Chapter 14

Fourteen

Everly

I woke up with something heavy and warm draped over my side. Harrison. Us. Last night. How would Harrison view things this morning? Last night, he said nothing would change, but I wasn’t so sure.

I turned in his arms to study his face, which was still relaxed in sleep. I touched his face, almost in awe that we were here.

Since I’d moved in, I’d woken up many times with his arms around me. It felt good. Protective and safe. But this? Knowing we were intimate last night? That we took our relationship to a different level was both scary and exciting.

“You’re thinking really hard over there.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

He shifted to kiss me. “I was already awake. Enjoying you naked in my bed.”

How had I not realized that we were both very much naked and his cock was hardening against my thigh? “Someone’s happy to see me this morning.”

“Oh, trust me, I’m happy to see you too.”

I laughed at his ability to always be light and carefree. To not be dragged down with the what-ifs. “You are, are you?” I asked as he leisurely kissed down my body, maneuvering me so that I was on my back, his shoulders pushing my legs apart. “What are you—”

“I hope it’s obvious,” he said before licking me.

Shit. I’d never had someone go down on me as soon as I woke up. It was kind of amazing.

“You’re so beautiful. Gorgeous. I love how you taste.”

“You say all the right things,” I said a little breathlessly because he wasn’t taking his time; his mouth had closed around my clit and was sucking.

“I tell the truth. Always.”

My heart was thumping, and my breath was ragged. I couldn’t chase my thoughts or remember what we were supposed to be doing. I just was. Feelings. Sensations. I couldn’t stop to consider anything else. My worries and anxieties fell away.

“Let go, Everly. I want to see you come.”

Fuck me if his words didn’t send me over the edge, pulsing and shaking around his fingers. He licked me through my orgasm, grabbing a condom from the nightstand before I’d even come down. He nudged my legs farther apart, his cock at my entrance.

“You want this?”

I nodded as he looked down to where my pussy was stretched around his cock.

“Fuck. You’re so hot.” He shifted so that he rested over me and kissed me.

I forgot about whether we’d brushed our teeth, truly getting lost in the moment. Enjoying him. Who knew how long I’d get him like this? His cock filled me in a way no one ever had before. I realized I’d probably been emotionally detached from other men, needing to protect myself.

“It feels so good with you,” Harrison said by my ear as he thrust harder.

Pulling out suddenly, he flipped me onto my stomach and pulled me up as he slipped inside again. We both groaned as he filled me, deeper this time. My breasts swayed with the force of his thrusts.

He reached around and circled my clit, building me up again. It was impossible. Unbelievable. Yet I was cresting before I could work it out in my head.

Harrison was destroying me one orgasm at a time. He was breaking down my walls. Staking his claim. Ruining me forever.

I bit my lips as I detonated at his firm touch. He kept up the brutal pace as he squeezed my breast and tweaked my nipple. I wanted to do this forever, get lost in his scent, his touch, and this feeling. When we were together, there was no him or me; there was only us.

“Fuck. I can’t—” Harrison thrust one more time, settling deep and emptying himself into the condom.

I wish he were bare. I want to feel him.

He pulled out carefully, and I shifted off my knees, watching his ass as he walked to the bathroom to get rid of the condom. That was a crazy thought.

We weren’t in a relationship. We weren’t going to get engaged soon. Not for real. This was fake, and I was dangerously close to losing my mind and my heart.

As much as I wanted to lounge in bed and figure out what was happening, I had to go to work.

The water in the shower started, and I closed my eyes, thinking I’d get a few more minutes of sleep while he showered.

“You want to shower together?” he asked as he popped his head out of the bathroom.

“Yeah, okay.” I slipped out from under the covers, wondering what I was doing. Sex and shared showers. I was getting in too deep.

He took my hand and guided me under the stream of warm water. We took turns lathering each other up, avoiding any zone that would lead us down another path. I didn’t have time for anything else this morning, but I enjoyed his sculpted body and his hands on me.

While I got dressed and dried my hair, Harrison whipped up scrambled eggs, placing them into a wrap. “So you can eat it at work.”

“Thank you,” I said, taking the warm bundle wrapped in a paper towel and a travel mug of coffee. “I could get used to this.”

