45. Storm
We haven’t even made it to the reception hall yet. After the photos were taken and more introductions were made, Auden and I went to my car which was parked five blocks away. A smile has been pasted on her face from the moment she saw me in church. The most perfect smile.
She’s riding me rough and hard, trying our hardest to stay quiet and hidden in my backseat. We went a full day without touching each other, let’s just say, there isn’t enough time in the week to make up for it. I groan as she slams her lips on mine, moaning against them. My body tremors under hers and I release, filling her with everything that belongs to her.
“God, I missed you,” I say, with a grunt.
She takes a breath, her dimple popping out from a grin. “I missed you, too.”
I can’t imagine living without her. Seeing those blue eyes, that smile, her sexy body, and those adorable dimples. There is no me without her because I was reborn the night she walked into Creed’s. Reborn into the man who serves to make her happy.
“I came back because my life has no meaning without you in it. We’ve known each other for a week, but when you know you know. And I fucking know, babe. It’s you,” I tell her, one hand cupping her face while the other grips her thigh.
“It’s you,” she repeats, kissing my wrist.
I grin like a child. “We’re official now.”
“That means I can officially annoy the crap out of you,” she jokes, letting out a little giggle.
She gets off me and uses the sweater that I wore on my drive in to clean herself.
I move a strand of hair from her line of view. “You’re so beautiful.”
She smiles, so angelic. “Right back atcha.”
“Can I ask you something?” I’m doing up my pants as she fixes the flower on the lapel of my jacket. “Why doesn’t anyone call you Auden?”
“Because my name’s Charlotte.” She chuckles. “No one really likes the idea of calling me a random ass name that I heard when I was a kid…if I’m being honest, my parents thought I had a personality disorder.”
I widen my eyes. “Jeez.”
“Mm, but when I explained to my dad the reasoning, he understood.”
I nod. “Just like me. No one calls me Luke anymore, except for my parents.”
“Who I have yet to meet.”
“You’re in for a treat,” he says. “They plan on coming down with Rick and Heath in a couple of months once we’re settled.”
She kicks one of the cans of Redbull and frowns looking at me. “When’s the last time you slept?”
I waggle my eyebrows at her, chuckling. “I woke up Friday morning just after nine. I tried to take a catnap when I gassed up this morning, but I didn’t know what church you were at. And you weren’t answering your phone.”
“I’ve had it off.”
“I noticed.”
She sniffs, tonguing her cheek. “Redbull isn’t good for you.”
I chuckle, kissing her cheek. “I know, baby. Nothing was going to stop me from getting to you.”
“How did Heath take it?” she asks as we move to the front seat and start driving to the reception hall.
“He cried, but we spent all day yesterday together and Rick told him about all the things we can do in New York together. He’s excited to see the zoo and Schwarz’s toy store.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I think he understands.”
She spits out directions and I follow them, opening the window, then taking out my pack of cigarettes. “It still breaks my heart—really? After coughing up a lung at church, you’re going to light one up?”
I hold a cigarette between my teeth. “I’m addicted, what do you want me to say.”
“You can quit,” she sings.
“I will,” I say, lighting up. “After this one.”
She laughs, opening her window a crack. “Promise me you’ll call Heath every single day.”
“No doubt about that.”
A smile spreads on her lips and she nods, checking herself out in the mirror. There’s smeared lipstick around her lips. I’m sure I have that redness smeared on my lips, too. I don’t care. I’m hers, and everyone knows it.
“So, you’re serious about moving in with me?” she asks, leaning over and using her thumb to clean my lips. Thoughtless. Perfect. My angel.
I blow smoke out my window. “You’re stuck with me, Auden.”
“What’re you going to do? Go home and get your stuff then come back?” she asks, smoothing out her dress.
“None of the furniture is mine, which is perfect. I just got clothes, knickknacks, my records, books, TV, and my mirrors with your notes on them,” I answer, flicking my cigarette out the window.
She claps excitedly. “Ooh, I like the big mirror in your living room.”
“That why you wrote your note so gigantic on it?”
She smiles largely, taking her bouquet from the backseat and placing it delicately on her lap. “Yep.”
She bites her inner cheek, sudden nerves come over her as we pull up to the reception hall. The place looks like a large gray warehouse with two floors for parking, a small fountain at the entrance, and a small sitting area for smokers. There are garlands and flowers everywhere, too.
I want to pull her onto my lap and smooth out her hair and I tell her what an idiot I was for not running after her, but she turns to me when I find a parking spot and smiles. “I’ll have you know, we’ll be sleeping at my parents’ house until Wednesday.”
“Why Wednesday?”
“I officially start my job on Wednesday,” she says. “I’m shadowing another psychologist in the office with one of her new clients that I’ll be taking the reins on.”
I put my hand on her leg. “You nervous?”
“A little, but it should be fun. Sean got me the job so I won’t feel so out of place with him around,” she replies, placing her hand on mine. I’m starting not to like this Sean guy. He plays a huge role in her life, something I’m sure has crossed many lines on many lonely nights. “We can always stay at the hotel for a couple of nights, then go to my parents.”
“Just a couple so I can screw you silly.” I squeeze her thigh. “I’ll be sure to have all my shit packed and in your parents’ house by Monday at the latest,” I say. “Rick’s doing me the solid and packing up everything I own.”
She picks my hand up off her leg and kisses my knuckles, arching an eyebrow as I shut the engine. I see Auden’s parents standing by the entrance talking to Sean and Evan.
“Your parents close with your ex?” I ask reluctantly.
“Unfortunately,” she replies, stabbing my stomach into this gut-wrenching pain.
“Fun.” I sigh. “I’m a jealous fuck, just so you know.”
“You don’t have to be,” she says, leaning over and kissing me. “Trust me.”
“I do, it’s everyone else I don’t.”
“Evan’s not a fighter, so don’t let his robustness fool you.” She laughs. “I can take him.”
“Good to know,” I say, bringing her back to my lips. “I’ll have you know, I’ll be doing lots of this.” I kiss her. “And a whole lotta this.” I grope her ass with a growl.
She laughs again—fuck, I love this laugh of hers—and taps my hand away. I look out the window again at that dickhead with her parents, shooting the shit. It boils a wave of anger in me and strikes a nerve. I feel like I did when Leah chose to kill our babies without telling me. This isn’t good. It’s definitely going to be a long ass night.