Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
ADAM
Senior year of college—Twelve years ago
“Can you believe we’re going to graduate next week? The time here went by so fast.”
Chelsea asks me a question but I’m not really listening.
I’m reworking the speech I prepared in my head over and over as I absently fiddle with a ring in my pocket.
It’s not the ring, but a promise ring. She’s it for me and I want her to know it.
I want everyone to know it. There will never be anyone who takes her place.
I also want her to move home with me, back to Christmas, but she’s been standoffish every time I bring it up. I’m hoping the ring will help her see I’m completely serious about us.
She’s opened up more about her family. I know she has trust issues when it comes to people, specifically her father.
She doesn’t like to talk about him, but the basic takeaway is that he bailed on her and her family.
A man doesn’t do that in my book. And I need to show her she can trust me.
She needs to be able to rely on me, like my family does.
“Babe, so listen, I’ve been thinking. I’m moving back home after graduation to help my dad run the business. He eventually wants me to take over and after getting my business degree I think I’m in a prime spot to really help House O’Love grow.”
“I know, I’m happy for you. This will be great for you, and him. He’ll be able to enjoy life more with your mom and you can help ease him into retirement.” She’s giving me an easy smile and my brain goes haywire.
“I want you to come home with me.” Fuck. I barked out those words with no feeling and in a gruff tone. “No. I fucked that up.” That’s not how I wanted to deliver that. I cringe and I look at her as she watches me with furrowed brows.
“You want me to come home with you or you don’t want me to come home with you?”
Damn it, why am I sweating right now? This isn’t me.
I speak and people listen. I make things work, that’s who I am.
I deliver the idea, and everyone falls into line.
I take her hand and take a calming breath.
“Let me start over, I had the words planned out in my head, but you make me lose track sometimes.”
“Oh? I make you lose track?” She’s laughing at me, I start tickling her ribs, and she laughs even harder.
“Yeah, you do. You know the power you hold over me, woman. You’re the only one who has it.”
She settles down and I pull her onto my lap.
“I love you, Chelsea Jo. I want you in my life, from now until you’re sick of me.
” She grins and her eyes get watery. “I want to give you the best life you could ever dream of having. I want to wake up with you, spend my days thinking of you, then come home to you every night. I want Sunday dinners and big holidays with my obnoxious family. I want to give you the house of your dreams. I’m going to work so hard for you, you’ll want for nothing ever again, CJ.
” I pull out the ring I bought two months ago.
It’s a gold love knot, it signifies an unbreakable bond and our forever connection together.
“This isn’t an engagement ring, I know you’re not ready for that, but I do want you to wear my ring.
I want everyone to know you’re mine. That we’re it for each other.
Our connection was instant, and I’ll never find that with anyone else. ” I slip it on her right hand.
She flexes her hand then forms a fist. “I’m yours, Adam.
” She kisses me, then deepens it, grinding on my lap.
She lingers at the hollow of my throat. I breathe deep through my nose, gentling my need to rip her apart.
“Show me how you like it, Adam. I know you’ve been holding back with me.
Just like you want to give me everything, I want to give you what you need, too.
” Her eyes relay the answer yes to every question I have.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Still sitting on my lap, I drag her shirt over her head and toss it to the ground.
She pulls at mine, so I lean up and let her take it off of me.
Running my fingers loosely over her neck and chest, down to her breasts, I play with her nipples, tugging them through the lace of her bra.
She moans and bears down on my cock, riding me through our jeans.
“I love fucking you.” Her eyes flare at my dirty mouth. “But it’s more than that. I want to be deep inside you, I want you sore for days so I’m always on your mind. Always craving me.”
Her motion picks up as she dry humps me on the couch.
I unhook her bra and let her full tits spill out in front of me.
She arches into me, letting me take a nipple into my mouth, her arms wrapping around my head, her fingers dancing in my hair.
I let it pop from my mouth, blow on it lightly and her movements become crazed.
I chuckle darkly. “You’re a bad girl, Chelsea, I was just waiting for you to give it over to me.”
“Adam,” she calls out my name as I grab hold of her hips and increase the friction. I’m hard as fuck, ready to blow but I want her there first. “Every fantasy you have, I’m going to fulfill. You’re going to be dick-drunk, just anticipating what I’m going to do to your body next.”
Her body starts to quiver, and she lets out a cry of ecstasy.
Seeing my woman fall apart from just a few touches and some dirty words fills me with such self-satisfaction, it’s intoxicating.
It makes me want to take it to the next level, command and control her, dominate her.
But then I want to love her, kiss her, hold her, and make her feel the safest she has ever been, in my arms.
We spend the night wrapped in each other, and just as we’re about to pass out, she whispers the sweetest words I’ve heard to date. “I’ll go home with you. Let’s begin a new life together, Adam.”