Chapter 64

The next morning, I woke up early, the sunlight streaming through the windows with the sound of birds feeling just a little unfamiliar. It was a new day in our new home. I couldn't help but feel hopeful. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly at home. The only thing that could have made this better was if I had woken up to Isadora's body next to mine.

Patience. I had to have patience. I could wait until the time was right.

Sloane would settle in and get used to seeing her mom and me together. When we went on our first date, it would give her the chance to get her head around the two of us as a couple, not just her parents. Then we would move our relationship along and share a room, and I would ravage the woman I loved until the day I died.

Once I had Sloane's blessing, I hoped I could one day marry Isadora.

I showered and got dressed before leaving my bedroom. The house was still quiet. I had a feeling my girls were probably sound asleep. We had put in a lot of work yesterday.

As I made my way to the kitchen, a feeling of déjà vu washed over me. It reminded me of a time long ago, when I was just a boy, and my family shared a rare moment of happiness together. It was a Saturday morning, and my father was in a surprisingly good mood. That didn't happen often. My mother had made us breakfast, and I remember feeling so full of life and joy in that moment that it stuck with me all these years.

We lived in a little apartment with just the basics. Dad was always working and Mom often worked the weekends. That morning we all got to be together. I remembered thinking I was the luckiest kid in the whole world. The fact that we didn't have a big-ass house with a pool and an amazing view never occurred to me as something we needed.

Now, as I stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes, frying bacon, and brewing coffee, I thought back to that memory. My circumstances had changed but my desire for a happy, loving family had not. I slid another pancake onto a plate and felt like everything was falling into place.

The aroma of coffee filled the kitchen as I set the table, placing the platter of pancakes in the center. Just as I was about to pour myself a cup, I heard soft footsteps behind me.

"Morning," Isadora's voice greeted me, warm and sleepy.

I turned to see her standing in the doorway, hair mussed and eyes still heavy with sleep. She looked beautiful in the morning light, a sight that never failed to take my breath away.

"Good morning," I replied, unable to contain my smile. "Pancakes for the woman of the house?"

Her eyes lit up. "You made these?"

I nodded, proud. "You're not the only one who can cook. I figured we could use a hearty breakfast after yesterday."

Isadora gave me a quick peck on the cheek before putting a pancake on a plate. I brought her butter and syrup. "I don't know what you like on your pancakes, but we don't have a lot of groceries yet."

"This is perfect," she said, adding both to her pancake. She took a bite and groaned in a way that made my pants tight. I needed to cook for her more often if this was her reaction. She looked at me with a soft expression in her eyes.

"Thank you, Graham," she said, gratitude shining through her words. "What an amazing surprise to wake up to."

I brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, my touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. The connection between us crackled in the air, and I had the urge to throw her on the table and have my way with her, pancakes be damned.

Sloane's footsteps on the stairs had us pulling apart. At least the pancakes wouldn't get ruined.

"Woah, Mom, you made breakfast!" Sloane exclaimed.

Isadora laughed. "It wasn't me. I was being a lazy bones and slept in. This was all Graham."

Sloane slid into a chair and nodded. "I should have known."

"Hey!" Isadora said, laughing.

The three of us sat down at the table. This was what I had always wanted, a family to call my own, a place to belong.

"Our first breakfast together in our new house," I said, holding up my cup of coffee.

"To many more." Isadora smiled and raised her mug.

"Yep." Sloane nodded and clinked her orange juice to our coffees.

We all eagerly dug into our food and talked. I loved every second of it. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly at peace.

After breakfast, we cleaned up together, working as a team to tidy the kitchen and put away the dishes, once we figured out where they should go.

"What are we doing today?" Sloane asked.

Isadora laughed. "We still have a lot of unpacking to do. Just because your room is unpacked doesn't mean the rest of the house is ready. I haven't even been in the den, office, or the media room."

"The gym equipment should be arriving today," I said. "You can help get that set up."

Sloane groaned. "I was hoping I could ask Beth to come over," she said. "She lives close. Her mom said she could bring her over."

Isadora and I exchanged a look. I gave a slight nod. "Sure," Isadora replied. "Just warn her about the clutter. We've been here less than twenty-four hours."

Having her friend over seemed like the perfect way to make her feel at home. It was going to be an adjustment being out of the city and not in walking distance of her usual hangouts.

When Beth arrived, I greeted her with a warm smile, but our interaction was brief. Sloane wanted to show Beth her new room. Isadora and I took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time together under the guise of setting up the den.

