Page 82 of Kiss Me Forever

I kissed his chin, and laughed because it was still wet from my pussy, his beard drenched. I blushed all over, and he clucked his tongue.

“I’m a little too old to start over again right now,” he growled. “So when we get to the shower, I’m not going to be able to fuck you like I want.”

“If you weren’t already somewhat inside me right now, I would close my legs. I don’t think I could take another orgasm. Not that I don’t love them.”

“We should embroider that on a pillow.”

I shoved at his chest, and then we were both laughing, taking extra care as we stood up. We might be on a scotch guarded couch with a towel, but it was still messy.

We cleaned up, and thankfully, we were able to just kiss softly in the shower. We had a timetable, and both of us spending time to get each other off wasn’t going to happen even though we had just spent the morning enjoying every inch of each other.

Dressed, I put in my final earring, and headed out to the living room.

“It’s weird to be in here, and know that I’ve baked so much sourdough, and yet my starter isn’t here.”

“Jane Dough is safe at the house, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Her. The sourdough starter is a her,” I corrected, knowing it annoyed him to no end.

“You’re trying my patience, Freckles. But we will be good. I’m going to miss this house when we sell it.”

“We’ll just have to rent hotel rooms.” I paused, a mischievous smile on my face even as his eyes darkened with lust. “Or, you know, Bella will be out more. On dates.”

He scowled at me, and tapped my nose, a little harder than I was expecting. “We don’t talk about that. My precious daughter will never be dating.”

“You go on and think that. I totally believe you.”

“You’re lucky I love you, Montgomery.”

“I love how I’m always Montgomery when I annoy you.”

“How the hell I work with all of you, I’ll never know.” Then he took my hand, and we headed towards his truck.

“Do you think my old neighbors know that when they see your truck here, you’re fucking me?” I asked with a laugh.

“Well if you say it any louder, they will now,” he said dryly. He helped me into the truck, then walked around the front to get in himself. As always, I had a truck of my own and could get in by myself, but I liked that Reece took care of me. It was nice just to relax.

We still worked together, still fought when we butted heads, but the team liked when we irritated each other. It meant that we were finding the best possible answers for things. We were making things work, and it was as if we had been together all along. I hadn’t known what I was expecting when it came to Reece, but this moment in time was never it.

He had never been in my dreams because I would never have thought big enough for him. And yet I couldn’t wish for anything less now.

“We are headed to Natalie’s house, right?” he asked, speaking of Bella’s friend.

“You know it. A fun slumber party before we have to deal with homework again.”

The school year was frustrating for all of us because we were learning a new routine. Bella had good days and bad. She loved school because she loved being with her friends, and the Montgomerys and Foxes had enveloped her easily. She honestly was never alone. We went to therapy, individually and as a group, and we were a family. I would always be Brooklyn for her, and that was fine with me. She had a mother, one that we spoke of often, because I knew she missed her. Maybe one day she would call me something different, but I was perfectly fine being her Brooklyn. Just like I was Reece’s Freckles.

We’d had one more dinner with Bella’s grandparents, and it hadn’t ended in screaming or tears. The Longs were learning to mourn in their own way, and I had a feeling they realized that they were getting older, and the last connection to their family would walk away if she needed to. I wasn’t sure we would ever leave Bella alone with them, but it wasn’t as fragile of a connection as it had once been.

I hadn’t seen the Rochesters since the gala, and I knew I would see them again at another event, but they didn’t matter to me. They couldn’t. They weren’t my family. I had my family. One I had put together myself. One where I was wanted. My sourdough had a home, my family loved me. This man, this man who thought he was Atlas, the world on his shoulders, loved me, and I was safe.

The box in my closet would forever be closed. Those memories no longer hurting, but of the past woman I used to be.

I was happy, I was in love, and one day I would be Reece’s wife.

I had everything I needed.

“After we pick up Bella we’re heading to your parents’ for dinner. It’s okay that we’re not bringing something with cheese, right?” Reece asked with a groan.