Everything I Want (The Everything Series Book 3)

by A. K. Evans

  Chapter 26

  Monroe

  My heart hurt.

  Stone and I were in his truck on our way to his place. I had asked him at the restaurant to take me home, but as soon as we were in the truck I told him I wanted to go to his house. The ride to this point was filled with silence.

  As I stared out the window, Stone’s hand wrapped around mine. He didn’t say anything, but I knew he felt for me. I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. I was upset and embarrassed. It was no surprise that Deacon and my dad were having a hard time accepting my new relationship before meeting Stone. I completely understood that, but for my father to continue giving him the silent treatment and for Deacon to be as rude as he was broke my heart. Stone deserved better than he got from them.

  Stone turned into his driveway and pulled into the garage. After he shut down the truck, he got out and came around to open my door. We went inside and, without any words, walked right to the stairs. Once I was in Stone’s bedroom I walked through it to the bathroom. I went in, stripped down to my bra and panties, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. When I walked out of the bathroom back into his bedroom, Stone watched. I crawled into his bed and he eventually went into the bathroom.

  Mere minutes had passed when the bathroom door opened again and I felt the bed depress with Stone’s weight. He instantly turned me toward him and hauled me up against his body. That was all it took.

  The tears fell from my eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I know that’s not how you hoped it would go tonight.”

  “No, but you shouldn’t be apologizing to me,” I rasped. “I’m sorry for how they treated you.”

  Stone rolled to his back and took me with him.

  “I’m two and a half for five. That’s not terrible.”

  “Two and a half?” I asked as I lifted my head from his chest.

  “Your mom and Vaughn seem good with us. Couldn’t read Remi; I figure that counts as a half until we know for sure. Hopefully, he swings our way. If not, as long as I’ve got you, I’m still okay with two out of five.”

  I nodded and put my cheek to his chest again. I took the next few minutes to replay everything that had happened that night in my head. My thoughts lingered a bit longer on the words Stone said to Deacon.

  We stayed in silence a while before I spoke quietly, “You’re enough for me.”

  “What?”

  I lifted my head and looked at him. I held his eyes a beat and explained, “You are enough for me. I love you so much, Stone. You need to know that. I’m not leaving; I don’t ever want to leave. You are worth every ounce of love I have and then some. You’ll always be worthy of my love. Always, my love.”

  “Angel…” he trailed off.

  I felt my throat getting tight. I hated that he thought he wasn’t worthy of love. A single tear fell from my eye and dripped down onto his chest.

  “You’re enough, Stone,” I croaked out.

  His arms grew tighter around me.

  I didn’t want him to have any doubts, so I repeated, “You’re enough, handsome.”

  His fingertips pressed into my skin. Another tear landed on his chest.

  “You’re enough.”

  I barely got the words out of my mouth when Stone lifted his head and quieted me.

  His lips captured mine.

  His hands roamed over my body.

  “I love you, baby,” his husky voice filtered into my ears before his mouth went to my neck.

  Stone used one hand to unhook my bra, while the other rested on my ass. He removed my bra and tossed it aside. His hands went to my waist and pushed my panties down my legs. I shimmied my legs back and forth to help remove the fabric from my body. Stone quickly removed his boxer briefs.

  I settled back over his body, my legs straddling his hips. My hand went between us where I wrapped my fingers around him. I was positioned over him and slowly lowered myself onto his shaft.

  “More than enough,” I whispered.

  “God, you’re beautiful.”

  “Touch me, Stone. Love me.”

  “I love you so fucking much, Monroe,” he responded as his hands came to my thighs.

  “I know,” I quietly admitted. “I love you, too.”

  “Show me, angel.”

  I showed him. I brought my mouth down to his and kissed him while I slowly moved my hips over him. One of his hands traveled up my thigh and around to my ass as he kissed me back. The kissing was slow and unhurried, just like the movement of our bodies against each other.

  It wasn’t long before Stone’s hands were moving over every inch in my body and we rolled in the bed several times. First, I was on top, then him, then me again. The sensations built and with my emotions running high, I was soon close to an orgasm.

  “Stone,” I uttered.

  “Come with me, Monroe.”

  As we came apart together, my eyes held Stone’s.

  “All I have and everything I want,” he breathed.

  “More than enough, my love. Always...forever,” I returned, as I tried to catch my breath.

  I collapsed on top of Stone’s chest. He took my weight and wrapped me up in his arms.

  “I could stay like this forever,” I announced.

  “Can’t say that I disagree,” Stone admitted.

  I tensed at his words.

  “I realize that’s not what you expected considering things I said at the start of this, angel,” he began. “I had some thoughts in my head before anything happened between us, but things have changed for me. What I said tonight was the truth. I don’t want to be without you. Not ever.”

  I lifted my head and looked him in the eyes when I quietly responded, “You won’t.”

  He held my gaze a bit before he asked, “Are you okay?”

  I gave him a small smile and answered honestly, “I wish it had gone differently, but I’m with you and I’m happy about that. I know Remi will come around. I just don’t know about my dad and Deacon. That breaks my heart.”

