Chapter 12
EVAN
All through my job, my mind is on Zinnia.
I know that asking her for a favor right after she asked for space was one hundred percent not the right thing to do. Yet she instantly understood that all rules go out the window when it comes to taking care of your mother.
Plus, I could tell instantly that Mom adores her. That's obviously a great sign.
As I walk into Mom's house with three bouquets — mixed flowers for Mom and Renée, and an arrangement of zinnias, obviously — I'm not pleased to hear a male voice coming from the kitchen.
Rushing in, I see a phone propped up on the table while mom is seated at it, dusting kourabiethes with icing sugar.
"And another thing, Albert," Mom declares. She's obviously been going on in this vein for a while. "Your sister Douglas is beloved in Sandersville. Your daughters will be treated like royalty here. There's less than zero reason to worry about them."
Tiptoeing into the room, I place the flowers on the end of the counter, making sure that I stay out of the way of the video call.
"They're going to be protected to within an inch of their lives. Heck, my son wouldn't even let Zinnia meet with a client in a coffee shop alone. He barged in there as if he were her bodyguard or something."
Sneaking a look, I watch the reaction of the man on the screen. He's not attractive like his daughters. Just an average, bland suit. Yet he's smiling and nodding at my mother.
"So, Evan understands that young ladies need someone watching over them?" he asks, nodding approvingly.
"He thinks he knows, but I'm going to have a word with him about that to set him straight," Mom says. Her fingers wave slightly in my direction, telling me she knows I'm there.
Zinnia is standing near the sink, her bright eyes wide as she mouths, "Holy crap."
"So the final thing, Albert," Mom says in her best don't-mess-with-me voice. "The girls just moved and are only finally getting settled. Zinnia won't be moving again. Partly because she doesn't want to. And partly because I have never had a more capable and efficient baker's assistant."
"That's hardly—"
"I wasn't finished," Mom says in the tone that is never to be ignored.
"I barely know them and I can already tell these girls aren't natural travelers.
They're homebodies. They want to work at home, the sisters want to stay together with their Aunt, who I know for a fact is keeping a very close eye on them, by the way. "
Her eyes dart to Zinnia, who shrugs.
"Well, I'm glad we had this little chat," Mom says. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to coach Zinnia on how to clean these pans properly. Thanks for the chat, and have a nice day. Toodles."
Albert starts to sputter in protest, but she stabs the end call button with her index finger as if she were queen of the universe.
My heart almost explodes as Zinnia flings herself into Mom's arms. "Thank you!" she gasps. "I've never heard anyone tell Dad off so politely, but so thoroughly." She straightens up. "Actually, nobody has ever told Dad off at all. He's a lawyer who loves to argue."
Mom howls with laughter. "Hilarious. He's not like a lawyer with me."
I come over to give each of them a kiss on the top of their heads. "That's because you have a supreme mother energy that cannot be denied."
Mom smiles up at me, then takes my hand, smacking the back of it lightly as if I were a toddler who'd just tried to touch the stove. "I know you mean well, but you will not be stalking Zinnia at her meetings anymore. She should not have had to tell you that twice."
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me." Mom snaps her fingers and points to Zinnia. "Do it to her."
Dropping to my knees, I take Zinnia's hands in mine. "I am truly sorry. I will be far more careful to listen to you in the future, and do everything in my power to be reasonable."
"Thank you," Zinnia says, squeezing my hands. Her sweet smile tells me that I'm truly forgiven. "And you were right to check with Marty about the keys. The plumber still accidentally had one. It's being dropped off tomorrow."
Standing slowly, I pull her to my chest, breathing her in as I feel her delicate body press against mine.
"Time and place, kids," Mom says from behind me. "Zinnia, I need you to peek into the oven and describe the level of golden brown to me."
By the time Renee returns and the ladies decide that I'm permitted to scrub the dishes for them, Zinnia has reported the good news that she's not leaving to her sisters, and Mom has whispered to me that Zinnia is "a keeper."
As we walk to the truck, Zinnia examines her flowers. "These are lovely, thank you. You're very sweet."
"Not nearly as sweet as you." Before I throw the truck into gear, I ask, "Your place or mine?"
Zinnia leans over, pulling my face to hers for a kiss that I feel along the back of my legs. Through my stomach. Everywhere. "Your place," she finally breathes.
"Your wish is my command."
Halfway there, I burst into laughter. "What?" she asks, already giggling with me.
"I just realized that for the rest of our lives, it's going to be you and Mom against me. You're going to be a team."
Her mouth falls open in delight. "That's awesome."
When I park in the driveway, I turn to her. "Let me say this before I start tearing your clothes off, gorgeous."
"Okay," she laughs.
"I need to feel like I'm protecting you."
She squeezes my hand. "Your Mom told me about your Dad leaving. How you became the man of the house. So I guess I can understand."
