Page 33 of Love You Like That

I turned the shower and stepped in, letting the water wash away the last four days. With each gentle lather of lavender soap and each deep breath of steam, I felt myself calm and grounded. I told myself we’d be okay, hoping the words would make it true. Afterward, I put my locs in a messy bun and slipped into a short, oversized cotton tee paired with lace boyshorts beneath. It was just comfortable enough to look effortless, but cute enough to remind him exactly what he’d been missing.

A knock at the door made my pulse quicken, sending nerves fluttering through my stomach. I exhaled, padding barefoot across the hardwood floors to let him in.

When I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat. Ezra stood there looking every bit of fine he was in a blacksweatsuit, the pants hanging low on his hips. I could tell he'd been drinking a lot lately, his good eye roaming my body slowly like he was memorizing every inch.

“What up?” he said softly, his voice low and careful.

“Hey,” I breathed, stepping aside. He entered quietly, immediately filling the room with the rich scent of his cologne, spicy and warm and painfully familiar. For a moment, we just stood there awkwardly, tension thickening the air until it became almost suffocating. “You hungry?” I finally asked, my voice shaky.

He nodded, offering a cautious smile. “Shit smells good.”

We moved into the kitchen, settling at the table. I poured two glasses of red wine, hoping the smooth warmth would ease our nerves. We ate quietly at first, the silence stretching as we both struggled to find the right words. Eventually, Ezra broke it.

“Food’s bomb. You really threw down.”

I smiled softly, grateful for the opening. “Thanks. Cooking helps clear my head.”

He met my eyes directly. “You had a lot on ya mind lately?”

“Too much,” I admitted softly, swirling the wine in my glass. “You?”

He exhaled deeply, gaze dropping briefly. “Same.”

“I hated not speaking to you,” I confessed, voice barely above a whisper.

Ezra’s eyes flicked up again, softer now. “Me too. That shit felt… wrong.”

I nodded, feeling a lump rise in my throat. “I didn’t mean what I said. About love not being enough. I was scared and frustrated. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He looked away briefly, then nodded. “I know. But ya family… that whole scene… it got under my skin like you saw me different around them.”

“I didn’t,” I whispered quickly, reaching for his hand impulsively. “I swear I didn’t. It was just… pressure. I handled it wrong.”

Ezra squeezed my hand gently. “Maybe we both did but we here now.”

“Yeah,” I whispered, heart racing at the tenderness in his voice. “We are.”

We finished dinner with a lighter conversation about the exam, New York, and the mundane bits of life we’d missed. Butbeneath the small talk, tension simmered, slowly shifting into something hotter, deeper, inevitable.

When I stood to clear the dishes, Ezra rose quietly behind me, bringing his plate to the sink. As I rinsed dishes under the warm stream, I felt his body press lightly against mine from behind. My breath caught sharply when his lips touched my neck, gentle but firm, tracing a soft, deliberate line up to my ear.

“Baby, I missed you so fuckin’ much,” he murmured, low and honest, voice gravelly.

I shivered, turning slowly to face him, our bodies inches apart, warmth radiating between us. Without thinking, the words slipped out. “I love you.”

He froze for a split second, eyes widening, surprise and relief flooding his gaze. Then he smiled, hands moving to cup my face. “I love you too.”

There were no more words after that, only his mouth claiming mine urgently and fiercely. The kiss deepened quickly, mouths open, tongues searching desperately as weeks of built-up tension melted into pure, unfiltered desire. Ezra lifted me onto the countertop effortlessly, standing between my thighs,hands gripping my hips. I moaned into his mouth as he pressed against me, hardness evident, need overwhelming.

His mouth moved down my neck hungrily as his hands slipped beneath my tee, pulling it swiftly over my head. I gasped at the chill of the air hitting my skin, then sighed as his mouth covered my nipple, teasing, licking, and sucking expertly.

“Ezra,” I whimpered, gripping his locs tightly. “I need you.”

“Then take me,” he whispered roughly, pulling off his shirt, and letting his chain fall heavily against his chest.

I slid off the counter, pulling his sweats down urgently. His thick length sprang free, fully hard and ready. Without hesitation, I turned, bracing myself against the counter as he entered me from behind, slowly stretching me, and making me cry out softly.

“I missed this shit,” he groaned, thrusting deep, slow at first, then harder, faster, gripping my hips, driving into me. “I missed you. God, I love you.”

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