25. Eden

25

EDEN

TWO MONTHS LATER

I give my computer screen a gentle pat. I just made sales projections. Projections ! This is a word I use now.

I turned Eila's bedroom into an office, set up a real computer, took some seminars at the agricultural extension program, and mapped out plans for each quarter and goals for five years. I'm basically an adult now.

"Hey, babe, can you come take a look at these valves?" Nate's voice carries up the stairs from the kitchen. Initially, I hired him on a job-by-job basis, but he kept having more ideas for custom hives and frames and beekeeping supplies and… Well, we set up an online store. Who knew beekeepers from all over the world would be interested in Storm Swarm products?

"Coming!" I click save on my sales projections report and hurry down the stairs to find my hunky boyfriend bent over a brand-new extractor he's been working on. I take a few beats to admire the view. "What am I looking at?"

He turns over one shoulder to smile at me and tips his head, beckoning for me to come closer.

I run a hand along the stainless-steel drum. "It's so shiny. I love it."

Nate chuckles. "That's not even the good part. Look here."

I peer between his strong hands to see the innards of a honey release valve at the bottom of the machine. I can put a huge bucket down there or—depending what I'm bottling—a tiny jar.

"And I won't even have to plug it up with wax when I'm between vessels." I clap my hands. "Nate, it's perfect. Thank you." I drop a kiss to the nape of his neck and stand back to watch as he finishes his work. He pauses frequently to take notes on a tiny notebook I swear he got from my sister Esther, who also writes her ideas by hand when she's designing.

I take a minute to appreciate the ways my boyfriend is similar to my oldest sister—two people I admire, who take care of me and let me love them back.

Nate's forearms flex as he tightens something and then he rocks on his heels. "I like it. Are we able to do a test run later? Maybe from the hive at my house?"

I click my tongue, thinking, and check the calendar on my phone. "Oh," I mutter. "I have group later."

Nate peeks at my calendar, and I hold the phone out so he can see. "Right. Hm, I could always drive to Marsha or Muriel and see if one of them has a frame or two I can test. I really want to finalize this so I can get going on the easy-flow hive I'm building for Devesh."

Two months ago, this conversation would have stressed me out. I would have crammed down my discomfort and told Nate I could grab my own frame rather than potentially overwhelm Marsha with a request.

But I'm eight weeks into a study in the psychology department at Pittsburgh University, and my group has been working on communication and naming emotions. Marsha sent me the info for the researcher, who mostly works with teens and young adults, and I just made the age cutoff. So did Eva. Nobody was surprised when Eliza said she didn't want to talk to humans.

I take a deep breath. "I'd definitely want to check with Marsha or Muriel before driving over there. Is there a way to work on Devesh's project before your test for this one?"

Nate scratches his chin and pulls out his own calendar. He's been using some digital tools to help him manage his time, and he says the paperwork is less terrible when it's for a project he came up with. He pops his lips. "Would you feel comfortable with me grabbing a frame from the hive and testing?"

"Oh," I say, leaning against the counter. "Wow." Nate has been very hands on with me ever since the baseball stadium swarm, but he's never opened a hive on his own. I try to decide if I trust him to do that, but it doesn't take me long to answer. "Yeah, babe. If you feel ready, I think that's a great idea."

He steps into my space, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I don't know how anyone ever feels ready to reach into a beehive. But watching you do it every day gives me confidence."

I inch my legs farther apart to let him settle in. "That's such a nice thing to say."

"I can be nice." He presses a toe-curling kiss to my neck. "And you're very sweet."

He takes the phone from my hand and puts both our devices on the counter before wrapping his arms around me. I sink into his embrace and return his kisses, loving how much fun my work is alongside Nate. I thought it would be weird, working with someone I'm dating, but we have a great rhythm going. We even have staff meetings once a week to study the weather and write our project plans on the whiteboard in the dining room.

These little morale breaks are a nice bonus.

"Oh, my," I squeak as Nate's fingers tickle down the back of my shorts.

He pinches my backside and grins. "We've got… fifteen minutes before you have to leave?"

I drop my head against the cupboard to give him access to my neck, which he licks. And then he keeps licking his way to the collar of my tank top.

