Filthy Vows (Filthy Vows #1)(58)

“Wow,” Easton said quietly, his heart thudding beneath me.

“Yeah.” I closed my eyes and sagged against his chest, my body cooling as our heartbeats gradually slowed to normal.

Wow.





30





Thirty minutes later, my heartbeat had recovered, Aaron’s side of the house was quiet, and my fears of an awkward post-threesome fight had dissolved. I’d expected repercussions. Guilt. Regret. Instead, I felt even closer to Easton. It reminded me of those weeks after Wakulla Springs, when I was so emotionally fragile, and he was so protective, and our dynamic shuddered into a new sort of form where we clung to each other and blocked out everything and everyone in order to heal over something we hadn’t even known we had.

That intimacy had been born out of pain—this one out of pleasure. I watched as Easton flipped off the bathroom light. His hair was wet, a towel hanging around his neck. He was shirtless, plaid pajama pants low on his hips. He rubbed the towel over his head, then hung it on the hook by the bathroom door.

We’d showered together after the event, his rough hands suddenly soft, his touch tender as he’d run a soapy washcloth over my body. He’d kissed me under the spray, then turned off the water and dried me off before the sink, his eyes glued to the mirror, devouring the view. My skin had been pink from the hot water, alive from his touch, still tingling from what had just happened.

I scooted over to make room for him on the bed and reached for the glass of forgotten champagne. “The next time we have a threesome,” I swallowed the last swig, then put the empty glass on the bedside table. “Let’s make sure the guy doesn’t live with us. Because I really want to stretch out on the couch with you right now, but feel like that might be a little awkward.”

Easton chuckled, then sat on the bed beside me. “Yeah, the couch does sound really good right now.”

“But awkward.”

“Potentially awkward,” he agreed. He pulled the blanket higher atop me. “How about I make us a fort, instead?”

“A fort?”

“Yeah. I’m actually really good at it. Not to brag or anything but in fourth grade, some people called me a king.”

“A fort king?”

“It was a high honor at Presley Elementary.”

“Fine.” I rested my head back on the pillow. “Wow me with your fort skills. I give you…” I glanced at the bedside clock. “Five minutes to impress me.”

“Damn, a time limit.” He rolled off the bed and stood. “Way to make it challenging.”

“Take longer than that and I’ll be asleep.” I yawned.

Six and a half minutes later, I was in a curtained box of mismatched sheets, the fabric draped over the headrest, tucked in a dresser drawer and bungee-cord tied to a dining room chair. A flashlight was cupped between us, extra blankets and pillows added to the bed, and the effect was innocent and sweet. Which was funny, considering everything that had happened in this room tonight.

“What do you think?” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and pulled me tighter against his chest. I sank into his hold, my eyes closing as I inhaled the scent of him. He smelled like me, like sex and cum and champagne. But also, like home. Comfort. Strength.

“I think it’s the best fort I’ve ever seen in my life. You definitely win fort king, despite going over the time.”

“Will you be my fort queen?”

I smiled against his chest. “Is that a proposal?”

“It is. And look.” He brought something out from underneath the blanket. “I even have a ring.”

I laughed at the paperclip, bent into a circle, with a crooked mass of metal at the top. “Wow. Where did this come from?”

“To be honest, it’s the only reason I missed my deadline,” he said soberly. “It took almost two minutes to make. But I couldn’t risk another proposal without a ring.”

“I love it.” I worked the ring onto my bare right ring finger and admired its glow under the flashlight’s weak beam. “And I love you.” I turned my head and took a gentle kiss.

“I love you too, my fort queen.” He smiled and brushed the hair away from my face. “So,” he said hoarsely. “What now?”

“You mean with this? Like what we did tonight?”

“Yeah.” He pulled me higher on his body, then wrapped one leg around me.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Did you enjoy it?”

“Yeah. I don’t have to ask if you did.” He grinned down at me. “So what does that mean for us?”

“That’s a good question,” I played with the ring. “I guess we’ll figure that out as we go.”

“I think we filled Aaron’s sexual quota for the year.”

“Ha.” I leaned my head against his shoulder. “He handled it well. How super awkward is this going to be tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll be there. It won’t be awkward. I’ll make a joke and break the ice.”

I groaned. “No jokes, please.”

“I have one I’ve been saving just for this occasion. It’ll be perfect. I promise you’ll laugh.”

“Tell me it now and I’ll see if I laugh.”