“Ouch.” I grimaced at Jessica and looked away. I never would have guessed that in a million years. It seemed out of character for someone so rigid and by the book and shocked me that she’d said anything at all about it.
“Yep.” She gave me a slow nod and shrugged. “Since then, I like small businesses like this one. I come in, keep everything in order, and get left alone for the most part. The hours are a hell of a lot better too.”
“Not lately though.” I glanced at my watch. How had it gotten to be eight o’clock already? “Sorry about that.”
“No worries, Evan. I get it. I’m glad I’m able to help you.” Jessica tidied up the desk before she got up. I doubted you could find a serial killer more meticulous than she was.
“Go on, get out of here.” I nudged her shoulder. “I’ll lock up after you leave.”
“Okay. Good night. Don’t stay too late.” Jessica smirked at me as she sauntered out the door.
I nodded, my focus still locked on Jack’s desk. I spoke to him in my head sometimes, like I still did with my mom. Neither answered, but I hoped they heard me. I asked them both for the same thing: please help me not screw this all up.
* * *
I arrivedat Paige’s after nine. Her lights were already off and she was in bed. She was so wiped out all the time, and the last few weeks had taken a lot out of both of us. Paige was curled up on her side, the flickering of the TV the only light in the room. Even in the near darkness, my eyes drifted to her tight little pajama shorts and lacy tank top.
I stripped down to my boxers before climbing into bed with her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and buried my face in her neck. She stirred in her sleep and cuddled into me. I placed a soft kiss behind her ear and smiled at the sweet purr she gave me in response. I pulled her closer and planted kisses down her neck and along the shell of her ear.
“Hmm…” She rubbed herself against me as I splayed my fingers over her thigh and pressed my body against her; my throbbing hard-on now poked her in the back. I ran my hand up and down her thigh and dipped my fingers into the waistband of those tiny shorts. I fought the urge to rip them off and bury my head between her legs.
We hadn’t managed to be close like this in a while. There had been a lot of crying and sleeping in each other’s arms, but that’d been as far as it went. Right now, I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. I loved tasting her and running my lips over all the sweet spots I’d gotten to know so well. I wanted to make her come with my mouth and my fingers, and then bury myself inside her as deep as I could go. Still, I backed away, in case she was too tired and only wanted to cuddle next to me. I got my answer when her hand reached back, grabbed my ass, and pushed me into her. I chuckled at how brazen she was, even while half asleep.
“You better get out of here. My boyfriend will be home any minute.”
Home. Her voice was a sleepy whisper and I was sure she didn’t realize what she’d said, but hearing her say I was ‘home’ with her filled me with a peace and solace that I’d never known before. Shewasmy home. I loved Paige in an all-consuming, frightening as fuck way, I’d never thought possible.
I dragged my lips down her shoulder as my fingers inched the hem of her tank top higher. “He’s a very stupid man for keeping someone as gorgeous as you waiting for so long.”
Moving aside the silky material of her tank top, I rubbed my thumb back and forth over her rigid nipple. A groggy moan escaped her as she bucked her hips harder into me.
“I missed yousomuch, Daisy.” My lips and tongue dove into the crook of her neck. Paige reached back and pressed the back of my head closer before turning to face me. She squirmed and whimpered as she moved my hand from her breast to between her legs. I hissed when I found her soaked through her shorts.
“Evan…it’s been so long. I love it when you touch me…oh, God!” I slipped my hand inside her panties and traced big and then smaller circles around her clit. Her chest heaved as she clutched my wrist in a death grip so I wouldn’t move my hand. I chuckled as I picked up the pace.
“Don’t worry, Daisy—I’m not moving until you come all over my fingers. Then I’ll take off this little top and those shorts andfuckyou. Slow and deep and hard until you come on my c—”
“Fuck, Evan!” Paige tightened around my fingers as she arched her hips off the bed. I took her mouth in a ravenous kiss to muffle her screams. I wouldn’t take my fingers away until I got every last bit out of her. Her toes dug into the mattress as she shoved her legs together.
“Who knew such a sweet boy would have such afilthymouth?” Paige raked her nails down my back and slid her hands inside my boxers. She gave my ass a squeeze before she pushed the fabric down. I helped her the rest of the way and flung my boxers next to the bed.
“And who knew you’d love it so much.” I licked the seam of her lips as I yanked off her pajama shorts. Once they were off, I lifted her tank top over her head and sucked hard on a nipple. She squirmed under me as she grabbed my head. My sweet girl was a firecracker in bed—and I fucking loved it.
“I need to be inside you tonight.” Andneedwas absolutely right. I buried my head in her neck as I slid inside her. I took her hard and deep, just like I had promised. Paige thrust her hips against me to make me move faster. Sweat dripped off my brow as I lifted my head to look at her.
“I love you so much, babe.” Paige’s words made me rock into her even harder. I wanted to claim her with everything I had. I could never get enough, or get deep enough inside.
“I love you so fucking much. Paige, please, I want you to . . . be my . . . ”Shit, not again. How many times did I have to bite my lip and look away? I needed to propose soon before I made an ass of myself.
“I’ll do anything, be anything. What do you want, babe?”
“Paige, I can’t . . .” I felt her pulse around me as I came hard inside her. Balls deep inside my girlfriend was not the way I wanted to ask her to marry me, but my mind reeled when she looked like she would say yes. I smoothed her matted hair off her forehead and kissed her lips.
“I hate when you come home late, but if you do that every night I could try to get used to it.” I kissed her again as she laughed against my lips.
“So . . .” I settled on my back and cuddled Paige into my chest. “I didn’t get bit, I must be missing a step—Ow!”
Paige had sunk her teeth into my bicep.
