I feel Blake’s hand land on my thigh. I meet his gaze, then watch him mouth, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper as I lean over to kiss him, and his lips brush across mine. I always thought I knew what it was to have a partner, but really, I had no idea, because being with someone who loves you, supports you, and is there even when things are difficult is what being in a relationship is really about. There are no words for the way you feel when you are truly loved by someone, and that’s what makes falling in love so risky. I just know now that it’s a risk worth taking over and over until you find the person who is meant to be yours.
Epilogue
EVERLY
As I press my lips together to keep from laughing, I listen to Blake curse up a storm while attempting to get the arch of balloons I made to stick to the edge of the window in the dining room. Tomorrow is Sam’s first birthday, so everyone is coming to Blake’s house to celebrate with us, but before they arrive, I want Sam to wake up to decorations like I did every birthday growing up. Even if he doesn’t remember it, he’ll have pictures to look back on. One day I hope it’s a tradition that he shares with his kids. I know as an adult, I still look forward to my birthday because my mom always made it special for me.
“Fuck, finally.” Blake looks down at me from where he’s standing on top of the ladder, wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts, his chiseled chest and abs right there for me to admire. “Is that everything?” I look around the room at the balloons, streamers, and a banner that says HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMPSON!
“That’s it for tonight.”
“Good.” He hops off the ladder and then wraps his arms around me. “Now I can finally have my way with you.” He starts walking me backward through the kitchen and down the hall toward the bedroom, his mouth leaving a hot trail of kisses along my neck and jaw as I laugh.
“It didn’t take us that long,” I moan when he slides my robe off my shoulders.
“Babe, you’re walking around looking like you do, wearing this.” His fingers trail along the lace at the top of my breast. “I’m telling you, it took too fucking long.”
“It’s just a nightgown.” Okay, it’s a little more than that, since it’s not one of my usual baggie T-shirts but instead a cute nightie that’s casual but still somewhat sexy—one of six I bought for when we sleep over.
“I don’t care what it is.” He slides his hands up the back of it, then cups my bottom and squeezes before moving his hands up farther. He takes the nightgown with it, then tugs it off over my head. He leans back and looks down at my body, bare to him except for a pair of hip-hugger panties, then cups both my breasts. My pulse, which is already skyrocketing, speeds up even more, and the space between my legs clenches in anticipation.
Not one to miss out on the opportunity to touch him, I slide my hand down his abs and into the waistband of his shorts, then wrap my fingers around his thick, hard length. “Damn,” I whisper. He groans as he drops his head back to his shoulders. Loving the power I have over him, I slide to my knees and tug down the front of his shorts, and I look up at him as I lick over the head of his cock.
“Don’t play with me, Everly,” he hisses as I pump him; then he curses as I suck him deep. His fingers thread through the hair at the side of my head, and his eyes stay locked on my mouth while I use my hand and mouth on him, pulling and sucking in unison. The moment I cup his balls, his cock throbs against my tongue. “Stop,” he orders, but I don’t. I keep going, then cry out when he pulls his hips back and hauls me up off the ground and tosses me onto the bed.
I don’t even have a chance to adjust to this new position before he’s tossing my panties away and spreading my legs, and his mouth is on me. Right there, right where I need him most, his tongue flicks over my clit. His fingers fill me, making me cry out in surprise and ecstasy while my back arches off the bed.
I lift my hips and slide my fingers through his hair, wanting to get closer to his talented mouth. When his lips wrap around my clit and he sucks, my entire world becomes what he’s doing to me, the pull in my lower belly building, all my muscles tightening. Even knowing what’s ahead, I’m not fully ready for the release as I come.