He kissed me softly on the lips. “That’s the idea.”

I could so easily get lost in him, but was it a good idea?

“It will be nice when you’re working from home.”

I rolled my eyes as I gathered my purse and keys. “I don’t see how that would be possible.”

“It will be when you’re making invitations full time.”

“See you tonight.” I headed to my car, feeling different than I had yesterday. I felt lighter, almost as if I could do anything. Maybe even consider his crazy plan of quitting my job.

What would that be like? How would my day be structured? As nice as it sounded, reality crept in. How would I afford health insurance or pay for my apartment? I needed a reliable income.

I couldn’t do what my mom had done. She’d quit her job to stay home with me, never finishing college or acquiring any skills. Then when Dad left, she was on her own. She needed to go back to school, but she was too depressed for a while to do anything.

Quitting was irresponsible. I promised myself I’d never do something so risky. I liked the security my job gave me, even if it was boring and didn’t pay well. I usually brought my sketchbooks and drafted designs in between patients and paperwork.

In a way, I was already working on my side job at my primary one. And I’d been getting steady work from Gia. Enough clients that I was busy most evenings, designing options for the couples. It was either custom work or I was creating more options for the packages Gia preferred to offer.

I continued to create samples to fill a portfolio so that when I met with a bride and groom, they had options to pick from.

As I went through my workday, I figured out how much money I needed to live on if I was in my apartment, not living with Harrison, and how much I was making from Gia’s referrals. I was surprised to find out that I made just enough.

That caused a pit to form in my stomach. Was it enough to quit my job? The more time I devoted to my invitations, the more I could sell on my online shop. I wouldn’t be as limited as I was now, so, conceivably, I could generate more money from my invitations.

I could make a go of it. But it was so scary to think about quitting the reliable paycheck every two weeks, the guaranteed health insurance, and other benefits.

That night, my mind was fractured. I wasn’t sure what to do with this new information. Was it a good reason to quit? Did I need to earn more before I made that step? How did anyone make these decisions?

Then there was whatever happened between me and Harrison last night and this morning. Would he act as if nothing had changed? I wasn’t sure what to do.

There was a note on the counter when I arrived, saying he was working on a project with Ethan. They sometimes worked on arbors for weddings, and I remembered that Gia wanted more ornate designs. Ethan owned the hardware store, The Red Toolbox, on Main and created handmade furniture as a side business.

It meant I had more time to work on my invitations tonight and mull over my options. But my stomach was unsettled because we couldn’t talk about last night. When Harrison still wasn’t home at bedtime, I covered his dinner and put it in the fridge before getting ready for bed.

When his arm banded around me after I’d already fallen asleep, I sank into him, enjoying the feel of him surrounding me. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I’d enjoy it for now.

The next morning, I woke before Harrison, getting up and showering before him. When I came out, he was making breakfast, as usual.

“You get everything done you needed to last night?” I asked, pouring the steaming hot coffee into my to-go mug.

“Yeah, it was a complicated piece. I needed Ethan’s help.”

“That’s not a problem. We’re not— You don’t need to clear it with me.” What I wanted to say was, we weren’t real. The things you did for a girlfriend weren’t in play here. But something held me back. We were in a weird middle ground after sleeping together.

“I wanted to be here tonight, but we’re meeting with the couple to show them our progress.”

“So, you won’t be home tonight?”

Harrison’s concerned gaze settled on mine. “Is that okay?”

“I have work to do, so it’s fine.” I tried not to be disappointed that we were both so busy and didn’t have the time to talk or figure out where we stood.

He kissed me. “We’ll talk this weekend. I need to shower. See you later?”

I smiled as he went to get ready for work. If we were dating and not living together, we wouldn’t be seeing each other every day. Our situation was only different because we lived together.

I wanted to talk to him about quitting, but I knew what he’d say. He was passionate about opening a business. He loved setting his own hours and being in charge, but he liked to joke around and say his boss was a real asshole. He mentioned many times that he worked harder for himself because he reaped the benefits. The more he worked, the more he made.

It was an attractive idea, but I wondered if I wouldn’t need to work longer and harder than I was now. Or was that a cop-out? An excuse not to take that step?

