Chapter 28
Olivia
“Hey, look at me,” I say. Robbie’s gaze slowly meets mine and there’s so much fear and uncertainty in his blue eyes. I don’t know where he went just now, but when he hugged me by the door a few minutes ago, all I could think was, Finally, I’m home.
This past week has been exhausting and all I wanted was Robbie next to me. Ever since we shared our feelings in Vermont, hell, ever since he kissed me at the airport almost a month ago, all I wanted was to spend time with him. To touch him, have his arms around me.
I think back to what he said. Is it okay that I am here? Of course it’s okay. It’s better than okay. It’s not too much? The last time he was on my couch here he confided in me and told me how growing up people always said he was too much, too loud, too brash. I need to reassure him that I won’t ever think that.
“Robbie, I am so happy you are here. It means the world to me that you took a last minute flight and gave up your mom’s famous biscuits and gravy to spend the holiday with me instead.” He lets out a deep breath, but before I can lose my courage, I keep going.
“You’re such a bright fucking light in my life and I’m so lucky to have found you. I know it wasn’t easy for me to open up, but I did. You know why?” Robbie shakes his head.
“Because you made me feel safe. Sure, you bullied me into being friends, but even then you were looking out for me.” He chuckles lightly and that gives me hope. “You are not too much. Not to me, honey.” Robbie’s shoulders relax and his hands find my wrists, holding tight. Like he needs to ground himself. I’ll give him whatever he needs. I’ll be his fucking anchor.
I bring my forehead to his and brush our noses together. “I’m in love with you, Robbie.” I kiss the corner of his mouth, then his cheeks, his nose, his lips.
“Please tell me I’m not still on the plane, dreaming,” he whispers against my lips.
I chuckle and shake my head. “Afraid not.”
“Thank fuck,” he says before capturing my mouth in a fierce kiss. He’s not gentle this time, teeth biting at my lip, devouring me completely. He abruptly pulls back, eyes wide like he just registered what I told him, before saying, “I’m so fucking in love with you, I couldn’t stand being away from you for another week.”
I give him my biggest, most genuine smile and lean in for another kiss. He breaks this one too and this time I whimper my disapproval. The jackass just smiles at me and says, “I actually have food in the shopping bags. Let’s put it away first.”
Ugh, how dare he be responsible when I’m about to climb him like a tree? Robbie gives me another quick kiss, then moves to the bags he brought.
“Seriously, what is in all these bags?” I ask warily. Did he buy the entirety of Home Goods?
“A tree, because it’s finally time you put one up. Decorations, of course, and some presents too. Groceries, so you don’t poison me with burnt toast.” He gives me a wicked smile, teasing me.
“I’m not a monster, I would at least feed you some freshly made frozen mac and cheese.”
His laugh is deep and wonderful and his dimples are making an appearance too. I really need him to stop with the bags, so I can continue my hike up Mount Robbie.
“Did you eat today?” he asks and I scoff. “Never mind, of course you ate, you’d never stay hungry for this long.” He smiles again and I love how easy this is. How well he knows me. How at ease I am now that he’s here.
“I had a bagel, so I could eat something, if you’re hungry. We can order takeout.”
“Absolutely not. I am making us fajitas,” he says and pulls out a giant red bell pepper, an onion, seasoning, and some pre-marinated chicken from one of the grocery bags.
“When did you even have time to do all this shopping?”
“I was lucky that my flight this morning didn’t have any delays. It gave me plenty of time to woo you.”
“You do know I would have been perfectly wooed if you showed up empty handed, right?” I say, coming behind him at the kitchen counter and giving him a hug. “All I need is you.” My head rests between his shoulder blades and I think once again: I am home.
Robbie turns and puts his arms around my shoulders, fingers combing through my hair. He bends down and gives me a sweet and lingering kiss. “I do know that. And I’m not buying you things to impress you. I just thought, cooking together has kind of become our thing. As for the decorations, we had a lot of fun putting them up at my house, so I thought we could recreate that moment.” His eyes twinkle and he gives me an almost shy smile. “This time, no one will interrupt us under the mistletoe.”
