Page 53 of Fractured Grief (Hope’s Ridge #2)

Indy

O h My God.

I’d never been so consumed by pleasure and power. Having Seb at my mercy and willing to let me lead had had me on edge in seconds. I was still catching my breath as I came down from the high.

“I think I need another shower,” I giggled from my place against Seb’s chest.

“We both do.” I could hear the smile in Seb’s voice, and it just made me so happy. “But I’m not sure I can move.”

“You’re leg’s okay though, right?” I asked.

“Leg’s fine. I just think you fucked my brains out. My limbs are like jelly.” His throaty chuckle vibrated against my ear.

We stayed like that for a while, just relishing in our connection as our breathing returned to normal.

“You are incredibly talented,” Seb said.

“At sex? ”

Seb barked out a laugh. “I meant your drawings, but yeah, sex too.” He nuzzled the top of my head and kissed my hair as his thick fingers traced patterns up and down my back.

I sat up from my prone position and gazed into his stunning green eyes. “Thank you.”

“I mean it,” Seb implored. “Ah…do you think you could help draw something that could fix my scarred tattoo? I’d love to have one of your masterpieces on my skin forever.”

I inhaled a sharp gasp. “Really?”

“Of course, Sunshine. I’d love your help fixing Pa’s tattoo.” The way he looked at me just then nearly took my breath away.

“I’d be honored,” I whispered, awed by the faith this man had in me. I kissed him just then, because I had to, trying to convey with my lips how much his request meant to me.

“We should get cleaned up, and you should try to get some sleep. You’ve had an emotional few days, and I’m sure tomorrow will come with new challenges.”

“I couldn’t have done this without you. You make me feel like I can do anything.” I beamed up at Seb, enjoying the way his eyes sparkled.

“You can. But I’m glad to be here with you. I’ll be with you for as long as you want me,” Seb stated, causing my heart to skip a beat.

How’s forever, I thought, but not ready to say out loud. I never wanted to be without Seb, but with everything going on, I was scared that everything would change .

We took turns in the shower. It really was too small for Seb as I watched him crouch down to try and get the weak spray to wet him. Poor guy kept whacking his elbows, shoulders, or knees as he tried to rise off. I couldn’t help my giggles at the sight of my poor lumbering giant.

“Now you know why I have what I have at my house. I’m too big for the world around me,” he said, as he squeezed himself out of the shower door, and I handed him a towel.

“Oh, I can see. You poor big giant.” I reached up on my tippy toes for a kiss and patted his bearded cheek. Once we dried off, I led us back to bed.

I snuggled up against Seb, feeling lucky to have him this way and fortunate he was okay with the cuddles, so we could both fit on the bed. I fell asleep to his heartbeat in my ear.

I woke early as sunlight glowed around the edges of my curtains. Seb’s large arm held me protectively against his chest, and it seemed like I’d used his chest as my pillow for most of the night. I leaned over to try to see the time, knowing it was probably still early when Seb stirred.

“You weren’t going to escape without a kiss, were you?” his voice rumbled, rough with sleep.

“Never,” I said as I reached up to kiss his mouth. Seb’s hand trailed down my back to grip my ass, his morning wood pressing insistently into my stomach. “Hmmm, this is a nice way to wake up.”

I wriggled in place, causing him to curse.

“I can think of something better,” Seb growled as he flipped our positions and shifted up the bed to grip both our cocks in his large hand.

He stroked us slowly from root to tip. Seb lined up the heads, and I groaned as he rubbed them together. It felt amazing.

Seb didn’t waste any time, stroking us together. We were both panting and groaning as he released first.

“Indy!”

“Fuck, Seb.”

We each spoke at the same time, as my release followed his. We were panting and messy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way as Seb held himself above me on his elbows, his long hair forming a curtain around us.

“I love you, Sunshine,” he murmured, kissing me so sweetly I got a toothache.

“I love you, too.”

We got cleaned up and dressed and headed downstairs to prepare for the day.

Seb got the coffee started, and I checked the fridge to see what I could cook .

I decided on omelets with bacon and mushrooms, and got to work getting everything prepared.

Seb helped, and being like this, so free and domestic, felt right.

Having Seb in my home, in my kitchen, was perfect.

He fit, maybe not physically, but metaphorically, as we moved seamlessly around each other while chopping vegetables and preparing our breakfast as a team.

Once everything was ready, we went to sit at the small table when my phone rang.

