The Fifth Lesson (The Bay Boys #2) (39 page)

As he kissed her, as she slipped out of her dress and helped Adam unbutton his shirt, as they tumbled together on the floor, not wanting to wait until they reached the bed, as they made frenzied, all-consuming, beautiful love to one another, Christie knew that she’d finally found her happiness.

And she finally realized that all the good, the bad, and the ugly in her life had led her to this point.

Every single scrap of joy, heartbreak, disappointment, misery, and friendship had all led to where Christie was right at this moment.

She was meant to be here with Adam.

She was meant to find him.

And because of that, Christie wouldn’t change a single thing.

EPILOGUE

Five months later…

“I’m home,” Christie called out, toeing off her heels in the doorway, sweet relief sweeping through her.

It had been a long day.

She and Joseph were preparing for their winter exhibition, so she’d worked late most nights this week.

But now, it was Friday evening.

And even though it was way past a reasonable hour for dinner, Adam had promised to wait for her.

“In here,” he called from the living room.

She made her way down the hallway of their townhouse.

And then she stopped, a surprised grin flashing onto her features.

“What’s all this?”

A box of pizza from her favorite restaurant, two big bags of salty kettle chips, a big bar of chocolate, a bottle of red wine, a huge bowl of freshly popped buttery popcorn, and a batch of Livy’s cupcakes were all spread out on the counter.

All her favorite junk food.

But that wasn’t all.

Adam had lit
candles
in the living room, casting a golden light around the TV, which was all queued up for…a
Sex and the City
marathon, which she’d been trying to get him to watch with her for the past few months.

He’d draped the couch with her fuzzy blanket and added a few of his to the mix.

Overwhelmed by this wonderful surprise, tears popped into her eyes, even as her smile broadened.

Adam had on his comfiest sweats, the ones that highlighted his strong thighs.

He also had on the black shirt that she always stole to laze around the house in.

It was seriously the softest shirt she’d ever worn and it always smelled like Adam.

“There’s also ice cream in the freezer.

Chocolate chip cookie dough,” he said, leaning his hip against the counter.

She let out a noise of delight and flung her arms around his neck, as his slid around her waist.

“I’m convinced you’re the most perfect man in the entire world,” she murmured, nipping at his lips.

“Mmm, then give me a proper kiss, because I’ve waited all day for one,” he said, his voice getting all rumbly and delicious.

She complied more than willingly.

When they parted, her mind wandered back to the evening ahead.

She blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Are you proposing?”

He laughed.

“Christie, when I propose to you, it won’t be with junk food, okay?”

When
, not
if
.

Her heart fluttered uncontrollably and she grinned.

“Promise?”

“Yes.

I promise,” he murmured, giving her another kiss.

“I just know you’ve had a long week.

So, go upstairs and change.

I’ll set up.”

“Or you could just undress me here,” she whispered suggestively.

“And then I wouldn’t have to make the
long
, lonely trek upstairs to do it myself.”

His lips twitched, his golden eyes lighting up in interest.

“You’re a little minx, you know that?”

“Of course.

But you love it.”

Playfully, he swatted her ass and she giggled.

“Go.

Plenty of time for that later,” he said, his eyes promising wicked deeds.

Christie could hardly suppress her shiver as she made her way up to their bedroom with a huge, silly grin on her face.

Her heart was still pounding in her chest and she wondered if it would ever stop.

She wondered if someone could die from happiness.

The past five months had gone by quickly.

When Christie’s lease ended in August, Adam asked her to move in with him instead of renewing her contract.

It was an obvious decision, since they almost never spent a night apart.

Both of their places had been only lived in half the time anyways, so they’d decided that Adam’s townhouse would be their full-time home.

It was larger than Christie’s apartment and not too far from her work.

And there was plenty of space in the third floor loft for her studio.

Some of the most peaceful moments were when Christie was painting away and Adam was tinkering with old gadgets on his work bench.

Plus, Snazzy loved it.

He’d already made little nests in the downstairs closet, which they always made sure to leave open, and behind Adam’s desk in the loft.

He liked the warmth generated from Adam’s computers.

Christie loved their home.

They’d blended their two living spaces into one, making it something unique and cozy.

And Adam had the biggest walk-in closet, so she was one happy girl.

Another part of her life which proved to be rewarding was her growing relationship with her father.

After Christie had confronted her mother at the charity fundraiser, he’d made the trip up to stay at her aunt’s house for a week.

They’d gone to lunch together a few times and she’d introduced him to Adam over dinner one night.

It was slowly building and it was still going to take a lot of time, but Christie hoped that one day, they’d have a working, healthy relationship.

As for her mother, Christie never heard from her after that night.

Not that she truly expected to.

