Page 113 of Delicate Storm

I roll my eyes despite her not being able to see me and plaster a smile on my face. “That was another life, Janie. It is what it is.”

“You’re not annoyed that people know?”

She’s fishing for gossip, but it won’t matter what I say—she’ll still spin it however she pleases. “Nope. I’ve moved on. It’s time everyone else did the same.”

Janie moves on to tell me about the guy she’s been seeing, and by the time she hangs up, I feel a little brain dead. Is that what I used to be like? I didn’t think I’d changed that much, but I no longer have any interest in what she has to say. In fact, I couldn’t think of anything worse.

Since I don’t have much going on in the early evening, I don’t have anything to distract me from our conversation, and by the time I’m due to go to Easton’s, I’m pissed off. How dare she call me after all this time. As though nothing has changed. What is wrong with people?

I’m still worked up when I arrive at Easton’s door, but when I step inside, a wave of calm flows through me.

It’s strange being in his space for the first time without him. But there’s also something exciting about it. Still, I’m not ready to pry into his private life, so I go in search of his bedroom, finding it easily with the layout similar to my own.

With Easton mentioning he’d be home by nine, I arrived at eight thirty, giving myself enough time to get naked, but not enough time to actually get too comfortable. Because I wasn’t kidding about my early bedtime. It's a new development. I used to be able to stay up all night, but I’ve been keeping so busy that I’m usually exhausted by this time.

While I wait, I find myself doomscrolling through my social media accounts and instantly regret it. This used to be my life. Social media was my world. If I missed a few hours, I thought my life was falling apart. And now it’s been days. Mostly because I haven’t had the time, but also because I was afraid of what I’d find.

What if I see something about me? More people spreading rumors. Or worse, what if I see picture after picture of the life I had and I miss it? I like the woman I’ve become, but I was a different person not too long ago and that life was somewhat simpler.

A mental picture of Easton comes to mind, and I shake off my thoughts. I don’t think I could leave right now, even if I wanted to. I’m invested. And while I have no idea where this is going, or even if it can go anywhere, I’m not too worried about finding out. What we have is working, and I’m not ready to give it up.

At 9:05, the distinct sound of a key in a lock alerts me to Easton’s arrival, and I throw my phone onto the other side of the bed before lying down, pretending to be asleep. My lips twitch as he walks through the apartment, but when his footsteps get louder, I school my features. I can’t remember a time I’ve been this excited.

My chest flutters as I lie in wait, and when the door opens, I fight not to open my eyes.

“Fuuuck.” A feral groan releases from the back of Easton’s throat as he enters the room, dropping something to the floor. “God, you look good in my bed, Paige.”

I want to respond, but I also want him to wake me with his tongue like he said he would so I hold strong, keeping my eyes closed, thankful that I was clever enough to face away from the door.

“I know you’re awake, Paige,” he continues, his voice gravelly, turning me on. “But a promise is a promise.”

He rummages around in his bedroom for a bit, teasing me until I hear what I assume is his clothes dropping to the bed. A drawer opens and closes and then the bed dips behind me as my pulse spikes and need pools at my center.

My heart races in anticipation, but instead of using his tongue, like I expected, I startle when he brushes a finger across my cheek before gently gliding the tip along my skin, both of us pretending I’m asleep. When he gets to my shoulder, he rolls me onto my back, then continues his path, circling one nipple and then the other, adding a second finger as he moves with gentle strokes toward my center, spreading my legs when he’s close.

“I’m not sure what I like best,” he rasps, his voice making my body heat. “I can’t choose between fiery Paige, the version of you that gives as much as you get, or this version—open, trusting, at my mercy.”

My breath hitches and I’m sure he will have seen it in my chest even if he didn’t hear it, but he doesn’t draw attention to it.

“Are you ready for me, Paige?” he asks as his fingers brush back and forth across my inner thigh. So close, but not close enough. “It’s about time you woke up.” Easton doesn’t wait for me to answer before he spreads my lips and licks a path through my center, circling my clit before biting down on the bud. I cryout as my body bucks off the bed, the tension wound so tight that it instantly snaps.

I perch on my elbows and stare down at him nestled between my legs, watching with rapt attention until he pauses, smiling up at me.

“D’Angelo.” He nods. “Nice of you to join the party.”

Jesus. Who is this man?He’s a walking contradiction. That’s for sure.

“I could get used to being woken like that.”

“Good. Because I have never wanted anyone more than I want you right now. Roll over and hold on to the headboard. I’m going to make you come while you ride my face, and then I’m going to flip you onto your back and fuck you until you’re screaming my name.”

Oh God.

“Does that work for you?”

“God, yes.” I moan, unable to hide my desperation. “Please. I need you to start now.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

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