Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-three

Sam

“Sam’s home!” Mason shouts as soon as I step into the house. He’s sitting in the kitchen, eating the rest of the pie, and snickers when both my mom and Rory come practically running into the room. “I almost had to call in a favor and report you as a missing person.”

“I was worried,” Mom exclaims. “You didn’t say anything about staying elsewhere last night.” She holds up her hands. “I know, you’re an adult, but I was expecting you home.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think about it.” I put my keys and phone on the counter.

“Where were you?” Rory asks, doing a terrible job at hiding her excitement. She knows exactly where I was last night. I drove Chloe home and didn’t come back. Ignoring Rory’s wide eyes and grin, I look at the leftover biscuits and gravy on the stove.

“I was with Chloe.” I get a plate from the cabinet. Thinking about her sends a rush through me, and I have to stop myself before my mind wanders back to her soft lips.

“About fucking time,” Mason says with his mouth full.

“With in what sense?” Rory takes the plate from me, eyes drilling into me.

“Trust me, Sis, you don’t want details,” Mason quips.

“In the sense we were together,” I say and try to take the plate from her, but she snatches it back.

“But how were you with her?” Rory presses, and Mom intervenes.

“I don’t want to or need to know those details.” Mom takes the plate from Rory and starts filling it with food for me. “Though, Sam, I always did think you and Chloe would make a good couple.” She does a much better job than Rory at hiding her excitement.

“Are you going to see her again or was this a one-night kinda thing?” Rory rushes out.

“I’m going to see her again,” I say, working hard to keep my voice level. “We’re going to dinner tonight.”

Rory squeals and puts her hands over her face. “So, she’s your girlfriend? It’s official?”

“We’re taking things slow,” I answer.

“Yeah, I’m sure you went real slow last night,” Mason chides, earning a glare from Mom.

“Chloe’s always been part of the family,” Mom goes on, putting the plate in the microwave. “Now she really will be!”

“I’ll have a famous sister-in-law!”

“Slow down,” I tell both Mom and Rory. “I’m not proposing any time soon, okay?”

“But you’re thinking about it?” Rory asks.

“Yes. I bought a ring on the way home,” I deadpan, and Rory narrows her eyes. Mason gets up to put his empty plate in the sink.

“It’s about damn time you two hooked up,” he says, clapping me on the back. “You should have twenty years ago.”

“I’d hope not,” Mom counters. “Sam would have been sixteen, which would make Chloe fourteen.” Mom looks at me and smiles warmly. “Chloe is a lovely woman. You better treat her right. I missed her all those years and having her back is just so nice.”

“I missed her too,” I admit and take my plate from the microwave the second before it beeps.

“It’s a shame you two drifted apart,” Mom goes on.

“Why did you?” Rory asks, tipping her head.

“Where’s Dean?” I ask, making it a point to change the subject. Mom and Rory mean well, but I don’t want my love life out on the exam table like this.

“Dad suckered him into helping with another project at the office,” Rory says, sitting at the table. Dean’s a contractor, and Dad was all too excited to have a “professional” help him finish the million projects he started over the years. “He should be back soon. Why? Do you want to double date?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of just us hanging out. Chloe has to work on her book before she can do anything.”

“I’d like that.” Rory smiles. “It’s supposed to rain, want to see a movie?”

“Sure,” I reply, not even knowing what’s playing. No matter what, time is going to go by slowly. Adam starts fussing, and Mom rushes to get him. I grab a spoon and join my siblings at the table.

“You can thank me now,” Mason says. “I knew you needed a push.”

Normally, I’d give him shit before giving in, but not today. Because I am so fucking thankful. “I did, so thanks for that.”

“Am I missing something?” Rory asks, looking up from her phone.

“No one but this dumbass missed it,” Mason says, but Rory still looks confused. “Last night he was still saying he didn’t have feelings for Chloe. Which we all knew was bullshit.”

“I wondered from time to time,” Rory confesses. “But I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“Don’t you have like a million sisters-in-law?” Mason asks.

“Technically they’re Dean’s sisters-in-law. And I have four,” Rory replies, rolling her eyes. “And Quinn is going to be so excited! She loves the Shadowfall series. Have you told Archer yet?” she asks me. Archer is one of my closest friends, who I met during my residency. He’s a surgeon, and we ended up in the OR together more times than not. We shared an apartment during the final years of residency, and he’s married to Dean’s sister, making him Rory’s brother-in-law now.

“You’re acting like we ran away and eloped,” I say, getting annoyed. “Calm down.”

“Fine,” Rory huffs. “Just don’t fuck this up. I like Chloe.”

“I was going to but won’t now that you said so,” I say sarcastically and take a bite of my breakfast. Though Rory has nothing to worry about. There’s no way I’m fucking this up.

