Chapter 23

Holidays have always been hard for me since moving away. My parents aren't in my life very much, and instead of going there and ruining my holiday, I always opt to stay at the apartment. The last few times I have talked to my mother, besides her asking me when I'm going to give up living in this trashy city and moving home, she wanted to know if I have figured out that there is nothing for me here. My parents had high hopes for me, and when I went to college for my business degree instead of Law School, that's when the disappointment started. I could read it on their face every time I saw them until I moved away.

Since being in the city, I haven't seen them once. They call me once a month to check in, but it's a five-minute quick phone call because by that time I'm already almost to tears. All I want is my parents to be proud of me, and yet somehow all they think is I'm a disappointment.

Adler's warm chest makes me feel grounded. The tears just keep coming and I can't get them to stop. He has been so wonderful, and to invite me to his sister's, I just am scared. What if she doesn't like me? Will he leave me?

My reservations are screwing with my head at this point and I need something to take my mind off of it. I don't want our day to be ruined by my fucked up parents.

I can't let their disappointment in me ruin my relationship with Adler. If his sister doesn't like me, then that's a hurdle. We will have to get over together. My mind can run through plenty of scenarios to scare me, but I need to be positive. If I want a future with this man, then I have to try my hardest to make sure that things work out. And that means pushing my fear aside, and letting him fully in. All my walls need to come down and I need to hand him the key.

I look up at him through my lashes, tears still streaming down my face. "Please kiss me. Make me think about something else. Anything else."

When he flips me over on my back and takes my lips in his, it's different from any other time before. This is soft and sensual. He slips his hand down my stomach, circling my clit, and a breath escapes my throat.

"Please."

As two fingers slip inside, my back arches and my head pushes against the mattress. He goes slow, but steady.

"Baby, I don't want you to feel this way. No matter what happens, I've got you," he says, removing his fingers, and positioning himself over me, easing himself inside as his lips take mine again.

His hips move with each thrust, and instead of going balls to the wall, he makes love to me. The soft moans erupt from my throat and my nails rake up his back, aching for more.

I have never felt closer to a man than I do right now. He isn't just the person who knows my body and how it responds. He loves me.

I hook my leg around his waist and stare into his eyes. "I love you Adler Maddox."

He stops mid thrust, making me squirm. "You are it for me, Lily. There is no other woman that could ever compare to how I feel about you."

I flip him over, so I can take control, because right now, as much as I love this, I need the release. So bad that my body is shaking and aching for it. My ass bounces as my hips circle and he places a hand on each side of my waist, knowing full well I love him.

"You are fucking gorgeous, Lily Stevens."

He moves one of his hands to circle my clit as I move on him, and my hands go to my hair... fuck! Adler feels so damn good inside me, and when he bucks and I circle my hips once more, we both shake.

When we both come down from our high, he removes me and lays me down beside him, spooning me from behind. He nuzzles his head into my hair and kisses my hair. "I love you, Lily."