Page 25 of 518 Hope Ave
My heart bubbles up with glee and I grin as I twirl out of reach. "Soon. Sausages are almost done, and you can help yourself to coffee."
He murmurs about helping himself to other things and shuffles over to the coffee maker to pour himself a cup. He takes his first sip and sighs.I can definitely get used to this… Him, me, together, making breakfasts and teasing each other with our bodies for many years to come. Maybe with a couple of little ones running around, who knows what the future holds?
I put the steaming sausages on a plate and carry them over to the breakfast table. Ezra hands me a hot cup of coffee. "Thank you," I gasp before taking that holy first sip and groaning in pleasure.
"I love it when you groan, sunshine. I’ll take it any way I can get it too," he says, waggling his brow and chuckling.
I laugh in return, taking another sip then groaning exaggeratedly.
“Keep doing that, and this food will end up on the floor, and you’ll be spread on that table.”
My core heats but I can’t bring myself to waste all this good food so I zip my lips with a giggle. “I’ll be good.”
We each fill our plates and eat in comfortable silence. Every so often, we catch each other's eye and break into a smile. Ezra takes his first bite of my scrambled eggs and nearly melts into his seat. "Oh, God," he moans, turning me on this time. "That is the best damn scrambled eggs I've ever had in my life!" He wolfs down his plate, moaning and groaning in pleasure as he takes each bite. It’s as if he hasn't eaten in forever.
I tuck a loose hair behind my ear and blush, thinking about his moans in the bedroom while also enjoying the compliment. "It's nothing. Just an old recipe that Nanna taught me."
He's wolfed down a second serving of eggs and bacon. "It'samazing, Quinn.You'reamazing."
"I don’t always feel amazing, " I start, opening myself up a little so we can talk about the reason we broke apart, and find a way to move forward without repeating the same mistakes. “It’s an effort every day to find the happiness inside myself.”
His fork pauses midair as his eyes fly to mine and his expression grows serious. The fork goes back down, and he licks his lips, giving me his full attention. “I never want you to feel anythingbutamazing, Quinn.”
“Part of what makes me feel good about myself is being in the position to help people.” He opens his mouth to respond, but I hold my hand up because I’m not finished. “I know we spoke about this somewhat last night, but I need to be really clear here. I love giving big tips to servers. Coming from a background where a tiny windfall can feel like a huge leg up, Ilovebeing in a position to do that for people, and I want to continue doing it. But I want to be sure that you understand what happened between you and me isn’t my MO. I don’t go around throwing money at struggling guys to lure them into my bed. I’m with you because I feel connected to you—because I’m in love with you. And I don’t know if you realized or not, but I was a virgin that first time as well. You are all there is and all there’ll ever be for me.”
His eyes go wide. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I kind of liked feeling like the seductress.” A grin takes over my face as I think back to our first time together. “And you were just so amazing and gentle…andnervous…I didn’t want to add to that. But I am sorry I kept that from you. Just like I’m sorry for ever making you feel uncomfortable about money. I just…want everything with you, Ez.”
A slow and sexy grin curls up the corner of his mouth. "I want everything with you too. And I know I’m not so great at letting go of my control in any given situation, but I'll definitely work on it because I want us to be partners in love and in life, Quinn. And I promise that going forward, I'll let you help me when I need it. No terrible twenty-two-year-old tantrums."
I smirk before I laugh. "I like the sound of that. And I promise you I'lltalkto you before I sweep in like Wonder Woman to save the day. Partners in love and life?" I stick out my right pinkie across the table to him, and he chuckles.
"It’s a deal," he says as we lock pinkies. "And one day, when I save enough money to buy you a ring that fits your beauty, you can bet your gorgeous ass that I'll make you more than my partner. I’ll make you my wife.” He leans in and kisses our joined pinkies and I melt.
"Oh, Ez. I don't need a fancy ring to say yes to that," I say, meeting his smoldering eyes. "You could make me one out of tin foil, and I'd be the happiest,luckiestgirl on Earth."
"Is that so?" He smirks as he releases my hand. Getting out of his seat, he walks around the kitchen and rummages through the drawers until he finds what he’s looking for. “Ah-ha!”
I chuckle nervously. "Ezra? What are you doing?"
He stays silent, keeping his back to me as he works, picking things up and putting them down before finally turning around, a tiny bag tie, tin foil, and paper creation held between his fingers. My eyes water at the realization of what he's doing as he comes back toward me, still silent, lowering to one knee before taking my left hand in his.
"Quinn Hartsworth,” he says, his voice soft yet rough, and oh so alluring. “Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man alive and allowing me the privilege of taking your hand in marriage?"
My face turns into two tear waterfalls as I nod through the mess, so touched and incredibly in love. "Yes!" I reply. "Yes, yes, yes a million times yes!"
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he says, grinning as he slides the makeshift ring onto my finger.
“Oh, Ezra. We’re going to have such a wonderful life together,” I whisper, admiring his handiwork.
“The happiest. I’m so glad I found you,” he says, picking me up and spinning me around before he kisses me deeply. "I love you, Quinn."
"I love you too, Ezra. Forever and ever."
Epilogue 1
Ezra