“Hello?” I asked as I answered. It was Grace. She sounded exhausted and was only about two hours away. She must have gotten up early or driven nonstop. We chatted for a little while, and I encouraged her to have a break and to take her time. We would be here whenever she arrived.

Seb looked hesitant when I got off the phone.

“What is it?” I asked, not liking the look on his face one bit.

“Do you think I should leave? Give you time with Grace.” He rubbed nervously at the back of his neck. “I also don’t want to scare her, like I did with Bodhi.”

“When did you scare Bodhi?”

“When we first met. Looking back, before we knew his story, all the signs were there. I just thought he was shy. It killed me when he told me how scared he was.” My poor Seb appeared so forlorn, I hurried to reassure him.

“You’re big, sure, but anyone who spends a second with you can see how kind and gentle you are. And honestly, if you can, I’d love you to stay. I need you too,” I implored, and it was true .

I’d faced the phone call and jumped into action because Seb was here with me and gave me the confidence to do so. I’m not sure I could face what was next without him by my side.

I was also stressed about her reaction to me being with Seb.

I’d never shared my truth growing up, and if she had a problem with my being gay, then we’d have to find a different solution to her living with us.

Having Seb with me was like dipping a toe in and saying it without actually having to say it.

I just hoped she was as open-minded as her sister.

I had a good feeling, but only time would tell.

We finished breakfast and cleaned up, and it was time to get Hazel. Seb accompanied me on my walk to pick her up.

Hazel had a great time at her sleepover and chattered away about what she got up to, happy to have a captive audience.

When we arrived home, I encouraged Hazel to sit on the couch as I needed to talk to her about Grace before she arrived.

“Hazel, sweetheart, did Mom ever tell you she had a sister?” I inquired carefully, unsure of what she knew.

“Yes, Mommy had a sister and a mean older brother,” Hazel said as she fiddled with her stuffed fox in her lap.

“Mommy told you that?” I was surprised Lex would mention Jordan. He was six years older and had always been cruel.

“Yes. He spat at Mommy on the bad day and said bad words.”

I gasped. I didn’t realize Lexi had had to face her vile brother that day. God damn it, this was hard. Every time I thought I was prepared for what came next or the next moment of grief, the world threw something else at me.

“I’m sorry you had to witness that, sweetheart. Well, Mommy’s sister is going to come and stay with us for a while. Someone hurt her, and she has nowhere else to go, so we have to take care of her, okay? She’s your Aunt Grace.”

“Okay. Should I call her Auntie?” Hazel asked.

“Like Mr. Seb’s brothers are my uncles?” She asked her question with so much innocence that I didn’t really know what to say.

Had she called Lyric her uncle before? I wondered who put that idea in her head?

I guess it made sense, though, if Kat was her Nanny-Yaya, then Seb’s brothers would eventually be her surrogate uncles.

“Who told you that?” Seb asked. “Did Lyric tell you to call him Uncle?”

Seb sent me a worried glance.

“No one. But if you and Mr. Seb are boyfriends and I have Nanny-Yaya and Yaya, then all Seb’s brothers would be my uncles.” She explained it all so matter-of-factly, like we were stupid for not realizing the obvious, that both Seb and I laughed.

“I guess you’re right, sweetheart,” I said as I gave her a one-armed hug from my seat on the couch. “So, you’re okay having an auntie, too? To go with all those uncles?”

“Of course. I can help take care of her, I’m good at that.” Sometimes she was too mature and reasonable for her own good. “We should make cookies! And with Mr. Seb here, we can teach him how to make mommy’s special snickerdoodles.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” I beamed at my sweet daughter. “Go wash your hands, and we’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

And Hazel rushed from the room, dragging a confused Seb with her, saying he needed to clean up too, and she could show him how. My heart grew three sizes at how fully Hazel accepted Seb into our lives.

We made cookies as a family. Hazel explained each step to Seb as we went, and she even made sure we all got chef’s treats. They giggled as they snuck some extras when they thought I wasn’t watching.

A warmth bloomed in my stomach at the thought of this being my life now. If I fully embraced all that Seb was offering, we could be like this all the time— a real family— not that Lex and I weren’t, but having that intimacy and connection with Seb made everything feel that much more special.

We were pulling the cookies out of the oven when there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” Hazel said as she rushed off. I was frozen in place; my limbs wouldn’t work to chase after her.