Page 108 of Everlasting Promises

Each time we come together, I’m blown away by how well we fit. Better than any sexual experience I’ve had before. Her tight little body welcomes me like she was made to be mine and mine alone. I know that makes me sound like an archaic asshole.

My hips snap forward as I fight the lightning shooting down my spine, threatening my ability to wait for her. The muscles in my body draw tight and I do everything I can to hold on to what I know will be the supernova of all orgasms. My thighs burn, so I reach between us and rub light circles around her clit and lean down to take one plump breast into my mouth.

She cries out as her hips buck and her walls tighten around me, sending sparks of shooting stars across my vision. “C’mon, Cookie. Milk my cock.”

“Oh, god!” Hope murmurs as her walls pulse and tighten around me, strangling me and drawing out every drop of cum.

I slow my movements, easing us both through our climax, and kiss my way up to her swollen lips. I kiss her with appreciation for the privilege she bestows on me when she shares her body—for allowing me to be the one to experience moments like these with her. I kiss her passionately because she turns me on and heats my blood like no other woman ever has.

I kiss her to show how much I fuckinglove her.

Shelovesme. I couldn’t believe it when the words tumbled over her lips. I don’t think she even realized what she’d said. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to hear them.

Pulling her in tight, I roll to my back and position her on top of me, cradling her head and her body with reverence. We both chase our breath as we slide back to earth from our high. Hope pushes up and captures my lips, kissing me with affection. Her kisses turn to giggles and her entire body vibrates on top of mine. She pulls away, and my breath catches at the sheer joy radiating on her face.

“I can’t believe we just had sex on the kitchen floor,” she says through her chuckles.

I glance around as if seeing our surroundings for the first time, and laughter bursts from my lips. I drop my head back to the floor. “I’m sorry. You deserve better. I’m supposed to treat you like a queen.” Leaning up, I kiss the tip of her nose and the apples of her cheeks.

She lightheartedly hits my chest. “Stop it. I enjoyed every single minute. And who knows when we’ll get the opportunity to do that again.”

I tangle my fingers through her hair and drag her mouth back to mine. “We’ll make opportunities,” I murmur against her mouth with a wink, then I devour her again.

My cock quickly grows, and Hope pushes up and notches the head at her slick opening, sliding down until her pelvis meetsmine. The tips of her silky hair brush my thighs as she drops her head back on a sigh.

This has to be what it’s like to be in heaven. This time we make slow, passionate love with lazy strokes and unhurried touches, neither of us in a rush for this moment to end.

Hope sitson my lap as I feed her a bite of egg roll. She tried to sit on a different chair at the table, but this is where I want her. I want her close. Ineedher close after the shit show with my parents.

I don’t want to talk about them, but I owe Hope an explanation. She saw a side of me I hoped she never would. She saw the man who no longer accepts being treated like a second-class citizen by the two people who are supposed to love me the most in the world.

I take a sip of beer and nuzzle into her shoulder. “I’m sorry about this afternoon. Sorry about my parents,” I breathe into her skin, then press a tender kiss there.

Her fingers feel incredible gliding through my hair, and it’s even better when she presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You wanna talk about it?”

I pull back and look up into her concerned gaze. “No. I mean, yeah.” I know I need to explain. I want her and Evan in my life, and there’s no way to avoid my parents altogether, as much as I’d like to.

“Have they always been like that?” she asks as she plays with the strands of my hair, grounding me and providing the comfort I need to share what I’m about to tell her. I just hope she doesn’t look at me like I’m a failure.

“Yeah. My earliest memories include Mom telling me she wasn’t interested in what happened at school when I came home and told her I was awarded a citizenship certificate in first grade.” Hope gasps. “It never got any better. As I grew older, I wondered why they had a kid, but then I realized Mom’s all about appearances. She got pregnant because it was expected of her after she got married.” I draw in a sharp breath. “She hugged me today, and I honestly can’t remember the last time she embraced me.”

Hope’s fingernails graze my scalp, sending goosebumps radiating across my body. “Then why did she do it today? Maybe she missed you?” She sounds hopeful. Like maybe she misread the situation.

A disappointed chuckle huffs past my lips. “Nope. It was because there was an audience.”

“No.” A single word. Two letters. Dripping with disbelief.

“Yeah. Everything she does is for appearances. And he’s not much better. He just goes along with her.” I swallow my disappointment. The same disappointment I’ve felt most of my life. I lost count of the amount of times I wished Tahlia’s mom, Bev, was mine.

“Ben,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry.” She drops her forehead against my temple, and her warm breath skates across my cheek.

“Don’t be sorry. I’m used to it, but I wanted to explain.” I push her hair over her shoulder. “I used to bend over backward to do whatever she—they—wanted. They were never happy. Whatever I did was never enough. Nothing was ever good enough or warranted their interest.Iwas never enough.” I shake my head, thinking back to the boy who would do anything to earn his parents’ approval and attention. “I was lucky I had Tahlia’s mom and Sebastian’s parents … not that they knew what I dealt with at home. Spending time with their families showedme what it meant to have a family that loved unconditionally. In my teens, I spent more time with them than I did at home.”

Hope rubs my shoulders with supportive strokes and shakes her head. “I can’t imagine how lonely you must have been.”

A grin touches my lips. “I was until Seb and Tahlia came along. They were exactly what I needed, and that’s partially why we were so close. When things fell apart after Seb’s mom and Tahlia’s mom passed, we decided it was time to leave Piney Lakes behind. My parents were too toxic, and Seb’s dad didn’t cope with losing his wife. That’s when I resolved to no longer bend to my parents’ demands.” I stroke my thumb along Hope’s waist to maintain our connection as I purge the dynamic of my family. “Now and then, they show up and try to return the status quo. I always fight my instinct to keep the peace, so I can stay true to the promise I made myself when I left home.”

Hope drops her forehead to mine. “You should be proud of the man you are, Ben Taylor. Despite having parents like them, you’ve grown to be a wonderful, thoughtful, compassionate, and considerate human being. You’re truly remarkable. And you have us now.” She presses her mouth to mine, and it only takes a moment for the kiss to turn into so much more. My heart swells to new proportions with her words.

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