My stomach churned as I headed to work. I’d worked here ever since I graduated from high school. I thought I’d take college courses in the evenings, and I had, but I couldn’t figure out what to major in. I didn’t want to waste money on a degree I didn’t want, so I’d quit with the idea I’d go back eventually. But I never had.

Now I wished I’d taken business courses. Shouldn’t I be more prepared before I up and quit my job? I mindlessly scrolled through the community college courses, wondering if I should get a business degree before I quit. Or was that one more thing that delayed the decision I needed to make?

I was stressed and jittery the rest of the week. I kept missing Harrison in the evenings. Either he was meeting with a client, or I was. On Friday, he picked up Wren. It wasn’t his usual weekend, but there was something about Lola getting Wren on Thanksgiving weekend this year that precipitated the change. They shared Thanksgiving Day itself.

“You’re home!” Wren cried when I walked in the door.

“Hey. I missed you.” I set my bag down and wrapped my arms around her.

“We’re watching Beauty and the Beast tonight.”

“That’s one of my favorites.” Even though I hadn’t watched it in a long time.

Wren smiled, pleased with my response. “Mine too.”

I followed her into the kitchen where Harrison was pacing while talking on his phone.

Glancing up, he said, “I’m ordering takeout. Chinese okay?”

I walked under his outspread arm to hug him. “It’s perfect. I’m just going to change.”

He kissed me soundly on the lips before letting me go. “Should be here in thirty.”

“What do ya say we get the living room ready for a movie?” Harrison asked Wren.

“Can we do the projector?” Wren asked as I made my way upstairs, peeling off my work clothes and pulling on sweats. I loved coming home to Harrison and Wren, pulling on comfortable clothes, and settling in for a relaxing weekend.

When had I started to think of Harrison’s place as mine? My hands shook as I pulled a brush through my hair in the bathroom, removing any knots from the day.

I loved coming home to them. We hadn’t made love since Monday because we were like ships passing in the night. I wasn’t sure where we stood or what any of it meant. Plus, Wren was here all weekend. It would be difficult if not impossible to have a private conversation.

I tried to put my worries out of my mind while I headed downstairs. The projector screen was already set up outside.

“We’re watching a movie out here?” I asked them.

“The fire’s on, and I brought out the heaters for the patio.”

“I’ll grab the blankets,” I said.

“Already on it.” Wren’s arms were piled high with overflowing blankets.

“Let me help you.” I took a few from the top and carried them to the couch.

“I brought your slippers,” Harrison said, handing them to me.

The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Harrison said as he moved through the house.

I went to the kitchen to fill our water bottles and carried them outside. I resisted the urge to ask Wren about school because it was Friday night. She deserved a break. We’d worry about homework on Sunday.

Since when had I started to think about Wren as mine? Without even consciously thinking about it, I wondered about her day, what homework she had, and whether she was happy. I’d always been close to her, but she meant so much more to me now.

Harrison carried the small white boxes to the coffee table. The heaters and fire worked to keep the small area warm and cozy.

“Are you ready for this?” Harrison asked me when we were settled.

“It’s one of my favorites,” I said as the opening scene played, Belle singing as she walked through town. There was something about a heroine who’d grown up with a single father, loved to read, and wanted more out of her life. It never failed to get to me.

I was raised by a single mother who wasn’t as involved as hers, but maybe I was envious of her relationship with her dad.

We ate, and when we were done, Harrison held his arm out so I could snuggle into his side. This might not have been real, but I wanted to play the role of girlfriend for a little while longer.

When the beast revealed his library to Belle, Wren said, “I want a library like that.”

“Me too.” I’d always loved this scene. It was the ultimate gift.

“You want books? Not flowers?” Harrison asked us.

“It’s not just the books; it’s a library with cozy leather furniture, a fireplace, and—”

“And the sliding ladder. You can’t not have that,” Wren said.

“Good to know,” Harrison said as we quieted to watch the rest of the movie.

If I wanted more for myself, like a house, I needed to make a change in my work life. But I put it out of my mind, enjoying the music and dancing for the rest of the movie. I hadn’t allowed myself to watch movies like this after my dad left. But I was pleased I still enjoyed them, even if I didn’t think relationships like these were possible.