Chapter 24
Easton opened my door and threw me over his shoulder. I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but I was beyond exhausted. I texted Jules while we were driving, letting her know I just had a run-in with my parents, and I was going to work from home for the rest of the day.
Easton must have seen my text, because he called Cole on the ride home, telling Cole he would also not be going into the office.
Still quiet, Easton put me on the couch and told me to stay. I heard the bath run and I had to wipe the tears streaming down my face when I realized he was drawing me a bath.
Easton came in minutes later and threw me over his shoulder again.
“I’m beginning to think you went into the wrong profession, your fireman’s carry is a work of perfection.”
Easton swatted my butt. “You’re the only one I’d carry out of a fire. Most people annoy me.”
“But not me?” I fished.
“Not you,” he answered.
Easton undressed me, but before I could get him naked, he plopped me in the hot water. Moaning, I sunk down under the bubbles.
“I’ll be back. I have to make a phone call.” Easton left, coming back a minute later with an energy drink. “Drink,” he ordered, already putting his phone to his ear.
He spoke low and I couldn’t catch what he was saying. The hot water began doing its job and my muscles started to relax. I refused to think about the conversation I had with my parents or everything that came out of Easton’s mouth.
When my brain wouldn’t release the morning’s debacle, I began to sing softly, needing something to get my mind off of the disaster.
I dried off my hand and grabbed my phone. Jules had texted. A lot.
She knew my parents and how harsh they could be.
Most of the time I would go with Jules during college break to be with her parents, who accepted Jules just as she was, as long as she was happy.
I halved my time with her parents and mine, mostly because of the guilt trip my dad would give me if he thought I liked Jules’ parents more.
I texted Jules back, giving her a rundown of breakfast and telling her how amazing Easton was at handling my parents. We agreed we would have dinner the next day so we could discuss everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
Shit, was it really only last night that Cole made Jules admit her feelings to him?
Easton walked in and I put my phone down. His hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the bathroom counter. He appeared nonchalant, but I could tell by the strain in his eyes and lips he was anything but.
Holy shit, he’s a genius. He got me naked in the bathtub so he could break up with me and leave without me being able to chase him.
“Feelings check?”
What the fuck?
I just stared at him with my mouth open. This was exactly how I was going to end this between us, but I wasn’t ready.
“Fuck it,” he said. “Rachel, I’m fucking falling in love with you.
I know that we said we wouldn’t develop feelings for each other, but I did.
I know you just got out of your relationship with fuckface, but I don’t care.
I want you. I love you. If you’re not ready, I’ll wait for you.
If you don’t want me, I’ll convince you that you do. I can be persuasive.”
I repeat, what the fuck?
My brain short-circuited. Maybe I drowned in the bathtub while he was on the phone, and this was some pseudo-heaven I ended up in.
“Say something,” he pleaded, his hands balled into fists in his pockets.
“You love me?”
“Yes.”
“I fucking love you, too.” I stood up, water cascading off me, bubbles tickling my butt cheeks when they slid down my body.
Easton stared, and blinked. My nipples pebbled from the cold air.
Fuck, did I hear him wrong? Did I break him?
Easton blinked again and a beautiful smile appeared on his face. It was as if the sun had broken out of thunder clouds to warm the earth, or some shit like that.
He reached me in three strides and pulled me against him.
“Easton, I’m going to get you wet.” I laughed into his kiss.
“No, Trouble, I’m going to get you wet.” And he did.
“Holy shit, I think I blew the tip of my dick off when I came.” Easton pulled me on top of him, where we both panted.
Even though we admitted our love to each other it didn’t mean we made love. We devoured each other, matching thrust for thrust. Easton had me in so many positions I knew I wasn’t going to be able to walk the next day.
“Hell, I didn’t know my legs could bend like that,” I said in astonishment.
“I never doubted you.”
I lay on Easton, basking in our post-love confession and post-love fucking. His hand made lazy circles on my back.
“What made you confess your love to me?” I asked into his pec.
“Your parents,” he admitted.
“Eww, but also thank you, Mom and Dad.”
He laughed, and my body moved to the motion.
“No, I was in your room listening to them berate you and I wanted to yell at them for talking to you that way. When they brought up Bradford, I almost exploded. I realized I didn’t want Bradford or anyone else to be with you.
Your house feels more like home to me than anywhere I’ve ever lived, and then I realized it wasn’t the house, it was you. ”
“Shit, I didn’t know you could be romantic. I was going to break off our arrangement this morning before my parents got here,” I admitted.
Easton jerked under me. I put my hand on his chest to keep him settled, mostly because I was comfortable and didn’t want to move.
“I also realized I was in love with you, and I didn’t want you to hurt me when you ended the arrangement. I was going to rip off the band-aid.”
“I wouldn’t have let you. I hope you know that.”
“Okay, sir.”
Easton’s cock thickened against my thigh. “Holy shit, you do have a sir kink.”
“I have a you kink,” he corrected before rolling me over and pushing into me.