  “I’m sorry it wasn’t what you hoped for, but I’ve got to tell you how much it means to me that you left with me. I’m not happy that we walked out on your family, but it felt good to hear you say you were coming with me. Never had that, baby. Until you said you were leaving with me, I never knew it was everything I wanted to hear.”

  “I love you,” I whispered softly.

  “I love you, too. You tired?”

  I nodded.

  “Let’s get some sleep, then. You have a big day tomorrow,” he reminded me as he began shifting us in the bed.

  When I was finally tucked in next to him with his strong arms wrapping me up tightly, I mumbled, “I hope you love my piece tomorrow.”

  “It’s like the lingerie.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Wouldn’t matter what the piece was, the fact is that you are doing it. Can’t help but love it for that reason alone.”

  My heart warmed and my belly got a funny feeling in it. It was one of the good feelings.

  “Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”

  Stone’s body vibrated with a bit of laughter when he answered, “You might have mentioned it once or twice.”

  “Good night, Stone.”

  “Night, my angel.”

  Minutes later, I was asleep.

  The alarm went off early the next morning. I wasn’t scheduled to perform until later that day, closer to one o’clock, but I planned to arrive early. I wanted to check out the dancers that were competing. A competition like this could always serve as inspiration for choreography I’d eventually put together for my students.

  Stone leaned over to the nightstand, turned off the alarm, and fell to his back in the bed. I rolled half on to him, pressed a kiss to his lips, and said, “Good morning, my love.”

  “Good morning, baby.”

  “I’m going to get up, shower, and get ready. You can stay in bed a little while longer if you want more sleep. After I’m ready, I’ll make breakfast for us.”<
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  He gave me a sexy grin and advised, “You are going to be naked in the shower; I’m not staying in bed.”

  “I’m naked now, Stone. I need to be ready on time; so, I’m not sure about sex this morning.”

  “I am. You let me love you in the shower this morning and I’ll make breakfast while you finish getting ready.”

  “Hmmm,” I thought. “What are you going to make me?”

  “You let me make you come twice this morning and I’ll make whatever you want for breakfast.”

  “Well, I mean, if you’re going to twist my arm,” I teased.

  Stone laughed as he put his arm around my back, knifed up in the bed, put his other arm under my knees, and carried me to the bathroom.

  We made our way into the shower where Stone made me come twice before he delivered a third mind-blowing orgasm. Not even thirty seconds later, with him still inside me, my back against the shower wall, and my legs wrapped around his waist, I instructed, “I want a bagel, toasted, with lots of cream cheese and a side of watermelon.”

  Stone burst out laughing and pointed out, “Fuck, Monroe, I’m convinced there is nothing better in this world than hearing you talk to me immediately after we have sex.”

  I shrugged my shoulders and admitted, “I’m hungry.”

  He kissed the tip of my nose and gently confirmed, “Alright. I’ll finish showering quickly and go make you breakfast.”

  At that, Stone finished showering, toweled off, and walked out of the bathroom. I stepped out of the shower a few minutes after Stone. After drying off, I threw on a pair of dance shorts and a cute sports bra. I then grabbed my phone, plugged in my earbuds, popped them in my ears, and cranked up the music.

  Music and dancing.

  That was how I typically got ready when I wasn’t just throwing on clothes to head to the studio.

  So, I set my phone on the counter at the sink, plugged in the hairdryer, and started drying my hair.

  Of course, I did this while shaking my booty.

  My hair was nearly dry when I saw movement out the corner of my eye. I turned to see Stone standing there with a plate in his hands. It had a huge bagel loaded with cream cheese and a side of watermelon on it. Stone was grinning at me.

  I turned off the hairdryer and the music.

  “What’s got you so happy?” I inquired.

  “Nothing, I’m just admiring the view.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  “Your breakfast,” he offered as he held the plate out to me.

  I took the plate and walked back into the bedroom with him. I was about to sit on the bed when I stopped and asked, “You don’t mind if I eat in your bed, do you?”

  “Why would I mind?”

  I shrugged my shoulders and explained, “I don’t know. I’ve heard there are people who have a strict no-eating-in-the-bed policy. I wanted to make sure you weren’t one of those people.”

  Stone took a few steps toward me and asserted, “I recall eating you in this bed many times already; so no, I’m not one of those people.”

  I swallowed hard as I let thoughts of Stone eating me in this very bed filter through my mind. Then, noting he didn’t have a second plate in his hand, I asked, “What are you having for breakfast?”

  “Carried your plate and a cup of tea up for you,” he said, nodding in the direction of the nightstand. “Was going to go back down and get my plate, but I’m not sure you want me to eat that for breakfast now.”

  “Maybe not, but we don’t have time for that at the present moment, Stone. Besides, I like my bagel warm and toasty with cold cream cheese. If you eat me for breakfast, my bagel will no longer be warm and toasty.”

  He chuckled before he ordered, “Tonight, then. I made you breakfast this morning; tonight, you feed me dessert. That work?”

  I nodded.

  “Good girl. Get in the bed and eat. I’ll be right back up.”

  With that, I climbed in the bed and ate my breakfast. For the record, Stone made a mean warm-and-toasty bagel with cold cream cheese.

