Chapter 31 #2
“One more space to see.” He chuckled at her sigh. “Just one more. And then I’ll take you to bed.”
He tucked her hand gently into his and tugged her down the hallway to the space that connected the house to what Mae thought was the second story of the garage. Stone opened the door and she burst into tears.
“No. Don’t cry,” he begged. “I’m so sorry. You don’t like it?”
She shook her head. “I love it. It’s exactly what I saw in my dreams.”
And it was. The beautiful dance studio she’d dreamed of, over and over when she was pregnant, was right in front of her eyes. It was almost as if he’d gone into her memories to transform the space.
“Maybe it wasn’t a dream you were seeing, but a glimpse of the future.”
“Do you think that means we’ll have a little girl one day? She was dancing, right over there in my dreams.” Mae pointed to the wall of mirrors behind a ballet barre.
“I think we can have fun trying.” He opened his arms and she slid into place.
“Thank you for this. For all of this. For doing this for us when I couldn’t.”
“Always, Mae. You’ll never be the only one fighting for us ever again.”
Mae smiled, slipping her hand back into Stone’s. “Come on, Sully. I think it’s time you took me to bed.”
He pulled her close, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. But in an instant, she was up in the air, being cradled against his chest. She kicked her feet and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“A girl could get used to this, you know.”
“Good. My girl should expect these things. To know I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing her how much I love her.”
He walked them back down the hall, to the room across from the nursery. Mae’s eyes went wide as the glow from a hundred candles filled the space.
“Stone!”
“Don’t worry. They’re battery operated and on a timer. I wouldn’t risk starting a house fire now that you’re here.”
“Very practical. Now, set me down so I can get out of this dress.”
“As you wish.” He lowered her feet to the ground, holding her waist as she steadied herself.
His hands reached back, gathering her hair to one side.
With that out of the way, she felt his fingers dance down her spine, until they connected with the small zipper hidden in the silk fabric.
Slowly, so fucking slowly she was sure her skin was about to burst into flames before he finished, Stone lowered the zipper.
Mae felt the fabric pull away from skin for a fraction of a second before Stone’s touch was there again, guiding the thin straps over her shoulder, until the fabric fluttered to the floor.
Stone sucked in a sharp breath as his eyes raked over her naked body.
“Christ. You look so fucking good.”
She twirled her finger out in front of him, and giggled. “I think it’s time you got out of that uniform, don’t you?”
“Want to help?” His eyebrows wiggled.
“Hmm… such a tempting offer, but I think I’ll just sit here.
” Mae took two steps back until her legs hit the mattress.
She turned, climbing onto the bed so her ass was swaying in front of him, until she reached the headboard.
She sat back, bringing her knees up before she let them fall apart.
And then her hand traveled down her body until her fingers found her favorite little spot to tease.
“I’ve fantasied about this moment all year, Sully. I want to savor it.”
His eyes were wild, focused solely on the spot where her fingers swirled and teased.
Each time she moaned, his chest began to rise and fall faster than before.
She giggled as she watched his fingers shake, working overtime to unbutton his uniform.
But he was still quick. And with the uniform on a hanger and back in the closet, Stone walked back into the room as naked as she was.
And what a fucking sight he was to behold.
He stopped, opening a drawer in the small table sitting under the window, and pulled out a condom.
“You don’t need that tonight, Sully.” Mae gasped and clenched her legs together. Fuck. She needed to slow down, or she was going to orgasm before he even touched her.
His eyes went wide. “Are you sure?”
“Is there a reason why you need to wear one?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I haven’t been with anyone else, if that’s what you’re asking.”
She smiled. “Good. Like I said, there’s no reason for that. I’m still on birth control. And I don’t want there to be anything between us tonight.”
Stone threw the condom over his shoulder as he walked to the bed. The second he laid next to her, his hand was around her wrist. Stone pulled her hand up to his mouth, licking her fingers.
“Mmm. I think I know where I want to start.” Stone rolled on top of her, kissing her neck, her shoulder, letting his tongue roll around her pebbled nipple before lowering himself between her legs.
“Oh god,” she moaned as his tongue lapped over her already sensitive and throbbing clit. Her fingers closed tightly around the sheets. “I’m so close.”
He hummed against her in approval. And then he sucked.
“Oh, fuck!” she screamed as her first orgasm barreled into her.
Mae closed her eyes and let wave after wave of pleasure roll through her.
Stone stayed right there between her legs, lapping, swirling, working her until she was a shivering, wet mess.
When his fingers nudged at her entrance, she reached her fingers down and threaded them into his hair.
