“I like how it smells here,” she mutters.
I’ve been trying to find her scent for years. The bottle in her house had no label, which led me to think she might buy it in bulk, but still, I can’t find exactly what it is. “I’m trying to find what soap you use without asking you about it.”
“You’re never going to find it.” My thumb presses over her clit, making her moan.
“I’m determined to find it,” I mention, biting her earlobe. My desire for this woman has kept me alive more times than I can count, but touching her, smelling her, making her feel good, awakens something deep in me, something I can’t recreate, just like the way she smells.
“I’ll make you some.”
I slide a finger inside her, and damn, she’s tighter than I remember. So warm, tight, and perfect.
“You make your own soap?”
“Yes,” she moans. “Remember the side business? Citrus & Oak? That’s what I do. But please, stop talking about soap and make me come.”
I lick her neck, holding one perfect breast while I tease her clit with the other one.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I rub her nipple between my thumb and index finger until it’s peaked to perfection. Her body has always been responsive to me or I’ve gotten to know everything that makes her tick. Either way, it ignites my soul. I’ve never felt more alive than when my fingers are buried inside her and all she can make are whispered sounds of pleasure. She squeezes my thigh with every slide of my finger.
She’s so tight, so ready, and I just want her to let herself fall. Let herself feel good. I lower my hand from her breast, over her bump, and whisper in her ear, “You are always sexy, Hales. But you carrying our baby takes the number one spot for sexiest woman on Earth.”
“Ash,” she whispers, dropping her head back. The sweet, eldest daughter, always taking care of everyone; all she wants to hear is how good and perfect she is. I’ll tell her until the day I die.
I slide another finger in. “You take my fingers so well.” She arches her back. “You’re my dream girl materialized.”
“I think I’m going?—”
I tsk. “I know you are.” I press harder against her clit and squeeze her ass with my other hand. “Come for me, baby.”
She rolls her ass and closes her legs, bucking against my hand. “Fuck,” she whispers, and all I can do is thank whoever decided to send some good karma my way.
“So this is the mystery girl?”Silas asks.
“My girl. No mystery about it.” I toss a napkin at him. My friends eventually arrived, and we’ve been together ever since. I don’t celebrate the Fourth of July, but I’ll take a day off when I can.
Silas is the newest of the crew, but he fits in perfectly. Travis retired last year, and Holt has been working training at A School since he was stationed in California. He’s a great instructor, and they’re lucky to have him. From the original crew, there are only a couple of us here, but it doesn’t matter. We’re all a family. We all carry our motto,so others may live, deep within us, no matter where we are.
“Hailey. You can just call me Hailey,” she replies.
“How long are you staying for?” I knew the questions were going to come, but I was expecting them to come tomorrow, when I’m back at work.
“Not sure yet.” Hailey yawns, sinking deeper into the chair.
“Alright, all of you have to go. My girl is sleepy.”
“No, no. I can just go to sleep. It’s been a long day.”
I pretend to consider her, though I know deep down, there’s nothing to consider. I don’t want her to go to sleep without me, and I don’t want to spend another second away from her if I don’t have to. “They’re leaving.”
My friends take the hint, and betweennice to meet youandsee you soon, they leave us alone. I help her up and send her to our room while I get her a glass of water.Our room. I could get used to this.
“You know I could’ve gotten the water myself, right?” she says, taking a sip and setting the glass on her night stand next to her CPAP. I’m so glad she finally listened to me when I told her she gasped in her sleep a couple times on our dates—the dates where she didn’t hang up the phone and I ended up watching her sleep for hours. It was the best sight and the most comforting sound until I realized that wasn’t normal. My girl has sleep apnea and has to wear the machine. She’s so cute wearing it too. Even if she hates it, I think it’s great. It’s keeping her alive, so I’ll take it.
“I’m about to pamper you so hard, you won’t know what to do with yourself.” I step behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my hands on her perfect round bump.
“Let someone take care ofyoufor once,” I whisper, resting my face on her shoulder. “Letme.”She nods and lies in bed, patting the spot next to her for me to jump in. Which I do, pulling her back to me. Her ass nestled against me, my hand around her belly, I realize I want to touch this bump every second of the time I’ll have her here with me. This, her growing our baby, is the closest thing to magic I’ve ever experienced, and I somehow feel like if I don’t touch her, if I don’t feel it, it will disappear.
