“Holy shit, Lex,” Alec says, finally speaking. He snakes his arms around me and rests his chin on my shoulder. “Do you have any idea how fucking talented you are?”
“It’s just graffiti.” I shrug a shoulder nonchalantly. “Talent is Picasso or Van Gogh… Monet or Magritte.”
Alec’s hands grip the curves of my hips, and he twirls me around, backing me up against the brick wall. “I don’t know who half those people you named are, but I know that that painting”—he juts his chin toward the wall behind me—“is fucking amazing. How you were able to take something as simple as spray paint and turn it into something so awe-inspiring blows my mind. It’s us, right?” His eyes bore into mine. “The boy and girl… love found them.”
“Yeah,” I choke out, swallowing the lump in my throat. “It’s us.” Tears prick my lids as I’m suddenly overcome with emotion. Usually I draw a painting and then leave it behind. I’m not forced to face what I draw or why I draw it. But standing here with Alec, I want—no, I need him to know what this painting means to me.
“I have this amazing, beautiful life that’s filled with supportive, loving parents, a sister who is more like my soul mate, and friends and family like you and Micaela. But even with all the good, I still feel like something is off. Like something is missing. I don’t know if it’s genetic…” I swallow down the raw emotions I feel when I talk about the woman who gave birth to me and then abandoned me. “My biological mom, Gina, was a druggie who was unhappy until the day she died.”
“You’re not her, Lex.”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know who I am, what I want to do with my life. It’s why Georgia and I made that pact about finding our perfect path, so we could find our way.” I raise my hands and frame Alec’s face—the scruff tickling my palms. “Georgia took off out of the gate, making all these changes, and I was worried she would leave me behind, but then you came along and found me—love found me, found us, and now… I’m still lost. I have no idea what my future holds, but that dark, scary path just got a whole lot brighter because of you.”
“I’ve always been here, Lex, and I always will be.” Alec kisses the tip of my nose, and the simple act sends sparks through my body. “You will find your place in the world.” He dips his face and brings his mouth to my ear. “Watching you in your element was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed, and I have no doubt that one day you will find exactly where you belong. But here’s the thing…” He trails kisses down my neck and then suckles on my pulse point. “Life isn’t about the destination, so while you’re searching for where you want to end up, we’re going to enjoy the beautiful journey we’re going to take together to get there.” His lips move up my neck and he peppers kisses along my jawline. “Every step…” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “Every detour…” He kisses my chin. “Every moment will be beautiful in its own way.”
Our mouths fuse together and our tongues unite, stroking, teasing, caressing one another. Without breaking our kiss, Alec grabs the globes of my ass and lifts me. My legs wrap around his torso at the same time my fingers weave through his hair. Since I’m in a jean skirt, the denim scrunches up to my waist, leaving only the barrier of my thin panties between us. As we devour each other, I grind against his hard stomach, and it’s almost as if we’re skin to skin. My center rubs up against him, my clit receiving the perfect amount of friction to send me souring, as my orgasm rips through me. He deepens our kiss, swallowing my moans of pleasure. My legs are shaking, my breathing erratic. My clit is overly sensitive. But I want more. I need more.
I reach down to undo Alec’s pants, but he stops me. “Not here,” he murmurs against my lips. “Not where anyone can watch. You’re mine,” he growls. “Only mine.”
Alec kneads my ass cheeks, digging his fingers into my flesh, as he lifts me off the wall. With me in his arms, he dips down, grabs my backpack, and carries me to the jeep. He sets me in the passenger seat then rounds the front of the vehicle. The entire drive home, I can’t keep my hands off him. I run my fingers through his hair, palming his denim-covered crotch. I pepper kisses along his neck and stubbled jaw. More than once, I beg him to pull over so I can climb on top of him and fuck him, but he refuses, telling me he’s going to take his time worshipping me.