Then my whole body seemed to constrict and unfold in an instant, and I was falling into the sweetness.
Drew never stopped making love to me with his mouth as I cried out. If anything, he increased the pace and pressure of his tongue as wave after wave rolled over me. My orgasm seemed to go on forever, andwhen I finally felt like I could open my eyes I realized that they were filled with tears.
He was still between my legs, sitting up and watching me. “Oh no, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I sniffled and nodded. “I’m just sohappy.”
“But why the tears then?” Drew asked as he moved closer to wipe one off of my cheek.
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m a little overwhelmed by everything. This wasn’t what I’d planned for tonight.”
Drew moved to rest his head on my thigh. “Get used to it, because I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you feel this way.”
A rush of emotions flooded through me, from disbelief that this was my real life to a little prayer of thanks that it was.
But now wasn’t the time to overthink anything.
“Hey,” I said. “I know another way you can make me happy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what might that be?”
I reached down to grab his wrist and pull him closer, which was about as effective as trying to move a mountain. Drew climbed on top of me slowly, never breaking eye contact. He lowered himself down on me gradually, and when our skin finally connected we both sighed.
“I almost forgot that I can say it now,” he mused. “All the time, as much as I want.” He leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose before whispering, almost like a secret, “I love you.”
The mix of emotions I was feeling bubbled out of me in a giggle. “I love you too. And you know what else I love?”
He shook his head, then I reached down between our bodies to grab his dick. “This.”
It was his turn to laugh, which quickly turned to a groan as I started stroking him.
“Save it,” Drew said. He reached off the side of the bed and fished through his pants, then held up a condom.
“Hoping for the best by keeping that in your pocket?” I asked.
“I wasveryhopeful,” he said as he tore the package open.
Drew slid the condom on and rolled so that I was on top of him but we were still pressed chest-to-chest. He slipped inside me and once again we both paused to savor the sensation, holding still and just breathing in tandem.
Then we started moving in rhythm, slowly. There was no need to rush, because we both knew that this was the beginning of averylong night.
34
EMILIA
We were all exhausted by the end of the day but no one seemed to want the party to end. Drew had gone into his father’s retirement announcement meeting looking stressed, and I understood why. Oliver was handing over the baton and the responsibilities that went along with it, which meant renewed public attention on Drew and his brothers. That, coupled with needing to smile, shake hands, and small talk for hours at the reception after the meeting was a lot to take on.
But now we all were here, gathered at the family estate for therealcelebration, which meant we could finally relax. Mostly.
Did I still get a little nervous being surrounded by America’s most impressive travel and hospitality family? Of course. I’d been welcomed with open arms but sometimes it was a little startling to remember that I was now part of this impressive crew.
Oliver had insisted on bringing all of us back to the house to show off the newly completed greenhouse. Candace hovered in the background. Even though all three brothers now understood that she was supporting their father as he shifted into the next phase of his life, notpushing him, there were still areas where she knew to give the Ashfords space.
Andthisspace, in particular—in tribute to the late Alicia Ashford—was one that Candace approached with a lot of delicacy and tact. I admired her for it, and Gwen and I worked hard to make her feel like she was part of the girl crew. Turns out Candace was an excellent baby-snuggler, so any time Gwen needed a break from little Scarlet she was first in line to take over.
“This greenhouse shouldn’t be empty,” Logan said glumly as he looked around the grand glass space, no doubt picturing what his mom would’ve done in it. “We need orchids and roses and herbs.”
Noah raced by his father, holding a tennis ball and giggling.
