She gasps, and then her eyes start to well with tears. “Hayes …”
I put my finger to her lips. “You don’t have to say anything in return. Hell, just the fact that I had the courage to say that to a woman for the first time in my life is enough for me. But I wanted you to know …”
She bats my hand away and then breathes out, “I love you too, Hayes.”
“Fuck, really?” The breath of relief that leaves my lips rushes through me.
“Yes.” With both of her hands on either side of my face, she bites her lip as she stares up at me. “I’m crazy in love with you too.”
I dip down to kiss her again, not bothering to hold back this time. The movement of our mouths is so intense that it takes me a minute to register Waverly pressing up against me.
“Hayes, make love to me,” she demands, and then the two of us race to discard our clothes—her apron and underwear, and my socks, shoes, slacks, and briefs. Once we’re both bare, I find that sweet spot between her thighs again and take her mouth back under mine, swirling my tongue and nibbling on her lips with my teeth.
“Oh, I planned on it, baby.” I reach down and drag my cock through her slit, rubbing around her wetness before lining up to her entrance and pushing inside. Slowly, passionately, I pulse inside of her tight heat until I hit her end and then lean forward again to catch her nipple with my lips.
“Hayes …”
“Waverly…” I mumble around her nipple, swirling my tongue and then biting it gently.
“I love you,” she whispers, dragging her hands through my hair. And when I relinquish my hold on her nipple, I peer up and see her eyes glisten with tears.
“Fuck, baby. I love you too. Don’t cry.” I kiss her tear as it slips from the corner of her eye and trails down her cheek.
“I’m just… happy.” Her smile reaches her eyes and takes a grip on my heart, holding it hostage for her and her alone.
“I’m so fucking happy too, babe.”
And I show her just how happy she makes me. I stare into her eyes as I thrust deep inside of her. I kiss her neck as I lift her leg over my shoulder and drive hard, just like she likes it. And I rub her clit gently, coaxing out an intense climax that has her pussy tightening around me so hard that I almost black out when I come at the same time with her.
With just the sound of our breaths in the room, I pull out of her and turn on my side, holding her to my chest as we bring our heart rates back down to normal.
“Is this real?” she mumbles before lifting her head and finding my eyes.
“So fucking real, Wave. You make me …” I say, but then the sound of my phone ringing makes me pause. We listen to it ring until it stops. But as I start to speak again, my phone goes off once more. “Hold that thought.” I stand from the couch, reach for my underwear, and pull them on just before finding my phone on the counter.
“Mom?” I ask after I see her name on the screen, curious as to why she’s calling me on a Monday night. I know she’s been bugging me to bring Waverly over for dinner again since it’s been over a month since we’ve been. But as soon as I hear her voice, I know that’s not the reason for her call.
“Hayes, honey… you need to come to the hospital.”
The rush of adrenaline that barrels through me is enough to make me freeze for a moment before running for my pants. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s your father,” she says. “He had a heart attack.”
* * *
With Waverly’s hand in mine, we rush through the doors to the ER, running up to the receptionist in a frazzled state. Once I’m finally able to communicate effectively, she leads us back to the private room they put my dad in, where my mother is sitting by herself and the bed is empty.
“Where’s dad?”
She stands from her chair and races over to me, wrapping me in a hug full of desperation. “They’re running some tests still.”
“Is he okay? Was it bad?”
She nods her head against my chest. “It wasn’t mild, but it wasn’t horrible either. The doctor says we brought him in just in time.”
“I’m so sorry, Rebecca,” Waverly adds as my mom lifts her head.
“Thank you, Waverly.” The two of them hug and then my mother struggles to pull herself together, wiping furiously under her eyes. “He’s a tough old man. I’m sure he’ll be fine. It’s just scary seeing the person you love like that—weak, powerless, scared.”
The image of my father keeled over has my heart racing even more. My dad has always been stronger than an ox. I know he’s not perfect, but he’s always tried to remain active. However, in the past few months, I could tell his age was wearing on him, that the stress of running a company was making him tired. He must have realized it too, hence the conversation we had before Christmas.
The irritation he had during our meeting today too has me wondering if he was feeling alright or saw this coming.
“The thought of losing him before he ever retires, before we ever get to enjoy the end of our life together…” My mother shakes her head as a new wave of tears comes.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay.” I pull her into me again and soothe her with my palm on her back as Waverly steps up and wraps her in a hug as well. The three of us stay that way for a while until the doctor comes back
