I wanted to take my time.
To touch every part of her, suck her nipples, grant her orgasm after orgasm, but...there was time for that. We had a lifetime to make up for the fast moments. We had forever to explore and experiment.
For now, this was a hello.
A long-awaited hi.
Withdrawing my fingers, I nudged away her hand and settled between her thighs.
She spread wider, her smile bright and blinding.
I couldn’t help it.
I had to kiss her again.
Deeply, deliciously kiss her.
Her tongue danced with mine as my cock found her entrance.
She gasped into my mouth as I slowly pushed inside.
I went slow, tantalisingly slow. This wasn’t sex. This was so, so much more. This was us no longer fighting destiny.
We quaked as I finally slid the final inch and sheathed myself completely within her. Her body radiated heat and I struggled with the need to thrust. To push us both to the release just out of reach.
Instead, I paused.
I looked down at her, nestled beneath me, her lips still red, eyes liquid with love, and for the first time in my life...I trusted.
Truly, unquestionably trusted.
This woman was mine.
She always had been, always would be.
I would never doubt that again.
I pumped into her.
She moaned and dug her fingernails into my lower back, rocking with me.
My thrusts turned faster, deeper, plunging as far as I could.
And O demanded more.
We traded the slow rhythm for a primitive one. Chasing love and lust in its rawest form.
Our lips collided, quick and out of control.
Need galloped around my blood and an orgasm wrapped around the base of my spine.
O shuddered, her mouth parting as pleasure rippled through her. The bands of her release squeezed my cock. I grew harder, thrust faster.
“Fuck...” I groaned.
She cried out as I drove into her, burying my face into her neck and biting her as I lost control.
I came harder than I ever had before.
My stomach hollowed out. My muscles locked. I poured into her, giving her every part of me.
Over and over I came until I trembled and slowly returned from paradise to earth.
For the first time, I wondered about birth control. I’d slept with O without protection. We’d never discussed if she was on the pill. We should probably chat about our future dreams and goals regarding family, but for now, I was open to anything.
I didn’t care if I spent the rest of my life loving O and Olive or if we’d add to our brood.
Either way, we were family.
Now and forever after.
* * * * *
“Good morning.” I smiled as O appeared from my bedroom.
Her answering smile was almost sheepish, her hair tangled and body loose. “Good morning.”
“Coffee?” I poured a fresh cup for her.
“Please.” Padding over to me in bare feet, I couldn’t stop staring at her. Couldn’t stop believing this was real. That I got this fucking lucky.
Passing her the mug, I couldn’t stop myself from hugging her close and kissing her.
It was meant to be a short kiss.
It turned out to be a long, heated hello.
By the time I let her go, I was hard again and cursing the clock for not having enough time to get her back into bed.
Justin had text and congratulated me. He said he knew why O hadn’t gone home last night and was glad I’d finally come to my senses. He also said to meet him and Olive at her dance practice downtown and not to be late.
My grin was stupidly big as O sipped the drink I’d made her and practically swooned. “How is it that life feels so much brighter? This coffee tastes better than any other coffee. The sun is prettier than any other sun. It’s as if—”
“We’ve come alive again,” I murmured.
“Yes, exactly.” Her eyes snagged mine and once again my heart skipped a beat.
Without looking away, I pulled the small piece of paper from my pocket. “Here.”
I hadn’t planned on giving it to her so soon. But...this moment was perfect. This moment was just us, before we returned to reality.
“What is it?” Placing her coffee on the bench, she grinned.
“Read it.”
Her eyes left mine, skimming the newly-penned job advertisement. If she accepted the job, there would be no terminations or quitting.
The position was for life.
Must be brave, stubborn, and impervious to the tempers of loved ones.
Hours are endless, pay is non-existence, quitting absolutely forbidden.
Able to function on no sleep, refrain from running when times get hard, and be more than just a living canvas but a lover...a mother.
Other attributes required: forgiving, opinionated, and not afraid to tell me when I’m wrong. Must also enjoy being touched and kissed at any time of my choosing.
Call or email ‘YOUR HEART, HIS SOUL’ if interested in applying.
Her head whipped up the moment she’d finished, her gaze searching mine. “What is this?”
I fought the weakness in my knees, going to her and cupping her cheek. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”
I’d written it an hour ago as dawn arrived. I’d dared to dream I could have everything.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I want you in my life. My business is back in full work, and I only want to paint one canvas for the rest of my days. I want you there to scold me when I’m being an arse. I want you to continue loving Olive like you do. I want to share everything I have and am with you...forever.”
“Gil, I—”
“You don’t have to say yes...not straight away. I can wait.”
“And if I say yes now?”
“Then it’s binding. A contract for eternity.”
She blushed. “Eternity is a long time.”
“It’s far too short.” Gathering her in my arms, I kissed her gently. “I will never be as good as Justin. I accept that. I accept that I will never be as selfless as either of you and acknowledge that I will probably let you down at some point, but, O...I don’t want any other canvas. I don’t want any other mother for Olive. I want to share art with you. I want to paint and dance together. I want you.”
She trembled under my touch. “I...I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll marry me.”
Her lips parted. She gasped. “Are you serious?”
Instead of answering, I dropped to one knee. “Marry me, Olin Moss. It’s always been you. It will always be you. I don’t know how to survive without you.”
O tugged at my hands, trying to bring me to my feet.
I fought her, waiting for a reply.
I would stay on my knee for weeks if that was what it took.
Slowly, a tear ran from the corner of her eyes. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
She bit her lip, nodding. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
And suddenly, I was that kid falling in love with a girl in a school corridor.
Possibilities were endless.
Love guaranteed.
She was my family.
Finally.
Epilogue
______________________________
Gil
IT TOOK A year to pay off the fine and the donations to the victim’s families.