Page 54 of Something Reckless

ALBA

T his is a far cry from the Sunday mornings I’m used to. Usually, I’d be up to my elbows in cleaning products, scrubbing the fuck out of some stranger’s bathtub right now.

But this morning, I awaken wrapped in cloud-like linens with the feel of a warm, strong body molding itself around me. I roll over in Easton’s arms and he smiles in his sleep.

“Hello, Sleeping Beauty.” His eyes lazily blink open and he kisses the tip of my nose.

“Hi, Prince Charming…” I say, relaxed and cozy in his embrace.

“I like to consider myself more of a fearless knight, actually.” He tries to puff up his chest.

“After last night, I’d have to agree,” I say with a laugh. “A prince would never do the things you did to me last night.”

“A prince could never. And you were out like a light.” His lips trail over my temple.

I scrunch up my nose at him. “Well, you wore me the hell out, mister.” Then I go serious. “Last night was incredible, Easton. ”

Already, his cock is stirring behind the thin fabric of his boxers.“You deserve incredible, Alba. Every day of the week.” When he cups my cheek, I lean into his touch, wanting more of it.

Back when this whole thing started, I swore that I’d remain level-headed and focused. But now, I admit it—I’m lost. I’m lost in love. And it’s all because of Easton Raines.

“How are you feeling?” He stares at me with genuine concern on his face.

I scan my body from head to toe, and all the sticky parts in between. I’m aching all over. But in the most euphoric way.

“I feel amazing,” I declare with a giggle.

Easton exhales, a weight seeming to roll off his shoulders. “That’s good.” He kisses me softly. His voice lowers. “You have no idea how fucking honored I am to be the only man who’s been inside you.”

His words get me hot and bothered in an instant. “I like the idea that you’re the only man who’s had me,” I confess shyly. “Is it terrible that I wish we had done this nine years ago?”

I cringe, almost wishing I hadn’t spoken the question out loud. After all, if Easton and I had hooked up back in high school, Jagger probably wouldn’t be here now. And I can’t imagine life without that magical little boy.

Easton quietly contemplates my question for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong, a part of me always wished I’d made you mine from the start. But I was barely eighteen. I know I wouldn’t have been all that great in the sheets back then.”He turns up his nose.

I laugh, letting my arms tighten around his middle.

“For nine years I’ve been wishing I’d claimed you when I had the chance. This is even better than all my fantasies. ”

“It is?” I feel a soft smile on my lips as I utter the words.

“Infinitely better.” He smiles back.

With an unhurried movement, he scoots over, grabbing something off the floor beside the bed.

“What is that?” I ask. I shamelessly crane my neck to get a look. “A present? For me?”

“Sheesh, woman. Nosy much?” He holds the small pink gift bag over his head, out of my reach.

I gape, resisting the urge to hop up and swipe it out of his hand. “Wait—what’s the special occasion?”

“Waking up with you next to me is the special occasion.” He flashes a devastating grin and those dimples nearly make me fall out of the bed.

“Easton…” I breathe out. Every time I think he can’t be any sweeter to me, he goes and tops himself.

He sets the bag in my hand and I sit up, enthusiastically digging through the shimmery tissue paper.

I fish out a small but expensive-looking black leather case. It has my initials engraved across the front and pretty gold accents clasped at the four corners.

“What is this…?” I ask, a smile already tilting the edges of my lips.

“Open it and see…” he prods me.

I do as he says, eagerly lifting the flap. I blink in confusion at what’s inside.

I slide a sturdy white slip of paper from the case and inspect it carefully. “B-business cards?” I ask, a wave of bubbles rushing into my stomach as I read the words, Alba Anderson, Realtor.

I’m almost afraid to speak the words out loud. I’m terrified to jinx myself.

My gaze snaps over to his. “Easton, I just re-took the test a few days ago. I haven’t gotten my results yet. ”

“You’ll pass,” he says confidently.

“And what if I don’t?” My voice trembles, weighed down by the shame of my past disappointments.

He shrugs. “If you don’t, you’ll keep going until you get it,” he says firmly. “I know you want this, Alba. And I promise, I won’t let you give up on yourself.”

My gaze falls back to my name, email address and phone number printed on the card. My eyes trail over each embossed letter.

“God—I do want this…” I hear myself whisper.

“And I’ll make sure you get it.” Easton pulls me back down into his arms, sweeping his lips across my forehead.

He believes in me, far more than I believe in myself. And I realize that I’ve never needed anyone in my corner as badly as I need him. Maybe that should scare me, but I have this calm, deep knowing in my bones that Easton Raines won’t be walking out of my life anytime soon.

Our limbs get tangled up in the sheets as we cuddle and talk about nothing and everything. Easton’s upcoming hockey season. The next romance novel I’m looking forward to. The father-son reading challenge that’s around the corner. We just…hang out.

Until my growling belly chimes in and kills the vibe.

Easton chuckles, glancing at the bedside clock. “Shit—it’s almost eleven o’clock.”

I draw my palm down his chest. “We really lost track of time, huh?”

“Room service?” He reaches for the menu beside the bed.

“Yes, please,” I mumble, clenching my stomach when it growls again as I scan over the breakfast options. “But maybe a shower first. I feel sticky everywhere.”

“Yes. Hygiene,” Easton says. “I’ve been dying to kiss on you properly. But I’m scared I’ll injure you with my morning breath.”

I fall back into the pillows, cackling as Easton nimbly hops out of bed, big cock a-swinging.

“Order for us,” he commands me. “I’ll go brush my teeth then we can shower together.” He flashes me a wink, then turns for the bathroom. Mmm…look at that hockey butt go .

“I’m so lucky…” I whisper up at the ceiling with the widest smile on my face.

I just lost my virginity to the kindest, sweetest, hottest man I’ve ever laid my eyes on. And I think he’s crazy about me.

My good mood is short-lived, though. I get a notification on my phone. It’s followed by three more dings before I can even locate my device on the floor beside the bed.

The string of text messages on the screen turns my morning upside down.

Raya: Is that you and Jagger???

Attached is a screenshot of that photo Easton took of Jagger and me in the bumper cars at the fair.

Raya: Easton is back in Fairy Bush?

Raya: You let him meet Jagger?

Raya: How could you let that man around my kid?! I trusted you with my secret. How could you betray me like this?!!!!

What? I betrayed her? What is she even talking about?

If my sister had sent me these messages a few weeks ago, I would have been drowning in guilt. I would have been ashamed of my actions. I would have been questioning all of my decisions.

But after getting to know Easton the way I know him now, and seeing what a good man he is? After falling head over heels in love with him? Raya can go kick rocks for all I care.

I love my sister. Of course I do. But I won’t allow her to bully and guilt-trip me anymore. My fingers fly across the screen as I tell her just as much.

Me: The nerve of you to try and chew my head off after you’ve been ignoring my attempts to reach out to you for weeks now. Hell—you have ignored your parental responsibilities for YEARS now, leaving it all on my shoulders. My doormat era is over, Raya. And it’s time for you to grow the fuck up.

I hit ‘send’ on the message without feeling an ounce of remorse. That’s how I know I’m a new woman.

And then, with the tap of a button, I block her ass.