by Claire Adams
I answered the door with a cheesy grin on my face.
“Wow,” I said. Her cheeks reddened with a blush as she lowered her chin and looked up at me. I stepped aside, and she entered my house. Her dress was little more than a black slip, and it brought out the red in her hair and green in her eyes like never before. The dress framed her ass perfectly.
I shook my head; we weren’t at that stage yet. First, we had to try to get through dinner without anyone running away screaming.
“You look amazing,” I said.
“Thanks. I wasn’t really sure if this was too dressed up. But then I realized that you’re always dressed up to the nines, so I thought I’d come in as a seven,” she said and shook her head. “God, that joke was awful.”
“I can’t disagree.” I turned and led her to the kitchen.
“What’s for dinner?” she asked. I opened my fridge and started retrieving various items until we both settled on a classic meatloaf.
“Simple enough,” I said. “We can make some chocolate-covered strawberries while the meatloaf’s in the oven. That way, they can freeze while we eat dinner.”
“Dinner and dessert?” Everly asked. “I’m pretty sure I only agreed to one.”
I smiled. “So are you saying no to chocolate and strawberries?”
“As if it’s even possible to say no to such a thing,” she said. We started prepping the meatloaf, falling into a comfortable routine of chopping and dicing. I formed the loaf with my bare hands as Everly chopped the strawberries into a rose.
“Fifty minutes,” I said as I set the timer on the oven. I turned to find Everly already dipping the strawberries into a pot of melted chocolate. The very tip of her bottom lip was covered in chocolate, and I brushed a finger over it slowly. She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. I moved to wipe my finger on a towel, but Everly grabbed my hand and slipped my finger in between her lips, slowly running her tongue around the chocolate and swallowing.
I moaned, my thoughts preoccupied by my finger in between her lips.
“Are you going to make me do the rest on my own?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“What?” She gestured at the rest of the naked strawberries and the melted chocolate. “Oh, of course not.” I took a deep breath and picked up a strawberry. She was killing me, and with that smirk on her face, she knew it.
We finished the strawberries and made small talk until the meatloaf was finished. I sat our plates at the dinner table and pulled out her chair. She offered me a warm smile as she lowered herself into the chair and scooted forward. I took the seat beside her, and my nerves were put on edge a bit remembering the last time we sat at this table together.
“I’m sorry,” she said abruptly. “About everything. I didn’t realize it until recently, but I overreacted. I didn’t mean to freak out when Abby showed me the painting. I was just scared. I feel horrible, and I hope it didn’t hurt her feelings.”
“I understand,” I said. “I was worried that she was growing too attached to you, but I didn’t knock it off when I should have. She obviously has mom issues; I think she was just excited that at the idea of having a mom.”
“She clearly doesn’t know how awful of a mom I’d be.” Everly joked. “Or else she wouldn’t be so excited.”
“I think you’d be wonderful,” I whispered. Everly glanced at me with wide eyes. “I don’t mean anything by that, of course.”
“I don’t know my father,” she admitted. “I know his name, what his favorite band was, who his favorite sports teams were, but I didn’t know him. Still, I never once wanted a father growing up because my mom was always in between husbands. I made the decision early on that I was better off without a dad, and from there decided that I was also better off not getting married and having kids. I spent the majority of Belle’s life loathing her, but only because she reminded me of myself. And then when I saw Abby’s painting, it made me remember all the times that Lacey begged Mom to find us a dad. And Lacey’s disappointment every time our new dad left.”
“I didn’t know,” I said. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how awful that must have felt.” I hated to think of her as a child, hurting and having to face such things and make such strong declarations because of other people’s actions.
“That’s just the thing.” Everly leaned forward. “It must have been just as awful for you. I was only thinking of myself, and how I felt, that I never once imagined what you or Abby were going through. I’ve been selfish this past week.”
“And what about children?” I asked, hesitant to bring up the topic. “I know you were against having your own.”
“I’ll admit, the thought absolutely terrifies me,” she said. “And I don’t think I would do a good job; I really don’t. But, for some strange reason, having you beside me makes things less scary. I find this courage that I didn’t know existed when I’m around you, and it makes me realize that I’m capable a lot more than I previously thought.”
We finished the meatloaf as she fell into a momentary silence.
“It’s not as terrifying a thought knowing that I’ll have your hand to hold. Is that silly?” she asked.
I shook my head. “Not at all, Everly. I don’t want to force you into absolutely anything, but I want you to know that I’ll always hold your hand when you need it, and I’ll be there to give you a little nudge when you don’t.”
She smiled at me, a true and honest smile, and we carried our plates to the kitchen. She opened the freezer and placed two chocolate-covered strawberries on the kitchen counter.
I opened my mouth to ask her what she wanted to happen between the two of us, but a bright painting caught the corner of my eye. I realized Abby’s painting was still on the fridge, and in direct eyesight of Everly.
“Oh.” I grabbed the top corners of the painting and placed it on the counter. She stood beside me and placed a hand on mine.
