Page 49 of Rebound

She takes it all. Every punishing thrust. Until all the anger and hurt fades away and once again, it’s only the two of us against the world. Here, where nobody can touch us.

Heat builds in my core and spreads down my thighs as my own release draws near, and I slide a hand between us and circle her clit with my thumb.

She cries out my name, and I can’t hold back another second. I fill her tight channel with my release, and we pant for breath, foreheads pressed together as we ride out our orgasms. When I can finally speak again, I brush her hair back from her forehead and ask, “Will you stay here with me tonight?”

Her whiskey-colored eyes sparkle, and she bites down on her lip. If she says no, I might tie her to the bed anyway, but she smiles and whispers, “Yes.”

I gently lower her trembling legs to the shower floor and smile against her skin. I’ll order food and wine and we’ll eat and drink and make love again before she falls asleep in my arms. It’s the most perfect way I can imagine spending an evening. As much as I love spending time with the rest of my family, I don’t recall being this happy or this thankful in a very long time.

ChapterTwenty-Two

ELIJAH

Iglance at my watch and realize I need to get going. My nephew has very different ideas, though, and is repeatedly hitting me on the head with a Jenga block. Every single time he makes contact, Luke laughs hysterically. He sits up on his mat like a sturdy Buddha statue, shrieking with delight, his arms waving in the air. It’s one of the best sounds in the entire world.

Few things could tempt me away from this spot, but Amber is one of them. I let Luke take one final slug, and he lands a whopper right on my nose, then laughs so hard he actually falls over. On his back now, he rolls around, kicking and gurgling, and tries to get his foot into his mouth. I tickle his tummy, and by the time I sit him up again, he has tears of laughter streaming down his round, ruddy cheeks.

“Little dude, you are the coolest person I know,” I say, climbing to my feet.

Nathan and Melanie are in the kitchen, and they’ve been missing for a suspiciously long time. I make sure I knock first and find them looking way too disheveled for “getting the baby a snack.” I raise an eyebrow, and Nathan gives me a smirk. Smug bastard.

“You’ll stay for dinner, won’t you?” Mel asks me, smoothing down her hair. “Please?” My whole family has been inviting me to dinner, brunch, and breakfast pretty much every day since I told them about the divorce.

They seem to think I would starve without them, but it’s their way of showing their support and making sure I don’t have too much time alone to feel sorry for myself. It’s sweet and a hell of a lot better than none of them giving a damn or having no family around me. Which, it suddenly occurs to me, is exactly the position Amber is in. Fuck, why am I just now realizing this?

“You okay, brother?” Nathan asks, his hand on my shoulder. I nod and force a smile. “I’m good, thanks. I can’t stay for dinner though, sorry.”

All three of us walk back into the living room to keep an eye on Luke. He can get into all kinds of mischief now that he’s more mobile.

“Why not?” He scoops up his son and blows a raspberry on his neck, and Luke lets out a full belly laugh. “Is it because your nephew is better at Jenga than you?”

“He cheats. Must get it from his dad. No, I’m, uh, busy. I’ve got a thing.”

Nathan and Mel exchange looks, and my brother raises his eyebrows. Melanie gives me a sweet smile and says, “Oh. A thing? Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I reply, keeping my voice neutral.

“She means we know you’ve got a date, jerkwad,” Nathan answers. “And we’ve noticed an extra spring in your step recently. The kind that gets put there by a woman. There’s no need to be so defensive about it. You’re a single man now. You’re allowed to go on dates.”

I shrug and grab my jacket.

“So, is it serious?” He pries Luke’s fingers out of his hair and continues. “Or is it just a, you know, rebound from Amber?”

I fight to keep a neutral expression. “I don’t know if it’s serious or not at this stage. It’s definitely not trivial.”

“What’s she like?” Melanie asks. “Is she nice?”

“Yeah. She really is.” Despite how much she tries to convince people she’s not. But I don’t say that. “She’s also funny and kind and intelligent.”

“Is she also smoking hot?” Nathan says, winking.

“Fuck yeah.” I can’t keep the smile off my face. “The hottest woman I’ve ever known.”

Mel shoots us both a look. “Can I remind you two that Luke’s brain is currently soaking up language like a sponge. I do not want his first word to begin with f and end with k. Understood?”

“Yes, Mom,” says Nathan. “Though I don’t see what’s wrong with our kid’s first word being flapjack.”

Melanie rolls her eyes, and the two of them walk me to the door. Nathan shakes my hand and holds it for an extra second, looking me in the eyes. “I am really pleased you’ve met someone, brother. I know the Amber situation is tough, but believe me, you’re better off without her. We all are.”

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