Page 44 of Finding Home

“Hi.” I smile, looking down at her, the wide smile on her face, and the way her eyes dance with happiness, she really is my favorite person. I just want to stop time and luxuriate in this moment of happiness. “What else needs to be done? I can finish up, and you can relax for a bit.”

“You actually have perfect timing. I just finished.” She stands up onto her toes, closing the distance between us. “What should we do until bed?”

Groaning, I pull her flush against me, and my dick takes instant notice of her nearness. Visions of our kitchen exploits flood my mind. “I have a few ideas,” I say before sucking her bottom lip into my mouth.

“Mhmm, I like the way you think.” Her eyes close and she goes pliant in my arms. I have to shake myself, remembering what I brought. I look at my dick that is straining against the zipper of my jeans. Sorry, buddy, you’re gonna have to wait.

“But first…” I step back, putting space between us, the absence of her in my arms jarring, and the way I crave her still takes me be surprise after all this time. “I have something for you.”

Her eyes light up, and fuck, if I don’t want to bring her a present every damn day if it means I get to see her like this. Stepping into the living room, I hold the bag up.

“What is it?”

“Huh, if only there was a way to find out the answer to that,” I quip, tapping my chin and smiling at her.

“Ass.” She laughs, reaching for the bag. When she turns toward the couch, I swat her ass, loving the yelp it earns me. She pulls out the tissue paper and freezes when she sees what’s inside. “What? It’s too much, Jace, I can’t take this.”

Reaching into the bag, I pull out the new camera I bought her. It’s made to look retro and old, but with top-of-the-line features. “These last few months, I’ve been lucky enough to follow my passion, and with Blake finishing his contractor license soon, I plan to grow the woodwork side of the business. I want you to get the chance to explore something you loved but also had to give up. Leaning into my passion and chasing that dream has made me so happy, and I’m hoping to help you do the same. There’s no pressure to make it your job or anything, but I want to see how you see the world from behind a lens.”

“I can’t believe you remembered.” Her voice is low, strained, and pulsing with emotion.

“I remember everything about you, babe, and love every new thing I see and learn.” My fingers graze across her cheek, memorizing the lines of her, staring into her eyes, dark and piercing as she watches me. “I love the way your eyes are golden brown one minute and the next a jade green. The way your nose scrunches when you’re thinking really hard. The way the smell of your hair and bodywash surrounds me when you’re in my arms. I love the way you love strawberry tarts, especially the sounds you make while eating them.”

Winking, I swipe the pad of my thumb across her cheek, relishing in the smooth feel of her skin, of the fact that I get to touch her and be with her like this. “I love the way you eat Shaina’s meatloaf every time she fixes it, smiling the whole time, even though I know you hate it.” Her eyes grow wide and she mouths how? “How? Because when you eat something you like, you do a little wiggle dance, if you don’t, you press your tongue into your cheek after each bite. I love that your guilty pleasure is cheesy horror movies, but you watch every Hallmark movie with Bree because it makes her so happy. I see it all because I’m always watching you, drawn to you in a way I’ll never understand. I love all the little things about you.” Another stroke of my thumb on her cheek, catching the single tear that had escaped.

In that moment, there is no way I can keep it inside anymore. I’ve been carrying it quietly for too long, and I can’t keep it bottled up. “Fuck it. I love you, Harper. I know it’s fast, but I can’t hold it in anymore. I love you so much, babe. You and Lizzie, you’re it for me.”

With that proclamation, she dissolves into tears. “Jace, I love you, too. And it’s not just because you are fine as hell,” she quips, smiling tearily at me, and I brush one off her cheek, loving hearing her finally say those words, “but it’s how you make me feel that has captured my whole heart. You see me for me, not as damaged goods, not as a problem. You see all of me and love me still. I’ve never felt so safe and cherished as I do with you. I had given up on finding anyone that would fit into my and Lizzie’s life, but then you showed up and changed everything. I realize now I didn’t even know what real love was until you, and I am so completely, pathetically, head over heels in love with you, Jace.”

My lips crash against hers in a fervent kiss. Lifting her off the couch, loving the way she wraps her legs around me, holding me close, and I head for the bedroom, needing her in a visceral way. I’m desperate to have every inch of her against me, no barriers, no distance, just us. Finally saying the words to her is so freeing, and the fact that she said them back, well, there’s nothing more I could ask for.

Chapter 31

Harper

I awake with Jace's body wrapped around me. His warmth and strength enveloping me. The smell of him, sandalwood and sawdust and just him, permeates my senses as I breathe him in. The early morning light is a hazy blue that spills over the bed, a promise of morning edging closer. Shifting in his arms, wanting to see him during this quiet hour, my fingers skim over his skin. I trace the patterns of his tattoos, exploring his body while my mind replays last night like a scene from a movie. It feels like a dream that I never want to wake up from. He loves me.

Once I’ve traced one arm, I let my fingers glide over the intricate design tattooed along his side. We both slept naked, not wanting anything between us, and too tired to bother after round number…I don’t even know how many. My lips tug into a smile at the memories, and I bite my lip as heat pools in my core. Draping my leg over his hip, wincing slightly, my pussy, although ready for another trip to pound town, is actually pretty sore. Of course, my horny pussy is only more turned on by the discomfort and the way it conjures what made it that way. His body shifts closer to me; eyes still closed like even in his sleep the pull to be closer drives him.

Minutes later, his eyes flutter open, and the sleepy smile on his lips has my ovaries going into hyperdrive. Sore pussy, ain't no thing, momma needs to get railed, hard. “I love you,” he murmurs, pulling me in for a kiss, like now that he can finally say it he never wants to stop, and I never want him to.

“Love you, too.” My words turn into a gasp as his rough, thick fingers rim my pussy.

“Fuck, Harper, you’re already wet.” The torturous circles continue. “Are you sore at all? I know last night this took a beating.” He dips in slightly, still rubbing circles, like he is massaging and soothing my abused core.

“A little, but…” Biting my lip, I stop, not sure if I can finish that train of thought. His movements freeze, and his fingers slide out of me. “Don’t you fucking dare,” I growl, gripping his wrist to keep him where I want him. Warm air caresses my neck where his face is nuzzling as he huffs out a laugh.

“If you want this,” his finger rims me again, “finish that sentence.”

At this point, I don’t care. I’m writhing and prepared to beg for another orgasm. “I like the soreness. I like the way it reminds me of you inside of me”

“Shit,” his breath goes ragged, “you are dripping onto my fingers.”

“I did as you asked. Now, give me my reward.” I don’t even recognize the woman he makes me. Feral with want, insatiable in my pursuit of orgasms and to have his cum painting my pussy.

Knock, knock, knock. We both freeze, then Lizzie’s voice carries through the door.

“Noooooo,” I whine, dropping my head to his chest, and the rumble from it is soothing as he laughs, dragging his fingers through my folds, plunging deep a few times before withdrawing.