*

“Chloe?” I call, pushing open the gate. I texted her to let her know I was on my way. She said she was on the screened-in porch writing and said to come around. Not wanting to startle her, I call her name again as I walk up to the porch. The sun is just now starting to set, and my heart speeds up and my dick jumps when I see her sitting on the couch on the porch, computer in her lap. She’s wearing headphones and can’t hear me.

I wave, trying to catch her attention before pushing the door open. She looks up right as I’m lifting my arm in the air and smiles. She pulls her earbuds out of her ears and closes the computer, putting it on the glass coffee table in front of her. She strides over, and we meet in the middle. I wrap her in a tight embrace.

“Fuck, I missed you.” I put my lips to hers, losing myself in her kisses.

“I missed you too.” She stands on her toes and rakes her fingers through my hair. My eyes fall shut, and I grip her tight around the waist, pressing her hips against mine. It rained on and off most of the day, lowering the temperature drastically from yesterday. Light rain was just starting to fall as I walked around the house, making it perfect porch-sitting weather.

“Did you get a lot of writing done?”

“Yes, a ton.” She leads me to the couch. “I was very inspired, for some reason.”

We sink onto the couch together; it’s surprisingly comfortable for an outdoor piece of furniture.

“Oh yeah? What inspired you?”

She raises her eyebrows and shifts her gaze to my lap, licking her lips. “Your dick.” God damn, woman.

“Just my dick?”

Nodding, she straddles me. “Yep. Might as well put a bag over your head next time you fuck me.”

“I’d be okay with that.”

She laughs and leans in, breasts in my face. She’s still wearing the tank top and shorts she was wearing earlier, and her hair is still slightly damp from the shower. I move my hands up her back and press my fingers into her shoulders, massaging her stiff muscles.

“Does your back still hurt?”

“A little. I was all hunched over writing today.”

“Here,” I say, urging her to relax against me so I can rub her back.

“Mhhh,” she groans. “That feels good.” She lazily hooks one arm around my shoulders and rests her head against me. I’m the one massaging her, but it does feel good. Having Chloe in my arms like this is how it’s meant to be, and I know it was nothing short of kismet for us both to be here at the same time.

I sweep one hand down Chloe’s back, fingers slipping under the elastic band of her shorts. Chloe rocks her hips, pressing her hot core against me. My cock starts to harden, and she moans again, lifting her head up. I push her hair back and kiss her.

“I could use another dose of inspiration,” she says coyly and moves off me, looking at my lap as she wets her lips. “Take your pants off.”

I undo the button of my pants, and she pulls them down to my ankles. I kick them off, along with my shoes. Chloe watches, a hungry smirk on her face. She pushes me back and sticks her hands inside my boxers, slender fingers wrapping around my thick cock. Slowly, she moves her hand up and down, and her soft skin against me is almost enough to make me come right here and now. She inches closer, leaning over so I get a clear view of her breasts, and circles her thumb over the tip of my cock. It feels so damn good.

With her free hand, she pushes me back. It’s a tight fit with both of us on the couch, but Chloe doesn’t stop jerking me off. My eyes flutter closed as I reach down for her hand, wrapping my fingers around her wrist. She releases me and I sit up, taking her back in my arms. She moves on me again, sitting up so her breasts are in my face. I bend my head down, burying my face in them and then look up, needing to kiss her.

I go to lay us down and we almost fall off the couch. I grip Chloe tightly, pushing her back onto my lap, and then stand up, carrying her inside and up into her room. I kiss her the whole way there, tripping once up the stairs, but neither of us can break apart. I need to push my cock into her tight pussy. It’ll destroy me all over again, and I’m more than okay with it.

We fall onto the mattress, with Chloe beneath me. She curls her legs around me, rubbing herself against my cock. I stop kissing Chloe only so I can undress her, and she lifts her ass off the bed to make it easy to pull her shorts off. She’s not wearing underwear, and that alone is so fucking hot.

The glistening top of my cock is sticking out of my boxers, and Chloe reaches down, groaning as she spreads the wetness down my shaft. “I need you,” she pants, pumping her hand up and down faster and faster.

“I need you too. Now,” I growl and take both her hands, pinning them above her head. Her eyes flutter closed, and her body trembles with anticipation. I move over top of her, kissing her hard. Chloe wraps her legs around me again, and the tip of my cock rubs against her clit. She moans, and I almost give in, pushing my cock inside of her and fucking her senseless.

Instead, I hold myself over her, kissing her once more. She rakes her fingers down my back, grabbing the hem of my shirt and pulling it over my head. I strip her of her tank top and trail kisses down her body, taking my time when I get to her collarbone. I lift my head up for a second, admiring her perfect tits. I remember a time in high school when she confessed feeling insecure because she didn’t have big boobs like some of the other girls in her grade. I thought she was crazy then, and she had no idea how hard it was to sit there and have her talk about her breasts. It took an enormous amount of self-control not to stare at them, and even more so to casually tell her she’s fine, that as long as there’s enough to fit in my hand, I was more than happy.

