“Perfect.”
My mother keeps her gaze locked on Lola, and Elodie notices and gives me a sidelong glance for a clue as to what comes next.
I turn the stove off and give up on my mom’s tea before I circle around the kitchen counter to join them standing by the island, and I tap Lola’s arm. “Hey, kiddo, there is someone you get to meet.”
She looks at me with her wide eyes.
I point to my mom. “Your mimi. My mom. Another grandparent. Do you understand that?”
She wiggles in Elodie’s arms to swing her gaze between my mom and me. She doesn’t seem to understand, but she waves at my mom anyway.
Elodie smiles and kisses her little forehead. “You’re very good at welcoming people to the family,” she partly jokes.
Even with my mom now cooing her way to Lola and holding out her arms, my ears were already sealed in on the word family and the way Elodie said it so easily.
Because that’s what we essentially are, right?
One another’s family.
20
ELODIE
“I’m here,” I whisper delicately to Hayes as we lie on our sides facing one another in his bed. Something feels stronger between us just from the way we lie in bed together. A smile plays on my lips because of last night.
His hand is already traveling along the curve of my hip, his palm warm. “I’m happy you are.”
Sputtering a laugh, I’m going to highlight the obvious. “Because your mom strong-armed me.”
“She likes you.”
“Really?” I’m doubtful.
He scoots closer so the crook of my neck is within reach of his lips. “Yes. You both talked for hours.”
We did. Initially, I was petrified of being judged. But once Colleen got her few snarky, half-serious comments out of the way, the walls between us broke down, and we got to know one another. She had so many questions about Lola, and I was happy to share. Lola took to her instantly and even let her read the night’s bedtime story.It’s not that I didn’t want to spend the night, I always do if Hayes is involved.
But I figured that he and his mother would want somebonding time alone. I’m trying to avoid everyone’s eyes on Hayes and me in the romance department. I don’t need the added pressure from our families, but as the night went on, I realized that it doesn’t matter. No matter what we do, there will be opinions, and we shouldn’t factor them in. And that’s how I ended up spending the night. It doesn’t faze me, though, that Colleen is in the room down the hall.
“Lola is lucky to have her now in her life.”
He agrees with a mumble. “But I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” His stubble scrapes against my skin. My body is turning to liquid again as he touches me the way he wants.
I begin to open my legs, and he’s already shifting down the bed until he’s on his belly with his hands braced on either side of my hips. The gentle kiss from his mouth on my inner thigh causes my clit to throb due to anticipation of what is coming next. He moves purposely slow, and I’m not sure he wants me to beg or if taunting me revs him up just as much as me. Hayes looks up at me with dark eyes as his tongue taps my clit, causing me to grind up against his mouth.
Then he licks me, open-mouthed and painfully slow, up and down. It’s so good my back arches off the mattress.He laps at me, steady and confident, circling just right. The prickle of his stubble against my warm skin intensifies the feeling.
Remembering that we have a child and a guest in the house, I bite my finger to keep my moans in check as I drift away, both drowsy and so alive at the same time.
Hayes growls against my pussy as he spreads me wider, the whole time his tongue working me into a frenzy.
His mouth gets slicker, his own moan vibrates against my flesh, and his eyes, occasionally catching my own, don’t need approval; he’s already satisfied with his efforts.
“Ahh,” I rasp, and it only eggs him on to work memethodically, tongue and lips teasing. “Is this your way of calming me?” I breathe heavily.
“It’s my way of waking up with you.” His voice is low and thick with lust before he continues to explore me.
He dips his tongue inside me once before circling my clit with speed.
