Page 84 of Just a Number

“Alex, oh, Alex. Oh fuck,” she gasps as she convulses around me. It’s like being caught in a vice. One I don’t ever want to leave. Her slickness grows with the orgasm and drives me further into my own pleasure. I plunge in and out of her until I can’t do anything but give in to the release. As my cum paints the inside of the condom, I desperately wish I was naked inside her, filling her up with my seed.

“Fuck,” she says with a throaty laugh. “I really fucking needed that.” Her voice is gravelly, so unlike her usual sweet tone as she looks over her shoulder at me, and I can’t hold back my grin.

It takes us both a good while to come down from that experience. We’ve moved through to the lounge and I’m lying on the couch with Mel sprawled half on top of me. Her hand draws soft circles all over my chest and abs as contentment washes over me. If this is the only thing I had, I’d be more than happy.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

She blows her hair out of her face as she tilts her head to look at me with a smile. “What for?”

“For letting me try to convince you. For not sending me away. For the best damn sex I’ve ever had.”

She narrows her eyes. “I’m not sure you did convince me, but I’m willing to let you try again,” she says with a serious expression painted on her face. “I definitely need to get better acquainted with your piercing.”

I reach down and smack her arse hard, which brings out the laugh she’s clearly been holding back. My contentment swells again. She’s happy; I’m happy.

“Mel…” Is now the right time? Hopefully it’s as good as any. “Please, can we make a go of this?” I ask her.. “Take my age out of the equation. It’s just a number, baby. If age didn’t come into it, do I make you happy?”

Her eyes close and I wait, staring at her face, hope burning in my gut.

Chapter thirty-five

Mel

He looks so earnest. I have to close my eyes for a moment. I try to tune in with my gut, my intuition, but she’s salty from the last six months of yearning, I guess. Seeing him here tonight felt right. Asking him to stay felt right. And laying here, in a post-orgasmic glow, is so fucking right I don’t want it to be wrong. His eyes are as wide as saucers as he stares at me, awaiting my response. I reach up and brush my fingers lightly across his cheek. He chases them, peppering each one with tiny kisses, and my heart swells.

“Yes, you make me happy. I’ve been so damn miserable this whole time you’ve been gone.” I sigh.

“But…” he asks.

“Are you sure this is what you want?”

He frowns. “Do you think, for one second, I’d be here now if it wasn’t what I wanted?”

I shake my head. He’s gone above and beyond to prove his affection. And I’ve come to the realisation that I would be stupid to throw that away.

Emotion threatens to overwhelm me. It swells from my belly, all the way through my chest, and tears well in my eyes. I move out of his hold to sit up so I can properly look at him, holding his hand tight.

“I’m not going to fight it anymore, Alex. I don’t want to. I need you in my life. If you’re willing to have me, then have me. We can figure out the rest as we go along,” I tell him, convinced the smile painting my face is a soppy one.

He sits up too and we face each other on the couch, our hands linked. We’re naked, the blanket having fallen away. It’s intimate. It’s real. “I really fucking love you,” I tell him with a sigh.

He drops his head back and lets out a laugh. My jaw drops. He recovers quickly, looking back at me with a grin. “Thank fuck for that. I wasn’t above kidnapping you until you fell in love with me.” I chuckle and abruptly stop when I see the intense look take over his gaze. “Mel, you’re everything. Love doesn’t even cover it. I can’t imagine my future without you in it. I had no fucking clue what I was going to do if you said no. But I’m so fucking delighted you said yes. I love you, Melody.” I love that he uses my full name. It sounds wonderful on his lips.

We lean close, our lips meeting in a gentle kiss. The tears that have been threatening to drop, do, painting his legs with their salty kisses.

“Why are you crying?” he asks. “What can I do?”

“It’s okay, they’re happy tears,” I tell him with a laugh. He holds my face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe them away and my heart has never felt so full.

The next morning, I leave Alex to sleep. He’d ridden the whole way from Scotland yesterday and we spent most of the night making love and talking. It was wonderful, but he was exhausted when dawn arrived. I convinced him to sleep after he fucked me lazily on our sides.

As much as I want to stay curled around him, close after our time apart, there’s something I need to do.

I creep out of the room, closing the door softly behind me, and make my way downstairs. I check the message I sent when I first woke up, happy to see the usual thumbs up reply, and make myself a coffee while I wait.

It’s not long after I’ve savoured my first cup that I hear the front door open and closing.

“Hey, Mum,” Zack calls as he lets himself in.

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