"Damn, do you know how much I want you?" I hissed.

Isadora's eyes widened at my words, amusement flashing across her face. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure we were alone. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she stepped closer to me, her voice low and teasing. "How much do you want me?"

Desire shivered through me as she traced a finger along my jawline. Leaning in, our lips brushed ever so slightly before we were interrupted by the sound of excited chatter coming from the girls as they bounded down the stairs.

Their voices faded as they went outside.

"I think we're kind of alone," I said, grabbing her around the waist and jerking her against me.

Isadora's breath caught in her throat. The heat between us was undeniable. She looked up at me, longing in her eyes. Without a word, I captured her lips in a hungry kiss that left us both gasping for air.

As we pulled apart, her eyes were filled with desire and uncertainty. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my touch gentle yet tinged with longing. "I want you, Isadora," I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. "I'm dying without you."

"Me too."

"Mom!" Sloane called out.

We quickly moved to opposite sides of the room just as Sloane started down the hall.

"In here," Isadora called out.

Sloane popped in. "Can we make smoothies?"

"Sure, if you can find the blender." Isadora nodded. "Just rinse it when you're done, please. We're trying not to add to the mess."

Sloane agreed and bounded off.

I sighed. "You know, I don't think I understood just how hard it was going to be to get you alone."

"I know." She nodded. "But soon."

"How soon?" I asked and immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. I think I just need a cold shower."

"Let's just get everything unpacked first and we'll talk, okay?"

I agreed, even though it was agony to do so.

We spent the rest of the afternoon setting up more rooms and hanging pictures. Isadora unpacked the boxes of pillows she had ordered along with the candles and other cute little things that really made the house feel homey.

Sloane's friend went home after dinner, with Sloane going to her room to hang out.

"I think we should open that bottle of wine the guys got us," I said. "We should toast our new house."

"That sounds like a great idea," Isadora said.

We made our way to the kitchen, Isadora uncorking the bottle of wine with practiced ease. The rich aroma filled the room as she poured us each a glass. We clinked them together, the sound ringing out in the quiet house.

"To new beginnings," I said, my voice tinged with emotion.

Isadora smiled. "To new beginnings," she echoed and took a sip.

We settled onto the couch in the living room, the coziness enveloping us like a warm embrace. We snuggled close, but not too close in case Sloane came downstairs. We had the TV on but we weren't really watching it. We were simply enjoying being together with the bottle of wine slowly disappearing.

Isadora yawned, triggering me to yawn too.

"We should probably get to bed," I said.

"Alone," she muttered.

"Yes, alone." I sighed. "But hey, at least we don't have to work tomorrow."

"Thank God." She yawned again. "I am beat."

I walked her to her door once again and kissed her with the pent-up frustration and longing that had been building between us all evening. Isadora responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around me as she deepened the kiss. Our inhibitions melted away in that moment, the heat between us igniting into a passionate flame.

As we finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, Isadora leaned her forehead against mine. "This is so hard."

I grabbed her hand and pressed it against my throbbing cock. "This is so hard."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I knew the rules. I just didn't anticipate how tough it would be to keep my hands off you."

"We'll find a way." She smiled. "It's a little difficult with her being kind of stuck at home."

"I like that she's stuck at home." I shrugged. "Except when I want to be with you."

"Soon," she said, pressing her fingertip to my lips.

I kissed her again before she disappeared into her room, closing the door behind her.

Returning to my own room, I couldn't shake the image of Isadora from my mind. She was down the hall and I couldn't have her. This was torture. Self-inflicted torture.

I stripped to my underwear and stretched out in bed. Staring up at the ceiling, I was consumed by memories of our previous encounters. Each touch, each kiss, replayed in my mind like a movie, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions within me. I could taste her on my lips and feel her soft skin beneath my fingertips. The longing for her grew stronger with each passing moment, making sleep impossible. I knew that Sloane was just down the hall and could walk out of her room at any second.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as I lay there, wrestling with my desires and my sense of responsibility. I knew that giving in to my longing for Isadora would only complicate things further, but the pull toward her was undeniable, irresistible.

Just when I thought I couldn't bear the tension any longer, my phone buzzed. I grabbed it off the nightstand and read the message.

Are you still up?Isadora texted.

I quickly replied with a yes.

I held my phone, waiting to see what she wanted. Then my bedroom door slowly pushed open. Silently, Isadora slipped into my room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. I didn't dare speak.

She turned around and locked the door, which told me exactly what she had in mind. My cock jumped to attention, recognizing what was about to happen.