Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
I scan her face but find no deception. She seems truly relaxed and happy, much different from the worried, fired-up Autumn who answered the phone earlier.
“Are you sure?” I tease. “I think you’d sleep better in the embrace of my arms, that luscious ass of yours cradling my cock.”
“Hmm,” she hums thoughtfully. “That does sound good, but I need to pass out so tonight’s show can leak out of my ear while I sleep. That way, I can start next week fresh. Okay?”
“Leak out of your ear?” I repeat, laughing at what I presume is an expression and not literally what’s going to happen.
She nods, looking proud of herself. “Yep.”
I pull the phone closer to my face. “Okay, but I don’t want all of tonight to disappear. I want this, you and me, as a memory.”
“What does that mean?” she asks, her eyes dancing with interest.
“Wipe your cream with your panties and save them for me.” I’m not sure how she’ll feel about the idea, but so far, she’s been as willing to play as I am.
Autumn bites her lip, picking up her panties and holding them high. “These? But what would you use them for?” she asks, faking innocence.
I drop my voice, lewdly telling her exactly what I intend. “I’m going to smell them while I jack off, thinking of you. I’m going to wrap that silk around my cock and use it to stroke myself so I can pretend it’s your silken walls gripping me tightly.”
Her breath catches, and then I think she’s doing what I’ve asked because it looks like her hand is moving off-screen. Either that, or she’s started rubbing herself again.
“You too,” she tells me. “I want a memento.”
I pick up my undershirt from the coffee table where I discarded it and swipe it over my chest. “I think you’ve got a new nightgown, Princesse.” I hold it up so she can see. “I’ll come by in the morning, bring you coffee, and we can exchange gifts.”
“I’d like that,” Autumn says almost shyly.
She keeps me on my toes, going from soft and compliant with my demands to fiery and bold with her sharp comebacks and then flip-flopping between the confident woman who struck out on her own with little to no support to the woman who needs reassurance that she is more than a salacious fuck for me. One thing is certain, life with Autumn will never be boring.
I smile, realizing that I’m thinking not only long-term with her, but truly forever.
“I’ll be there at eight.”
“Hell no, make it ten. I’m crashing out and deserve a full night’s sleep.” She yawns as she says it, though I suspect it’s overdramatized for effect.
“Not a morning person, I take it. Noted.” I feign scribbling notes in an invisible notebook as she laughs. “So you know, I’m up at six every day. I have to be or Xerxes will jump on my chest like he’s doing doggie CPR to revive me. Little bastard just wants breakfast, though. He’s not actually concerned with me.”
That’s only partially true. He did do the CPR stunt once or twice, but thankfully, I was able to stop that power play on his part by blowing a bit of morning breath his way. Now, he just barks until I get him breakfast.
“I’m sure he’s worried!” Autumn exclaims before accurately explaining, “That you’re going to die in your sleep and he won’t have someone to feed him. He’s out for number one. You’re just the means to an end, I’m afraid.” She juts her bottom lip out, pouting though I’m not sure if it’s because Xerxes is so Machiavellian or that I’m too stupid to realize that he’s playing me.
I’m well aware of both.
I chuckle. “Also noted. I’ll see you at ten, then?”
She nods. “Simon?” When I meet her eyes, she ducks her chin before looking up at me through her lashes. “Thank you.”
“Always.”
“Did you just quote Harry Potter to me?” she squeals a bit too loudly. An instant later, there’s a banging on either the wall or the ceiling of her apartment. “Sorry!” she yells out, equally loud.
“It’s my unbreakable vow. I’m here for you, with you. In front of you, beside you, or behind you . . . wherever the situation calls for, or wherever you want me,” I tell her solemnly.
I mean every word. I’ve always felt alone, even after Jacqueline adopted me, but for the first time in my life, I feel like one part of a whole. Autumn and I are . . . us. And that heals a yearning I’ve had in my gut my entire life.
“Good night, Simon,” she tells me softly, her hand pressed to her chest and her eyes looking glassy.
“Good night.” She blows me a kiss, and though it feels a bit silly, I act as though I catch it and press the captured kiss to my cheek. She’s smiling happily as we hang up.