“It’s okay,” she said and picked up the painting. She examined it for a moment before pinning it back on the fridge. “I’m sorry I acted that way over this. It’s beautiful,” she said.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I can put it away for the night.”
“I’m positive. I love it,” she said. “Leave it up.” I couldn’t wait to tell Abby that she thought it was beautiful, and hoped that Everly would have the chance to tell her instead.
I made sure the magnets were thick enough to hold it, and turned toward Everly.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice but a whisper. She stood on her tiptoes as her arms went around my neck, and then she closed her eyes and kissed me. It was a simple kiss at first, just a soft brush against my lips, but I felt the moment her body reacted to mine, and she deepened it. My hand cupped the back of her neck as the other ran its fingers through her hair, messing up the loose bun at the top of her head.
She moaned into me and pulled me closer. Our tongues danced with each other’s, and I felt a wave of desire wash over me as I pushed her against the kitchen counter. My aching hunger for her grew, and she leaned her head backward as my hands roamed her body.
I slipped my hands beneath her thighs and lifted her onto the counter, but she shook her head.
“Not here,” she said in between kisses. Her hand grabbed my tie and pulled me toward the stairs. I followed eagerly, my mind stuck in a haze where all I could see was her.
She led me to my room and pushed me onto the bed. She parted her knees and straddled me, continuing our kisses until her hands began to unbutton my shirt. She gave me a hungry stare and then licked her lips before crushing her lips against mine once again.
Her hands slipped my shirt over my shoulders until if fell back, and I shrugged my arms free. After pausing to slip off her blouse, she tugged on my zipper as I caressed her breasts, working my way to the clasp on her bra. She did me a favor and quickly snapped it free, her breasts spilling from the cups and into my hands where I rubbed soft circles against her. Moments later we were both naked, and I couldn’t get enough
of the sight of her as she lowered herself against me. Everly leaned toward my hips, but I grabbed her shoulders and gently moved her onto her back.
“Let me show you how much I missed you,” I said, and trailed kisses toward her thighs. She squirmed beneath my touch as I grew closer.
“Let me show you how much you mean to me,” I whispered against her skin. Her fingers massaged the top of my head and across my shoulders. She moaned my name, and I wanted to hear more of it.
“Let me make you feel how you make me feel,” I said, and my head slipped in between her thighs.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Everly
His tongue dipped into my mound as I moaned his name. He tasted me, swallowing my juices and coming back for more. I rolled my head as he found a rhythm and continued, and in his own words, made me feel how I made him feel.
“Maddox.” I breathed his name. He seemed to enjoy that, and he crawled up my body and had me repeat his name as I tasted my own sweet juices on his lips.
“Say it again,” he whispered, and pulled my body against his. I felt his thick member in between my thighs, and I pressed against it, grinding to soothe my own ache as I said his name against his skin. I decided to return the favor, and pushed him onto his back. He complied; it seemed that I’d have the power as long as his name was on my lips.
I leaned down until his rod was just below my lips. I looked up, and our eyes met. His gray eyes were locked on mine as I opened my mouth and covered his broad tip with my lips. I lingered there a moment, nursing hard to encourage a taste as my tongue teased his slit. Then I slid down, relaxing my throat to take him deeper. His head fell backward as my tongue flicked around the base toward his heavy sac, which I palmed and kneaded, cupping the weight of them as I pulled back, tight-lipping my way to the tip to milk him.
His hands clenched the bed sheets as he moaned my own name, as a taste of his salt hit my tongue. I understood why he seemed to unravel at the sound of his name, and my ache grew, causing me to quiver.
It didn’t seem I spent much time taking care of him before his hands slipped beneath my arms and he pulled me toward him.
“Let me taste you,” he said, and kissed me. It was passionate and deep, a kiss not of pleasure or desire but of something more sincere and caring. One of his hands cupped my breast, and the other, my ass, as he deepened the kiss. I was already wet before, but I knew I would be covering his body in my juices soon enough.
Everything about his movements was slow and deliberate, as if he’d spent plenty of time this past week imagining every little thing he would do to me. I knew I had spent the week with the same thoughts. My hands slid up his chest, feeling the taut muscles beneath his skin and running over the stubble on his chin. His body reacted to mine until he was long and thick, but even then, he wouldn’t give in to pleasure.
Instead, he flipped over so that I was lying on my back and he was on top. His lips trailed down my chin, past my neck, and across my chest until he was at my breasts. He took his time licking the edges of each nipple, making my head dizzy with desire and my thighs soaked in my own liquid.
“I wanted this so bad,” he said. “I needed you so bad.”
“Did you think about me late at night?” I asked, a near mimic of our time in Las Vegas. “Did you imagine fucking me like you did over the Strip?” But Maddox shook his head as he took turns sucking on my breasts. His hand cupped my sex as he leaned over me, his lips inches from mine.
“I don’t want to fuck you,” he said. “I want to make love to you.” He kissed me, and finally, I felt the very tip of him press against my entrance.
I moaned, spreading my thighs, and hooked my ankles around him as I begged for more. He was slow though, and instead of pushing inside of me like he once had, he teased my entrance until it was soaked.
