Page 112 of Perfect Assumption

Like she has to ask that twice. I lean forward enough to capture her lips beneath mine. And even as my lower body keeps up its frantic pace, I softly part her lips with my tongue. I stroke mine in and out of her mouth, making her whimper at the dual sensations.

Then, I add a third.

Reaching between us, I graze the side of her clit with my finger lightly. It’s sensory overload.

I feel her body clamp down as her climax races over us before her mind catches up enough for her to scream. And it triggers my own. It whips through me like a bolt of lightning.

Gasping, I ride her through the waves of pleasure and aftershocks before I collapse on top of her. I’m splintered into a million pieces. How am I supposed to recover from that? I wonder wearily.

Then I feel her hand pass over my skin before she whispers, “I love you, Ward.”

All the pieces of energy that just exploded in every direction whoosh back into my body instantaneously at her words. Struggling to brace myself over her, I nuzzle my nose against hers. “I love you too.”

As we settle down to sleep, I immediately begin to count my blessings, namely Angie and my family.

Neither of which has a damn thing to do with money.

Forty-Three

Angela

Something must be wrong. Beckett Miller held the door for me this morning. When I asked him for a photo, he politely said not today but then paid for my coffee. #strangerthings

— Jacques Yves, Celebrity Blogger

“This year is going to be amazing,” I tell Sula as I’m getting ready to head into the city. Ward didn’t stay with me last night because he received a call from his building super about a busted pipe.

“If the way you’re smiling is any indication, it sure as hell is. Damn, Angie, I’m so happy for you.” Sula blows her nose into a tissue.

“Are you getting sick?” I worry.

“I’m crying, you fool! My bestie is in love with the most gorgeous man on the planet who happens to be in love with her too! That deserves more than tears. That deserves champagne, but the bleeding stores are closed.”

I laugh, carefree and happy. “Oh, Sula. Idolove him.”

She sobs some more. “I want to fly back just to hug him. You know that, right?”

“You’ll get to meet him. And I swear, he’s as protective of me as you are.”

“Damn right. He should be.”

“Now, tell me about the construction guy you were seeing. Josef?” I ask eagerly.

She scoffs. “Fecking idiot.”

“Sula, you have to come home soon. You’re cursing more like a Brit every day,” I admonish.

“Fine. Fucking idiot. I went to meet him at the bar the other night, like we planned, only he was there with another woman. Turns out he was dating someone else at the same time.”

“Ouch.” What else should I say, I wonder. Sula’s luck with guys hasn’t been the best. But she’s held them off for a very good reason.

“I know, right?”

“What did you do?” I gather my purse and shrug into my coat before giving Flower a few treats. I think she’s still high on her Christmas catnip because she hasn’t taken a swipe at my phone in days.

“I marched right over to where he was and showed her the photos of him and I.”

I’m thankful I’d reached the bottom steps into the basement because her words have me leaning against a wall howling. “Of course you did.”