Chapter 29: Always Use Protection

3PM was on the display, and I immediately put my work computer to sleep. My purse was slung around my shoulder and I fervidly waved bye to Renee before jogging to Chris's open office door to do the same. My coworkers looked confused and worried, but I wasn't going to stop and explain that I was rushing out to go dust off my cowgirl boots.

I barreled into my apartment and stared at the microwave clock.

3:20PM.

"I didn't piss you off today, right?!" I shouted at Cinna Buns, scrambling around my apartment to make sure there were no more gifts, in the shapes of nuggets, sprinkled around.

The hair stood on her back as my cleaning rampage went on around her. The place was relatively clean, but I needed to feng shui the boxes in a way that didn't make me look like I still hadn't done a thing. Knowing him, he would ask why I was still unpacked, and I wanted zero distractions from the mission. I barely had that much from my old apartment with Greta, so why have I been so apathetic about organizing my space?

My paranoia was in full swing as I mapped out how much time left I had to prepare for his visit.

"Why, dammit, why?!" I screeched, as I searched through my bathroom supplies.

I had fifteen minutes to get to the store, buy what I needed, and stay on time.

You bet your sweet ass, I know what time management means.

*

Of course, the lines at the self-checkout were unusually long. Sure, I could have assumed that he would bring what I left my apartment for, but because I could never be too sure, I scanned the barcode to a box full of latex.

Dashing back to my place, I glanced at the microwave's time and realized that I had ten minutes till. I was in the bathroom scrambling through my makeup bag. My little cat was sitting on the toilet and peering at me, possibly probably waiting for an explanation as to why her food and water bowl had been relocated into the bathroom.

It's just temporary, Cinna.

"Don't poke yourself..." I chanted to myself with my eyes wide open.

The mascara brush flew away from my face when I heard a vibration on the sink counter.

I snatched up my phone and read the text from Ezra, "What size blouse do you wear?"

My brows were together when I replied, "Small or medium. It depends... why???"

I waited for his usual prompt response, but many seconds had passed by and there was nothing, until I heard the soft knocks. I was tempted to run to the door and yank it from its hinges, but I kept my cool and quietly approached it. After tugging at the knob, there was an instant smile on my face.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Young," he greeted.

There was no smile on his face, and his lazy eyes were examining me in full again.

"Afternoon...Please, come in," I sweetly insisted, before he took his time to step inside.

Trying not to appear desperate, I didn't rush to close the door and secure the latch. Turning around, I saw Ezra's back while he casually ventured further into my apartment- his hands in his pockets. I demurely followed after him, much more nervous than I wanted to be.

I observed him carefully while he lifted and turned his as he surveyed the space around us. It wasn't until I was near that he returned his attention. The excitement of seeing his eyes on me put my nerves into a frenzy, and I could feel the intensity rise from my stomach into my chest.

Ezra's green gaze was too dark and absorbing; they weren't allowing me to make decision.

My heart skipped a beat and my eyes fluttered, when he moved his lips. "Ada, what do you want?"

Where do I even start?

The opportunity was in front of me, yet I was too stupefied by attraction of being asked what I wanted. How did I tell him what I wanted, now that there was nothing in our way?

Ezra took a step closer and lowered his naturally deep tone. "Ada... what do you want me to do... to you?"

Sensation scattered along my cheeks at the luxury of his accented voice, and I instantly whispered, "Anything you want."

Ezra's hands took a hold of my hips to left no space between us. He was teasing me once again with the simple brush of his lips, but only seconds passed before I finally felt them flush against mine.

Finally, with time to savor it, my eyes closed at the feeling of another sweet kiss. I quickly folded my mouth with his, for more. My hands did what they wanted, lingering against his cheek and letting my thumb play gently with an earlobe while the other raked a soft trail up into his hair, pulling a soft groan from his throat.

Our kiss lasted only for a moment before I was abruptly turned to have my back pressed into his chest. I gasped, and couldn't hide the smile as I indulged in the hands that were smoothing over my stomach and up to my breasts. Ezra luxuriated in the moment, taking his time to lift them and grip. They were only ever sensitive under the touch of another, and he could tell once he planted a kiss along my cheek at the first sounds of my enjoyment.

My head rolled back into him and my palms glided over his large hands. I needed to touch him as he continued to mold me. So badly did I want to say his name, but I even under Ezra's stir I was afraid of what would happen if I did.

Ezra's fingers made headway between my breasts. I opened my eyes to see what he what he was up to next. It was then that his fingers curled into a grip to tear my shirt open.

His lips were against my ear. "I've wanted to do that all day."

Air sucked through my teeth, before I turned my lips up for him to hurriedly take them. The raw taste of his mouth ascended to the top of the list of things I couldn't deny. Ezra groaned, when I took a little bite of his lower lip. My little gesture prompted him to tug the rest of the destroyed fabric from my body. Had I found a weakness of his?

I turned around. I turned to see his face. Ezra's heavy breathing was evident as he lifted his chin at his new view. My cleavage was compacted in one of my nicer push-up bras with frosted tulle. He swallowed once before he allowed his jacket to fall from his shoulders.

There's definitely no turning back now.

I circled around him. Ezra's attention was magnetized to my movement, refusing to let me out of his sight. His eyes lowered with me as I made myself comfortable on the edge of the bed. Pulling my arms back and pushing chest forward, I caught the slight flash of his brows.

But his eyes tore from me and to his wrists, and he confidently stated, "I'm only going to take my time with this because I know just how much you like it."

