Page 48 of Summer Ever After

“I can’t believe I slept for so long,” she admitted, her voice still husky. Then her nose lifted slightly, sniffing the air. “What smells good?”

He grinned. “That would be the homemade pizza dough that’s rising. I figured we’d make our own pizzas for dinner.”

Her brows lifted, surprised. “You make pizza dough, like for real?”

“Sure. Don’t sound so shocked. My mother used to do this every Friday night.” He washed his hands. “Grab an apron, you can help. You’re on topping duty.”

Her laugh was soft, but it filled the kitchen like sunlight. She stepped closer, tugged an apron from the hook, and slipped it on. “Okay, chef. What’s the plan?” she joked.

Together they rolled out dough. He guided her hands when she struggled to stretch it thin without tearing holes in it. She swatted him playfully away when he made a crack about her “delicate technique,” which only made him grin wider. Sauce splattered on her cheek, and when he wiped it away with a cloth, she gave him a look that made his chest tighten.

By the time the pizzas were ready to bake—pepperoni for her and loaded for him—she was laughing harder than he’d heard her laugh in weeks. He felt the tension in his chest ease as she leaned against the counter, laughing over a lopsided pepperoni smiley face she’d made on hers.

Later, with the cooked slices balanced on plates and sodas cracked open, they settled in the living room. Aaron queued up one of his favorite old movies and handed her the remote.

“Goonies?” She raised an eyebrow.

“A classic,” he said, settling onto the couch beside her. “Mandatory viewing for anyone under my roof.”

Before the opening credits had finished rolling, she was kissing him. Then she was straddling his hips, her mouth pressed to his as her fingers slid into his hair.

God, he was losing it. How was he supposed to not fall hard and fast for her?

As she continued to move over him, her fingers left his hair and pulled his shirt off. He wanted to warn her that if she continued, he may not be able to let her go. Instead, all that came out was a moan as her fingernails scraped against his skin. His own fingers were glued to her hips as she moved over him.

“Touch me,” she whispered as she trailed her mouth against his neck.

“Are you sure?” He felt his entire body vibrating.

She pulled back and looked down at him. “Aaron, touch me.” She smiled and then kissed him again.

He wasn’t slow witted. In one quick move, he shifted their bodies until she was pinned under him, laughing. Then, as their mouths connected again, he released the buttons on her top until her new white bra was exposed.

She laughed more as she reached down and helped him pull off her shorts.

Were they moving too fast? Yes.

Was he going to stop? No. Not unless she asked him to.

She was under him in only white panties and a bra, and she reached for his shorts. He helped her remove them, falling back over her in only his boxer shorts while her hands explored every inch of him. When her fingers slipped under his shorts, he felt his eyes cross.

“You’re killing me,” he growled against her skin.

“Good. Now you know what you do to me.” She wrapped her legs around his hips. “I want you inside me.”

“Beth,” he started to argue. Somewhere beyond the fog that was his desire for her, his mind screamed that he needed to move slower.

“Aaron, don’t make me beg.” She looked up at him. “No one has ever made me feel like you do. I want…” She shook her head softly. “I need to feel it again.”

He rested his forehead on hers for a split second. “Fine, but let’s…” He started to shift, but she held him still.

“No, here, now.” She lifted up and kissed him again. He was hers at that moment. He would have given her anything. Done anything for her.

Thankfully, he was able to reach his wallet and grab a condom, and he slid it on as the rest of their clothes hit the ground. They tangled together.

When he slid into her, it was like coming home for the first time. Safe. Magical.

Hell, he’d never felt as close to anyone as he felt to her. Years of starving for that connection and here she was.

Whatever he had to do to keep her safe, he’d do.

After, when they lay on the sofa, still naked and wrapped around one another, they watched the movie together. He pulled the thick soft blanket from the back of the sofa over them, and halfway through the movie she was fast asleep in his arms. With his body wrapped around hers, the glow from the TV lighting her face, he let himself dream of what it would be like if she stayed here, with him, forever.