Chapter 38
MINTY FRESH
NATALIE
The house was still as I closed the door behind us, the quiet hum of the evening settling in.
Will rested his hand lightly on my lower back as I turned to face him, his blue eyes holding mine with a look that sent heat rushing through me.
His presence filled the space, warm and grounding, yet electric with anticipation.
“That was a big night,” he said softly, his voice steady but laced with something undeniably intimate.
“It really was,” I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips. “For the restaurant and the whole team behind The City Center.”
“For us,” he added, his words deliberate, his gaze unwavering. “Our first date.”
The corners of my mouth lifted as his hand slid down my back, pulling me a fraction closer. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air between us, spicy and warm. “You’re really counting tonight as our first real night out?” I teased.
“I am,” he said, his voice dropping, the tension between us thickening. “But it wasn’t just any night out. It was us, together. You and me. Like it should be. No hiding and sneaking around. The real deal.”
My heart stuttered at his words, and the way his thumb brushed against the side of my waist sent a shiver coursing through me. The world outside seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet pulse of our breathing and the weight of what was unspoken between us.
“You’re so sure,” I murmured.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” he said, his lips grazing the edge of my jaw, his breath warm against my skin.
The moment stretched, charged with a heady mix of anticipation and inevitability. Then suddenly, it snapped. His lips captured mine, fierce and consuming, and I sank into him, letting his hands and his touch pull me under.
Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me effortlessly, his arms cradling me as he carried me upstairs to my bedroom.
The sound of my heartbeat thundered in my ears, each step he took feeling like an unspoken promise.
The weight of the night, the applause, the conversation, it all melted away until there was nothing but us.
We stood next to the bed, his lips exploring the curve of my neck as his hands roamed over me, igniting a slow burn that spread through me like fire. Our connection only deepened as clothes slipped away, until there was nothing left between us but need.
The cool air against my skin sent a thrill through me as the fabric of my dress fell away. I felt his gaze on me, heated and reverent, as if I were the only thing that existed in the world.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick with reverence, and I felt a flush rise across my cheeks.
“You have a way of making me feel like I’m more than I ever thought I could be,” I whispered.
His blue eyes locked on mine. “It’s because you are. And I’ll spend every chance I get making sure you know it.”
His words undid me, breaking through every barrier I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding onto. When his lips found mine again, all sense of anything but us melted away.
Every touch, every whisper, every kiss deepened the connection between us. His hands roamed over my body as if he was memorizing every curve, every reaction. By the time his fingers found me, I was already unraveling, my breath catching as I clung to him.
“I need you,” I whispered, my voice trembling with want.
“You have me,” he replied, his words heavy with meaning as he pressed his forehead to mine.
When he finally entered me, it was like everything in the world clicked into place. My breath hitched, and I clung to him, my fingertips digging into his back as a soft moan escaped my lips.
“It feels so right,” I murmured, my voice breaking as he moved.
“Every time,” he replied, his lips brushing against mine.
He had a way with my body that made it feel entirely his, like he had memorized every curve and every reaction.
He moved with a rhythm made just for me, leaving me undone so many times that I lost count.
The heat between us was all-consuming, and every touch felt like a promise that this moment would last forever.
When we finally collapsed together, the world blurred around the edges, leaving only the soft sounds of our breathing and the steady beat of his heart beneath my hand.
The next morning, I woke up in Will’s cocoon.
His warm body pressed against mine, his strong, lean arms draped over me.
I stretched slightly, sinking deeper into the moment, feeling how safe and right it felt.
My thoughts wandered, imagining what it would be like when six kids were running around the house.
“Morning,” Will said, his voice rough with sleep.
“Morning,” I said, turning over to face him.
“I love waking up next to you,” he said, a slow, lazy smile spreading across his face.
“Me too.” I hesitated for a moment before adding, “I’ve been thinking… how will we tell the kids about us?”
“Wow, Bradford,” he teased, his blue eyes lighting up. “You’re ready for the next step? I wasn’t sure when you’d get to this point. With my scary teenager at home and all.”
I tapped him playfully on the chest. “I’m still scared of her.”
“Fair. Me too,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ll know when it’s the right time. Maybe I should start with Kelly. Is it safe for me to tell her first?”
“I think so,” I said, laughing. “I’m scared of her too. Jason already knows about us, thanks to that ER visit.”
“Well, let’s go back to cuddling then,” he said, pulling me closer. His lips found mine, and before long, we naturally slipped into each other again. After we caught our breath, I slid out of bed, grabbing a robe.
“What do you want for breakfast?” I asked.
“I’ll eat anything you make me.”
“All right,” I said. “Come down in a few. There’s a spare toothbrush on the sink if you want to keep it here.”
“Are you saying my breath smells?” he teased.
“No!” I laughed. “It’s just…it’s a big step for me, having you keep stuff here.”
He smiled. “Thanks, babe. I’ll take the toothbrush as a token of our official relationship.” We both laughed as I headed downstairs.
The house was quiet, which meant Meredith was nowhere in sight. I checked my phone and found a text from her:
Meredith: I ended up staying at Evan’s. Oops.
Shaking my head, I started making avocado toast. Will came downstairs as I poured coffee, wrapping his arms around me from behind and kissing my neck.
“I think that toothbrush works great,” he said, his voice playful.
“You smell minty fresh.” I said with a chuckle.
“Meredith stayed at Evan’s,” I said, turning in his arms. “Is it weird that they’re hooking up?”
“A little,” he admitted. “But nothing ever lasts with Evan.”
“Same with Meredith,” I said, laughing. “She never lets anyone get close. And she kind of blew off Jasper. She put him in the friend zone fast.”
“She leaves soon, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah, tomorrow. But she’ll be back for Christmas.”
“I love how close you two are,” he said. “It’s nice.”
“You seem close with your sister too. And Evan. You two have that… closeness.”
“Evan’s like a brother to me. He is family.”
I smiled, warmth tugging at my chest. I liked hearing him open up, collecting these little pieces of him as if they were mine to keep. The more I learned, the more I wanted, every detail that made Will, Will.
After breakfast, Will helped clear the dishes, much to my surprise.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, watching him rinse plates. “I’m not used to a man helping in the kitchen.”
“Hey, I’m divorced. I know how to do domestic stuff,” he said with a smirk. “My maid only comes three days a week.”
“Three days a week?” I teased. “You’re fancy, Parker.”
“My mom insisted. Otherwise, it would be her over five days a week.” He said cringing.
We chatted about our upcoming schedules before Meredith walked in, clearly embracing the walk of shame. She wore what looked like Evan’s boxers and one of his button-ups, her hair a chaotic bun. Somehow, she still looked like a Calvin Klein model.
“Head killing me. Need coffee,” she groaned.
“Rough night?” Will asked, amused.
“Your friend is a bad influence,” she muttered.
“That’s my cue,” Will said. He kissed me goodbye and left.
As I made Meredith breakfast, I couldn’t resist asking, “So, how did Jasper lose out to Evan?”
“Jasper bored me. I set him up with Lisa. She’s probably getting breakfast in bed from him right now,” she said with a sly grin.
“You were bored? That fast?”
She shrugged. “It’s not like Evan and I are serious. It’s just fun.”
Shaking my head, I handed her a plate and some ibuprofen. “You’re a mess, Meredith.”
She grinned. “Takes one to know one.”
I laughed as I cleaned up the kitchen, grateful for the messy, imperfect people who made my life whole.