“I love you too,” I whisper back, not only because it feels right to say but because it is. Landon’s heart might beat faster when he’s around, but I’m reborn again whenever he is, rising above the dark clouds trying to keep me down.
He positions us both on our sides, dragging me closer when I start to hang off the couch. Looping his leg around mine, he glances down between us. “We made quite the mess, Sunshine.”
“And we’re about to make an even bigger one.” I reach around his head, tugging at his hair as I lick into his mouth. We kiss and hold each other until we’re both growing hard again. His tip leaks against my stomach and he lines our cocks up together, stroking us at the same time.
“I don’t think we’ll be moving from this couch anytime soon.” My laugh turns to strangled moans as he rubs his head over mine, tightening his grip around my base.
“No. Not unless it’s so I can carry you to bed and continue having you there.”
“It would be more comfortable. We could move a lot more.” I gasp when he grinds hard against me.
“On second thought, we’ll stay here for now. I’d rather not give you room to move in any direction but closer to me.”
“Greedy.” I chuckle against his lips, nibbling on the bottom one.
“Very. I’m not going to apologize for taking as much of you as you’ll allow me to have. No, I’m going to keep taking full advantage.”
“And you won’t see me stopping you. Not anymore.” I writhe against him, rolling my hips.
“Good. As much as I love chasing you in the rain, I’d rather it be because you’re begging me to and not because you don’t think we can work.”
“So you like chasing me, huh?”
He smirks. “Yes. I mean, how can I not when in the end it earns me such a cute little prize?” His lips tease mine, his hips going still as my body cries out in frustration from the way he’s slowly edging me. “I will always come after you. It might take me a while sometimes, but I always will.”
“Always?” My voice comes out barely a whisper.
“Always, Sunshine.” His lips tilt higher and he moves his hips again.
“So if I’m your sunshine, what’s that make you?”
“Yours.”
Epilogue
Elijah
As I’m handing a customer her bag, the door chimes open. Silas thought it was a good idea to add a bell to the door in case we had one of our moments where we forgot where we were, and so I wouldn’t keep customers waiting for too long during his late-night visits to my office. I have to admit it was a really good idea, but my heart does perk up each time, hoping I’ll see my favorite pair of bright blue eyes whenever I look at the door.
It’s more likely to happen now, with his new flower shop next door. The old empty building finally went up for rent and Silas wasted no time sealing the deal with them, paying four months in advance. Always so in the moment and full of hope. Both obviously work well for him, with his business blooming in only a matter of months while also making my little bookshop more noticeable.
The bag crinkles between our hands and I pull back, resting my hand on the counter. “Thank you for coming by again. Enjoyyour new books,” I tell the smiling woman, while looking over her shoulder. Silas is wearing a big smile and holding a medium-sized gift bag in his hand with a snowman on the front.
“Thank you. I’ll definitely be back in time for the winter sale.” She winks, only holding my attention for a few seconds before my sunshine steals it away again. As soon as the woman exits the shop, Silas sets the bag in front of me. “I got you something a little early. I wanted you to be able to wear it to Jessa’s Christmas party this weekend.”
“Did you now?” I finger the tissue paper and drag the bag closer, peeking between the separating green and red paper.
“Go on,” he urges me, his lips turning up more. “Open it. I want to see if it fits.”
His words heighten my curiosity and I yank the tissue free, lifting up a red, green, and white sweater. Stretching out the uneven arms, I laugh, my eyes falling down to the green Christmas tree stitched in the center. “I love it.”
“Yeah?” His eyes lift, a little bit of pink tinting his cheeks from the cold.
“Yeah. I do. It’s perfect.” I slide the sweater on over my shirt, the imperfections less noticeable when clinging tightly to my body. “I think you’re getting better.”
“Yeah, your head fits through the neck hole this time.” We both laugh and I tug him by his chin, bringing his lips closer to mine. He tastes like peppermint and cranberry, smelling of poinsettias and pine, the familiar carnation scent hidden beneath it all. His favorite flower is one most people hate receiving. No surprise there, not when coming from the man who wants to spend extra time getting wet and who jumps head first into dark, freezing water in the winter. No bad weather stops him from getting in his weekly swims. Nothing stops him from getting what he wants, not even when he has to suffer a little bad before getting his good.
“I love it, I really do, and I love you.” I press a quick kiss to his cold, wiggly nose.
