After I quietly pull my sweats on, I head down the hall and out of the house. Pulling the door open, I bound down the stairs to survey my car. As I round towards the back right where Dean haddropped in the video, I immediately see the slash in my tire.Bastard.As irritated as I am with my tire, the other part of me is relieved that Dean focused his clear threat and anger towards me instead of Ember.
Once I get back into the house, I head toward the coffee pot to wake Ember with a cup of coffee. Just as I splash some of her favorite creamer into her cup, she strolls into the kitchen, pulling on a flowy black robe. Her hair is a mess on one side, accompanied by pillow marks on her face. She grins and snuggles right up to me. I pass her the warm coffee cup and put my arms around her. She’s so warm, and she fits perfectly into my chest. Standing there with no words, taking in the way she smells and feels in the morning is bringing back that same feeling I had in her bathroom.
“Were you out checking on your car?” she asks, taking a sip and looking up at me.
“Yeah, he stuck my tire,” I tell her, and I hope she won't try and take the blame.
She lets out a strong sigh and starts to apologize, but before she can get too far, I cut her off with a kiss. Just a soft and simple kiss to make her stop talking.
“Please don’t apologize,” I say to her. “You didn’t slash my tire, you didn’t tell him to slash my tire.” She pushes away from me and I let her go, resting my hands behind me on the counter.
“I know I didn’t, but I still feel so bad.” She sets her coffee cup on the island and looks back to me. “You’ve done so much for me, and I feel like I've disrupted your life.” I let her get it out, letting her feel her feelings before I validate her.
“You have disrupted my life, Ember.” I say, and I see the disappointment glaze over her eyes before she looks down at the floor. “You’ve disrupted it in the best way, pretty girl.”
I step over to her and place one hand on her hip and the other on her jaw, guiding her face up to look at me. Tears are already lining her eyes, and she squeezes her eyes closed, forcing the tears to roll down her freckled cheeks.
“Before that barbeque, I spent my days working and planning out the coffee bean company and that’s it,” I tell her, truthfully. “I wasn’t happy. Sure, the coffee bean company was exciting for me, but I didn’t really have anyone to share the happiness with.” Ember wipes her eyes and presses her forehead to my chest. “In just the few days we’ve spent together, after all these years, you’ve given me two of the most important things. A home and a purpose.” I circle my arms around her and squeeze.
I hate that I haven’t been able to express these feelings to her, but I know it's all still so new. She’s such a strong woman, but I know she still guards herself from being vulnerable.
“You make me happy, Harley.” Ember wraps her arms around my waist and looks up just slightly, and that move alone gives me hope that she might feel the same way for me.
I lean down and kiss her softly. Before I increase the force behind my kiss, I spin the two of us around, lifting my girl up and setting her butt on the counter. Standing in between her open legs, I pull her body flush against mine and her legs wrap around me loosely. Her arms come up around my head and she runs one hand down my head, getting a handful of my hair, and pulls it. The movement has my cock stirring and hardening against the counter.
I didn’t know I had a hair pulling kink,I smile at the thought while I continue my exploration of Ember’s mouth.
She pulls back just a little bit. “What’re you smiling about?”
“I just really like you pulling my hair,” I admit as I go back in for another kiss. I lose track of time as we lose ourselves in each other. No sex, just old fashion making out and feeling each other up.
After we’ve pulled ourselves apart and we’re all hot and bothered, I realize that despite the days we’ve spent together, I haven’t taken Ember out on a date yet.
“Let me take you out tonight,” I say. “I want you to get all dressed up, do your hair and makeup so you feel like a badass, and let me kiss you goodnight on your doorstep.” A big smile spreads across her face.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EMBER
Harley tookoff a little bit ago to get clothes and get ready for our date.
I’m really excited for this date. Harley and I never got to go on legit dates when we dated in high school, because I had strict parents. We only ever got to meet up at football games or school events, and you can only do so much at school events. Not very romantic.
I texted Atlas before Harley left this morning, “I’m going out on a date, wanna go with me to get your nails done?” She texts back quickly, letting me know she would be there to pick me up in an hour.
I pull on my puffer vest over my hoodie, and flop onto the couch, waiting for Atlas.
I’ve been scrolling my phone for a few minutes when I hear an atrocious honk out front. I quickly head outside, making sure I lock the door before leaving. I hop in the car and meet a gloom faced Atlas.
“Hon, what’s wrong?” I ask.
“Just been a rough morning,” she says as she backs out of the driveway, right arm braced on the back of my headrest to be sure she’s watching for any cars coming. I begin to speak when Atlas cuts me off, “Please, just don’t.” She says, finally pulling onto the road, heading towards our favorite nail salon.
We’re only 3 weeks out from Asher leaving for his deployment, so I know the weight of the world feels like it's sitting right in the center of her chest.
We get to the counter and order our complimentary mimosas while we wait for our nail techs to call us over.
“Yeah, this is technically the first one we’ve ever been on,” I tell her while I scroll Pinterest for nail art designs.