But Adam’s mother was still quite worked up about her ‘deceitful friend,’ who she mentioned at least once every time she came over for dinner.

At least until Adam snapped at her a month ago that he didn’t want to hear anything more about Clare Wells.

Christie was secretly grateful, because she just wanted to put it all behind her.

The less she heard of her mother, the better.

Christie stepped on one of Snazzy’s catnip toys when she entered their bedroom.

She kicked it away, smiling at Adam’s handiwork.

He’d never had a pet before, so he was always buying Snazzy new toys.

She thought it was adorable and every time he came home with a new one, she jumped his bones because it was also just so
sexy.

She didn’t know why exactly.

Maybe it was some biological instinct that told her he would dote on their future children in the exact same way.

Regardless, Christie had a sneaking suspicion that he bought the toys now solely for her rather exuberant reactions.

Remembering the little scene he’d put together for her downstairs, Christie didn’t change into sweats.

No, this was definitely not a sweats kind of night.

With a mischievous smile, she dug around the bottom of their closet for the Agent Provacateur bag she’d hidden there.

She, Livy, and Kate had gone shopping at the store in San Francisco.

Livy and Alex’s one year anniversary had been a couple weeks ago and she’d wanted to surprise him with something special.

Alex had apparently not let Livy out of the house all weekend and by the time Christie finally got a hold of her friend, she’d been all loopy from Orgasm Overload.

So, the lingerie had received a glowing review.

Christie had picked up something for Adam too, she’d just been waiting for a special occasion.

And tonight was definitely special.

It was quite an elaborate little piece.

A sheer black and grey bustier, with lace inlays, that cupped her breasts perfectly.

Sheer panties and thigh highs with an attached garter belt and lace suspenders, all topped off with her sexiest pair of Jimmy Choos.

Once Christie finally managed to get all the pieces composed, she took one glance in the mirror and knew she’d be in for a
long
night.

With a smile, she made her way back downstairs.

When she reached the bottom floor, she saw that Adam was in the process of pouring wine.

Her heels clicked across the hardwood as she came to rest against the banister, cocking her hip out to the side, waiting in anticipation for him to glance up.

And when he did, his hand shook so much that he splashed wine all over himself and on the counter.

She grinned.

Adam didn’t take his eyes off her, even though wine was dripping all over the floor and the front of his shirt was saturated with it.

He placed the bottle back on the counter and rounded it until he came to stand a few feet away.

His eyes raked down her body, taking in her breasts, her hips, the garter belt, her heels.

She could feel his gaze as though he was caressing her himself.

When he could speak, he rasped, “
Exquisite
.”

“You like it?” she asked teasingly, running a finger down her side.

“
Love
it,” he corrected, watching her finger with rapt attention.

With a growl, he crossed the remaining few feet until he was able to capture her lips.

He devoured her, telling her just how
much
he loved it.

In the back of her mind, Christie thought she’d have to make a trip back into the city for more lingerie.

She pressed a hand to his chest and felt the wine.

“Poor baby,” she whispered.

“You got yourself all wet.”

He groaned and she took the opportunity to tug up his shirt, leaving him in nothing but sweats.

She led him to the couch, pushing him down, before lowering her knees on either side of him.

She straddled his body and bent her head so that she could lick up a drop of wine that still clung to his warm skin.

There was no waiting this time around.

Christie tugged down his sweats, knowing he’d be commando underneath, and simply pushed her panties to the side.

With a sigh, she fed his pulsing, hard length into her body until he was seated deep inside.

It was quick and a little rough and Christie knew she’d have bruises on her hips tomorrow from where Adam was gripping her.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Hours later, Christie lay naked and exhausted on the couch in Adam’s arms, surrounded by fuzzy, soft blankets.

It was heaven.

Her lingerie had made it two rounds before Adam wanted more access.

It lay on the floor, crumpled but well loved, and it had been so totally worth it.

Christie smiled as Adam kissed her again.

He seemed
very
appreciative of it.

They’d get up eventually to have their pizza and junk food and wipe the wine off the floor, but for now, Christie was just content to lay here with him.

“Love you,” she murmured, watching his chest rise and fall.

She lifted her eyes to meet his, watched as his golden depths melted and warmed.

“I love you too,” he rumbled.

Over his head, behind the couch, she spotted the shelf that held their various knick knacks.

Some old, collectable gadgets of Adam’s, a bottle of sand from his trip to Greece when he was younger, a few picture frames that Christie had added, a little painting she’d done when she was young.

And then the finished phoenix.

The one she’d started all those months ago with Adam was now completed, magnificent with its outstretched wings, painted in fiery red and orange streaks.

Reborn from the ashes…and much more beautiful because of it.

The End