The Fifth Lesson (The Bay Boys #2) (33 page)

“Um,” he flushed.
 
“No.”

“Exactly.
 
I didn’t think it was wrong, Adam.
 
If you did, then that’s on you.
 
But don’t feel guilty because I certainly don’t.
 
And I swear to God, if you tell me that one more time, I’m seriously going to lose my shit.
 
Okay?”

Finally, Adam nodded.
 
“Okay.”
 
He swallowed, looking at her from a few feet away.
 
He shifted on his feet.
 
And then very softly, he said, “I don’t think I deserve you, Christie.”

Her heartbeat stuttered.
 
She remembered telling Olivia on Monday how she thought
she
might not be good enough for Adam.
 
And yet, he thought it was the other way around.

She wanted to laugh.
 
But instead she frowned and said, “Well, tough.
 
Because
I
think you do.”

Christie could tell that Adam didn’t want to laugh.
 
He probably thought it was inappropriate timing or something.
 
But a relieved chuckle bubbled up from his throat and the sound made her want to smile.

Christie didn’t though.
 
Once he stopped laughing, she asked, in a small voice, “Do you really love me?”

His features softened and he took a step forward.
 
Hesitantly reaching out to tuck a stray piece of wild hair behind her ear, he answered quietly, “Yes.
 
I do.
 
I love you, Christie.”
 
As though they were the only two people in the entire world, he whispered, “I love your laugh and your eyes and the way you flirt with me.
 
And I love how you kiss my neck and whisper my name.
 
I love your sexy heels and even your goddamn annoying cat.
 
I love how you don’t make fun of how nerdy I am and I love how you wanted to paint a phoenix.
 
I love how your paintings are simple yet complex.
 
I love that you’re trying to work things out with your father even though he might not deserve your forgiveness.
 
But, most of all, I love that you make music when you walk.”
 
He touched her bracelets, making them chime.
 
“And the only thing I want in the entire world is to make you happy.”

Tears welled up in Christie’s eyes and she tried desperately to stop a sob from escaping her throat at his beautiful words.
 
How could he be any more wonderful?

“Oh, Adam,” she whispered, lifting up on her toes so she could wrap her arms around his neck.
 
Adam’s arms came around her in a fierce embrace and she tucked her face into his warm shoulder, breathing him in.
 
His words replayed over and over in her mind and she truly feared she’d start crying.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered back, his voice anguished.
 
“For the past few days.
 
For being a total asshole and a complete fool.”

“I forgive you,” she told him.
 
And she meant it.

They stayed wrapped up in each other’s arms for who knows how long.
 
Christie couldn’t stop smiling in Adam’s shoulder.
 
Tonight, she’d been planning to head to bed and cry herself to sleep.
 
But then he’d shown up at her door…and everything changed.

She kept waiting to wake up, even though she knew it wasn’t a dream.

When she was ready to break the silence, when she was convinced that this moment wouldn’t explode into dust if she spoke, Christie whispered, “Happy Birthday, Adam.”

He groaned against her neck.
 
“Don’t remind me.”

“You’re thirty now,” she murmured.
 
“That’s a lot of kisses.”

His head shot up so that he could look down at her.
 
He grinned hesitantly, clearly still unsure where he stood with her.
 
“Is that how many I get?”

To answer his question, she entwined her fingers in his thick chestnut hair and pulled his head down.
 
She caught his lips with her own, leaning into him to deepen it.
 
Little jolts of energy tingled her spine, making her smile into the kiss.
 
This
was how it was supposed to feel.

When she pulled back, she murmured, “There’s one.”
 
She leaned in again, nipping at his full bottom lip this time.
 
“Two.”

Adam groaned again and then let out a huff of laughter.
 
“This could take a while,” he told her.

“It could,” she agreed.
 
“Maybe you should stay the night.
 
Just to sleep though.”

His eyes warmed as he glanced down at her.
 
“Of course.”

“But maybe you should go shower first to get the stripper glitter off your cheek.”

Adam nodded solemnly, probably thinking he was in trouble, but Christie couldn’t keep her straight face for long.

She giggled.

She was the happiest she’d been in days.
 
Even more so now because she knew that Adam returned her feelings.
 
So, in all honesty, this moment might’ve been the happiest of her life.
 
Stripper glitter and all.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Christie raised her brow once Adam stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from his shower.
 
His towel-dried hair stuck up at odd angles and his bare chest was red from the heat.
 
But what seemed to make her pause was his jeans.

“What?” he asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

Christie was underneath the covers of her bed already.
 
She’d taken her hair out of its bun so that her blonde tresses flowed freely around her shoulders.

“You’re wearing jeans to bed?”

“Well…”
 
He didn’t know how to tell her he was currently commando.
 
He probably should’ve worn boxers tonight at the very least, considering where his friends had taken him for his birthday.
 
But, in his defense, he didn’t think they’d take him to a strip club.

But he didn’t have to say anything because a knowing look entered Christie’s eyes.
 
Her lips tugged up into a saucy grin.
 
“Jeans are quite uncomfortable to sleep in.
 
Why don’t you take them off?” she asked innocently.

“I don’t think that’s the best idea.”
 
It definitely wasn’t.
 
Not just because he’d be naked in bed with her, but because she’d changed into a skimpy little nightie despite the fact that she’d been wearing an oversized shirt and pajamas bottoms when he arrived earlier.
 
It seemed like the nightie was all for him.
 
And he was already getting hard just looking at her.
 
