“Listen, I’m trying not to pinch myself because if this is a dream, I do not want to wake up.”
I playfully pinched his arm. “This isn’t a dream.”
Edison’s hand found my cheek. “I love you too, Fancy Face.” In the low light from the moon, I could see the muscles in his jaw clench and circle.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Edison, I’ve known you since you were five, and you’ve made that same pinched expression when you’re nervous or worried.”
He pulled off to the side of the road. Placing the truck in park. And I braced myself for what was to come. Because only bad news was delivered on the side of roads. “How is this going to work? You and me, I mean.”
I unbuckled my seat belt and turned to fully face him. “I don’t know. And I don’t wanna try to figure it out tonight. Tonight was a good night.”
“That’s not going to work for me. This just can’t all be vibes. You know me. I’m about things fitting in their place. I like details, I like a plan.”
“Love isn’t about logistics.”
“I just need to know we’re working toward the same thing.”
“We are.”
“Fancy, I want to marry you one day. I want to have a kid or two. I want to teach them how to grow vegetables and measure their height against a door frame. I want to dance around the kitchen at night while we clean up after dinner. I want us to renovate the farm so it’s a safe and loving home for our family.”
I cradled his face. “I’m onboard for all those things too. I don’t know exactly what that looks like. But I want to build a life with you in it. It’s probably not going to be as conventional as you outlined it, but if you’re willing to think outside the box on some things, I think we can make this work. I really do.”
“I hate to be that guy, but we need to iron this out.”
“Okay. But does it have to be tonight when I’m feeling tipsy and just want to go home and fuck you?” My hand slipped to his lap. I was a bit of a coward because while I recognized we had tough choices to make, I wasn’t ready to make them. If I could freeze time, I’d hide away with him forever. But I knew as well as he did I couldn’t stay in Hume.
Edison removed my hand and placed it over his heart. He didn’t say a word, just pressed on my hand so it was secure under the weight of his. Closing my eyes, the predictable beats of his heart vibrated against my palm. I could write a hundred love songs about this man. This had to work out because frankly, I’d never wanted something more in my entire life. I wanted Edison and the future he offered.
Edison would love me until his dying breath. I honestly didn’t deserve a love like that, but I’d do my best to return his focused devotion every day until he had his full. He kissed my palm and then turned back onto the road. We drove in silence, not awkward or unnerving quiet like I experienced with Chap. It was an easy, content stillness because we both knew we were exactly where we were meant to be.
When we pulled up to the farmhouse, he leaned in to kiss me and the kissing spilled out of the truck onto the paved walkway and up the stairs. Discarded items of clothing scattered in the grass, flower bed, and dirt. We weren’t making it inside. I pulled off my cowboy boots while Edison unbuckled his jeans, removing both his pants and boxers in one movement. Sitting on the oversized rocking chair, he pulled me onto his lap. Lowering myself onto his erect dick, I was eager for him to be inside.
As he entered me, we collectively exhaled a sigh of relief. Some people take hot yoga classes or meditate to relax. Me, I made love to Edison. With him I felt incredibly safe. I could turn my brain off and just let life happen because I knew when I waswith him, he’d keep me protected. With Edison, I came first, and I meant that in every way possible.
The night air on my skin caused my flesh to pebble. Edison’s mouth consumed my modest breast. His tongue circling my tightened nipple. Moaning, I rocked my hips over his length. I’d never craved another person as much as I craved him. Every part of my body ignited when he was inside me. He possessed the master key to secret places deep within. Unlocking a kaleidoscope of emotions. Awash in a pink, orange, purplish glow of love’s first spark, the hue of a sunset kissing the horizon goodbye. My pussy literally salivating as I creamed on his impressive dick. Edison’s steady frame grounded me as we worked in tandem up and down, in and out.
He gripped my ass and worked me over his length. Like a sorcerer he culled every moan, desperate gasp of air, and cries to a higher power out of me. Pressing my forehead into his, our eyes connected and in that charged silence, a thousand unspoken words passed between us. His gaze softened, lingering, tracing the contours of my face as if he was cataloging every detail. My gaze held steady, searching, a quiet invitation to go deeper.
A slow knowing smile flickered at the corner of his lips, answering the question shimmering in my eyes.Was he all in?Because I didn’t have any more cards to play. In that moment there was no need for words, the longing in his kisses, and urgent thrust expressed a silent promise that I was not alone. This knowledge danced in the space between our gaze, speaking in a language only one’s heart could understand.
Leaning back, my body coasted on air with Edison’s hand at the base of my spine for support. Nature was an unexpected participant in my wave of ecstasy. My body unfolding like the night sky, an endless velvet tapestry, deep and mysterious. My eyes were stitched with countless stars shimmering likescattered diamonds. And Edison was the moon, his body slick with sweat, a silver guardian draped over me in a soft glow, casting dreams into my core.
Our love surged like constellations weaving their ancient tales across the heavens, guiding lovers to nirvana. When you are properly loved time slows, and the world breathes in the quiet magic of possibility. With Edison, it was possible to heal, forgive myself, and embrace the love I often questioned I deserved.
Since my return to Hume,I had the most restful sleep in years. Most nights I’d stare at the ceiling, trying to identify all the red flags. Not just with Chap but Darla too. Edison claimed Darla’s duplicitous nature was always there, but I didn’t buy it. Darla was my friend, but at some point our friendship became one-sided.
She teased me for being attached to Chap, saying who brings sand to the beach. We were famous and that meant having access to some of the hottest men in Hollywood. Darla thought it was silly for me to settle down so early. I’d never been a bar hopper, preferring to sit in my reserved booth at my favorite bar. And like Oz suggested, I didn’t like being alone, bouncing from boyfriend to boyfriend with little lag time.
I’m not saying men were knocking down my door, but there was an active waiting area filled with eligible suitors. When one fucked up, I’d just call in the next. But I realized Edison wasn’t someone you could easily replace. He was the guy who set the bar so high it became damn near impossible for others to measure up.
I gave my body a huge stretch and pulled the covers from my head. Edison’s side of the bed was empty. Don’t ask me how he managed to do it, but he was like a ninja each morning. Getting dressed in the dark and out the door to feed the animals all without waking me. I loved animals, but waking up at the crack of dawn to tend to them wasn’t really my thing.
When Edison returned to the bedroom, he handed me a cup of coffee before stripping and jumping back into the bed. He positioned himself behind me so I could lean on his chest. I couldn’t see him, but his face was buried in my mass of curls.
