Page 108 of A Lesson In Beginning

“Adah.” My name fell from his lips like a prayer spoken to God, full of veneration and awe. Strong arms wrapped around me as he sat up, holding me close until our chests were pressed together. Our hearts pounded against each other, the rhythms synchronizing in complete harmony. Two became one, uniting together in lust, in power, and in something more powerful than either of us were on our own.

“Kiss me. Take my breath away, Joel. Kiss me like you’ve never kissed me before.” His palm cupped my cheek, pulling my lips to his, our moans mingling together. Keening, I rocked into him, taking him within me as deeply as I could. My trembling legs wrapped around his torso, pulling him even deeper.

“Mine. All mine.”

“Yours.” The word was a sob of need, of desire and wanting and the act of loving. Neither of us spoke the words, but our bodies knew what our minds did not.

Clinging to one another, hands gripping, nails digging into flesh, we found our way to heaven together, tumbling over the edge into ecstasy.

Lips kissed.

Breaths mingled.

And words of praise and adoration whispered between us.

Trembling, we simply stayed there, united and blissful as silence fell over us, neither of us wanting to break the moment.

Finally, and without a word, we parted. Standing, he pulled me into his arms, carrying me as he had done before to the bathroom. This time, he set me down on the counter, letting me fall back against the mirror, boneless and weak, as he drew a bath for the two of us. The smell of eucalyptus and something else warm and sensual filled the air.

“Come with me, love.” He wrapped his arms around me, helping me to the floor slowly. My legs still shook after our lovemaking. That’s what it had been: lovemaking. Never in my life had I felt so adored and so treasured.

He stepped into the bath, turning the faucet off as the water neared the top. I waited a moment, allowing him to settle before joining him.

Slipping into the steaming water in front of him, I let the heat seep into every muscle and fiber of my being, relaxing back against his chest. His hands moved over my body, slow and sensual, drawing out feelings of pleasure and comfort with every touch.

Not a word needed spoken as we slowly bathed one another, hands caressing one another with aching tenderness. Kisses shared, slow and languid, just like the water that lapped at our skin. His hands gently massaged shampoo into my hair, rinsing the suds away tenderly, cherishing me with every touch of his hands against my body.

I hadn’t been bathed since I was a child; the feeling of being so cared for, so loved, seeped into my very soul. Blissfully cared for, I rested against his chest, the water slowly cooling against our skin, not that we minded.

“I could get used to this, Joel Whitlock.”

“I think I’d like it very much if you did, Adah Price.” I snuggled into his chest, the water lapping around me. Safe and content, I let myself relax, happy and sated and wonderful. And, thankfully, the candles did not, in fact, burn the apartment down.

CHAPTER 30

About to pull my hair out, I glanced around my room, wondering how on Earth I had accumulated so much stuff over the past months. Boxes littered the floor, items strewn everywhere as I tried to make sense of the chaos that my life had become. And this was only my room! I had yet to even begin in Samuel’s room. His room had become a veritable jungle of toys, clothes, shoes, and all the things a little boy could desire.

“It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?” Ruth leaned against the door frame, arms crossed in front of her as she took in the sight I’m sure I presented. I was a mess; hair mused, and wearing an old tee-shirt of hers I had borrowed months ago and never returned. I was certain I had some kind of bodily fluid on it from my son. Probably snot, if I had to wager a guess. Regardless, the packing had to be finished if I was going to be ready for the big move to our new apartment.

“It’s pandemonium in here. Tread carefully, lest you get swallowed by junk.” I pulled my hair up on my head, securing an elastic band around it messily; anything to get it off of my neck. I was overheated and anxious.

“Are you excited?” She carefully stepped this way and that, dodging boxes and clutter as she crossed the room to my bed. That wasn’t much better, but with a sweep of her arm, she cleared a space for herself to sit.

“I’m not sure if excited is the right word. Anxious, yes. Nervous, definitely. But excited? I don’t know. Maybe.” I sighed heavily. “I’m about to give up on packing and just live here forever.”

“That would be okay, you know. Granted, you’d have to get used to seeing me in a collar, walking around the house naked on nights when Ollie and Delilah take Theo. Playtime is fun time.” She painted quite the picture, waggling her eyebrow suggestively.

“Ew! No thank you. I saw enough of that when I first arrived, thank you very much. I’ll pass.” Immediately, I grabbed another pile to sort through, my dedication to packing renewed and invigorated.

“Wait, what?!” Ruth shrieked, shocked by my admission.

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.” I waved her off, instantly regretting my decision to mention it.

“No, no, no. Adah Price, you had better fess up.”

I sighed and relented. “It was my first week here, back when I was still so wrong in my thoughts about the two of you. If you remember, I noticed your collar that first night, and at the time I honestly thought Levi was treating you like an animal.”

Ruth chuckled ruefully. “You were so mad at him. I remember when we were first explaining to you about The Temple and what BDSM was, and you freaked out on him for making me wear it.”

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