32. Auden
The water’s starting to get cold, I could move and make it hot again, but I’m so relaxed in Storm’s arms. I can’t remember the last time someone I dated made me feel this way. A one-winged butterfly is flapping around at all times whenever he’s around. I’m falling for this man and that scares the crap out of me. I don’t fall fast. I don’t fall hard. But with Storm…everything is different.
“I wanna move to New York with you,” he says, making me inhale sharply. Tingles flow through me. My cheeks burn. “I don’t think I’ve been surer about anything in all my life. Nothing is keeping me here. Nothing that’s making me progress here. My life is crap. So, crap, I almost ended it the night we met. But you, Auden, you made me want to live. And I want to live my life with you. Fuck, even if we don’t work out, you’re the one who helped me open my eyes and broaden my horizon. I have an actual job. Not working at my buddy’s bar while I live on top of it. You made me live again…I was reborn the night we met. Reborn into this man that wants to do nothing but make you happy.”
I’m speechless. Utterly dumbfounded.
But everything he’s voicing is exactly what I’m feeling because it’s exactly what I want, too.
I turn in Storm’s arms to face him, leaning my chin on my hands. He’s smirking at me. His stubble has grown a lot over the last few days. I was never into beards, but for some reason, it suits him.
I finger the necklace around his neck and meet his eyes again. “I think you’ll really like our apartment,” I say, my cheeks still burning. I kind of jumped the gun and found myself a place without knowing if my job was secure or not, but I think I got it. If Sean believes in me and risked sticking his neck out so I’d get this job, then I know I got this. “It’s walking distance to Central Park and there’s the subway right around the corner. I didn’t know it when I chose the place, but there’s one of those food carts right in front of the building and a Starbucks right where the subway is.”
I smile, trying to remember what the place looks like. I haven’t been there since I signed the lease. “My dad is supposed to be painting it this week. Our living room is a pale blue, and our couch is black leather—one of Mille’s friends was tossing it out, so I took it.” He’s beaming, staring at me with a hopeful gaze that everything we’re planning is actually going to happen. There’s a chance it can, and by that smile and gleam in his eyes, it might. “We have a king-sized bed in our sage-green room, huge windows, oh, and a walk-in closet, too.”
I scrunch my nose, admiring the excitement on his face. “If you have any furniture you want to bring, I can use the guest room for that, I’ll just prop my desk in the living room under the window…it’s not the best view, a bricked building, and a stinky alley, but it’s beautiful on the inside. You’ll love it. Oh, and there’s a tub in the bathroom that’s a lot bigger than this.” I let out a giggle, I’m moving in with a boy. I never thought this would ever happen.
A boy I think I’m falling in love with and have only met a few days ago.
If fate exists, this is it.
“Our apartment,” he beams, resting his head back. He bites his upper lip, closing his eyes a moment and sighing. “Denny is being released soon.”
“I know.”
“But he’s not allowed to leave the state,” he says, opening his eyes. “We’ll be safe.”
That assurance calms me, knowing that Storm will be far away from anything that brings him down. And seeing his brother again after eight years is surely going to send him overboard.
Storm tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, that glee back on his face. “I know we just met, but Christ, you’re my ending, Auden.”
I sit back on my heels with my knees between his legs. “Yeah?”
He glances at my breasts, soap suds sliding down them, and smirks, sitting up and propping his elbows on his bent knees that are on either side of me. “You, Miss Summers, will be the happiest woman in all of New York City.” He leans forward and kisses me. A kiss I will never grow tired of. It’s always so full of passion, angst.
A kiss that is my last.
“If you want this to work you do not kiss or fuck or touch anyone else but me. Only me.” I touch his face, getting suds on his chin. “We all have a past. It’s fine, so long as it doesn’t overlap with the future.”
He nods with a chuckle. “Mm, monogamy.”
I tilt my head. “I’m serious, Storm.”
He laughs. “As am I. I was in a relationship for almost four years before she ruined me. I know what monogamy is.”
“Good,” I say, rising from his lap.
“Hey, hey, hey, where’re you going?” he asks, kissing my nether region a couple of times.
“Well.” I laugh. “I wanna sleep.”
“I’m not ready to sleep,” he says, lifting one of my legs on his shoulder.
“Storm.” I giggle, moving his head from me. “I’m so tired,” I whine.
He rolls his eyes jokingly and pulls me back down, adjusting me on top of him. “You’ll sleep when I’m done with you.”
I giggle, wrapping my arms around his neck and smiling at him as he lies back, leaning his arms on either side of the tub. I reach down and stroke him, biting my lip as he lets out a moan. “When are you going to be done with me?”
He leans forward, taking himself and sliding inside me. “I’ll never be done with you, baby.”
Our moans fill the washroom, leaking through the cracks in the door.
This could be good for me. A fresh start in a new city with a new love. Even if we don’t work out, at least I’d know I helped him out of his depression. I made him smile again and feel that spark he lost. I don’t feel like I am, but according to him, I’m his angel.