It barely covered the swells of her breasts.
 
He wondered if she was even wearing panties underneath.
 
His cock gave another jerk at the thought.

“Oh, come on, Adam.
 
I’ve already seen all the bits and pieces.”

“I’m appalled that you call it
bits and pieces
.”

“
Large
bits and pieces, then?
 
How’s that?”

He huffed out a laugh, shaking his head as he approached his side of the bed.
 
He marveled that he was even here right now.
 
Earlier, when he’d showed up at Christie’s apartment, he thought she’d slam the door in his face.
 
So, it was still sinking in that she’d forgiven him…and that he’d spilled his guts to her.

But he wasn’t embarrassed about anything.
 
How could he be when Christie was waiting in bed for him?
 
That
was heaven in itself.

Which was why he did as she asked.
 
The zipper on his jeans was loud as he tugged it down.
 
His now-full erection sprang free and he heard Christie’s breath hitch in her throat at the sight.
 
He quickly flipped off the lamp on her nightstand, throwing the room into darkness.
 
But he realized she could still see the outline of his cock through the faint light coming in through her window.

He dropped his jeans to the floor, stepped out of them, and then crawled into bed.
 
Her jasmine scent immediately surrounded him and he relaxed.
 
He tugged off his glasses and then placed them on the nightstand before rolling towards Christie.

She’d settled down into the bed, but she edged closer so she could nuzzle her head against his bare shoulder.
 
His arm came around her and then they were face-to-face, their legs tangling together.

“I missed this,” he murmured, stroking a hand through her hair, knowing how much she liked being touched.
 
“I missed
you
.
 
Every single moment.”

“I missed you too,” she confessed softly.
 
Christie kissed him…and then asked, “How many was that?”

“Mmm, I don’t know,” he said, smiling.
 
“I lost count after ten.”

“We may not get to thirty kisses tonight.”

“That’s okay.
 
I’ll just charge interest tomorrow.”

Christie giggled and Adam smiled at the sound.

They were silent for a few moments, but neither drifted off to sleep.
 
Christie ran her fingers through his hair and traced his face with a light touch.
 
Her form was blurry since he’d taken off his glasses, but he could still see the way her lips curled up into a satisfied smile.

“Did you really kiss that guy?” he couldn’t help but ask.
 
It had been in the back of his mind ever since she’d told him.
 
Jealousy still simmered below the surface, but he forced himself to be calm.

She made a sound in the back of her throat.
 
“More like he kissed me.”

Adam grunted, frowning.

Christie traced his lips.
 
“I didn’t like it.”

“I thought you said he was a good kisser,” he grumbled.

“He is.
 
But it doesn’t mean I liked it.
 
It felt all wrong,” she said softly.
 
“And, just for the record, you’re the only one who gives me butterflies when you kiss me.
 
So,
you’re
definitely the better kisser.”

He could definitely accept that.

“Satisfied?” she whispered.

“For now.”

He saw her lips curl again.
 
“Works for me.”

Adam saw the door to her bedroom nudge open and the soft padding across the carpet told him Snazzy was joining them.
 
A second later, he clawed his way up the bed and settled just over Adam’s feet.

“Your cat’s on me,” he noted.

“That means he likes you.
 
Now, hush and go to sleep.”

But neither did.
 
They were like little kids at a sleepover.
 
They knew they
should
go to bed, but they both kept whispering to each other.
 
Adam wasn’t sure who fell asleep first, but one minute they were talking and the next moment was darkness.

*
   
*
   
*

Adam woke when he felt a soft caress on his bare chest.

Disoriented and dazed, he glanced around and then jerked when he felt Christie’s lips pressing kisses to his right bicep and shoulder.
 
His head swiveled to her and he rasped, “What time is it?”

Squinting his eyes, the clock came into blurry focus.
 
It was three in the morning.

He turned back to Christie, just as her hand started a steady trail downward.
 
Adam caught it before it ventured too far.
 
“What’re doing?”

Even through the darkness, he could see her lazy smile.
 
His heart accelerated as other parts of him started to stir in interest.

“I had a dream.
 
A
very
good dream, Adam,” she purred.

Heart pounding, he was suddenly wide awake and he fumbled for his glasses on the nightstand.
 
It didn’t make the darkness disappear, but he could at least see Christie more clearly.
 
“What happened to ‘just sleeping’?”

She leaned forward to nip at his chin, until she tilted her head just a bit to capture his lips.
 
When she pulled back, she murmured, “I think it’s time I steal your virginity, don’t you?
 
Of course, if you don’t want to…”

“No,” he said quickly.
 
He cleared his throat.
 
“I mean,
yes
.
 
I want to.”

Please don’t let this be a dream…please…

Her lips curled again and she sat up in bed, the sheets pooling around her waist.
 
Adam pushed himself up until his back was against the headboard, his naked chest exposed.
 
As she leaned forward, she slid her legs over his and settled in his lap.
 
Adam groaned.
 
“Am I dreaming right now?” he whispered hoarsely.

Christie nipped his neck, just enough pressure to cause a little pain.
 
“What do you think now?”

“
God
,” he murmured.

Christie shifted and he hissed out a breath.
 
Her skimpy nightgown had ridden up, gathering around her hips.
 
And he’d just discovered that she wore no panties underneath, the little minx.
 
Which meant there was no barrier between the two of them.
 
He could feel how wet she was as she rocked against him, letting her lips slide up and down his painfully hard cock.