Cupping them both in my hands, I bend down again, kissing my way to one of her breasts, and flick my tongue over her pert nipple. Chloe squirms, tightening her legs around me. Teasing her nipple with my tongue, I slide one hand down between her legs. Moving slow on purpose, I circle the entrance to her pussy. She’s so fucking wet already.

Her hands are on my back, and her nails dig into my skin as I rub my finger over her clit, getting her worked up in just seconds. My cock is rock hard now, begging to push inside of her. She wants it too and feebly pushes my boxers down.

In a swift movement, I pull away and dive down between her legs. I want to taste her again, to lick up every last drop she gives and feel her pussy contracting wildly against my face. Chloe rests one hand on my head, sitting up just enough that she can steal a glance at me. I flick my eyes up at the exact same time, and knowing she’s watching turns me on even more. My cock aches, and I know it’ll take just one touch from Chloe to make me come.

Without wasting any more time, I put my mouth over her, tongue lashing out against her clit. She moans loudly and hearing her pleasure almost does me in. Damn, she tastes so fucking good. I keep working my tongue, and Chloe squirms against me, desperate for a release. I slide both hands under her ass and lift her off the mattress. She hooks one leg over my shoulders, and I can feel her whole body tense up. She sucks in a breath and I know she’s about to come. Keeping my mouth against her, I lower her back onto the mattress and slip a finger inside, going right to her G-spot. I press against it, and it pushes Chloe over the edge.

She cries out loudly as the orgasm ripples through her. I keep my mouth on her, not stopping until she’s writhing in pleasure, pushing me away because she can’t physically handle any more. Both her hands go to the top of my head, and I slowly move away, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

Chloe’s cheeks are flushed, and it’s so fucking hot to know I’m the reason for it. I’m the one who made her come so hard there’s a wet spot on the bed now. Her eyes are still closed, and she’s breathing hard, breasts rapidly rising and falling. I move back on top of her, pulling my boxers down before I settle between her legs. She needs a few seconds to recover, so I kiss her forehead and brush her hair out of her face.

Chloe inhales deeply and opens her eyes, looking right at me. Then she puts her lips to mine, and knowing she can taste herself on my lips does me in. I can’t wait any longer. I need her.

Now.

I guide my cock to her entrance and kiss her again as I push inside. She holds me tight against her, bending her legs and rocking her hips along with mine. I could come right now, and I grit my teeth, not wanting to finish until she comes for the second time.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take her long, and the second I feel her pussy tighten around my cock, I let my head drop against hers and push in balls deep, coming harder than I ever have before. We’re both panting, and I slowly pull out, moving to the side and wrapping my arm around her.

“I came inside you three times,” I pant, hating that I’m killing the moment, but the thought suddenly dawns on me. I’ve spent the last several years fucking a lot of women, trying to fill the void in my heart that only Chloe could fill, but in all those times, I was always very careful to practice safe sex.

“I’m on birth control,” she tells me, voice still breathy. “I have been for years.” She runs her fingers up and down my arm. “I get really bad cramps and it helps. I have super light periods now, which I’m thankful for. And you probably don’t want to know that.”

“If I’m having sex with you, you can talk about your period.”

“That is fair.” She lifts her head off my chest and smiles. “Then it’s okay for me to tell you too that I’m going to get up and pee because I don’t want to get a UTI.”

I playfully smack her ass. “And as a doctor, I approve.”

She gets up and hurries to the bathroom, returning just a minute or two later. The bed isn’t made, and she settles into it, snuggling under the blankets.

“I never got dressed for dinner,” she says, looking up at me.

“It wouldn’t have mattered since I undressed you anyway.”

“Good point.” She traces her fingers up and down my chest. “I was going to and do my hair and makeup, but I was really into what I was writing and thought I’d have more time, and well…I’m kind of a procrastinator.”

“I remember.” I smile and kiss the top of her head. “You can blame it on being an artist now, right? Artists are allowed to be flakey.”

“Well, good,” she laughs. “Because I can be from time to time. Not flakey like you can’t depend on me, but flakey like I lose track of time really easily and forget about things.”

“I’ll remind you. I’m good at remembering things and have three alarms set in the morning because the thought of being late to work gives me anxiety.”

Chloe laughs again. “We’re a good fit then.”

“Yeah.” I tighten my hold on her. “We are.”

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“I don’t want to leave either…but we need to talk about it. We’re hours apart…you’re okay with that, right?” I ask, almost afraid of her answer. I finally got her back in my life—the right way. I’m not going to lose her again.

She lifts her head off my chest. “Yes, I’m okay with it. It will be hard, but very much worth it.”

“It will.” I run my fingers up and down her arm, feeling sleepy now myself. There’s no fooling ourselves. Long-distance relationships are challenging. But she’s right to say it’s worth it. We’re both able to travel relatively easily, Chloe more so than me, but when I’m not at work I’ll happily take off to LA since there’s nothing in Chicago holding me back. “We’ll figure it out,” I promise her. “Nothing is going to keep us apart.”