You discovered my weakness.

My breathing halted, letting Ezra kill me a little as he took time to unbutton the cuffs to his shirt. After, his fingers began to work at his collar, tugging ever so slightly at his tie. When it dropped to the floor, the buttons of his shirt were being worked from the top. But he only made it halfway before I took grip of his belt and drew him near. Ezra's hands quickly rested at his sides, and green eyes were heavily lidded as they bore into my upward stare.

His eyes fluttered to the sight of my bitten my lip while I released the tore open his button-up. I had finally cracked at his patience. Without any more delay, Ezra removed the rest of his shirt and the undershirt quickly followed.

Sweet Jesus.

The man looked as good as I imagined he would shirtless. I was able to let my touch venture along his firm skin and gutters, one fingernail drifting along his faint happy trail. My forefinger hooked around his buckle, before my palm caressed the prominent bulge below it. His audible pleasure filled my ears with delicious moans.

I took one firm grip of his hardness, and it didn't take long for me be sinking under Ezra's weight. My skirt was gathered around my waist and his hand drifted near my panties that didn't particularly match my bra.

I tensed up, once his fingers slipped underneath the thin layer of cotton. My insecurity over maintenance kept my attention on his face to watch for disappointment. It had been a while since I bothered to tend to that area since the breakup. However, Ezra's attention didn't stray from mine, returning a chaste kiss of what felt like reassurance. His grin following our parted lips made me feel a little at ease, and his smile grew even wider once he found the spot.

Oh no...

His middle finger circled around, abruptly pushing me to close my eyes and turn away.

"Ada," Eza whispered.

I was embarrassed. How could I have been with someone for eight years before, yet feel so taken aback by Ezra's touch.

Don't do this.

I couldn't help it, I couldn't dismiss the sudden remembrance of Andre's likes and dislikes in bed. Ezra removed his hand and placed it to the side of my face. He gently turned me back to him.

"It's me, Ada," he whispered. "If you don't want me to, tell me."

He kissed my forehead. My lowered his lips to the tip of my nose, and his last kiss was for my lips. I thought I was sure of what I wanted as my arms hooked around his neck as he repositioned himself between my legs.

All I have to do is say it.

But my eyes were shut tight, trying to force myself into complete darkness. We'd already come too far for me to stop now. I was shaking, and I knew he could feel it. Peeling open my eyes, Ezra's look of dismay was for the fearful look in my eyes.

He removed his hands from my waist to my cheeks. "Ada, what is the matter?"

My mouth opened to catch more air. I was beyond embarrassment and insecurity.

I tried to detect the evident disappointment that I expected to find in his next words. "You don't want to-"

"No," my voice trembled. "That's not it."

Ezra's eyes waited in anticipation for an answer I was too scared to give.

"Ada, I hope you're not afraid of me... or yourself," he said in attempts to encourage an answer from me.

"Are you sure this isn't a terrible idea?" I whispered.

He shook his head, "It doesn't feel like a terrible idea, Ada."

My eyes shifted elsewhere. "That's easy for you to say, Ezra."

He closed his eyes briefly, before he sighed, "You're derailing, Ada. You just said-"

"I lied," I lied.

"It wasn't until I touched you there that you stopped," he stated. "You're not telling me something."

Instinct forced my guard up. "Maybe I don't want to tell you."

"Who hurt you, Ada?" he demanded, glowering into my eyes.

My hands began to push him away, and he didn't resist. Ezra allowed me to put distance between us, but he was still fervent for an answer.

His tone was firm. "Ada, who was it?"

My eyes were set to a glare, but before I had the opportunity to derail again, we were startled by the booms at my door.

Three loud bangs were followed by, "Ada! I know you're in there!"

"Oh my God," I muttered with horror.

How did you find me?

Peering at the door, Ezra growled, "Who in the hell is that?"

He didn't wait for an answer after he took a swift glance at my alarmed expression. Ezra bolted from the bed, but I grabbed onto his arm.

"Don't!" I whispered in a panic.

"I saw you come back to this building when you left the store, Ada!" Andre shouted after two more knocks.

Ezra pulled from my grasp and stormed away. Without removing the latch, he yanked open the door, and I was mortified at what could possibly follow.

"You have the wrong apartment," Ezra spat through the cracked door.

I heard a long pause before Andre returned, "My bad... you wouldn't happen to know an Ada Young in this building, would you?"

"No," Ezra answered before slamming the door.

I shamefully watched as Ezra listened to Andre's distancing stomps. When it sounded as though he were gone, Ezra slowly turned on his heels and glared at me.

He promptly zoomed back to me and was quick to interrogate, "Who was that?"

I could feel the overwhelming thoughts forcing a wet brim around my eyes, and I finally admitted, "My ex."

He didn't waste another second to pull out his phone to swiftly fire off a message before shoving it back into his pocket. The silent tears were inevitable as I watched Ezra stalk back to his clothes and viciously swipe them up to put them on.

"Where are you going?" I whimpered.

"I'm sorry, Ada, but I have to leave," he huffed, after sliding on the last jacket sleeve.

My heart sank at Ezra's emotional distance. The red across his face needed no explanation as it accompanied angry strides to the front door. He looked to his phone one more time before he unlocked the door.

"Ezra, wait," I pleaded.

He turned his head to me but his eyes prefered the ground. Displeasure still riddled his face and the only reason I kept my mouth closed was due to the fear of finding out what it meant. So, he opened the door and left. Ezra left.

I messed up again.

And this is why we would never work.

Me.