Page 95 of Terms + Conditions
She begins to rock her hips slowly, taking her time, and I let her set the pace. Her head falls back again and the view is fucking spectacular. She’s perfect. The same emotion from earlier builds in my chest again, but I refuse to let it boil over. Not right now. Right now I’m going to enjoy the view and enjoy the last little bit of time I have with this magnificent woman.
“Right here, baby.” Elizabeth brings my attention back to her.
“I’m with you, Sugar,” I say, bringing her lips down to mine. She gasps when I flex my hips into her, taking control. Her tits rub against my chest as she clutches the comforter on either sideof my head, the soft moans of pleasure spilling from her lips spurring me on. Sounds of wet skin fill the room. Warm breaths and wet kisses pepper the side of my face and neck as I thrust into her. She whispers small words of love and praise against my ear, and I realize this isn’t just one last hoorah before we hit the road. This is so much more than that, but that nagging feeling is back and I know this won’t last. It was never meant to.
“Josh,” she cries when my thumb finds her clit. It doesn’t take long for her to fall over the edge, her pussy gripping me as her mouth falls open in ecstasy. And I fall with her, giving myself to her one last time.
We lay like that for a while, catching our breath and letting the high last for as long as possible. After a few more moments, Elizabeth kisses me and rolls to her side. I pull her into my side and kiss the crown of her head.
“You wanna talk about it?” She asks, letting her arms drape across my waist. “What Finn said, I mean.”
I take a deep breath, drawing invisible circles against the skin of her shoulder. “My sister is going back to David.”
“Michaela.” She sighs.
“Don’t know what happened, but she told Finn tonight at the reception when he tried to talk to her…Something happened at the gala and she’s been avoiding him since.”
Elizabeth huffs out another breath, burying herself into my side. “Don’t be too hard on her, Josh.”
“Easier said than done, Sugar.” I kiss the top of her head again and pull her close, inhaling her scent as it’s mixed with mine. Before I know it, soft snores fall from her lips and the sound makes me smile. “Goodnight, baby.”
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
THEN
October 2024
"HAS ANYONE SEEN FINN?" Dean asks the next morning. Stuffing a cheese Danish in his mouth, he plops down in a seat next to Michaela across the table. “I gotta talk to him about Christmas."
"I haven't seen him since the bouquet toss," Alex says, massaging his temples from behind a pair of sunglasses. Elizabeth gave him some Tylenol earlier, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. Poor kid, I can't imagine it's much fun watching your brother remarry his wife not long after your girlfriend rejects your marriage proposal. Truth be told, I’m not that surprised. Anna was nice, but she didn’t seem like the one he’d eventually settle down with. Alex needed someone to match his energy—someone who could be a proper young lady when she needed to be but could let her hair down and be a goofball too. Anna leaned heavily on the proper young lady, all the time.
Without looking up from my plate, I say, “Finn left last night.”
"What the hell for? We're supposed to hang out today.” Dean rolls his eyes before zeroing in on Raeanne who walks into the restaurant. He follows her every move, even motions for her tosit next to him, but she completely ignores him. If what Finn said is true, he went traipsing through the garden last night with another girl, and I get the feeling Rae has had enough of his antics with the way she seems to be actively avoiding him. She goes as far as to sit at the opposite end of the table.
"Had some family shit to take care of.”
“Oh!” Romy—Nina’s cousin from Italy—appears with a mimosa in hand. A smirk pulls on her bright red lips as her boyfriend, Enzo, pulls out the chair next to Alex for her. “Michaela, you’re here? I didn't think we'd see you this morning.”
"And, why's that?" My sister rolls her eyes. I don’t understand Michaela’s dislike of Romy, she seems sweet.
"Well, when you disappeared with Finn last night, I figured you’d be a little indisposed this morning.” Romy tries to stifle a giggle, hiding behind her hand.
The fork in my hand clatters on the plate at her words, silencing conversation around the table. Glancing up, I glare at my sister before pushing back from the table without a word.
Shoving open the door to the patio of the restaurant, I take a deep breath and let out a frustrated sigh. How can my sister sit there and act like everything is fine? Has she even told Mom and Dad what she is doing—or is she hiding it from them, too? First, she hides the fact she’s getting divorced. Then forgets to mention she is dating my best friend, who she has supposedly hated all this time. And now, she can’t even tell us that she’s going back to her husband. I have to find out from the man she was dating not even two weeks ago…What is with her and these secrets?
The patio door opens again and I already know who it is. “Don’t,” I say as she opens her mouth to say something. I don’t want to hear whatever excuse she’s about to spew. “Don’t fucking start your bullshit, Michaela.”
“My bullshit?” She scoffs. “You’re the one acting like a child stomping away from the table like that.”
“Unbelievable,” I say, my tongue running over the back of my front teeth. “You’re like a toddler who can’t decide which toy she wants, so you take them all until you’re tired of them.”
Tears form in her blue eyes, avoiding my stare. I guess she’s not feeling so confident now, huh?
“I didn't mean for any of this to happen, Josh. I thought I was over David. I thought we were done. Weweredone, but then—”
“Forgive me if I don’t give a fuck, Michaela Jane.” A half chuckle spills from my lips.
