Walking into my house feels different now. Everything has changed since I was last here, three days ago. Funny how three days can feel like a lifetime. This place suddenly feels a lot less cavernous and whole lot more like a home than it ever has before, and it’s all because of Poppy.
Poppy takes off her sunglasses and walks around me, wheeling her suitcase with her, and I reach out and snag her wrist, causing her to stop.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, looking up at me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I arch a curious brow.
She looks from me to her case and back again. “To put my stuff in my room.”
With a cocky smirk, I shake my head slowly, and without saying a word, I point. She glances at the stairs, then turns back to me, her eyebrows tugging together, that adorable little crease burrowing between them.
I close the distance between us, placing my hands on her rounded hips. and looking down at her, I breathe her in. Even after a flight, she still smells like sunshine and perfection. “I want you upstairs with me…”
Her eyebrows jump. “In your room?”
I nod. “Every goddamn night.”
Her cheeks flood with pink and she pulls her lips between her teeth, biting back her smile. “I’ve never even been upstairs.”
“Well, let me give you the grand tour,” I say, sliding my fingers down her arm and enveloping her hand. “There’s not a lot up there. Just a spare room, my office, and your new bedroom.”
Poppy giggles as I lead her upstairs, taking them two at a time. When we clear the landing, I look at her over my shoulder, grinning wide and towing her with me before shoving open the doors at the end.
My room takes up more than half the upstairs of the house, opening to a small area with a couch I never sit on and walls of shelves that contain books I’ve never opened. Continuing through the walkway with his and hers dressing rooms lining either side—thehersdressing room noticeably empty—we come out to my sleeping area, where my huge bed faces a wall of glass that looks out over the ocean. A slatted wall opens to my bathroom, with its huge tub and shower big enough for ten people, surrounded by more walls of glass with the same ocean view, one that also dips down to the side of the property, looking over the lush tropical gardens.
“Oh, wow, Brookes.” Poppy sighs, taking it all in, the late afternoon sun kissing her golden skin. “I thought the guest suite was nice, but this iscrazy…”
I turn, ducking down and wrapping my arms around her waist. “You look good in my room, Pops.”
Pulling back enough to gauge me with a droll smirk, she rolls her eyes. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a sweet talker.”
“Only for you, baby girl,” I quip, pressing my lips to hers.
She wraps her arms around my neck, holding onto me, and I take the chance to deepen the kiss, sliding my tongue into her warm, sweet mouth, reveling in her sounds. The need to claim her, take her in every part of this space that’s only ever been forme, is more than real, my cock aching. But, of course, the second I push one of the skinny straps of her tank top off her shoulders and start kissing my way down over the swell of her breast, the goddamn doorbell rings, the shrill sound ricocheting through the house.
“Fuuuck…” I groan, burying my face in Poppy’s neck.
She laughs, playfully shoving me off.
I readjust myself in my shorts, hissing at the discomfort when the damn doorbell chimes again. “Fuck’s sake.”
“Do you want me to answer it?” Poppy smirks, one brow arching, her eyes dancing as they dip down to the obvious tent pitched in my crotch.
“I’ve got it,” I mutter. “Probably just security checking in now that I’m back.” Leaning in, I press a kiss to her cheek and hurry back downstairs.
But when I open the door, I’m not met with security. I’m met with Jonesy and Lori standing there. On my doorstep. And I can’t help but jump back because what the fuck?
“Well, hi there, baby!” Lori shrieks, inviting herself in and wrapping me in her arms and a cloud of her sweet perfume.
“Oh… h-hey, guys…” is the best I can manage, returning her embrace with an undoubtedly awkward one-armed hug.
“I brought steaks!” Jonesy shouts by way of greeting, holding a huge wrapped parcel in the air as he shuffles over the threshold, shoving the meat at me.
Taking it, I close the front door as if on autopilot, murmuring a low and entirely sarcastic, “Please, do come in.”
“Well now, look at you and that enviable tan, you adorable cutie pie!” I turn to find Poppy freezing at the bottom step, her eyes wide and the hint of an awkward smile pulling at her lips as she’s swallowed up by Lori’s long arms.
And, as Jonesy and Lori make themselves at home, I look down at the meat in my hands, sighing and shaking my head to myself because I guess we’re having Jonesy and Lori over for asteak dinner. And I guess christening the bedroom will have to wait. Sometimes, all you can do is laugh.
