Chapter 23

23

Natalie

I moan as my stomach tightens, wetness building between my legs as warmth hits me down below.

What the….

My eyes shoot open in shock, and I look down, locking eyes with the dark green ones I love so much. His twinkle as he sucks my clit hard, and I break eye contact as I throw my head back in ecstasy before I feel a finger slide into me, then two, and then three. He tilts them in a come-hither movement, and rubs hard as he sucks my clit into his mouth.

I scream out as my orgasm overtakes me, his hands gripping my thighs open, his member at my entrance, and he thrusts forward, my walls squeezing him.

“Fuck…” he groans as he lifts my legs, hooking them in his elbows to keep them up. He thrusts hard and fast, ensuring to reach that magical spot.

My stomach tightens again before I see stars.

“Fuck, Diamond, you just squirted,” Elijah moans and thrusts one, two, three more times, and slams forward, groaning, staying deep inside me.

I gasp as aftershocks hit me, and he lets my legs down, placing his head in the crook of my neck, and I wrap my legs around his waist to keep him close.

“Well,” I breathe hard, “that’s one way to wake me up….”

He chuckles and nips my skin before sitting up and pressing his lips against mine.

He rasps, “Every fucking morning, baby. We have time to make up for because, fuck, have I been missing out these past six years.”

I laugh and wrap my arms around his neck, kissing his lips.

When he told me I was moving in, I’ll admit, I panicked. My mind is still set on “the husband will treat the kid like shit,” and it’s hard to get out of it.

All my life, my father put his wife first all because he resented that Billy left me on his doorstep, and my first real boyfriend, well, he was screwing my step-monster for two months, so….

But I know this is, without a doubt, the best decision. I love him so much, and I know he loves me, he was just struggling to let someone in, scared he’ll be like his father when he’s anything but.

He’s everything, and we’ll get through our fears together; I’ve come to believe that.

Elijah smiles into the kiss before nipping my bottom lip, then whispers, “I do believe we need a shower.”

I laugh at his words, and he stands, bringing me with him, my legs still wrapped around his waist, unable to wipe the smile off my face….

A few hours later, I walk down the stairs of his log house dressed in leggings, a black backless tee, and my property cut.

The house is beautiful.

Our room has an attached en suite that is to die for; a twin shower head, a jet bath, and twin sinks. It has a his and hers walk in closet that’s a woman’s dream, a leather bench seat in the middle separating both sides, which, yes, he bent me over it after our morning shower sex, and forced me to watch him screw me from behind in the mirrors which are actually doors for where shoes and jewelry are kept.

That’s my side, apparently.

The room has a massive king-size bed with light gray throws, wooden walls, and a massive window overlooking the trees in front of the house.

There are four more rooms up here, two bathrooms between the bedrooms, and a glass roof on another level, with a pull-out couch and TV.

I smile a little, still a little unsure knowing he could probably do better than me, than my fears. I stop on the bottom step, my eyes looking around.

Again, the walls are wooden, and the hardwood flooring is dark, but a light brown rug lies in the middle of the room.

“What do you think of your new home, baby?” Elijah asks as he walks my way, wearing his usual jeans and tee. His cut is on, his hair messy, and my mouth waters….

He smirks, seeing my reaction, before he takes me in his arms, lifting me a little so my feet dangle. I admit, “It’s beautiful. I especially love the open living area and kitchen combo….”

He grins, then kisses me, and I melt.

I wasn’t lying; I do love it.

He has a massive dark brown couch, a glass coffee table, and a dark brown recliner facing the open fireplace, where I can already picture cuddling up with him or reading a good book. The TV is on the wall above it. A large breakfast bar delineates the kitchen, and a dining table is in the nook under the archway to the right of the kitchen.

The house is perfect, just like its owner.

Elijah’s tongue tangles with my own, and I groan, holding him tighter.

If anyone is worth fighting your fear for, it's him….

After gently biting my bottom lip, he breaks the kiss and asks, "Do you fancy going to the diner for breakfast? I’ll bring you back here afterward, and while I’m in church, you can go pack a few bags.”

I chuckle. “Not willing to wait, huh?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. With you, Diamond, I know to act first and ask later.”

I laugh and kiss him before he lets me down and guides me out of his house—I mean, our house—and onto his bike.

Damn, that’s going to take a while to get used to.

It doesn’t take us long before we get to Huntsmen Grub, and we walk in hand in hand.

Perrie, the beautiful waitress Acid can’t sack up and claim, which I can understand if he’s anything like his brother, sends us a smile while ignoring Acid, who’s sitting in a booth, watching her.

Elijah snorts and pulls me to his brother’s table.

“Still not got the nerve to make her yours yet?” Elijah asks as he sits opposite his brother, pulling me down with him, and wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

Acid rolls his eyes but smiles wide when he notices me. He instantly changes the subject and asks, “Did you agree to move in?”

I smirk. “Nice subject change.” He grins. “And yes, I did agree. It won’t be easy, but I’m willing to try.”

Acid’s green eyes soften as Elijah kisses my head.

