Page 60 of Chasing Storm

“You already do.”

I dip into the water with her in my arms, bobbing in the pool, twirling in circles. She winds her legs around my waist and gives me a deep kiss. Water splashes against our faces. The air chills our wet skin, but Teagan is the warmth of the sun. I circle the pool, our eyes connected, kissing, holding each other. This is Tea’s way of thinking. Contemplating whether we should do what I wanted or not, which I like. I’d rather she think about the act, then do it for my benefit and be traumatized.

It's a quiet afternoon. We don’t hear many people or children in the area, so if she agrees, we should be safe from prying eyes. My hand is massaging her neck while my tongue explores her mouth. I can kiss Teagan forever.

She breaks the kiss, water-soaked eyelashes pressed together, blinking at me, and I take in her swollen lips when she says, “I’m ready to do it.”

I smile when I respond, “Do what?” She gives me a fake angry face, puckered and wrinkled. “What’s the safe signal?”

“I pinch your left wrist.”

“Why will you give the signal?”

“If I want you to stop.”

“Good girl.”

I glide over to the stairs, sit her on the top one facing me, and remove her bikini, pressing my cock against her clit. Her legs widen, as usual. I run the head up and down her slit.

“Open your eyes.”

She listens. My hands grab hold of her ass cheeks, spreading them open when I thrust inside her. The water splashes against the pool. Teagan floats on her back, pelvis out of the water, arms spread to the sides, while I continue to fuck her. My thumb runs along the crack of her ass, pushing into her asshole. She gasps, eyes pinned on mine. Because I’m not immersed, I’m able to pick up speed. I wiggle my thumb in her ass, the other hand on her waist, pounding into her. She’s about to come, so I slow down.

She moans, “Shit! I was almost there.”

I ignore her, pulling her legs up until her thighs are laying over my shoulders. An arm wraps across her front, holding her to me. My tongue shoots out, swiping from opening to clit. Upside down, blood rushes to her head. I work her clit in a frenzy and change it up. My fingers play with her clit as I tongue fuck her. She tightens, legs stiff over my shoulder, shouting out,Oh God. She’s twitching, shaking her head, and begging for me to stop.

My arm braces against her back, allowing her legs to fall off my shoulders, guiding us to the stairs. I carry her to a tree, press her back to my hand that’s flat against the trunk. Lifting one of her legs, I fuck her until we’re both burned from exhaustion and the sun. My hips buck in and out, reaching deep, pulling to the tip, repeating as the speed increases. Tea’s fingers dig into my shoulders. Our gazes are intense. Noise ceases other than the blood pounding in my ears. I’m drunk on Teagan. She comes before I do, scratching at my chest. The burn from her nails ignites a thunder in me, thrusting hard, holding, and coming inside her. I let her leg drop, grab the back of her head, and pull her to my chest while we both heave in air.

Once I slip out, I fall to the ground with her in my arms. We’re naked, laying in the grass, settling into a calm.

She rolls to her side, props her head up, and asks, “I thought you were going to dunk my head under water.”

My thumb runs along her lip. “You aren’t ready.”

“I said—”

“Someday, just not today.”

Teagan lays her head on my chest, throws a leg over my thighs, and says, “My orgasm was intense upside down.”

“There’s more where that came from.”

My fingers play in her hair, and I smile. Life with Teagan is nothing short of spectacular. Sex. Talks. Her fire. Everyday life. It’s never boring. She’s wiped out the violence I withstood for years, replacing it with laughter and a comfort I only remember from childhood. Teagan is my rock. My long ago wishes. A star-filled sky. She’s the place where I can be myself.

Several days after our pool romp, Teagan and my mom finish cleaning, painting, and setting up the florist shop. I offered to hire someone, but they refused. It is their time together, and my mom doesn’t want to waste any more of my money. She also decides to keep the store name a surprise, so she orders the sign herself.

It’s an early Saturday morning, none of the shops are open, and Sean, Teagan, and I meet my mom at the store. A sheet hangs over the florist sign, along with black construction paper on the window, covering the name. The air is muggy even at this hour.

My mom’s back is to the storefront, facing us, as she says, “First, I would like to thank my son for giving me this opportunity. If it wasn’t for you, I’d never own anything. Second, thanks to my daughter-in-law for her help cleaning, painting, and providing expert advice since she’s worked at a florist. And third, to my other son, Sean…” Her voice cracks, and Sean clears his throat. His eyes are glistening. “For always being there for me. For keeping me safe when Joey isn’t around, for teaching me self-defense, and for spending your free time with an old lady. I haven’t said it, but Idoconsider you my son. No matter what, I will always have your back.”

Sean scoops her up, squeezes her, and thanks her for saying that. Now, we’re all standing around, wiping at our eyes.

He puts my mom back down so she can continue. “This florist was a dream of mine, but it also was a dream of someone else’s.” She walks to the hanging sheet, taking a hold of the end. “Unfortunately, that beautiful someone is no longer around.”

She pulls the sheet, and it flutters to the ground. In big red letters is the name of her florist shop:A Bed of Rosie’s. Teagan covers her face, balling into her hands.

My mom wraps an arm around Teagan’s waist and says, “I know Rosie meant so much to you, and she left a lasting impression.” She tilts her head against Tea’s. “She might not be here in body, but in the spirit of this shop, she will live in our hearts.”

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