Page 55 of All the Beautiful Things
“Thank you,” I breathed, pulling out of her once the waves finally ebbed and kissed one of her thighs, her stomach. I slowly came back above her body.
She laughed, swiped a hand over her forehead. Her chest rose and fell with quickened breaths. “I think I should be saying that to you.”
“No.” I shook my head. “What you gave me, what you give me every time, is a gift I will always treasure.”
She swallowed thickly and then a slow, wicked smirk twisted her lips. “I still want more,” she admitted as if she had something to be embarrassed about.
“Good.” I pressed a quick, firm kiss to her mouth and pulled back, sliding off her. I had condoms in my wallet in my tuxedo coat that had been thrown off somewhere on her floor. Not that I’d thought this would happen, but a man could dream. “Because there is definitely more I want to give you.”
Once I dug through the mess of clothes we’d left littered all over her bedroom, I came back to her. Tossing the condoms to the side, I laid down next to Lilly and pulled her over me.
She gasped in surprise and once she’d straddled me, I brought her down to me, kissing away her shock as I rocked my hard length against her. She was wet and slick, and I groaned, already knowing how good it would be to be inside her tight body. Her hair blanketed us, beautiful blonde waves that were now a mess, but it only made her beautiful as she sank into the kiss, fell into the rhythm I started.
We rocked together in sync, with the ease of lovers who knew exactly what the other loved as if we weren’t still learning each other but had already memorized the feel of the others’ body.
And when she was close, I rolled us again, took over, and by the time both of us hit our peaks, again and again, I’d fulfilled my promise to her.
I showed her all the ways I loved her. Without words, while all she could respond with were screams and pleasured moans until we were breathless. Spent.
* * *
After cleaning us both up,I climbed back into her bed and pulled Lilly into my arms. She came easily, rolling to me and set her head at my chest. Her hand ran over my abs while my arm behind her cupped her ass. She still had a light sheen of sweat along her temple that I brushed away. Mine was probably worse. We needed a shower, but my muscles ached from our efforts and I was exhausted after the long, but perfect day.
“Tell me about your mom.”
The request came out of nowhere. I pulled back, surprised.
“What?” I’d promised to tell her everything. No secrets. Only honesty from here on out. But the last thing I’d expected to talk about after we just made love was my mom. Lilly’s fingertip drew slow, calming circles over my stomach, like she knew I needed the calm of her touch when she asked.
She tilted her head up and kissed my chin. “Your mom. Tell me about her. You never talk about her.” Her hand drifted up to my chest where she dragged a finger around my nipple.
Her touch was a dangerous ember, quick to turn to a wildfire in any condition. Even when she made me think of my mom.
I settled my free hand over hers, stopping her before she distracted me.
She was right, though. She’d spent so much time giving herself to me, and I hadn’t done the same. But now with all the secrets between us revealed, we could truly begin. And I’d promised to give that to her. Despite the lead weight settling in my stomach, I gave her what she needed. What she deserved.
“She was beautiful,” I said, and her hand beneath mine flipped over and grabbed hold of me.
“She was kind and quiet. Her laughs were whispers and I never heard her raise her voice. But she had this gentle strength that held our family together, that changed hearts of kids who came to us damaged and untrusting.”
“How did that start? Why did they start fostering kids?”
My chest warmed beneath her touch, from the inside of my bones. “My mom’s delivery with me wasn’t easy… she struggled and couldn’t hold me for several days. After, when they wanted more kids, my dad refused for fear of what it did to her. I didn’t learn until I was older, when I asked these questions and it messed with my head.”
I shoved a hand through my hair and scraped it over my scruff. It’d been years since I talked of this.
“Why?”
“Because I almost killed my mom.”
“Hudson—”
“I know.” I squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead. “I know I didn’t, but I also did, you know? And when I asked, when I was eight or so, that was a lot to bear. But anyway, they wanted more children after Melissa and me, and they debated… adoption or fostering, or possible fostering that would lead to adoption. I think that’s why they chose fostering. They could help kids and love them but could possibly adopt down the road.”
“But they didn’t?”
“None except for Brandon. Most kids… most went back to their homes or to homes where they were adopted.”