“Good boy,” she gasped as he came up to rest alongside her. “But I need you.” Her eyes dropped to his cock, thick and ready for her to take. Her fingers wrapped around his shaft, lightly stroking from base to tip and back again. “I want you inside me. Now.”
“Mae,” he groaned. “Lay back.”
She did as he ordered, the feel of his weight on top of her a welcome balm for the frantic energy simmering just under her skin. He moved slowly at first, his face filled with the pain of restraint.
“Jesus. Fuck. You feel incredible.”
He pushed forward, thrusting more and more until he was seated inside her.
“Perfect. So fucking perfect.” His lips pressed a kiss just under her ear before finding her lips. Kiss after kiss, Stone set the perfect pace with his hips. She felt everything growing warmer.
Mae’s fingers raked down his chest. “I want…” she panted as he pushed into her again.
“What, Mae? Tell me,” thrust. “What you,” thrust. “Want.”
“I want to ride you,” she admitted.
His eyes sparkled as he smiled. “Your wish is my command.”
Mae squealed as Stone flipped them, still very much connected, so that he was laying on his back and Mae was on top of him.
His hand was back on her breast, swiping over her peaked nipples, teasing a moan from her almost instantly.
She brushed her thumbs over his cheeks, his eyes still locked onto her as she moved up and down, taking exactly what she needed from him.
His tears kept flowing, her own joining the mix as everything they’d been holding onto for the last year broke free.
“I love you, Mae. You’re mine. So beautiful. So strong. I love you. I love you.” His voice hitched.
“I love you, too. I’m so sorry I was too scared to come back. I’m so sorry I stayed away. I love you, Stone. I love you, too.”
He moved beneath her, his arm hooking around her back to keep her steady as he sat up, so they were now chest to chest.
It wasn’t a fast and frivolous hook up. It wasn’t something stuck in the shadows.
It wasn’t a secret. It was love. Pure, and raw, and possessive.
Stone was worshiping her. Giving thanks at the altar of her body.
Acknowledging all the broken and frayed bits of her soul, and righting them with the words he whispered to her.
And when her climax washed over her, it was the most intense orgasm she’d ever experienced.
The edges of her vision went black and fuzzy, her hearing narrowed down to just the sound of her own heart pumping blood around her body.
Every nerve ending from her head to her toes felt hyper-sensitive and electrified.
Stone laid them down on the bed together, pulling her impossibly closer.
“I want you to know,” he whispered. “Whether you ask me tonight or you ask me in sixty years, the answer will always be the same. I choose you, Michaela. In this life, in the next. You’re it for me.”
She kissed his shoulder, and his chin, and his cheek.
“Wait one second.” She pushed off his chest, giggling as he whistled while her naked body walked into the bathroom.
She finished up there, stopping in the closet to steal some clothes from Stone, and headed back out of the bedroom, across the hall to the nursery.
Mae grabbed the notebook and made her way into Stone’s office.
It only took a second of rummaging through his desk to find exactly what she was looking for.
Opening to the last entry, Mae read the words he’d written the night before.
Tomorrow is Gunner and Lily’s vow renewal. And if everything goes right, the day I show you what I’ve been working on for us. It’s going to be a beautiful day. And I have this hope that it will also be the day you finally come home to me…
She finished reading the entry, another tear slipping down her face. Smiling, Mae set the pen on the paper. When she finished, Mae snapped the book closed and carried it back into their bedroom.
Stone heard Mae’s footsteps before he saw her silhouette making its way back down the hall.
One thing he loved about having an old house, even if everything had pretty much been replaced, was all the little creaks and pops that happened when you moved around.
It sounded like home, especially now that Mae’s steps were echoing around him.
“You were gone for longer than I expected. Is everything okay?”
She sauntered back into the room, the soft glow of the lamp next to their bed illuminating her perfect curves under his white shirt she’d slipped into in a way that made him want to repeat what they had just shared over and over until the sun came up and they had to stop to spend time with their re-newly married friends.
“I wanted to tell you something, but you documented everything, big and small, over the last year for me, and I figured I should close it out with an entry of my own.”
She held the notebook out to him and he flipped to the page marked with the familiar ribbon.
His entry from the day before sticking out like a sore thumb against the stark white paper.
… I have this hope that it will also be the day you finally come home to me.
I miss you, Mae. I want you to come home.
Let this be our home. Choose us. There is nothing that I want more than to make a life with you.
There is nothing more important than waking up with you by my side, dancing in our kitchen after a long day, laying down together one last time in fifty years to leave this world and enter the next.
The path we’ve both been walking has always been leading right here, my love.
It’s always only been you, baby. Forever, and always, it will only be you. Please come home.
And there, written in her own beautiful handwriting was her answer.
I love you, Stone. For now. For always. My answer is yes. I’m coming home.