I squeeze my eyes shut, clenching around his finger and his cock, our sounds and the slick, wet friction filling the room.
Delirious, I bring my fingers to my clit, rubbing in mad circles as I rock into his thrusts until I break apart.
I’m still in a daze, can’t even see straight, when he turns me onto my back once more and lifts my legs until my thighs are flush with his chest, my ankles crowning his shoulders.
“I want these pretty, long legs wide open and on me. I want to see your beautiful face when I come for you.”
Putting words into actions, he thrusts back in with a force that shakes my entire body. My moans and breaths quicken as he screws his big cock into me, gripping my thighs and driving toward orgasm. Our eyes lock, love and pleasure coalescing at the moment his climax unfurls.
“Fuuck, Lex.” He shudders wildly, flooding me before toppling like a felled tree.
We lay there, leveled, our bodies slicked together. His face is buried in the curve of my neck, and my hands stroke his damp back.
“As first times go,” I murmur. “That was pretty awful.”
“Just terrible.” He chuckles, low and lazy. “Give me fifteen, and we’ll do it again.”
Iopen one eye to find Lexie tucked against me, her leg draped across mine, my arm under her head.
“Morning,” she says, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw.
“Morning.” My whole body relaxes with the sheer rightness of being here with her. “Nice to wake up and see your face.”
“Nice to wake up and see yours.”
What happens now?That question circles my mind like a ship in the fog, searching for a beacon of light. But there arethings I need to say first. My hand strokes over the soft curve of her hip—not to incite, just because I love touching her.
“When you said we needed the time apart to start our own healing, I couldn’t see how that would help—but you were right. As much as I missed you, that space gave me time to reflect on all my shit. You challenged me to decide if the anger and hate I’ve been carrying were wounds I wanted to keep open or if it was time to finally let them close.
“You told me I deserved better than a life chained to the past. But I didn’t know how to do it on my own, so I’m seeing a therapist. We’ve met twice so far. I knew we’d hit it off ’cause he had a copy ofThe Amazing Spider-Man #300, 1988,framed in his office. It’s a classic, the first full appearance of Venom.”
“Sounds kismet,” she teases, but there’s pride in her expression. She’s happy I made this choice for myself. “Has he said anything that’s resonated with you yet?”
“Yeah, he actually did.”
“Are you okay to share it with me?”
“I want you to know. I want to do this with you.”
“I want that too.” She spreads her warm palm over my chest. “What did he say?”
“He said that in grief, sometimes blame gives you a sense of control over something that feels unbearably out of your hands. If there’s a clear villain, the loss can feel less senseless, less random. He asked me if holding onto that blame had given me any peace or if it had just kept me stuck in the pain and loss. I think we both know the answer to that. Then he hit me with,What is carrying this anger costing you?And I thought of you and what I was risking. My anger is not bigger than my love for you, Lex. There’s no comparison. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on letting it go. For me—and for us.”
“I love that, Chaz. I know it can’t be easy to separate your past from me.”
I move her hand to my left pec and cover it with mine. “That’s not true, Lex. When I look at you, I don’t see anyone but the woman who walked into my café on a cold morning two months ago, choking and making a lasting impression. You grabbed me by the heart with those lake-blue eyes and that smile. I love your quirky trivia and quick wit. I love your warmth and kindness. I love seeing the world through your camera lens. You make me happier than I’ve ever been. I don’t care where you came from; I only care about who you are. I love you, Lex. I don’t know what you plan to do next, but I want to be wherever you are.”
Her breath stutters. “You’d move from Bayside?”
“Didn’t Val move from Spain to be with Eva? When you findthe one, love knows no bounds. I’d move to the ends of the Earth for you.”
Her eyes grow misty. “Where’s your control panel hidden?”
I grin at her computer reference, but my tone is serious. “I’m real, and I mean every word.”
She closes her eyes for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. When she opens them, they land lovingly on me. “I would never ask you to give up what you’ve built here. It’s not just your business, but your connection to the people, to this town you’re willing to fight for. The only thing for me in Chicago is Jordyn and Dee. A hundred miles isn’t going to change anything between us. We’ll make it work. I can’t wait for them to meet you and Sophia.”
My heart soars like it’s powered by rocket fuel. “You’re staying? You’re moving here?”
