Page 91 of Lovestrung

“Well, we have all night. Why don’t we find out?”

I gave her a lazy smile. “Challenge accepted.”

It didn’t take long for me to prove that I could, in fact, make her come with my mouth on her breasts alone.

* * *

“Have you thought more about what you’ll do with your life?” I asked the next morning over breakfast.

Penelope pulled a face and nodded, chewing her toast. “Yeah, and the more I think about it, the more I want it, but…”

I patted her ankle resting on my thigh. “But?”

She frowned at me, and I hated the insecure look that clouded her eyes. “You’re probably going to think I’m crazy or something.”

I chuckled as I shook my head. “Highly doubtful. Come on, spit it out.”

“Well…” Stalling, she took a sip of coffee and leaned back in her chair. “You know how I’ve always played around with DIY projects? Home décor, jewelry, beauty products…stuff like that?”

I nodded, remembering her showing things like that and posting them on her blog.

“Yeah.” I gave her an encouraging chin lift. “You’ve always been very creative.”

Her lips pulled up in a shy smile. “Thanks. For a long time, I thought more of my projects like a hobby, something to pass the time, but now…I’m thinking about delving deeper into them and open a boutique.”

“Really?” I grinned at her.

“Yeah. Just a small one, though. I’m going to take some business classes at college and work for my dad while I try out new things – I talked with him about it yesterday, and he’s fine with it. And once I’m ready, I’ll apply to get my LLC, find a store with affordable rent, etc.” She sat up straighter, and my grin widened to a smile. Watching her animated form as she spoke as much with her hands as her voice was a delight.

She blew out a breath. “I still have some money left from Gramps, and I can save up the rest if I need more. It’ll probably take me forever to set everything up, but I think I can do this.”

I had no doubt she could. I rested my arms on the dining table and took her hand.

“Bottom line is,” I began, “do you really want to do this?”

Her eager nod spoke volumes. “Yes, I really want to do it.”

“Then I have every faith in you that you’ll make it happen.”

She launched herself into my arms, covering my face in kisses and I laughed at her exuberance.

“Thank you for believing in me, baby,” she beamed down at me.

Her smile was infectious, warming me from the inside out.

“Always, darlin’. Always.”

To seal my faith in her, I took her mouth in a long, languid kiss until she became pliant in my arms. The small sigh that followed spurred me into action, and I lifted her up, never breaking our kiss, and took her to bed. If this was the reaction I would get every time I showed my support, I’d be sure to tell her each and every day how much I believed in her.

I was one lucky man, and I wasn’t about to forget it.

24

The Sweet Life…Interrupted

I couldn’t believe how easy life with Penelope was. We fell into a rhythm that seemed so natural to us both, it made me question why I’d ever been stupid enough to hold my feelings for her in check. We saw each other almost every day, even if we only had an hour to spend, and for the first time in my life, I felt free. Free to love her, but also free to allow myself to be loved.

I didn’t think too hard about it, but tonight, as I pulled up to her home, taking her out to get dinner before meeting the rest of her friends at the night club, Clash, the sweet and heady taste of freedom struck me again. I vowed to never let it go.