Chapter 19

Faye

"Are you sure about this?" I'm standing in my bedroom Sunday afternoon, spinning around. I can't seem to make decisions. I'm biting my thumbnail.

Easton has two large suitcases open on my bed and four boxes taped and ready on the floor. He comes to me, grips my shoulders, and meets my gaze. "We aren't breaking your lease, baby. You're just bringing some things to my house. Don't panic. Nothing is permanent until you decide you want it to be."

I draw in a deep breath. He's right, but I'm so out of my element. I've slept in his bed for two nights. Last night, I went to the club with him, but I spent the entire time in his apartment, mostly reading.

I learned he has room service provided by the first-floor restaurant, so I ordered dinner, dessert, and snacks. He checked on me a dozen times but didn't want me to play because I'm so deeply affected when I do a scene that I was still hovering in subspace from the night before.

After two full days with him, I've agreed to move some things to his house and stay there. This is huge. I haven't told a single soul about any of this, not even Trinity. I'm not ready to tell anyone yet. It's private.

I'm not the sort of person who owns a ton of clothes. I have what I need, and that's about it, so it's easy for Easton to pack for me while I stand in the middle of the room and fret.

I watch as he grabs handfuls of clothes out of my closet, hangers and all, and lowers them into a suitcase. Suddenly, he stops moving and stares at the pile. Slowly, he picks up the top item. The blue jacket. He takes it off the hanger and holds it up. "You kept it…" he murmurs before turning to me.

I frown. "How do you know about that jacket?"

He drops it onto the pile and comes to me. He cups my face. "You don't know."

"What don't I know?"

"I'm the one who left that for you on your locker the day those idiots intentionally ran into you in the cafeteria and caused your tray to fly up so that spaghetti spilled down your white blouse. I watched in horror. I wanted to kill them, but I was too fucking weak and stupid back then. Hell, the same idiots bullied me. I nearly died as you ran from the cafeteria. I knew you were mortified, and your shirt was ruined, so I hung my jacket on the handle of your locker while you were in the bathroom."

I can't breathe. I'm so shocked. "It was you…"

"You kept the jacket…" He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight.

"It meant the world to me," I tell his chest. "I still pull it out and wear it when I need comforting."

He rocks me back and forth for a long time. Somehow, we've added this odd new connection. He's so damn kind that he even saved me from embarrassment sixteen years ago, and I never knew it.

Finally, he tips me back, kisses me gently, and turns silently back to the suitcases.

When he's done, he closes everything up and makes a few trips to his SUV while I walk through my apartment. I'm not making any life-altering decisions here. I can always move back in if it doesn't work out, but something has changed between us. I feel different. I'm not as scared.

I'm quiet on the way back to Easton's house. It's more of a mansion. There are so many rooms. He says I can turn one of them into an office or whatever kind of space I want so that I have a room totally my own where I can go and regroup at any time.

He's so thoughtful. During the drive, he holds my hand a lot, not interrupting my thoughts.

By dinner time, my clothes are all put away in the drawers he emptied for me and inside his closet. The jacket is hanging right in the center between my clothes and his. My toiletries have a place in his bathroom. The nightstand on one side of the bed has my books and phone charger.

We order Chinese and sit in the breakfast nook, sharing various containers. We watch a movie like regular people—though most regular people don't have an amazing theater room like Easton has.

It's nice sitting curled up next to him on his black leather couch in the totally dark room. Throughout the romcom, he strokes my arm and repeatedly kisses the top of my head as if he can't get enough of me.

"What time do you like to be in bed on work nights?" he asks when the movie ends.

"Ten. I need eight hours. I'm useless without enough sleep."

"Then let's get you ready for bed." He stands, helps me up, and takes my hand.

"It's only nine," I tell him after I brush my teeth and glance at the clock.

"Yep." He wiggles his brows at me, and my pussy reacts.

I giggle. "So, you're saying you intend to have your way with me, and it's going to take an hour?" I tease.

He drags me into the bedroom and pulls my shirt over my head.

I try not to wince when he tosses it on the floor. I can be messy. Sure, I can.

He pops my bra off next and flings it toward my shirt. "Don't worry. I'll pick it up after you fall asleep."

I shrug as though it makes no difference to me.

He chuckles. "And to answer your other question, it will only take me about two minutes to come, but it's going to take you thirty, and I'm leaving fifteen minutes for you to catch your breath and get to sleep afterward. You'll be asleep by ten."

"Thirty?" I giggle. "I'm about to come now just from the mention of sex."

"Mmm…" He removes the rest of my clothes. I've realized he likes to undress me. He likes to dress me, too. And he always has me completely naked before he strips.

"Climb up on the bed. Lie in the middle, arms and legs spread wide."

I bite my lip as I obey him. So, this is going to be kinky…

He pulls something out from under the bed. I can't see it, but a moment later, he's holding up four cuffs.

As I glance at the four posts, goosebumps rise all over my body. It's no wonder he has a four-poster bed.

"I'm going to restrain you and tease you until you beg me to let you come," he informs me as he grabs my wrist and gets to work.

By the time I'm completely secured, spread wide open, I'm so horny I could come with just a touch.

I'm glad when Easton strips, also. I like to look at his body. He's like a god, all muscles and tightness. He rolls on a condom before he climbs up to kneel between my legs.

I arch my chest up and moan. "Easton…"

"You're so responsive. I haven't even touched you yet, and you're already about to come."

He's right. I should be embarrassed, but I'm not nearly as flustered by my body's reactions to him anymore.

I learn something in the next forty-five minutes. Easton can be very precise. The man teases my body until I'm writhing so much he has to admonish me so I don't tug too hard and hurt myself. He's got an uncanny ability to touch me softly in one small spot. A nipple, my lips, a flick over my clit. Over and over until I'm begging.

When he finally thrusts into me, I'm so horny that I come instantly. All I can see is bright lights flickering around me as my eyes roll back.

He's so aroused from tormenting me that he comes minutes later, and he has us both cleaned up and snuggled under the covers at a quarter to ten.

I start giggling uncontrollably. "Are you always that precise, or did you do all that just for me?"

"I can be precise if I need to, baby." He kisses me. "See? You'll be asleep by ten and bright-eyed at six. You can get your workout in, eat breakfast, and be at work right on time."

I'm grinning as I relax against him. "I'm not going to get used to sleeping naked," I say, wrinkling my nose.

"You will." He runs his hand down to my bottom and squeezes it. "I like you naked."

I sigh. Maybe he's right. After all, I've slept naked several times now, and it didn't disturb me a bit. His sheets are expensive and divine. They feel good against my bare skin. "Are you ever going to give me my vibrator back?"

"Nope. You're still not permitted to come without me. Your orgasms are mine. Maybe I'll let you use it while I watch one of these days, but you can't have it to use without me, naughty girl."

I bite my lip to keep from chuckling as I snuggle into him.

Within minutes, my eyes are heavy, and somehow, my brain stops running. I fall asleep right on time.