“This time, you don’t need excuses to kiss me. You can do that anytime now that I’m your girlfriend.”
Robbie’s hand trails down from my neck to my collarbone, then follows a path to right above my heart, where he rests his palm. “Mine,” he whispers, so much love showing in his eyes.
I cover his hand with mine. “Yours.”
Robbie was right. Cooking together has become our thing, and for once, I feel like I’m actually getting the hang of it. We work together seamlessly and chop up the vegetables, sear the chicken, then slice it up. I’m even tasked with cutting the avocado, but once Robbie sees how I’m holding it in one hand and trying to cut through it with the other, he immediately stops me. Apparently “avocado hand” is a thing; one he’d rather not take me to the ER for.
After he garnishes our fajitas, we sit down to eat in a comfortable silence. I can tell he’s tired because he gets quieter. He doesn’t seem sad anymore though, and every time I catch his eye he gives me a wide grin.
“We have a few hours, do you want to take a nap before we go over to Grams’ for dinner?”
“Can we decorate first?” Robbie asks hopefully.
“Sure. Let’s do it.” I smile and pull him out of the chair by his hand.
We decorate the living room surprisingly fast, considering we keep taking breaks to kiss and put our hands on each other as much as we can. The small tree has white lights and a variety of small, rose gold ornaments in it. There is mistletoe in the archway between the kitchen and living room, lights in the small tree and in the window, and other small trinkets around the coffee table. The soft, warm white lights make this place look so much cozier. Robbie was right, I should have done this much sooner.
“Okay, the last thing we have to do is make some bows,” he says, unspooling a roll of rose gold ribbon.
“How do we make them?”
“Well we start by making loops. We want to make a big bow first and put it at the top of the tree.” He cuts the ribbon and eyes it. “Here, give me your hands.”
I put out my hands and he uses them to loop the ribbon around them, pinching it in the middle, then repeating the loops. I am so mesmerized by the movement of his hands, I don’t listen to the rest. I want him to tie the ribbon tighter around my hands, push me up against the wall and kiss me senseless.
“Olive?”
“Hmm,” I say, breaking out of my fantasy. He must see the blush on my face because he’s smirking at me, blue eyes darkening.
“What were you thinking just now?”
Fuck it. “I was thinking you’re doing it all wrong.”
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “Oh, yeah?”
I nod and take a confident step towards him “You’re supposed to tie me up with it, then use your imagination.” I look at him through my lashes and watch his throat bob on a swallow. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, just looks at the ribbon he’s pinching between my hands.
Then he lets it all drop, except for the two loops around my wrists. He carefully, slowly pulls on the ribbon until my wrists are pressed together and my fists tighten in anticipation. He looks at me to make sure it’s not too tight and I give him an assuring nod. He then ties a knot underneath, one that I definitely can’t reach and undo myself and moves my hands so they hang around his neck.
I give him a kiss and without breaking it, he picks me up. My legs immediately go around his waist and he walks us to the couch. I can feel his eager hands on my thighs, gripping hard like he’s trying to keep in control. I want him to unleash himself on me, give me everything he’s got. I bite his plump bottom lip and he groans, his erection growing harder against me.
With more gentleness than I expect, he lowers me down on the couch and presses himself into me for a beat before taking my hands from around his neck and moving them up above my head. This feels too good, and I need more of him, so I lift my hips up into him and make him hiss.
“Patience, love,” he whispers against my lips, then kisses me as he trails one hand back down my body, playing with the hem of my hoodie when he reaches it. He strokes his thumb over my skin and my eyes roll back in pleasure. Fuck, he’s barely even touched me and I’m already ready to combust. He notices my reaction and continues his slow exploration. I throw my head back and take a deep breath and Robbie’s mouth finds my neck, his teeth grazing gently, his mouth leaving sweet kisses on me.
