Don't tear our clothes off at the shop.
All right. If I'm being honest, my love of watching Chloe bloom as an artist is as much boyfriend as it is teacher.
I don't let my affection hold me back. I criticize her when she needs it. Push her when she needs that.
We both push each other to be better.
At work. At home. At everything.
A few weeks ago, Chloe started taking on clients. She's still doing free designs. Simple stuff like hearts, spades, words. She has another year before she's ready to fly solo, but she's well on her way.
"Ryan's gonna have to get over it." I press my lips to hers. Fuck, it feels so good kissing her. It warms me everywhere. "You think I'm going to wait until you're finished with your apprenticeship for that?"
"You think I'm going to say yes before that?"
"Only four hours to Vegas."
"I'll miss you too much if Gia murders you."
"Plus, you might be collateral damage."
She laughs. "Yeah. But we can still go. Put it all on black."
I shake my head. "I want lucky number thirteen."
"Is that black or red?"
"You're the expert."
"Uh… Black. Totally."
My smile spreads wider. She wants this too. But we really can't. Not with how much Gia and Chloe have been fighting over wedding planning. This shit is a stress factory.
And with their mom gone…
I know it's on Chloe's mind.
She's not over her doubts.
But she's getting there.
She handled her two-year scan with grace. She was nervous, but it was nothing compared to last year.
I was more of a wreck than she was.
Fuck, I was terrified.
I get it now, why Ryan was such a miserable wreck of himself.
I loved Chloe a year ago. But after twelve months of waking up next to her, eating breakfast with her, fighting over the remote, trading barbs, watching her grow as an artist…
Every day, I'm a little more in love with her.
"Mmmm." Chloe kicks her heels off, one at a time. They bounce off the walls. Land on the carpet with a thud.
"You trying to wreck up our place?"
"Our place?"
"You're here five nights a week."
"It's close to work."
"That's it."
"Well…" She bends her arm over her head, reaching for her zipper. "You're here."
"I'm here."
"Yeah. And, well… Dad isn't ready to accept that I've moved out."
"Just Dad?"
"Just Dad. I swear." She doesn't quite reach the zipper. "Could you?"
"Come here."
She does.
My fingers skim her hips. The curve of her waist. The sides of her chest. I trace the back of her dress.
She leans into the touch. Lets out a soft murmur as her head falls to the right.
I take my time undoing her zipper then tracing a line up her spine. Her back is gorgeous. And it feels so fucking good touching her. She feels right against my fingertips. Like she's made for me. "You look gorgeous."
"Weird."
"Yeah. But gorgeous."
She pushes her dress off her hips. "You don't look half bad yourself, Maddox." She turns and gives me a long, slow once-over.
"Does that mean I look half-good?"
"Amazing. But not good, exactly. Like the devil you are."
"Go on."
"What's that movie where Satan is a lawyer?"
"I look like Satan?"
"Yeah. Kind of."
"That's the sweetest thing you've said to me in ages."
"I try." Her fingers brush my suit jacket. My bright pink tie. My oxford shirt. "You look like Dean."
"Should I not?"
"No. But—" She kicks her dress off her feet. "I don't look like me in that dress"
"'Cause you weren't wearing your combat boots."
"Oh my God."
"You should have insisted."
Her laugh lights up her dark eyes.
"I'm serious."
"You are not."
"They're the essence of Chloe."
"Sounds like a perfume."
"Does it smell like your cunt?"
Her cheeks flush, but she holds strong. "What else?"
"I'll take a hundred bottles."
"It's ten thousand dollars a bottle."
"Fuck. That's steep." I wrap my arms around her waist. Pull her body into mine. "Guess I'll have to savor you the old-fashioned way."
She squeals as I lift her into my arms.
She wraps her arms around my shoulders.
Rests her head against my chest.
I carry her into our bedroom.
Lay her down on our bed.
She leans back on her elbows. Spreads her legs in invitation. "Should I put on my boots for this?"
"Depends."
"On?"
"You want it soft and slow or hard and fast?"
Her eyes fix on mine. "Which do I get if I wear the boots?"
"Sunshine, if you put on those boots, I won't be able to control myself." I sit next to her and pull her into my lap
She giggles as I dig my thumb into the sole of her foot. "Uh-huh."
"I'll split you in half."
Her eyelids flutter together as I rub her feet. "Oh my God." Her back arches. Her lips part with a sigh. "Don't stop."
"Never."
Pleasure spills over her expression as I massage her tired feet. "When did you get so good at this?"
I'm not. I just do what I can. "You never let me take care of you."
"I do sometimes."
"When?"
"The test last month."
She did. And, fuck, it meant everything.
"I'm working on it."
"I know." I get that Chloe is tough and independent. That she'll always be able to fend for herself. But sometimes I want to take that weight for her.
Her eyes blink open. Find mine. "You're still wearing a lot of clothes."
I rub her feet a little harder. "You want me to stop?"
"No. But I want you to go too." She swings her legs to her side. Her hands go to my shoulders.
In one swift motion, she climbs on top of me.
Her knees plant outside my thighs.
Her eyes fix on mine.
"You look so good in this thing." Her fingertips skim my neck as she undoes the knot of my tie. "But I still need to destroy it."
"Destroy it?"
"Are you negotiating?"
"Say I am?"
"Take off your clothes if you don't want them destroyed."
"Oh?"
She nods as she undoes my top button. Her fingers linger on my neck. My chest. My collarbones. "I need you naked."
"Why's that?"
"Uh-huh. No sass. I'm too tired for that."
"If you're tired, we can just cuddle."
She's quick about unbuttoning my shirt. "No."
"No?"
She nods. "I'll get the combat boots if that's what it takes."
I laugh. "You're dedicated."
"Too much talking." She pushes my suit jacket off my shoulders. Then the shirt. "Not enough sex."
My lips curl into a smile.
Her cheeks flush. "What?"
"Just thinking about how much I love you."
"I love you too. And, really, I can't wait to discuss that subject more." She shifts her hips backward to give herself room to undo my belt. "After I fuck you senseless."
Fuck, I love everything about her.
My palm goes to her cheek.
She leans into the touch with a soft sigh. It's equal parts I love you too and hurry up and fuck me.
She does away with her strapless bra.
I ditch my slacks.
Then the boxers.
She kisses me hard as she wraps her fingers around my cock.
Fuck.
Her lips part to make way for my tongue.
She pumps me harder.
Kisses deeper.
I toy with her until she's groaning against my lips.
Then I bring my hands to her ass, hold her body against mine as I scoot backward.
She stares into my eyes as she pushes her thong off her ass.
I help her slide it to her feet.
Trace a line up the inside of her leg.
Higher and higher and higher.
There.
My fingertips skim her clit.
Her nails sink into the sheets.
I love watching anticipation spill over Chloe's expression, but I don't have the patience for it today.
I need her coming.
My hands go to her hips. "Sit on my face."
She crawls up the bed, turns, plants her knees outside my cheeks backward.
Fuck.
My girlfriend is brilliant.
I dig my fingers into the flesh of her ass. Bring her cunt to my lips.
Tease her with a soft flick of my tongue.
Her nails scrape my chest. My stomach. My hips.
She claws harder with every tease.
Gets closer.
Until— Fuck.
Her thumb brushes my piercing.
She wraps her hand around me. Pumps me hard as I lick her.
Pleasure floods my senses.
Then she lowers her body onto mine.
Brings that gorgeous mouth to my cock.