Page 50 of New Hope

I knew exactly what he was asking, and I didn’t even need to stop and think about it. River Adams had started taking ownership of my heart from the first day we met and now, it was his, completely and undeniably his. I let go of one ankle and curled my fingers around his wrist instead, keeping his hand in place over my heart. “It’s yours. I’m all yours for as long as you want me.”

Those particular words seemed to be his undoing because he suddenly threw his head back and shouted my name. His body spasmed with the strength of his orgasm, but his hand never stopped stroking my cock, begging me to join him in his bliss. I came a few seconds later, powerful waves of pleasure pulling me under and threatening to drown me with their intensity. My chest became coated in come, some of it shooting far enough to land on my chin and neck.

I floated along my sated haze, distantly aware of River moving me back up the bed and cleaning me gently with a warm cloth. I blinked as he climbed in beside me and covered us both with a blanket. He pulled me in, and I snuggled into his warmth, burying my nose in his neck. He smelled like sweat and sex, safety, and love.

I blinked up at him and he stroked a gentle hand down the side of my face. The nervous look on his face didn’t belong in that room, in that moment. Not after everything we’d just shared. “How do you feel?” he whispered.

“I might be a little sore tomorrow, but I feel incredible. I am a little pissed though. I never realized how much I was missing out on.”

A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth despite the worry in his eyes. “So, was it everything you’d hoped being with a man would be?”

I stared at his lips as I traced them with my finger. “It was better. I’m so glad my first time was with you. You were definitely worth waiting for and I don’t just mean the sex. I meant what I said, I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

My eyes flicked up to his and my breath caught at the raw emotion staring back at me. “I’ve spent my entire life waiting for someone special. Someone who would be my best friend as well as my lover. I was waiting for you. I know it may seem fast to some people, but I love you, Ford. I love you so much, and if you want to know how long I’ll want you, the answer is forever. I’ll want you every day for the rest of my life because I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

I leaned up on my elbow and gazed down at him adoringly. “When I first moved here, I was an empty shell of a man. I was simply going through the motions of life for Ellie’s sake, but it was like I was a watered-down version of myself, not really there. I’d built walls around myself and my daughter, thinking if I never allowed anyone in, then they couldn’t hurt us. But neither of us were happy, neither one of us living. I thought that by changing locations, it would give us a fresh start, but what I hadn’t realized was that I had packed up all the hurt and anger and brought it with me.”

I smiled warmly at him. “But then you came along. You and Hannah with your infectious personalities and your welcoming attitudes. I didn’t even notice at first, but piece by piece, you began taking the walls down, shining your warmth and light inside that dark space I’d created. You brought me back to life and in doing so, you gave Ellie her father back. Because of you, I know I deserve better than what I had in the past. I deserve love and I want it. I want it with you because, River, I am so in love with you. I want you by my side when we tell the girls and I want you holding my hand as we build a life together, all four of us.”

His smile rivaled the brightness of the sun. We kissed, long and slow, whispering promises for the future until we could no longer keep our eyes open, and I rested my head on his chest. With his arms around me and the feel of his heart beating beneath my ear, I drifted; happy, protected, loved.

* * *

River chuckled as he followed me into the kitchen the next morning. I flipped the coffee pot on and turned to him. “Do you find this amusing?”

His body pressed against mine, trapping me between himself and the counter. He smelled like my bodywash, and the ends of his hair curled where it was still damp from our shower. A smug smile crept across his face. “You’re the one who couldn’t keep their hands off me in the shower. I warned you it might be too soon after last night.”

I wrapped my arms around him, not even bothering to hide my smile. “I know you did, but if I remember correctly, I wasn’t the only one with wandering hands. Besides, having you inside me is totally worth a little limping later.”

River threw his head back and laughed. I took advantage of his exposed neck, nibbling and biting at the tender flesh, making my way up to his lips. They parted under my gentle command and my tongue swept in, tasting the fresh mint of the toothpaste he’d used, and another, sweeter flavor that was all River.

He moaned softly and I wrapped my arms around him tighter, deepening our kiss. I could feel my cock making a valiant attempt to reawaken after the mind-blowing orgasm it had just had but then another sound caught my attention, and it hadn’t come from the man I was kissing. River froze in my arms and our eyes sprang open, staring at each other in wide-eyed shock.

“Daddy?” I wasn’t even sure which one had said it because when we turned and looked, we found both Ellie and Hannah standing in the kitchen doorway along with River’s mother.

“I’m so sorry. We got here right at nine-thirty like you said and the door was unlocked,” Helen explained, wringing her hands together worriedly.

My eyes found Ellie’s and I stared at her, my heart hammering inside my chest. River pulled away and I could hear him reassuring his mom that she hadn’t done anything wrong, that it was our fault for having let time slip away from us. He walked her to the door and promised to call her later, then he hurried back to my side. The entire time, Ellie continued to look at me, her emerald-colored eyes wide and unsure.

My first instinct was to make up a lie, some plausible excuse as to why River had been standing so close, my tongue down his throat. Maybe I was giving him a strep test? But no. That wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted Ellie and Hannah to know the truth, to know that their daddies were together and that they loved each other.

Still, I was terrified of Ellie’s reaction. Not only had she found me kissing someone for the first time since her mother, but I’d also been kissing a man which was a whole new thing for her to have to wrap her mind around. What if it was all too much? What if she couldn’t handle another big change? What if she couldn’t accept River and me being together?

I continued my mental meltdown of what ifs, while River ushered us all into the living room. The girls huddled beside each other on the couch, and I sank down into the chair, fearing my legs would give out if I remained standing. River knelt beside me on the floor and laid a comforting hand on my leg in a silent show of support.

He spoke in a calm, soothing voice, the same one he used on frightened patients. “I know you girls probably have some questions. You can ask us anything and we’ll try to answer.”

Hannah opened her mouth to speak, but for once, Ellie beat her to it. “Are you and my daddy boyfriends?”

My body tensed but then I saw River turn and look at me, leaving the decision up to me. “Yes, we are,” I answered. I watched her closely for a reaction, but her face gave nothing away.

“Do you love each other?” she asked next.

My eyes shifted to River as I answered that time, a soft smile lifting the corners of my mouth. “Yes. I love him very much. He makes me happy.”

I turned back in time to see Ellie looking over at Hannah. She shrugged her tiny shoulders. “I guess you were right.”

Hannah grinned. “Told you so.”

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