I got off the bed, my feet finding their way into the soft suede slippers that Desmond had gotten me when he noticed my cold feet one morning. I could see his overprotective ways on display every now and then, and some days, it was a relief to know that someone could know what I needed, even when I didn’t realize it.
I took a quick shower and came out, toweling my hair dry, to find Des awake and standing by the one-burner stove with a spatula in his hand. He was in his navy-blue pajama pants and shirtless when he turned around at the sound of my footsteps, a sleepy smile on his face. Bacon and eggs were on the plates next to him as I walked up and put my arms around him in a tight hug.
“Thank you for breakfast,” I said, pressing my cheek to his back.
Every morning for the past week, I’d been in a hurry to get to the restaurant on time, often skipping breakfast and rushing out the door while Des was still in bed.
“If it saves you from having to run down that broken footpath like crazy, then it’s no trouble at all,” he said, planting a kiss on my lips before turning back to the stove. “Besides, you’re doing the work of two people there.”
The past few months had been so surreal that I was constantly pinching myself to remind myself that I wasn’t dreaming.
I’d returned to work, managing The Galley in a new location. I liked the work even though a bunch of familiarfaces were now missing. Out of our original eleven employees, eight came back, among whom were Freya and Gabriela. Freya was a blessing with handling the staff, and Gabriela was a marketing genius. Lily had ended up working for Matt at his restaurant and falling in love with him and wanting to work there for longer. I didn’t blame her one bit, though I missed her.
Carolyn hadn’t left to go to Florida after all, and she had been promoted to manager. She was training a new hire to take my place. I met with her every so often and caught up on all that was happening in her life.
“Ever since you revised the menu for the new location, that restaurant is doing much better, Ava,” Desmond said, turning the stove off and setting the pan aside. “That was a smart move.”
The new menu involved a fair bit of market research, but I had the headspace to do that, since that I wasn’t grieving so deeply anymore.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling my cheeks go warm as he turned to face me. “Though I think you might be a tad bit influenced by the woman you’re currently dating.”
Lately, I’d observed that he’d lost that guarded look he wore so often in the first few months of my meeting him again. He was back to enthusiastic and relaxed. A look from our past that I was familiar with. The look I saw on him now.
He affected a startled look at that. “Me? Swayed by the beautiful, wonderful, loving woman I’m dating? No way.”
I laughed. “That sounds very neutral indeed. Anyway, it’s still early days yet,” I said, but I couldn’t squash the bit of enthusiasm that spread through me.
“Early days for us, the couple, or early days for the business plan?”
“Oh, I feel like we’re definitely overourearly days. We’re an old, seasoned relationship now.”
“Is that so?” Desmond asked. “Would an old, seasoned couple do this?” he asked, pushing his knees between mine and spreading my things wide.
I squealed and attempted a feeble protest as he pulled me to him.
“I’m running late for work, remember?” I murmured when he put his lips deliciously close to my temple.
“Oh, I’ll be quick,” he whispered, pushing me back against the wall.
He was towering right in front of me, his hand clasping mine and gripping them against the wall above me. I groaned as his lips took a familiar path down my cheek and my neck.
“Just this once,” I breathed out when his lips nuzzled mine. “Because if you didn’t, then I’d be dreaming about this all day long.”
His eyes dropped to my lips, and my heart started to race, my chest rising as his gaze dipped dangerously lower. I held my breath, and Desmond’s hand moved slowly down the length of my arms. He brought his hands down to the sides of my chest, sending delicious tingles running through my body.
“Don’t move,” he warned, putting my hands back up against the wall. I obeyed and his hands slipped under my shirt, and his eyes widened when he discovered I had no bra on.
“I had a feeling about this morning,” I said, giggling as one of his hands undid the button of my jeans and tugged my zipper down. He sent my jeans down to my ankles, while his other hand remained on my left breast, circling ittenderly. “Just like I had a feeling about you when you saved me from that horrible date.”
Pleasure surged through me as he slipped one finger and then another inside me.
“And I’ll forever be grateful you trusted that feeling,” he said, moving his attentions to my hardened nipple. I closed my eyes, feeling every wet stroke deep down, while his lips took over teasing my breast. He was good, so good.
“Desmond,” I said, the word coming out in ragged breaths, feeling every intense sensation as the heel of his palm ground into my clit. I arched my hips, trying to get closer, to feel him deeper. Nothing but his cock, hard and heavy, would satisfy me now.
“More,” I breathed, rocking against his hand in a needy rhythm, wishing I could feel him inside me, thick and full.
He pulled his hand out, leaving me with a sudden void. He pulled his pants off hastily, his thick cock springing free before he reached to pull his shirt off. Tossing it aside, he placed his cock at my entrance, lifting me with his hands on my bottom.
