“I don’t know either,” I said. “I don’t know how to be in love. Mom never once said she loved us. I don’t think she did, because she couldn’t. My sister is the only person who’s told me she loved me, who I’ve known loves me, who’s showed it to me time and again, no matter what. But I think I can figure it out.” I kissed him, gently, delicately, slowly. “We’ll figure it out together.”
It’d only been minutes, and we were still partially joined, but I felt him stirring.
“You can show me right now,” I whispered. “Just like this.”
“And then I can show you in the shower.”
“Have you ever taken a bath, Seven?”
He tilted his head. “No, not since I was super little.” A groan. “Hold on.” He got up, went into the bathroom, discarded the used condom, came back and got another, then lay back down with me. Pulled me against him, gathering me to himself. Pulled me over on top of him.
I writhed my hips against him, felt him grow. Put the second one on him, slowly, making a caress out of it. “Then how about you take a bath with me? We can drink coffee in the tub and talk.”
He caressed me, and as he touched me, he thickened. I lifted my torso up, and draped my breasts against his face, and he nuzzled them and kissed them and buried his face between them, and he hardened yet more, and all I had to do was wiggle just so, tilt my hips just so, and he was inside me again already and beautifully filled me and overfilled me until I was glutted on him and he was pushing deep as he nuzzled and kissed my breasts.
I took over, then, and rode him slowly, sitting forward and plunging down on him until he groaned, until I rose to the edge, and then I sat up and threw my head back and writhed on him and my breasts bounced violently for him as I gyrated a grinding rhythm on him and took us over the edge, and it was only moment, thirty seconds, a minute, maybe two minutes at most and then I was crying out and tears leaked down my cheeks and he exploded inside me and gasped my name and he was every bit as shattered into wondrous pieces as I was by the force of our united climax.
I lay forward on him again. Did we doze, then? Maybe. I don’t know. All I knew was Seven, under me, arms around me, his breathing and mine matched, sun warm on us from the window, floating on lazy happiness.
“Love you,” I heard him murmur. “Fuckin’…I love you, woman. I can’t believe it’s true, but I do.”
I laughed. “I fuckin’ love you too, you big crazy beautiful man.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re compelled to make even telling me you love me macho by throwing in an F-bomb.” I nuzzled his throat. “It’s adorable and I love it. Don’t change.”
He tucked me tighter under the nook of his chin, petting my hair and clutching me close. “You understand me. You accept me. You accept who I am and you don’t want me to change, to be anyone but who I am. That’s fucking priceless, Autumn. And I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am for that.”
I playfully slapped at his shoulder. “Are you trying to make me cry after the hottest sex of my life? I mean, come on, Seven. Give my poor emotions a break, here.”
He chuckled. “Sorry, not sorry.”
A slow quiet.
“Run the bath?”
“How hot do you like it?”
“Pretend I’m a lobster and you’re trying to cook me.”
“Does that mean I get to eat you, after?”
“After I get clean, sure.”
He snorted. “Why do I have to wait till you’re clean? I don’t mind getting a little dirty.” He swaggered away toward my bathroom, his broad shoulders and tapered waist swaying, his taut buttocks flexing.
God, what a man. All muscle, and all heart.
I covered my face with my hands as I realized what had just happened.
Seven told me he loved me.
And I’d said it back.
Zoe was going to shit puppies.
13
“I can’t believe that stupid bullshit ad worked again!” Laurel huffed, and I couldn’t tell whether she was more excited or annoyed.
It was a month after that glorious morning in my apartment. I’d kept the whole thing on the DL for the past few weeks, and I could admit if only to myself that I’d kept it a secret because I still couldn’t quite believe it was real. I didn’t want to prematurely announce something to the girls, only to have Seven suddenly show some sort of nefarious true colors.
Of course, I hadn’t kept it from Zoe, because she was my sister and almost my twin. She’d known the moment she saw me the very next day. And, if I was being honest, I don’t think I’d kept much of anything secret from the others, either. They’d known. They’d seen the change in me, the moments spent texting him in between work calls and showings, the murmured phone calls at odd times.
