We came almost together, my hands falling away to brace myself on the table, my chest molded to her as we shuddered, my release spilling deep, draining me.
“Jesus Christ,” Shiloh breathed.
She slumped over the table, her cheek on the smooth wood, her back rising and falling beneath me. I lay over her, nuzzling her neck, still inside her, still trying to catch my breath. She kissed the teeth marks she’d left on my finger, then her hand briefly cupped my jaw, before sliding into my hair. I kissed her slow, taking my time, showing her that sex was only one part of what I wanted from her.
All of her. I want all of her.
Slowly, I stood, disposed of the condom, and tucked myself back in my jeans while she pulled on her thong and smoothed her rumpled dress.
“Well.” She moved into my arms. “Hello to you too.”
“You good?”
“Better than good.” She smiled. “You don’t have to ask, but I love that you do.”
I kissed her softly, but it deepened quick, the emotions still hanging in the little shed pulling us back to each other.
“Damn, Ronan…” she said breathlessly and put her hands on my chest to push me away. “Bibi will be back. We need to show a little restraint.”
“I suppose.”
She laughed. “Her lasagna is to die for. You hungry?”
“I am now. What’s the occasion?” I couldn’t imagine it was all for me. I hoped it wasn’t.
“No occasion,” she said. She kissed my chin, then moved to pack up her tools. “Except, well…miracle of miracles, that little place I showed you in the fall? The laundromat? It’s still available. The rent is scary but not as bad as it could be because of the size.”
“That’s fucking great. Are you going to make a bid for it?”
“I still have a lot of hurdles to jump through. A bank loan would be nice. But…” She shrugged as if to keep her hope in check, her smile radiant. “We’ll see.”
The meal was one of the best I’d had. Bibi treated me like a long-lost son without making me feel weird or self-conscious. Instead of feeling like an intruder, like I had that first day, I felt welcome. Like I had a normal life.
After dinner and a dessert of tiramisu from a local bakery, I helped clean up the kitchen and said goodnight to Bibi. She took my face in her hands and gave me a little shake.
“Goodnight, Ronan.” She kissed my cheek again and then whispered quickly. “She’s so happy. You did that. Thank you, sweet boy.”
She let me go and I stepped back, a little stunned.
“Okay, what’s with all the whispering?” Shiloh asked with a small laugh.
“I was telling your man that he’s welcome for dinner any time he likes. Isn’t that right, Ronan?”
“Yes, ma?
?am.”
Shiloh rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet.” She took my arm. “I’ll walk you out. Be right back, Bibi.” On the front porch, Shiloh pursed her lips. “My man, hmm?”
I shrugged. “You going to argue with your grandmother?”
Shiloh peered up at me, her eyes soft. “Guess not.” Then she caught herself and straightened the collar of my jacket. “Bibi says my future shop needs a name. To put it out in the universe and make it real. But I’m stumped.”
My hand skimmed up the smooth skin of her back, over her dress, thinking of the piece she’d made earlier. A mix of stone and metal, the elements flowing and blending naturally. Unique.
Rare Earth.
I nearly said it, but this was Shiloh’s shop. Hers to name.