Chapter Twenty-Two
On the way home from the restaurant, Ellie is humming with excitement for her brother and Willow. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I keep smiling and agreeing with her that their news is “awesome.”
I’m happy for them too. It’s good to see my friend has finally found his life-mate.
I don’t say anything, but I have a feeling that I’ve met mine too.
No, I know I have.
Too bad it’s still a secret, though.
But we made the right decision not to say anything about our relationship status tonight.
Ellie must be thinking along the same lines, as she says, “Good thing we decided to wait to tell them about us.”
“I was just thinking that,” I share as I slow to a stop at a red light.
“Yeah.” She nods contemplatively. “They deserved to have their moment. If we had said something first without knowing any better, they probably wouldn’t have even told us about their engagement.”
“Maybe not,” I agree.
The light turns green, and I accelerate. Ellie looks like she’s mulling something over, so I ask, “What’s on your mind?”
Letting out a sigh, she says, “I was just thinking that we should probably wait a little longer before we say anything about us. I don’t want to piggyback on their news, like we’re trying to steal their thunder or something.”
Since it’s her brother, not mine, it’s her call.
I tell her as much, then add, “I don’t think Arden or Willow would think that, though.”
She sighs. “No, you’re probably right. But I want to be considerate and still wait.”
“Then we’ll wait, sweetheart,” I say as I reach over, take her hand in mine, and raise it to my lips to deposit a light kiss.
As I lower our joined hands to the console, we reach our house. I pull into the garage and realize it’s become exactly that—our house.
And that reminds me that there’s one thing we’ve not addressed—where does Ellie plan to live now that she’s staying in Atlanta?
I want her to live with me, but if she’s set on getting her own place, that’s her prerogative.
I’ll have to respect that.
A wave of sadness comes over me thinking she might leave our house, and I let out a long, resigned sigh.
Looking over with concern, Ellie touches my arm. “What’s wrong, Nils?”
I love how we can so easily read each other’s emotions. And we’re always honest with each other, so, cutting the engine and lowering the garage door behind us, I push my seat all the way back, because here is as good a place to talk as any.
I pause for a beat, listening to the sounds of the engine cooling down.
And then, tapping my hands once on the steering wheel, I guess to steel myself for if she wants to live on her own, I say, “There’s something I’d like to discuss.”
The timed light that came on when we entered the garage flicks off, and we’re left in the shadows.
“What’s that?” Ellie asks quietly, as if the darkened garage requires soft voices.
With my eyes adjusting to the near-darkness, I look over at her and say, “We haven’t talked about where you plan to live now that you’re staying in Atlanta.”
Biting her lip, she says, “That’s because I haven’t really worked out that part.”
It’s silly that I feel nervous. I mean, fuck it, we’re in love.
But I still need to draw in a deep breath and release it before I ask, “Would you want to stay here and live with me?”
My eyes flick to hers, then away.
Fuck, what if she says no?
But she doesn’t.
Instead, she lets out a little laugh and mutters, “Silly man,” as she kicks off her heels and climbs over the console.
“What are you doing?” I stupidly ask as she hikes up her dress and places her knees on either side of my thighs.
Lowering onto my lap, she takes my face in her hands and says, “I’m telling you yes, I’d love to stay here and live with you.”
A gush of relief washes over me, and I wonder why I was ever really worried.
Living together already feels so natural.
Why would we change a thing?
Laughing, I reply, “Well, this is one hell of a way to say it. But I like it.” I place my hands on her bare thighs and slide them ever so slightly under the hem of her dress. “I like it a lot.”
Since I have her in this position, we may as well make the most of it.
“Mmmm, I like it too,” she hums.
“I bet you do,” I say with a chuckle as I move my hands another inch higher.
Sucking in a breath, she rasps, “To be honest, I’ve been kind of hoping you’d ask me to stay.”
I stop. “You have?”
“Uh-huh,” she replies, sounding distracted now as she tries to push in even closer so my hands will go higher.
But I don’t let her.
I keep my grip firmly in place.
Letting out an angry groan, she huffs and calls me out. “You’re a tease, Nils.”
“You’ve got that right, babe.” I lean in and, tucking back her hair, whisper in her ear, “I’m going to make you so fucking hot you’ll beg for me.”
I’m playing it cool, but I’m hard as fuck right now.
Looking down, she sees my cock tenting my pants and lets out a lusty, need-filled groan.
“Do you want that?” I ask as I slide my hands under the hem of her silky panties and squeeze her bare ass cheeks.
She grinds into me as she gasps, “Fuck yes.”
I’m careful not to let her get down low enough to use my dick to get off on.
No, I’m going to be the one to do that.
“Nils,” she cries out, “please.”
“Please, what, babe?”
“Touch me. Do something.”
So I do—I rip her thin panties down the back and toss them aside.
“Yes,” she hisses. “More.”
I give her more—one finger, then two, while my thumb works her clit. She’s so fucking wet as she rides my hand that her pussy juices drip down to my wrist.
And that’s when I know I have to taste her.
With my seat back as far as it can go, there’s a good deal of room. Still, it’s tight as I lift her so her hot little pussy is in my face.
Gently, I lean her back against the steering wheel, and when my tongue touches her pink nub, she moans, “Nils… God, Nils.”
“Not God, baby, just me,” I breathe against her sex. “What is it that you want?”
“I want more.”
“Beg me, Ellie.”
“Pleeeeease…” She pushes into me, ’cause she’s greedy for my mouth, my lips, and my tongue.
I relent, using all three as I hold her in place while I lick and lathe and taste and kiss…
But when I know she’s close, I pull her back to me.
She lets out a yelp of surprise at the loss of my warm mouth.
Quickly, so fucking quickly, I unzip my pants and lower them some. Good thing I went commando tonight, because I have her down on my cock in five seconds flat.
And then I’m fucking her—hard.
When I let up, she rides me, slowly at first, then fast, faster.
Ahhhh, this is heaven.
I pull her soft sweater dress up high enough that I can unsnap her bra. I knead her luscious breasts, sucking one nipple into my mouth, then the other.
That’s when she falls apart, coming so hard that her pussy strangles my cock.
And that’s it for me—I let go and pour into her.
Breathing hard, she lowers her head to my neck as I wrap my arms around her, holding her so close that our hearts feel like they’re beating as one.
Ellie toys with the ends of my hair while I caress her back.
No words need to be spoken.
Our slowing breaths and gentle touches say nothing and everything all at once.
This is what love feels like.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt this content in my entire life.
The only thing that would make things better is to share with the world what Ellie and I have become to each other—everything.
But first we have to tell Arden.