I can’t tell if the sound I make is a whimper or a groan, but I can’t even be embarrassed about it when Robbie snaps his hips against me, hitting me in the right spot. We both exhale a sharp breath and Robbie pulls back and slowly lifts my hoodie until it goes above my head and reaches my forearms. He realizes he can’t take it all the way off so he just shrugs and leaves it there.
When he returns to my body he presses soft kisses to the tops of my breasts, then drags his teeth until he meets my lacy bralette and pulls it down so my nipples are free. One of his hands moves to mine and he laces our fingers together. It’s awkward since my hands are tied but I squeeze his fingers tightly, silently begging him to keep going. To kiss me all over. He wraps his mouth around my right nipple, using his other hand to pinch the left one and I am in pure fucking heaven. Is it possible to orgasm from just kissing?
“Yes,” Robbie says in a low voice, then continues trailing kisses down my body until he reaches the band of my leggings. He hooks his fingers under it and looks up at me for permission. He looks thoroughly wrecked and I haven’t even gotten my hands on him. I nod a little too eagerly and he gives me another smirk before pulling down both my leggings and underwear all the way.
“Take your clothes off,” I say more huskily than I meant. Robbie obeys, pulling his sweater off in one swift move. When he reaches down to his pants and slowly starts unbuttoning his jeans, dragging down the zipper, his eyes not once leaving my body. He stands up and takes both his layers off, leaving him completely naked and beautiful. He kneels back on the couch but before he reaches for me, he pumps himself in one long slow stroke, eyes held steady on my face. I think I forgot how to breathe.
“Fuck, you’re perfect,” he says, bending down and stealing a kiss before moving his mouth between my legs. He doesn’t give me any warning as he wraps his mouth around my clit, not so gently sucking on it. My answering moan is loud and my hips have a mind of their own as they lift up into him. He pushes me back down with one hand on my stomach, applying enough pressure there to keep me in place. Then he licks and teases me until I see stars.
He knows I’m close, yet instead of giving me what I need, he pauses and kisses my thigh. He follows it with a bite and a lick and then his fingers are gathering my wetness and coating it around. He slides two of them inside me and I need something to grab onto. I bring my hands down to his hair and try to grab at it, but I’m doing a poor job since the ribbon is blocking me. He chuckles and takes pity on me, unwrapping the ribbon and tossing it aside. I reach up and take my bra and sweatshirt off all the way, bring my fingers to his perfect dark blond wavy hair and guide him back to my clit.
His answering sigh lets a hot breath out on my core and my fingers pull his hair tighter. Robbie doesn’t hesitate this time, devouring me like a man starved while pumping those two fingers inside me, curling them at the right spot. I don’t know what exactly comes out of my mouth, but it’s some series of yes, please, fuck, right there that I am surprisingly not ashamed of. My release hits me so hard, I immediately start to shake, my legs closing of their own volition.
Before my mind can start overthinking and worry that I may have suffocated him, Robbie groans against me. “Fuck, you get so tight when you come.” I give him enough space that he can take his fingers out but don’t wait to see what his next move is. I drag him up to me and kiss him hard, tongues clashing, bodies pressing further into each other.
“Did you happen to buy any condoms?” I ask and notice the blush on his cheeks. He did. That makes me smile.
“I may have picked some up,” he says, hiding his face in my neck.
I laugh, “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“I am not cute. Handsome maybe,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me.
“You are super cute,” I say, poking him in the cheek where his dimple usually is and he rolls his eyes. “You’re also smart, funny, and incredibly kind. And I love you for all you are.”
His eyes soften on me and he presses his lips against mine. “I love you too.” I grin through the kiss and he mirrors it, and before we know it we’re both laughing hysterically, naked limbs tangled up in one another.
When our laughter dies down I say, “Stop stalling and get the condoms, Bobbert.”
“Yes, ma’am.”