“Does that feel good?” I ask.
She nods, unable to speak as her hands fist the sheets.
I drag a kiss over her thigh. “You look unreal,” I whisper, though it’s mostly to myself.
She gives a sleepy, satisfied sound, half-laughing. “Jamie…”
I don’t let her finish. Instead, I put my mouth back on her.
The first touch of my tongue makes her flinch. She’s still sensitive, but I hold her there, flicking her clit slowly until the tension melts. Then I start again, tasting her, memorizing it.
Her hands thread through my hair, and my fingers move faster.
“That’s it,” I whisper. “Let me have it again.”
She gasps my name, her body arching off the bed. I keep going, slower when she pulls back, faster when she meets me halfway.
When she breaks, it’s louder this time. It’s a sharp, helpless cry that fades into my name. I stay with her through it, licking softly, drawing out every last tremor until she’s shaking.
Then I ease back, pressing small kisses to her hips, her stomach, the inside of her knees, until the only sound in the room is her uneven breathing.
I rest my hand on her stomach, still tasting her on my lips. “Thank you,” I whisper, as I rise up to kiss her.
I’m sure she tastes herself, but she’s too blissed out to care.
“I love you, Tiff.” I rest my forehead against hers, letting our breath mingle.
She closes her eyes, and for a long time, neither of us moves. The room is quiet except for the sound of our breathing, slow and even again.
I brush a strand of hair from her face and press one last kiss to her forehead, knowing deep in my soul that whatever comes next, we’re in this together.
Chapter 25
“So,” Zach says around a mouthful ofIced Outpancakes, eyeing Jamie at the stove. “Are you gonna start paying rent or is this a long-term mooching situation?”
“Zach!” I knock him on the shoulder, taking a sip of my coffee to hide my laughter.
Twice.
My cousin has caught Jamie over here twice, and he’s acting like we’re permanent.
I freeze for half a second. My stomach dips.
Permanent. Jamie’s becoming a permanent fixture in our lives, and that thought used to scare the crap out of me, butlooking at him now, flipping anotherIced Outpancake, I can’t imagine what life would be like if he ever left.
“Pretty bold accusation for a guy eating my pancakes,” Jamie says so casually, he doesn’t even look up.
“They’reTiff’spancakes,” Zach counters. “You’re just the labor.”
Ella giggles from her chair with syrup on her chin, completely unbothered by the idea of who belongs where. In her world, Jamie’s already been sorted into place.
He plates another pancake and brings it to Ella, who has Mr. Squishy sitting in the chair with her.
“Thank you,” she sings.
“You’re welcome.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek before heading back to the stove.
My chest tightens at the little move.This.This is what I never let myself hope for. A real family. Not just me and Ella against the world, but someone who chooses to be here. Who looks at my daughter like she hung the stars.