I grin before Perrie rushes over to us and leans and whispers, “Jackass is here,” in my ear, causing both men to narrow their eyes at us, but we ignore them as we lock eyes once she pulls back, mine widen a little.

Acid leans forward. “Nuh uh, no secrets, share with the class….”

I wince as Perrie turns her head away from him, her light blue eyes looking a little sad.

Acid’s jaw tenses and before either of us can say anything, Chris is suddenly leaning around her and says, “Nat-Nat, I thought that was you; you’ve been dodging my messages, baby. Can we talk, please?”

Perrie elbows him, and he grunts. I grin at her while she acts like nothing happened, checking her nails.

I must admit, having her as a friend is awesome, it helps that we’re basically the same the age and were in college together before she changed courses, moving to the community college instead.

I’m just glad we managed to stay friends.

I can feel the tension coming off my husband in spades, and I gently lean into him. I give Chris a fake smile, and say, “Hey Chris, how’s my step-monster? Are you still screwing each other?”

Perrie snorts but coughs to hide it, giving Acid the chance to grab her hand and force her to sit next to him. He whispers in her ear, but she shakes her head and looks my way, her eyes wide, wanting help. Acid smirks seeing it, and I stick my tongue out at him, making his smirk turn into a grin.

Chris sighs, getting our attention, and I look to see him running a hand through his messy dark red hair. "It wasn’t what it seemed, baby. I-I, I was just helping her, is all….”

I nod. “Helping her by not giving her an orgasm; well, we both know you have no idea where the clit is, let alone the G-spot.”

His face reddens, and he takes a step forward but freezes when Elijah leans forward a little and growls, “Take another step toward my wife, and I’m going to gut you.”

His eyes go to Elijah's left hand on the table, to his ring, then to his cut and then Acid, who now has his arm around an uncomfortable-looking Perrie.

I grin at her, but she scratches her cheek with her middle finger, making me chuckle a little.

“I…uh, um…well, it was good to see an old friend from high school,” he backtracks, and I laugh as he bolts. The boys follow suit, laughing along with me, giving Perrie the chance to stand.

Acid growls, “Perrie….”

She ignores him, looks my way, and asks, “The usual?”

I nod along with Elijah, and she smiles before leaving us to it. I turn and raise a brow at Acid, who groans.

“You know, don’t you?”

I raise a brow and ask, “Know what? That you slept with her, then told her it was a mistake right after?” He groans again, and I confirm, “Yeah, I guess I do know. Jackass move, by the way.”

He narrows his eyes as Elijah snorts, and I sigh.

I side-eye my husband, then tell my brother-in-law, “I understand, and I mean I understand .” I tilt my head to Elijah, who tightens his arm around me. Acid’s eyes soften, and I admit, “But letting him in, him letting me in was probably the best thing to ever happen between us…. If you keep pushing her away, she’ll find someone who does want her, and then you’ll have to live with yourself as you watch him dote on her, make her his wife, and watch as she has his kids. Can you do that?”

His jaw ticks, confirming he can’t. “And how do you expect her to forgive me for fucking her best friend a week after finally having her?”

Ha, best friend my ass—more like bitch from hell who gives my step-monster a run for her money.

Andrea has always wanted what Perrie had: her family, her friends—not me, even though she tried—her boyfriends, and most of all, Acid, and he let her because he ran scared.

I sigh. “I don’t know, that’s something you are going to have to find out, because I’ve seen that lawyer sniffing around her again, the one she dumped when she realized she only wanted you….”

He gives me a tight nod as Perrie brings out my pancakes and the boys' lumberjack platters. I thank her while Acid does one better and grabs her hand, gently kissing it.

They make eye contact before she breaks it first, removing his touch, and then high-tailing it away from our table.

He smirks. “Yeah, she still wants me.”

I snort and lean into Elijah as he feeds me some of my pancakes, making me hum in contentment, hopeful for the first time in forever.

“Right, straight back here after you’ve grabbed your bags and Bluebell, yeah?” Elijah demands hours later, as he helps me off his bike. I roll my eyes and reply, “Sir, yes, sir,” making him chuckle.

He grabs my cut, bringing me to him, and kisses me hard. I melt, instantly tangling my tongue with his, moaning, before he breaks the kiss way too soon for my liking.

He grins. “There will be more once you return.”

I chuckle at the ass, and mumble, “I love you.”

His face softens, and he pecks my lips, then says, “I love you, too.”

Grinning, he walks backward and heads inside. I stand there for a few minutes, smiling, when my phone beeps. I get it out but frown when I see it’s from my father.

Henry: Christy dragged your brother out of camp and nearly killed him. He’s at the Memorial.

My heart shatters, and I quickly get in my car, reversing out of the spot, forgoing my seatbelt. Without any thought other than getting to my brother, I drive toward the gate, Adam letting me out.

I give him a wave and turn right to head to the Memorial when, suddenly, I hear gunshots and tires squealing before something smashes into my car, causing it to spin.

I slam my head against the window as something hits me again. I scream as the car flips, causing me to bang around in the car before it stops, rolling onto its top, and I slump down over the windshield. The last thing I see before I black out is Adam’s dead body, his eyes open, blood pouring from his head….