  A couple hours later, I was set to take the stage for my exhibition piece. Stone impressed me with his willingness to sit and watch the other dancers perform their routines. I knew dancing wasn’t his thing, so the fact that he sat and watched for hours that morning overwhelmed me.

  My group of dancers and Jenna both performed their exhibition routines at the mid-morning break. The students were dynamic and had done extraordinarily well. I had numerous compliments from other dancers at the performance my kids put on. It filled me with such a sense of pride. I didn’t think I could have been any happier, but then Jenna took the stage and blew those thoughts to smithereens. She was exquisite and everyone knew it. When she finished, she received an outpouring of love from the crowd. My heart was ready to burst at how happy I was for her. When she came off the stage, she walked over to me, and hugged me fiercely.

  “Thank you so much,” she cried.

  “You were incredible, kiddo. Everyone loved it.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you for this,” she went on.

  “Jenna, that was all you. You choreographed that routine and you made everyone cheer for you. All I did was believe in you. You are an incredible dancer and I’m glad you’re part of my team. You did me proud today.”

  “My family is here. I’m going to go over and see them. Good luck when you go up there.”

  I nodded to her and looked to Stone.

  “You’re amazing, angel.”

  “Why?”

  “You make people feel good about themselves. She’s a great dancer, but you helped her realize her potential by believing in her. You made me believe in things I never thought were a possibility before now. I’m just saying that she’s lucky to have someone like you to see her talent and push her to do something with it.”

  “Thank you for saying that, Stone,” I said as I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed up on my toes to kiss him.

  My family showed up just before I was supposed to perform. Vaughn came into the auditorium, found me, and asked if I’d step outside of the auditorium with him. I told him that I needed to be on stage soon and that we’d need to keep an eye on the time.

  “Stone’s coming with me,” I announced.

  Vaughn grinned at me and explained, “Didn’t expect that he’d prefer to stay here and watch the dancers, kid.”

  We walked out of the auditorium and I found the rest of my family waiting for me outside. I took in their faces.

  Melancholy.

  Anxiety.

  I walked up to my mom and greeted her, “Hey mama. Sorry about walking out during dinner last night. I needed to be with Stone.”

  “Don’t worry about it, my darling. I would have done the same thing in your shoes. Your father and Deacon have both gotten an earful from me. What they did last night was unacceptable.”

  “She’s right,” my dad said from beside us.

  I looked to him and noticed the remorse in his face.

  “I’m sorry. It’s not easy, baby girl. Seeing you grow up and having to come to terms with the fact that you are no longer a little girl anymore has not been easy. I’m proud of who you have become and what you stand for. I can see you love Stone and that he’s very much in love with you. I’d be wrong to stand in the way of that for my own selfish reasons.”

  “Daddy,” I murmured, turning toward him and putting my arms around his neck.

  He hugged me tight.

  “It was like a knife through my heart last night when you told me I left you disappointed. I love you so much, Monroe, and I’m not willing to lose you because of my ignorance to what you want in your life.”

  “I love you, too.”

  My dad held me a minute more before he loosened his hold on me. I stepped away and watched as his gaze shifted to Stone.

  “Part of me wants to stay mad at you,” he started. “I want her to come to me or one of her brothers when she needs something. Seeing you with her last night…t
he way you kissed her on the head and the way you look at her, I know you’d do anything for her. I was the same way with Shelly. She won’t need us anymore like she used to and I don’t like that. I also have to accept it. You’ve got the most important job in the world now, Stone. Please take care of my baby girl.”

  Stone nodded, held out his hand to shake my father’s, and said, “Absolutely, Mr. Archer.”

  “Call me Logan, son,” my father responded as he took Stone’s hand in his and pulled him in for a man hug.

  My eyes welled with tears at the sight.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt this, but I have to go on stage in less than ten minutes. I need to get in there. This is super important to me, though. Can we finish after?” I asked, my eyes sliding to Deacon.

  He gave me a small smile and nodded.

  Stone took me by the hand and walked me backstage.

  Before he walked away, I said, “Wish me luck.”

  “You don’t need it, angel.”

  “Okay, then kiss me before I go out there.”

  He grinned and did as I asked.

  I found my way backstage, waited until I was called out to perform, and took a deep breath before walking out on stage. When I got to my spot at the center of the stage, I looked around the auditorium. I found Stone and, much to my surprise, I found he was not alone. Charley, Wes, Emme, Zane, Nikki, and Luke were surrounding him. Sitting just behind them was my family. All the people I loved, so close together, were here to support me.

  I took another deep, calming breath. This piece was going to be difficult to get through as it was; I didn’t need anything else breaking my concentration.

  I gave a nod to the side indicating I was ready.

  The music started.

  I no longer needed to concentrate on focusing.

  It just happened.

  Lukas Graham’s You’re Not There piped through the auditorium and my body took over. I moved my body to tell the story I needed to tell. I wanted, more than anything, to tell Stone’s story in a way that moved me.

  In a way that would move him.

  A story of love and loss.

  A story of tragedy.

  A story of anger and sadness.

  A story that needed to be heard.