Page 140 of Break the Rule
“I can watch Ella,” Eden offers.
“Andrew is celebrating a promotion at work, so it’s his treat. His boss gave him a gift card or something, so we’re making an afternoon of it. We’d love for you to join us.”
Eden isn’t entirely sure the gift card part is true, and is definitely going to ask Andrew later, but he appreciates that they’ve found a way to get Addy to go without making her feel like it’s charity.
“I mean…if Eden is sure.” She looks excited, and Eden could fall in love with Charlie for that alone.
Eden bumps her knee with his own. “I’m sure.”
“Okay. Okay, cool. Shit, what do I wear?”
“You could borrow that black skirt I have,” Eden offers. “The one with the ruffles.”
“That would look so good with my new sweater. Perfect.”
Perfect.
As a child, Eden had dreamed about having a family. Two parents and a dog and a house with a white picket fence. It hadn’t taken long for that dream to shatter, and Eden stopped hoping for the kind of family he would never have, stopped hoping forperfect.
This right here—the sea breeze blowing through his hair and the sun on his legs—surrounded by people who like Eden for who he is, feels pretty fucking close. In the distance, Ella giggles, running alongside Birdie while they chase a squirrel. Beside him, Addy and Charlie are excitedly talking about what they might order next weekend.
It’s not a white picket fence, or typical, but it’s perfect for Eden.
On a picnic blanket on an unassuming Saturday, Eden learns that perfect can be your best friend and her daughter, your boyfriend and his dog, and a plastic bag of takeaway. He learns that maybe family isn’t just blood but the people who show up for you, the ones who choose you.
This isn’t a fairytale or a happily ever after. It’s messy and real, and it’s perfect because it’snot perfect. Eden chose thesepeople, and by some miracle they’ve chosen him back, and Eden is happy.
Eden is so fucking happy.
EPILOGUE
CHARLIE
Warm hands smoothdown Charlie’s spine, his entire body sagging. Charlie’s always been a vivid dreamer, but even this is intense for Charlie, who sighs when those dream hands move down to his ass and massage.
Everything is warm and hazy, his bed soft beneath him and his face shoved into his pillow. This is a good dream—experienced hands spread him apart and work him open with such deftness, it feels real. Maybe this is the natural result of being fucked within an inch of his life last night before falling asleep sticky and full of Eden’s come. Even his subconscious can’t get enough of Eden, his dream exploding with vivid colors and sensations as Charlie thinks about Eden. Rich reds and bold strokes of yellow, bright and vibrant and perfect. Hands move over Charlie’s body, fingers spreading him wide before pleasure spikes so sharply he whines, unwilling to wake from such a good dream.
“You’re not dreaming,” Eden croons, his voice low and gravely, his breath warm on the back of Charlie’s neck.
Turning his head, Charlie squints one eye open and is met with Eden’s sleep rumbled hair. He’s sleep-mussed, his messyhair framing his face combined with a familiar expression of pleasure.
“You’re fucking me,” Charlie murmurs, somehow managing to make it sound like both a question and a statement. Given how sleepy he is, some allowances can be made. It’s not every day you get woken up with an ass full of your sexy boyfriend’s dick.
“Took you long enough,” Eden smirks, rolling his hips. “I thought for sure you’d wake up when I was fingering you, but all you did was moan like the sleepy slut you are.”
Those words make him moan again. He’s never had shame about his enjoyment of sex with anyone and everyone, but there’s something about beingEden’sslut that makes Charlie feel owned and aroused beyond belief.
“This what you wanted, Charlie?” Eden rocks into him, so damn slow Charlie claws at the bed. “Is this how you imagined it?”
“Yes,” Charlie groans, struggling to think straight. He’d confessed to Eden recently that for all the sex he’d had, he’d never experienced being woken up like this. That one day he’d love if Eden had his way with Charlie while he was asleep, let him wake up, stuffed full and fucked. It’s been weeks since that confession though, and Charlie all but forgot about it. Apparently, Eden hadn’t.
“You were so loose already, your ass still wet.” Eden drops a kiss to Charlie’s shoulder. “You like being wet for me, Charlie?”
“Nnnggh.”
“You’re not a morning person, but you could be like this, couldn’t you? Bet you’d happily wake up every day if you could have me fucking you awake.”
“Yes.Yes.” With maximum effort, Charlie manages to get his elbows underneath him, bracing himself to get enough leveragethat he can arch his back. He needs more, needs it deeper and harder.