The flowers he’d send to the office, for me, every single Monday morning at nine thirty, a bouquet of wildflowers, usually, in a bursting profusion. The fact that more often than not, I’d arrive at work flushed, smiling to myself, and perhaps a little ginger to sit down—Seven, it turned out, really liked spanking me, and I, surprisingly, enjoyed it…maybe even more than he did.
Also, he liked to drop me off at work in his Venom, and pick me up. Also, I hadn’t driven my BMW since he’d “loaned” me his Ferrari, and I suspected he’d soon recommend I simply sell it.
I’d finally made the official announcement to the group, at drinks after work, that Seven and I were a couple, and that I loved him.
Lizzy got up from her spot opposite me at the round table, came around, and hugged me from behind as I sat in my chair. “I’m so happy for you, honey. Are you happy?”
I nodded, awkwardly hugging her arms. “Yes, I am. I really, really am. It’s unexpected, and there’s a learning curve to this whole…being in love business. But I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
Kat, sitting beside me opposite Zoe, patted my hand. “Good for you, boo. You deserve it.”
Teddy, between Lizzy and Kat to my right, was positively starry-eyed, almost tearful. “My little girl’s all grown up.”
I snorted at her. “Ohmygod, Teddy, you’re five years younger than me.”
“So? I’m the emotionally mature one of the group.”
Zoe spluttered. “Okay, babe, whatever you say.”
Teddy tossed her hair with an arch expression. “You wouldn’t understand.” She couldn’t hold a serious expression for long, though, and burst out laughing.
Laurel shook her head. “Stupid ad. It was a joke. It wasn’t supposed to work.”
I reached past Zoe on my left, to where Laurel sat on the other side of my sister. “Are you upset because it worked, or because…it’s him?”
She tossed her hair, lifted her chin, and blinked a few times, rapidly. “I’m not upset.”
I laughed. “Laurel. Come on.”
“It’s stupid. I’m embarrassed.”
Zoe leaned into Laurel. “Honey, it’s us. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Laurel huffed. “It’s so fucking stupid, though. Like, I’m such an idiot.”
“Talk to us, Laur,” Lizzy said. “We’re your best friends. You know we won’t judge you.”
“Fine, but I’m going to need another drink. Like, a big one.” The waitress came by and brought Laurel a vodka-soda that had been poured into a pint glass, courtesy of the bartender who’d overheard Laurel; she sipped until the level had dropped by a good inch from the top, and then sighed. “I just had it built up in my head. And keep in mind, I’ve always understood that it was just a fantasy. A silly, stupid thing I did in the safe confines of my own dumb head while I was trying to fall asleep. Or in the bathtub, with my waterproof wand. It was just this fantasy. He’d see me at a match, and he’d fall for me. The scenario would change depending on my mood and whatever, of course. And look, I knew it was never going to happen. But then we set up the ad for Autumn, and he was literally the first person to DM Teddy about it.”
“
Wait, Teddy?” I asked. “I assumed this whole thing was Zoe’s idea.”
Zoe’s eyes went wide, shaking her head. “Hell no. You think I’d do that to you? I went along with it, sure, and I provided the photo. I also said the getting pregnant the old-fashioned way was a bad idea to include, but since I wouldn’t elaborate on why, they insisted it stay in, or the ad just looks…slutty and desperate. It legitimizes it somehow, which I do understand. And I’m sorry if you felt blindsided by it.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “But no, it was Teddy’s idea, and the Instagram DM goes to her—she does a minor check to make sure the person is who they say they are, then give them your number.”
“Teddy, you sneaky little minx,” I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
She shrugged and smiled coyly. “You needed a nudge out of your shell. I am sorry about what happened with that Charles asshole, though.”
“No one could have foreseen that. The only person I blame for that is him, and I guess myself for not cutting my losses and ghosting him sooner.”
“I wish I’d been there to see Seven get in his face,” Lizzy said. “That had to have been a sight to see.”