"Yes, but you need to be independent. You need your own space, your own life. Your own rules. When I'm hovering too much, or my overprotective instincts kick in, please, feel free to assert your independence and tell me off."
"Deal." Walking into the house, Zinnia looks up with me with a grin. "You know, between Aunt Doug and your Mom, you might be in trouble. Both of those women…" She shakes her head, and I chuckle, knowing what she's trying carefully not to say.
"Have no fucks to give?"
"None at all."
Zinnia clasps my hand, walking directly to the bedroom. When we get there, she places her palms on my chest, backing me against the wall. "Who am I?" she asks.
Searching her eyes, I can't tell what kind of answer she's hoping for. "A strong and beautiful independent woman."
She smiles, then runs a tongue slowly across her bottom lip. "Yes. And?"
"A grown adult, who does not need supervision, or a man breathing down her neck."
She nods. "Unless I have a freshly replaced hip. Seriously, she's amazing, but you're right, your mother was a handful. She kept wanting to jump up and get things."
"Noted. Overprotection will be tolerated if you're ever sick or injured."
"Good boy. What else?"
I'm not sure why her calling me a good boy sends yet another blast of lust through my veins. Maybe because it sounds like she's calling me hers.
"My sexy girlfriend, and even though I know it's far too soon to tell her, I already love her with all my heart and soul."
Zinnia's perfect lips fall open in surprise. Blinking slowly, she seems stunned. Then her eyes fall closed for a moment before she whispers. "Just because it's soon doesn't mean it's wrong." Her eyes snap open, staring at me strangely before she breathes, "I love you too."
"Thank God." Lifting her, I press her back against the wall while kissing her hard and deep. She's already moaning, her arms and legs wrapping around me like vines. "I was so scared you wouldn't forgive me, baby."
She smiles as I carry her to the bed. "Well, just know that I'll be keeping a close eye on you from now on."
"Good."
I adore the way she grins as I shift her around, removing her shirt, her tank top, her jeans. Laying her down, I kiss looping circles around her breasts, allowing her to relax into the moment.
Then I pull back, admiring her sexy body. Her sweet innocence radiates from the glow of her pale skin as she hooks a thumb into the side of her purple lace panties. "Maybe I should keep these on so I don't get cold," she teases.
I yank her panties off with a growl, tossing them aside as my hand cups her entire pussy. "You'll never be cold again, gorgeous. That goes double for in the bedroom."
Spreading her wide, I settle between her silky thighs.
Alternating between my fingertips and tongue, I tease along every fold, every curve of her softest skin.
I'm going to spend endless hours learning how to make Zinnia sigh louder, moan longer, twitch her hips up higher, her body too restless to stay still and enjoy the pleasure.
My hands grip her skin, holding her in place as my tongue ravishes her swollen clit, my other hand slipping a finger into her pussy that's already dripping. She's so tight, so wet, as her legs hook around my shoulders.
A long rattling sigh tells me that she's close. I groan, the taste of her sweet juices making my cock uncomfortably hard. Her beautiful blue eyes grow wide, then she clutches the sides of my hair, gasping and moaning as her entire body quivers.
I love this connection. The way she stares right at me as she comes. In this moment of utter surrender, she knows that I'll always be here to protect her. Body, mind, and soul.
As Zinnia grows still, I murmur against her slippery skin, "This hot, sexy pussy is mine, isn't it?"
She nods, then gives me a squeeze around the ears with her thighs. "And all of you is mine. Get up here."
I quickly peel off my clothes as she scrambles backward on the bed. "Damn." I rasp as I lie over her. "My future wife is a knockout."
Her eyes blaze as she realizes how serious I am. "I guess I knew this wasn't just a fling when you had me meet your mother."
Brushing her hair out of her eyes, I trail kisses along her brow bone. "This was serious from the second I met you, gorgeous. From the first time you let me kiss you."
My shaft is throbbing as I position it, nudging against her clit, then down, gently easing into her tight channel. I watch her eyes while feeling her slowly stretch around me.
Anytime her breath catches, I pause, waiting for her to settle before pressing deeper. She's already squeezing me so hard that it's a struggle not to thrust.
"Zinnia." My teeth scrape lightly along her throat, then I lick a path over to nibble her earlobe. "Do you like it when I fill up this tight pussy?"
Her mouth opens with a moan as I press deeper. "Yeah. You feel so good. Stop being so gentle with me, dammit."
She moans again, one hand smacking my ass, and the other digging her nails into the back of my shoulder. Her hips tilt up, begging me to slide deeper. So I do, with long, slow strokes gliding into her softness.
We moan together as I tap the end of her channel, and can't go any deeper.
I've never felt this close to someone. Didn't know it was possible. Yet now we're fused together in a way that nothing will ever tear us apart.
We belong together. Me and my sweet, precious flower, that I will protect forever.