staying in a different room than me, and I want your smell all over my sheets when you head back to your place.
” I leave her gaping at me, taking the stairs two at a time, ready to get back to her.
We sit out on the patio to eat breakfast. There are branches down everywhere but no real damage to the house or property. The air is cooler than normal, crisp and clean in the wake of the storms.
“I propose a no-sex day.”
I love the way her head whips toward me, and her eyes go large in shock. “What? Why?”
Pulling her from her chair and into my lap to nuzzle into her neck. “Because, so far, we have spent more time being physical than anything else, and I want to just be with you for a day. Talking, hanging out. If we take sex off the table, we can focus on getting to know each other better.”
She gives me a pouty look, but her eyes are bright and happy. “Fine, if you insist.” Then proceeds to wiggle her ass on my crotch, my cock growing, hardening, straining for her, and by the look on her face, I know she can feel it too.
“Little brat.” Pulling her to me, I kiss her before shifting so she’s straddling my lap with her legs bent on either side of my chair.
“You sure about the no sex thing?”
“Nope, not at all, Lex.” Her laughter fills my soul.
Somehow, I stick to my guns on the no sex rule.
We kiss and touch nonstop, but spend the day walking on the beach, collecting sea glass and shells that washed ashore during the storm.
Then make lunch, play board games, and have a movie marathon watching all three of the original American Pie movies.
Between all of it, we talk. She tells me about school and her internship rotations in the spring.
I tell her about my latest contract. When the topic of travel comes up, she mentions she has a dream sheet of all the places she wants to visit someday.
I love that she wants to see the world. Travel is a passion of mine and the idea of seeing all those places with her at my side fills me with so much excitement for the future.
As she lists her current top ten, an idea starts forming in my mind. I tuck it away for later, excitement coursing through me.
We head to bed, snuggling up together, and nothing has ever felt so right. Resisting the urge to slide into her as she pressed against my body took every ounce of willpower I have, but at the same time, it was nice to just be with her too.
In the middle of the night, I wake, finding Alexis straddling me and sliding her wet center over my already hard cock.
“It’s after midnight. The day is officially over, and I need you, now.” She moans as she lines my cock with her entrance before sliding down, impaling herself and making me growl when she bottoms out.
I’ll never get enough of my girl.