Page 70 of Always Been You
When we pull away, Eddie’s lips twitch into a smirk.
“You’ve got clay all over your face,” he whispers. I blink, then smear a streak of clay across his cheek.
“Now we’re even.”
Eddie laughs, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me in for another kiss. The clay on the wheel wobbles wildly, completely forgotten. From across the room, James chuckles.
“Looks like your masterpiece will have to wait.”
Neither of us cares.
Chapter Twenty -Eight
Eddie
Basking in this bliss has been the ultimate fun for me. The weekend getaway was perfect, and if I had my way, we’d spend every weekend together like this for the rest of our lives. It will be just as blissful—just us without the outside world.
“Tired?” I ask. Lawliss’s head is resting against the back of the couch, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion, yet she nods with a smile, and my heart fills full.
She’s been complaining about feeling weak this past week. At first, I thought it was from the stress of everything that has happened in her life, but it’s been constant since we reconnected.
I remember her being fit, strong, sharp and untouchable. But lately? She’s been running on empty. She claims it’s age and growth anytime I bring up going to the hospital. She’s ready to fight me at the mere mention of it. Stubborn as hell. But I have to convince her when we get back.
“I’ll draw you a bath,” I say, standing. She hums in response, and I take that as a yes.
As the tub fills, I add a few drops of the spiced cider oil she picked up at one of the antique shops earlier. She swore it was the best she’d ever smelled, claiming she likes having the smell of me on her.
After the pottery session, we wandered through the markets, picking out antiques and other items for her family. James gifted us the ceramic jars, bowls, and cups in addition to what we made, along with a miniature version of his Love and Life piece. Lawliss hasn’t let go of it since, holding it against her chest like a treasure. She’s already planning to recreate it, even took James’s contact information, promising to visit again.
When I return to the living room, I don’t say a word. I just scoop her up, and she instinctively wraps her arms around my neck. Her weight against me feels right. Like this is where she belongs.
In the bathroom, I set her down, and she undresses, slipping into the warm water with a soft sigh.
She leans back, eyes closed. Then, without opening them, she says, “Sit with me.”
There’s enough space for both of us, but I lower myself onto the floor beside the tub instead, my back resting against the wall.
Her voice drops, softer now, almost teasing. “Would you believe me if I said I wanted you now?”
I have to close my eyes, forcing myself not to react too quickly. The way she says it, like a slowly burning fuse, sends a rush of heat through me. I chuckle, trying to keep it together. “Here I was thinking you were tired.”
“I am tired.” She stretches her arms above her head, the water shifting around her, exposing more of her bare skin. “But not too tired for you.”
Damn.
“You keep getting bolder.” My voice is rougher than I intended.
“More like comfortable,” she replies, turning in the water so she’s facing me now. Her eyes hold mine, daring. Then she licks her lips, slow, deliberate. That undoes me.
I lean in, my lips meeting hers, and she opens up instantly, moaning softly into my mouth. Her hands move into my hair, nails grazing my scalp as she presses closer. The edge of the bathtub separates us, but I feel her heat in the way her body responds to mine. I slide a hand to her bare back, tilting her head, deepening the kiss.
We break apart just enough for her to whisper, “I want you. Now.”
My breathing is uneven. My control? Gone. “Your wish is my command.”
I peel off my wet shirt, unbuckle my shorts, and join her in the tub. The water ripples around us as I pull her into my lap, her skin slick against mine. Her thighs straddle me, fitting like they were made to.
I kiss her again, slower this time, savoring her taste, the feel of her body melting against mine. My hands move over her, tracing the body I know by heart. The soft sighs that escape her lips make my blood burn. I can’t go a day without her. I don’t want to.
