Epilogue
ADAM
Six years later.
I waited patiently for the crowd to clear out before I stepped toward the box of exams placed on the table outside my professor’s door. I sifted through them until I found my exam. With my heart beating fast, I turned to the last page where I was met with a large red-colored ‘A.’
I had passed!
With my exam clutched tightly in my hand, I rushed out of the building. Outside, I unhitched my bicycle from the rack and jumped on, pedaling home. The bike was quite a downgrade from my Suzuki but right now, paying for my education was more important.
When I got home, I quickly locked the bike against the railing and ran up the stairs, barging into our studio flat. Three years ago, Chloe and I had finally saved enough money to get a place of our own without depending on our parents. It was hard at first but we were finally getting to a place of comfort. Maybe in a few years, I could buy another motorcycle.
A man could dream, anyway.
“Adam, is that you?” Chloe called from the kitchen when she heard me open the front door.
“Yep! And I bring good news.”
“Oh?” She peeked her head out of the kitchen, a wooden spoon in her hand.
“Later,” I told her with a grin, hiding the exam behind my back. “But, before that, whatcha cooking good looking?” I wrapped my arm around her waist, tilting her back like we were a couple of dancers. Her long hair brushed the floor as I kissed her lips.
The feeling of her mouth on mine filled me with such euphoria. It didn’t matter how many times I kissed her, every time our lips collided it always felt like the first time.
“What has gotten into you?” she asked once she was back on her feet. “You seem… excited.”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” I answered with a grin. “But first, I’m pretty hungry.”
“You aren’t going to drag this out all through dinner just so you can torment me, are you?” She raised an eyebrow, her hand on her hip in question.
“No… of course not,” I said with an innocent expression on my face. “Do you really think I would do that to you?”
“Yes. You do it all the time.” She shook her head, returning to the stove where she mixed the stir fry.” The aroma from the fresh peppers, onions, and steak filled the room, making my mouth water.
“That smells good.”
“It’s a new recipe.”
“Mmm. I can’t wait to try it.” I snuck up behind her, my arms around her waist, my head on her tummy. “How did I get lucky enough to be with a woman who is both beautiful and great in the kitchen?”
“I’m not sure,” she laughed. “Maybe lady luck was on your side.”
“The only woman I want by my side is you,” I said as I started to kiss her neck, gently running my lips along her skin, making her shiver. I continued downward to the hollow on her shoulder knowing it was one of her sweet spots.
“If you keep this up, you’re going to eat a burnt dinner.”
“It would be worth it… do you know how it is for me to control the urge to plop you down on the counter and eat you out instead?” I whispered, my tone soft and seductive.
She moaned softly, her body easing into mine like a puzzle piece fitting into place.
“Anyway, how was your day at the lab?”
“Really good! I had a chat with Melissa. She is thinking about promoting me.”
“Really? That’s amazing, baby.”
“I don’t want to jinx it though.”
“I’m sure you’ll get it. You’re the smartest woman I know. The lab would be a wash without you. After all, you were the one that pointed out the mistake in their calculations. If it wasn’t for you the bacteria culture would be dead right now and all your research would be for nothing.”
She nodded, “I guess you have a point. You know, we are so close to curing cancer in one of the mice. It’s all but disappeared. We just need to figure out how to get rid of those last few cells…”
“I know you can do it.” I kissed her cheek. “You really are an inspiration.”
She blushed. “I’m just… me.”
“You’re so much more than that, Chloe. You’ve made me into a better man. Gave me the motivation I needed to go back to school. You’ve done so much for me that I feel like I could never truly repay you.”
“All I need is your love,” she said, turning around and kissing me.
I couldn’t help myself as I picked her up, wrapping her legs around my waist and pushing her against the wall as my lips hungrily danced against hers. My tongue slipped into her mouth, tangling with hers as my hands roamed up and down her body before resting on her ass, squeezing her cheeks.
She rubbed against me, her hips grinding into mine. I smirked into the kiss, my other hand kneading her breasts until they were practically popping out of her bra.
Only when I was close to passing out from the lack of air did I pull away from her, looking deep into her eyes.
She panted, a wild grin on her face. “Something has definitely gotten into you. What is it?”
“Can’t tell you,” I said mischievously before I eased her back onto the ground.
I stepped toward the stove, saving the stir fry from utter destruction.
“You’re the worst!” she pouted.
“You love me.”
“I do,” she said pouring some wine for us before she took off her apron.
“You know, you looked pretty sexy with that on,” I commented, placing our plates on the table before I pulled out her chair.
“I bet I’d look even sexier if I was wearing only that,” she shot back, her eyes burning with lust. “Oh… and you’re not the only one with a surprise up his sleeve.”
“Oh?”
“You don’t say mine until I hear yours.”
“You’re sneaky,” I said, narrowing my eyes in her direction, wondering what she was hiding from me.
We both ate quickly, our curiosity getting the better of us.
“So, are you finally going to tell me what the big surprise is?” she asked, sauntering up to me and sitting on my lap as soon as she was done.
“Maybe…” I reached into my bag and pulled out my folded-up exam, handing it to her.
“What’s this?” she asked before her eyes widened with realization. “Did you pass? I thought the results came out tomorrow?”
“That’s just what I told you,” I chuckled.
She hit my shoulder. “Oh my god! Congratulations, baby!” she smiled wide. “I knew you’d be able to graduate if you just put your mind to it.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I said, kissing her nose. “You were always the one to push me when I felt like giving up.”
“Well, to reward your efforts… I got you a little something…” She grabbed my hand and led me toward the back door.
“You did?”
“Of course,” she smiled.
“So, you bought me a graduation gift before you knew I passed?”
“I knew you were going to pass from the start. I never had any doubts about that,” she answered, tugging on my arm a little a harder. “Okay, close your eyes.” She unlocked the door and carefully guided me down the few steps to our backyard.
To my utter surprise, an exact replica of my old motorcycle was waiting for me, a big red bow between its handle bars. “How did you… I mean… where did you get the money for this?”
“I’ve been doing some freelancing on the side and decided to get you a little something…”
“This isn’t a ‘little something,’ Chloe… this probably cost you a fortune.”
She shrugged. “Worth it to see that bright smile on your face.”
I hugged her tight, carrying her over to the bike, placing her on the seat.
“What are you doing?”
“We are going to take this baby for a spin, obviously,” I answered, hopping into the seat in front of her. “I want to see what it can do.”
She giggled, her arms snaking around my body as she settled closer, her chest pressed into my back, teasing me with her semi-erect nipples poking through her shirt.
I started the engine, hearing it purr.
God, it felt so good to be on a motorcycle again. It had been way too long.
Eagerly, I pulled up the kickstand and ripped through the backyard and onto the street, narrowly avoiding the trash can.
Chloe held onto me tighter, her head on my shoulder.
I pushed the throttle, weaving through the traffic until we were on the highway. Once the wind was whipping through my hair and the adrenaline ran through my veins I felt my body soar with euphoria.
“I love you, Chloe!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, wanting the whole world to hear.
THE END