Page 69 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

I’m so close, but I can’t get out of my head. I can feel my orgasm building, then levelling. It’s right there, just out of reach, waiting for that extra edge. I know what I need, but can’t say the words.

Arden must notice, and I don’t know how or why, but he can tell I needmore.His expression turns wicked as he moves his hands from beside my head, lifting himself back a little so he can wrap his hand around my throat. It’s not tight, just enough to show that he’s in control. A long moan spills out of me, and I succumb, letting him take over.

I trust him to know what my body needs. His pace picks up even more as he drives into me harder. His eyes never leave mine, and his hand on my neck doesn’t tighten. It’s just enough to remind me who’s in control.

I could lean forward and increase the pressure, but I don’t need to because this is perfect.

“Cum for me, Ella.”

Those demanding words are my undoing.

I lose myself to one of the best orgasms I’ve ever had. And Arden is right there with me, his thrusts becoming erratic as I feel him grow bigger—if that’s even possible—before he unloads himself inside me with a deep groan.

He drops onto his elbows, moving his hips languidly as he kisses me deeply, even more passionately than before.

Finally breaking the kiss, I look up into his eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Ella. Are you ready for this?”

“As ready as I’m ever gonna be,” I say honestly. “Are these people going to think I’m weird?”

“No. These people will not think you’re weird. These people are our friends and our family,” he says, reassuring me in a way that only Arden can.

“But you didn’t tell them who Steve was?” My voice is curious.

“No, I didn’t. Because they didn’t need to know. They only needed to know that we needed them, and that they needed to be here—”

“But he was just my rat.”

“No, Ella. He wasn’tjustyour rat. He was your family. And we show up for family.”

Arden

After the hot and heavy mind-blowing sex with Ella, I tell her she should get changed. She doesn’t need to be wearing a dress today. She needs to be wearing what she’s comfortable in. And recently, that seems to be her princess pyjamas and unicorn slippers. She gives me a long look and asks me if I’m sure. Of course, I say yes. I love Ella and her quirks, and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

To accompany her PJ pants, she chooses one of her signature slogan T-shirts that Mady has made for her. This one states: “I don’t like morning people. Or mornings. Or people.” It makes me laugh because Ella is absolutely not a morning person.

I grab her hand and walk her down the stairs towards the kitchen and dining area where everybody is gathered for the memorial service.

Once we reach the bottom of the stairs, Ella gasps. Everybody in attendance is wearing princess pyjamas and unicorn slippers.

She turns around to me, shocked. “What is going on?”

“I just wanted to do something for you.”

“What do you mean, you wanted to do something for me?”

“It’s your day. You deserve to be comfortable. So everybody else has to be comfortable too.”

She looks over at the crowd and then turns back to me. “Yeah, Rhys doesn’t look comfortable.”

I glance at my best friend, and he definitely does not look comfortable. But this isn’t the first time we’ve had to force him into princess pyjamas. And if I’m being honest, it’s probably not going to be the last time either.

I look over at our friends and family and smile. Everybody showed up today. Well, except for Smalls, but we FaceTimed him earlier. Everybody’s here and wearing what they’re supposed to be wearing.

“Who cares about Rhys? The man is here. He loves you. He’ll do it. You know he will, and you’ve heard the story about the last time he had to wear princess pyjamas.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think Rhys likes me that much.”

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