"Yes," I gasp. "Fifteen… minutes." My tank is up and over my head in a flash, and Nate rolls up my sports bra.

Once my boobs are bared, he massages them with rough palms. The contrast between his skin and his tongue trailing along behind makes me dizzy, and I swoon as he nibbles one nipple. "Let me get you up on the counter," he says, lifting me with a gentle huff. I rock back as he opens my shorts and awkwardly strips them from my body, dangling them over the rim of my new honey extractor.

And then Nate is on his knees on the kitchen floor, grinning up at me from his blond lashes as he spreads my thighs. I scoot to the edge of the counter, deciding to stop worrying about time when his tongue brushes along my seam.

"Mmm," he moans, and I drop a hand into his hair. He's a little sweaty and a lot sexy as he peers up at me, licking his lips. "You've got some honey for me, Eden?"

A gasp slips through my teeth as he runs a finger through my wetness. My body responds to him so dramatically. He has learned exactly how to make me feel good, over and over again. We've practiced in the garden, in the kitchen, among the hives. Now that it's autumn, I've really enjoyed cuddling with him under blankets on the cracked leather couch at his house.

"Oh!" I gasp as Nate slides two fingers inside me, pressing his thumb to my clit. He leans in to kiss my stomach, my upper thighs. He kisses all over as he strokes and presses. When he moves his tongue back to my center, I come.

My body shudders and jerks on the counter as he licks at me, stroking and applying gentle pressure on my clit to help me ease down from the super sensitive aftershocks of my orgasm. When I can breathe again, I remove my hand from his hair. "Oh, Nate, did I pull? I'm so sorry."

I massage his scalp, and he shakes his head.

"You were perfect, Eden. It's amazing watching you." He shifts his weight and starts to stand, reaching behind him for my shirt.

"Wait." I clasp his hand. "What about you?"

He boxes me in against the counter, nestling between my naked thighs, framing my torso with his powerful arms against the cabinets. "I love making you feel good."

I lock my ankles behind him, digging my booted heels into his butt for emphasis. "What if I want more feeling good? From this guy." I jut my hips against the hard bulge in his pants. Sometimes Nate gets me off and then walks around half hard all day. "Can you be fast?"

He laughs and unzips his fly. "Babe. I can be so fast." He pulls out his cock, and I latch onto it, stroking along with him. I find a drop of precum at his tip and swirl it around, enjoying the sensation of the warm liquid. I guide him toward my center and scoot even closer to the edge, knowing he will support my weight.

The angle is uncomfortable with my tailbone digging into the counter, but when he slides inside me bare, I forget to care. We went together to a health clinic a month ago for a battery of tests and an IUD. The slide of him now, nothing between us, is like the ultimate collaboration.

"Yes," I hiss, matching his groans. His breath is hot on my cheeks as his hips move.

"Oh, fuck, Eden, you feel so good." He thrusts short and fast, his hands on my butt as he leans back to watch the place where we are connected. "So perfect, babe. God, yes."

I glance down, smiling at what he sees. I grab his face and kiss him, needing him to know that this is everything to me.

"I love you," I whisper, not for the first time, but every time I say it, I feel like it's new. "I love you so much."

"Love you," he grunts in between kisses and thrusts. "Fucking love this." I know he wants to hold off until I come again, but I also know I'm going to need a little more friction to get there. I slide a hand between us and stroke myself with two fingers as he watches.

"Oh, fuck, Eden. Oh God." His head drops back. The corded muscles in his neck stand out as he tries to wait for me.

"I'm so close, Nate. Look how hot we are together."

He pries his eyes open, and I lock his gaze, my fingers flying on my clit until…

"Yes. Yes, now ," I moan, coming apart he swells impossibly large. The tip of his dick bumps against something deep inside me, and he squeezes his eyes shut, body quaking as he detonates inside me, pulsing and groaning my name. Our bodies shudder together, and he stills in my arms, head on my shoulder, hands pulling me tight against him.

This is messy and awkward, and we both worked so hard to get here, sweaty and collaborating for pleasure and business and every aspect of our lives.

"I love you," I whisper again. He whispers it back, and then I sigh. "But I need you to pull out so I can go to group therapy."