Page 64 of Tailored for Them

“Join me?” I asked, sliding my underwear down my legs.

Nicole’s jaw slackened as her eyes watched the material descend from my legs.

“Okay.” With that, she stood up and pulled her shirt off, “I guess you’re allowed to clean up before I can taste you.”

It was my turn to blush.

Would she ever stop triggering such a visceral reaction in me?

Probably not.

Nicole confidently disrobed before taking my hand and letting me lead her into the shower.

Love was sofreeing.

Nicole’s love wassafe.

As we settled under the warm spray, we spent time gently washing the day off of us. Reverently cleansing each other in a way that I wasn’t used to experiencing with a partner. As if we were getting ready to start a new normal.

Maybe that was exactly it.

A new era.

One where I could run home and find comfort in Nicole’s embrace every night.

An era where we could be each other’s person, however we needed.

A relationship that we could rely on. That was built on trust and comfort and respect and, most importantly, love.

After the shower, Nicole gently pushed my shoulders until I fell flat on my back, on top of the comforter. In that moment, I told her that I felt like the luckiest person alive.

Nicole kept murmuring how much she loved me.

Each kiss, each touch, each caress felt like solidification. We showed each other with our bodies just how much we caredfor the other. How much we wanted to behere. How much weappreciatedbeing here, in this beautiful moment.

After finding bliss in each other, we snuggled in for the night. Still naked, vulnerable, and satiated. I rested my chin on top of her head as I held her chest to chest.

“I love you,” I whispered through a yawn.

“I love you, too,” Nicole whispered back.

Within seconds, I succumbed to the best sleep of my entire life.

Chapter Eighteen

TAYLOR

“Thanks again for coming,”I said, squeezing Nicole’s hand with mine.

“Of course,” she smiled at me, squeezing my hand back.

Today, I was introducing her to one of my favorite people ever.

Beck’s grandmother. Susie’s namesake.

As we strolled through the cemetery in Laguna Hills, our voices lowered. Nicole’s demeanor immediately shifted to reverent and respectful. I tried to hide a smirk at the thought that, had Susan still been alive, she’d hate that.

She’d want Nicole to act like herself.

---