Page 88 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

The drive home in the back of a cab was quiet and long. I was glad the driver was too tired for conversation, because I had plenty going on in my head.

My bike was still at Dad’s but to hell with it. If I went straight home, I’d only get to crawl into bed with Abby for less than an hour before she would wake up to start her day.

As the sun peeked through the clouds, I directed the driver to park next to the Camry, and then I handed him a ten. Before he could bother to make change, I was already climbing up the steps to my front door, sliding the key into the bolt lock.

The apartment was dark, tiny nails tapping against the floor and the AC flowing through the vents were the only sounds. I leaned over to pet Toto, and then grabbed his leash, walking him back down the stairs to the patch of grass below. Toto sniffed every planter, every light pole and pedestal his leash would allow him to reach, and then finally, when he was satisfied, hiked his leg. He kicked back grass nowhere near where he’d just pissed like he’d just conquered a Viking army, and I scooped him up, jogging up the steps so I could lay down next to my wife.

I lowered Toto to his feet, unclipped his leash, and then reached back, pulling off my T-shirt as I made my way to the bedroom.

When I opened the door, it creaked, and I could see Abby’s silhouette stir. I kicked off my boots, unbuttoned my jeans, and yanked them down over my hips, stepping out of them before crawling under the covers.

Abby hummed as I wrapped my arms around her, backing her ass up to my lap and moving her hips from side to side. I was hard within ten seconds, but that only made her rub up against me more.

“Did you finally decide to come home?” she asked.

I pulled her back against my torso, feeling her warm skin against mine. She smelled like citrus shampoo and her favorite lotion. I touched my forehead to the nape of her neck, and she froze.

“Is Trent okay?”

“Yes,” I said, kissing her soft skin. “He’s going to be fine. He’ll stay another night or two and then they said he can go home.”

She relaxed. “Good. Did they say what was wrong?”

“Probably a bone marrow infection,” I said, burying my face in her back. My entire body ached for her.

She turned to face me. “A bone marrow infection? What is that?”

“I know, right? I’d never heard of it, either. Only Trent.” I kissed her neck, making my way up to her ear.

“I have good news,” she whispered. “Remember after date night we were trying to figure out how to make that recipe work?”

“Yeah?” I knew exactly what she meant. She’d found a way for me to meet up with Adam.

Her lips grazed my ear as she spoke almost inaudible words. “Finch had some ideas. He’s going to help.”

I leaned back, mouthing his name.Finch?

She nodded.

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded, too. She must’ve had a good plan. She wouldn’t let me walk into a trap. I kissed her neck again, slowly making my way to the tender skin behind her ear.

She sighed. “I should take Toto out.”

“Already done.”

“Have I told you you’re my favorite husband?” she asked, smiling as she stretched.

“That’s because I’m your only husband,” I said, pressing my lips against hers.

She turned over and sat up, then pressed me flat against the mattress until I was looking up at the ceiling. Her mouth was on my neck, tasting, alternating between kisses and flicks with her tongue.

She hummed as she traced a line to my collar bone with her lips, and then she disappeared beneath the covers, tasting her way down my chest and abdomen until she reached into my boxer briefs with a single, soft hand.

“Holy God, Pidge,” I moaned, reacting to the feeling of her hot, wet mouth around my dick. I covered my face with my hands, wondering what I’d done to deserve the woman I’d married.

Ten minutes before, I couldn’t wait just to hold her. Now she was between my legs, gripping my hardness in her hand, showing me exactly how happy she was that I was home.

She peeled back the covers and looked up at me, her gray eyes sleepy and seductive.