I scoop her up, and her long legs curl around me as I walk the ten steps back to the bedroom. At the edge of the bed, I set her on her feet and slip my hands into the waistband of her athletic shorts and drag them easily down her body.
We face each other, naked now. I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and curl my fingers behind her neck, pulling her lips to mine. She kisses me so sweetly and urgently. God, she’s so perfectly mine—ready and eager. I rarely see glimpses of my shy girl anymore. She’s bolder now,comfortable, and I’m here for it. I let her set the pace and follow her lead, utterly hypnotized. And she does, perfectly.
Rolling onto my side afterwards, I take her with me. We’re lying sideways on the bed, so there are no pillows. I cradle her head and mine on my arm and place a kiss on her temple. I taste the salt of what I imagine are tears, though she’s not crying now that I can tell. It doesn’t happen as often as it used to. I like to believe it’s because she’s healing—that we both are. I know I feel more whole with her. I hope—think she feels the same with me. I lean my head back to look at her.
She swipes her cheek against my skin before she looks up at me.
More tears?“Hi, pretty girl.” My eyes bounce back and forth between hers, assessing her state of mind.
“Hi, pretty boy.”
I squeeze her in response, relieved. “You think I’m pretty?” I tease back.
“The prettiest.” She tucks her head again, rubbing her hand in lazy circles on my stomach.
I chuckle and kiss her forehead. “Sleepy?”
She shrugs in answer. “Are you?” She sits up as she asks.
I sit up with her and scoot toward the headboard, leaning against it. I reach for her hand and pull her to me.
She curls into my side, draping her leg over mine, and resumes her lazy circles on my stomach. Her finger finds the trail of dark hair below my navel, and her nail traces it up and down.
“I think if you keep doing that, it won’t matter in a few minutes if I am or not.”
She looks up at me under her lashes as her hand dips below my junk and lightly grazes back up to my navel. On her way back down, she stops to draw circles around the head of my dick, which twitches in response.
My girl is keyed up like I’ve not seen yet, and I’m here for it. I roll her onto her back and can’t wait to give her what she wants. And I do until she’s breathless and quivering and crying my name.
Once the shudders subside, she drapes against me, spent. I’m not sure if anything has ever felt better. I thank God and the universe for the gift of this vision in my arms, in my life, as I cradle her and scoot us both under the covers. I don’t elaborate in my prayer of thanks, afraid to draw too much attention in case the powers that be realize they made a mistake and take it away. As if in answer, she places a sweet kiss on my chest.
Rubbing my thumb up and down her shoulder, I whisper, “Hi, sweet girl.”
“Hi, sweet Julie.” Her words are thick and breathy. “Your turn?”
I can’t help the smile that etches my face. Even spent, this gift, my gift, is thinking about me. “Shh, let’s go to sleep. Wanna go to sleep?” Nothing compares to knowing my girl is sated and happy—that I made her feel that way. I love her so much it hurts. I only want her to be happy, and please God let that happy be with me. I think it is. I believe it is.
“M’kay.” Her breathing is deep and rhythmic within minutes. I stroke her back to the rhythm. Just when I think she’s asleep, she murmurs, “Julie?”
“Yeah, Ever.”
“Thank you for being the perfect boyfriend.”
I stamp down the rush of panic the label puts in my chest, inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply, once, twice, a third time until my nervous system settles.I can be perfect for her. I am perfect for her. Just like she is for me.My arm grows heavy tracing the line of her back. The rise and fall of her body against mine lulls me soon after.
Chapter 13
Everly
Islept like the dead, and I now understand that expression. If I’ve ever had a better night’s sleep in my life, I can’t recall. With Julian’s body still spooned around mine, I hesitate to move. I want to get out of bed and brush my teeth before he wakes up, then sneak back into bed and finish what we started last night. I feel bad for falling asleep on him, but I’d also never had an orgasm like the one I had last night. Granted, I only have my experience with Julian to base it on, but I might’ve left this plane of existence momentarily—like an out-of-body experience.Does everyone have sex like us? God, I hope so.If I were a cat, I’d purr.
As soon as I start to shift, he tightens his grip. In seconds I know he’s no longer asleep. He nuzzles my neck and places a kiss behind my ear.
“I’m just going to brush my teeth. Wanna come?” Realizing my choice of words, I amend, “Want to join me?”
His endearing little chuckle hits my ears before he says, “I’ll take option A. And I have an idea how to avoid morning breath.”
As ideas go, it might be my new favorite. The most intense for sure.