I cackled. “Yeah, I wish I could remember it more clearly. I remember…” I fought to pull clear memories out of the fog. “He said something like, ‘do you like your teeth?’ And Charles was like, ‘My teeth?’ And Seven was like ‘yeah, your teeth? Do you like them?’ And Charles was like ‘yes, of course, why?’ And Seven said…shit, what did he say? I think he said, ‘if you don’t get out of my way, I’ll kick them down your throat so far you’ll shit teeth for a week.’ Something like that. It’s fuzzy and foggy.”
“Oh man, that’s so badass,” Laurel sighed. She glanced at me. “I am happy for you, Autumn. I really am. And I know my weird fantasy is stupid, and it’s stupid to be upset about losing someone who was never mine, but that’s how it feels, in a really bizarre sort of way.”
I smiled at her, hoping it was reassuring. “I get it, Laurel. It’s okay. And…I’m sorry.”
She snorted at me. “Oh stop. Don’t you apologize for finding a good man and being happy with him just because I had a weirdly obsessive crush on him.”
“I just…” I shrugged. “I don’t want it to be weird.”
Laurel just laughed. “Too late?”
I caught Teddy eying Laurel with a speculative look, and I knew who was going to be next to get called by a random stranger.
That, I knew, was going to be fun to watch.
Teddy caught my eye, and smirked, the grin there and gone. I winked, and Teddy’s eyes widened, as if to say, “Shush, don’t let on!”
I looked away, and the moment was over. But Teddy and I had, I felt, come to a silent agreement.
Lizzy, the sneaky bitch, was already signing the tab. “So, Autumn. Now that you and Seven are officially dating or whatever, what’s next?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Figure out how to have a meaningful adult romantic relationship? Learn how to not screw up a good thing?”
Lizzy just smiled at me, rolling her eyes. “Just let yourself be in love, honey. Let yourself have what you want, which is him. All you have to do is show him. Don’t be scared. Trust him. As long as he keeps earning and keeping that trust, you’re golden. I mean, I’m no expert, but I am the only one in the group who’s in a relationship, so of the six of us, I kind of am the expert.”
“I’m doing my best,” I said. “It’s the whole being vulnerable thing that’s tough. I’m used to keeping myself to myself, except with you girls. But he’s…Seven is good at drawing me out. It’s going to be good.”
Laurel was conspicuously silent.
“So, Laurel.” I tried to catch her attention. “What are you looking for in a new fantasy man?”
She visibly attempted to rally. “Well, not much. He’s got to be tall. If he’s shorter than me in my tallest heels, no deal. Maybe that makes me, um, height-ist, or something, but I went out a few times with a super short dude, and it was just weird. I didn’t like it. And there’s plenty of short girls in the world to date the short guys, right?”
Kat sighed. “You realize you sound like a complete asshole, right, Laur?”
Laurel just gave a chipper shrug and grin. “I know. I’m okay with that.”
“Tall,” I said. “What else?”
“I mean, as long as we’re going for fantasy…I’m not much for blonds. I like tall, dark, and handsome. The classic look, you know? I like rugged. Weird, considering I’m this, like, super fashionable LA girl, right, but I really like the rough guys. I have one of those firefighter calendars, you know the ones where they’re in their turnouts and they’re shirtless and dirty and sweaty? Gets me so fucking hot, I swear to god. Construction workers, athletes, anything where they get sweaty and dirty.”
“Is that, like, your fantasy, or something you like in real life?” I asked.
Laurel shrugged. “I’ll fuck just about anything with a pulse, a dick, and a nice face, if I’m horny enough. But what do I like? What would I pick, if given a lineup? I guess it’d be a question of are we fucking or talking? Like, do I have to like who they are, or just be turned on?”
Lizzy snorted. “A stiff breeze turns you on, Laur.”
“Well, if I’m not wearing a bra and it’s a cold breeze, my nips will get hard and poky, and I guess that counts as turned on.”