“You could slide it inside easily,” I said. He answered by pressing it against me harder. I couldn’t take any more; I needed him.
His hips moved against mine as he entered me, the entirety of his length buried deep within me. We both gasped, but instead of moving in and out as he usually did, he stopped and enjoyed the sensation.
The warmth of his body enveloped me. The strength of his muscles flexed as he leaned over me and slowly started to move inside of me. I moved my hips to meet his, my eyes fluttering as his thick rod filled me.
He kissed me again, and pressed his lips hard against mine as he continued to make love to me. I hadn’t ever felt such an intimate connection before, as if we both could feel each other’s senses. Pressure began to build low in my belly, a warmth that was slowly spreading across my body toward my head. Maddox was beginning to quicken his pace ever so slightly. His hands cupped my cheek, and our eyes met in a locked gaze as both of our mouths opened in a silent moan full of pure, intense pleasure.
I found my release first, and I cried in his hands as my body shuddered beneath his touch. He continued rocking back and forth into me until his release arrived, and I felt a warmth enter my body as he filled me up, one hand sliding up and squeezing the edges of my hair as his hips buckled into mine.
He rested, his member still inside of me, as we both struggled to take deep breaths. Finally, after what felt like an hour, he pulled away and collapsed beside me. My hair had fallen in a wild mess around my shoulders, and his fingers slowly played within the tangled strands. I curled up against his body, enjoying the warmth and comfort that he offered, never wanting to be apart from him again.
“I almost feel like I should thank you,” I said. “That’s silly, isn’t it?”
“Very silly,” he said behind me. A hand slid around my waist. “But you’re welcome, anyway.” We both laughed.
“Should we get up?” I asked. “Or at least get dressed, just in case?” I couldn’t imagine a repeat of our first time together, especially not after everything that’d happened. Maddox’s stubble brushed against his pillow as he shook his head.
“Abby’s staying over at Nick’s for the night,” he said and tightened his hold around my waist. “And you need to stay right where you are.”
“I can do that,” I said, already fighting to keep my eyes open. “I’ll stay right here.”
I fell asleep in Maddox’s arms, his calm breathing a lullaby to my revolving thoughts.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Maddox
Everly was still in my arms when I woke the following morning. She was sleeping still, and I took the opportunity to admire her flawless skin. The light dust of freckles across her cheeks, her thick eyelashes that I was tempted to brush, and even the pink lips that I wanted to kiss every morning for the rest of my life. She was even more beautiful in the early morning, and I wasn’t at all surprised in the least by it.
There was no doubt in my mind what my feelings were at this point. It was more than a physical or mental attraction; it was more than anything I’d ever felt. Everly completed me, whether she knew it or not, and I was determined not to screw it up.
Her face scrunched as she started to wake.
“Good morning,” I said. She blinked once, then twice, before finally looking at me with eyes that seemed greener in the morning sun.
“It’s so bright,” she said and held up a hand to her eyes. I had forgotten to close the blinds in the midst of our night together, which was a mistake, as my room faced the sun in the morning.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m used to Abby waking me up before the sun even rises. I forgot how bright this room gets.”
Everly rubbed her eyes and looked around. I wondered if she was recalling the night before, and as a faint blush mixed with the freckles on her cheeks, I grinned.
“Do you need me to remind you of anything?” I asked and scooted her body closer to mine. It reacted instantly, and I felt her thighs clench as I pressed my hips against hers.
“I think there’s one or two blank spots in my memory,” she said, and I kissed her. She climbed on top of me and pressed down on my shoulders.
�
�You did all the work last night,” she said.
“So, you remember that at least,” I teased. She bit her lip and playfully smacked my arm. My hands gripped her waist, and soon the bed was rocking back and forth as Everly took control of the situation. It was heaven inside of her, and I never wanted this time to end.
We took a shower afterward and spent a long moment standing beneath the triple heads pouring steaming water with Everly in my arms. I ran my hands over her soft flesh and kissed her bare shoulders.
“Let’s go back to bed,” she suggested. She pressed her tight ass against my cock, and it stirred, wanting to gain entrance.
“It’s tempting,” I said. “But I should make breakfast. Nick would starve if I didn’t send some over before noon.”
“Sounds like my sister,” she said. “Sometimes I wonder if she would ever eat if it weren’t for me.”
“What did they do the weekend we were gone?” I wondered.
“Lots and lots of takeout?” Everly asked. I agreed.
Still, even as we both knew we didn’t have the entire day to ourselves, we took our time in the shower exploring each other’s bodies. I couldn’t keep my hands off her, and she didn’t seem to mind. The hot water eventually turned lukewarm as I pushed her body against the glass door and lifted her beneath her legs. She straddled my hips, and we both moaned as I pushed inside of her once again.
We finished, and had to take another shower to clean ourselves.
Finally we prepared breakfast together, an assortment of crepes with several delicious fillings. Some savory, most sweet. Everly seemed to have a bigger sweet tooth than I expected.
