He grins. “I never thought I’d say this, but you putting clothes on sounds like a good idea.”
When we’re dressed, Elijah and I head down the stairs to talk to Collin again. Hopefully, it will go a little better now that we’re both no longer half-naked.
He’s sitting at the kitchen table with a half-finished mug of beer as he watches us walk in.
I’m wondering how it’s going to go and then he bursts out laughing.
I break into a giggle and then Elijah does too.
“You’re really in love with each other?” Collin says as we sit down at the table.
Elijah looks so sure. “I am. But I’m not sure about her…”
I smile warmly at him, feeling so full of love that I don’t know how to handle it all. “Of course, I love you, Beast. I always have.”
Collin sighs and then takes a long sip of his beer. “Then, I guess it looks like you’re going to be part of the family.”
“You’re not mad?” I ask him.
He shakes his head and smiles at me. “How can I be mad that my favorite cousin is in love with my best friend? It’s amazing news.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I’m stunned.
But then again, why would I expect anything less from Collin? He’s always been a huge sweetheart.
“You look good, cuz,” he tells me. “I didn’t realize you got all grown-up. I’m sorry we lost touch. I’m sorry I haven’t been around.”
I slump down at the table. “I hate that our moms aren’t talking anymore. I miss you guys.”
He reaches across the table and puts his hand on mine. I can tell that Elijah doesn’t like it, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Then, let’s do something about it,” he says with a warm smile. “We’ll get them talking again. We’ll have everyone for dinner here on Saturday. Elijah too.”
I smile as I look at my beast. “I’d like that.”
“I’m ashamed I haven’t had you all over at my house yet,” Collin says.
“My house,” Beast corrects.
“Our house,” Collin says.
“About that…” Elijah says as he rubs the back of his neck. “You have until Ali graduates to move out. In three months.”
His mouth drops. “What?!?”
An hour later, Elijah drops me off at my house.
“It kills me to do this,” he says, looking pained. “I want you living with me.”
“In three months,” I tell him as I lean over and kiss his cheek. “After I graduate or my dad will kill you for real. Can you wait?”
“It will be torture, but I’ll have to. I’d wait forever for you, my love.”
I smile as we lean in and kiss.
God, I love these lips, these arms, this man.
I can’t wait until school is out and I can move in with the Beast.
Life will be just fucking perfect.
Just the two of us.
EPILOGUE
Elijah
* * *
Three months later…
* * *
My girl is watching me from the edge of the stage and I swear my heart is going to explode. That adorable smile on her face, those sparkling blue eyes, that look of love… it fills me up with such joy that it makes me feel like the luckiest man on the planet.
I can’t believe I have Ali. That I get to touch her soft brown hair, kiss her plump sensual lips, and sink into her tight warm cunt whenever I want. She’s perfect for me and I absolutely adore her in every way.
She bites her bottom lip—grinning at me—as the principal calls out her name.
“Ali Bardot.”
Her family jumps up all around me and starts clapping and cheering. Not me. I’m just staring at her with all of the love and intensity I feel for this girl every day of my life. She’s looking back at me as she takes a step and then stumbles on her long gown.
God, that laugh… those blushing cheeks… It’s a struggle not to get hard whenever I’m looking at her.
She gives me a little, embarrassed, grinning shrug of her shoulders and then hurries over to where the principal is waiting.
They shake hands as she hands my girl her diploma and just like that, my girl is a high school grad. Next stop, college.
But before that, she’s moving in with me. It’s the deal we made with her parents. Once she graduates, she’s all mine.
And it starts tonight. She’ll be sleeping in my bed with me starting tonight and there’s no going back. We’ll get her stuff tomorrow. Tonight she’ll only need one thing and it’s not her clothes or her teddy bears.
“Go Ali!” her mom hollers as my girl walks off the stage, bouncing up and down excitedly as she clutches her diploma to her chest. I know she worked hard for this and I’m so proud of her.
“Congratulations,” Collin says as he slaps my back. “I know this is a big step for you too with Ali moving in.”