My phone buzzed in my purse, and I slid it out and glanced at it under the table; it was a text from Teddy:
I already have the photo I’m going to use for her. Same IG page, just a new username and new photo, same caption. I figure we give it a month or two, and then we put it up. Just so she forgets. She won’t know what hit her.
Me: Are we including the others in this diabolical plan of yours?
Teddy: Lizzy was the one to suggest Laurel should be next. She’s tired of her whining about “the lack of good dick in this town.”
Me: It’s not that there isn’t any, it’s that she’s gone through a large percentage of it.
Teddy: That’s not nice.
Me: I’m not judging! Just saying. Zoe and Kat will be on board, I’m sure.
Teddy: Oh, I know they will be. It’ll be great. She’ll get so many spam calls from rando horndogs.
Me: You know, I think she actually does WANT to settle down, and even have a baby. I think she just doesn’t know how. She’ll need someone who can dominate even her over the top personality.
Teddy: Oh my. A man who could dominate Laurel McGillis? That makes my tenders wiggle.
Me: I’m trying not to snort over here. I meant her personality, but I guess in that sense too. You think she’s into that stuff?
Teddy: I don’t know and I almost don’t want to. But I AM curious. I see her as the more dominant one in most of her relationships.
Me: Should you put something about her being strong willed or something, just to spice it up?
Teddy: Nah. Too risky. You’d get some serious weirdos that way.
Me: How are you so good at this?
Teddy: I actually worked for a matchmaker out of college, before I got into real estate. I was a copy girl, basically. Literally making copies, but I also ended up writing and editing copy for the website and marketing materials, and by the time I got into real estate, I was a junior matchmaker.
Me: A junior matchmaker?
Teddy: Right. My boss was the one who finalized everything, and she got the official credit, but I did the initial legwork, found match options, picked good ones to show Amy, my boss, and then she’d make her cuts of the options I picked and present them to the client. I learned a lot about matchmaking in general and relationships in particular along the way.
Me: So how are you still single?
Teddy: You can’t play matchmaker for yourself. You don’t have the right objectivity to match yourself.
Me: That makes sense. The question, then, becomes…when is it your turn to be the girl in The Ad?
Teddy: I don’t want to know.
I want it to be a surprise. If I knew, I’d sabotage it. I’m my own worst enemy.
Me: Aren’t we all?
Teddy: True.
Zoe elbowed me. “Quit texting your boyfriend,” she said, with a snicker. “You’ll see him soon enough.”
I put my phone away rather than correct her.
Kat was eying me in a way that hinted at a question I wasn’t going to like. I set my drink down so as to not spew it all over the table.
“So, when we asked you what was next with you and Mr. Studmuffin McSwinginDick, what we meant was, what’s your hang-up about babies, and when are you gonna let him put one inside you?”
Yeah, good thing I’d prepared myself, based on the devious smirk on her face. “Kat.”
Zoe reached around behind me and whacked Kat on the shoulder. “Not cool, Kat.”
I sighed. “No, it’s fine. I mean, it’s Kat—do we expect anything less, at this point?” I unfolded a cocktail napkin and speared it onto the tip of my straw, making a funky little umbrella over the empty rocks glass. “I guess if I can talk to Seven about it, I can talk to you guys.”
Laurel arched an eyebrow. “Should we be offended that we rank below your brand-new boyfriend on the trust totem?”
Zoe answered for me. “No, you shouldn’t. It’s not really about trust—she doesn’t even like to talk to me about int, and I’m her sister. I think Seven is probably the only person who could have gotten Autumn to not just talk about the whole thing, but to actually face it.”
I smiled at my sister gratefully, then looked at the others at the table. “She’s right. And I only opened up about to Seven because if I didn’t, I would have lost him. You guys love me unconditionally and you’ve never pushed about it. And I am grateful for that, don’t think I’m not.” I began tearing pieces off the cocktail napkin, then, to occupy my fingers.
Autumn Rolls a Seven (Billionaire Baby Club Book 2) Page 22
