Contracted To You-Chapter 61: Home

Evie stood there, motionless, as Ezra’s body pressed against hers, her throat dry and heart racing.

She had never expected him to come to her house this late at night—around 11 PM. When she opened the door and saw the weariness in his eyes, Evie felt a tug at her heartstrings.

She stepped aside for him to enter, and as she closed the door behind them and turned, he enveloped her in a hug.

In his embrace, she felt small, his strong arms wrapping around her, that familiar warmth surrounding her. His masculine scent filled her senses as he buried his head in the crook of her neck, seeking solace.

They stood together in silence, the absence of words speaking volumes as they held each other, as if they had been separated for far too long.

To Ezra, it felt like coming home. Evie was soft, her scent sweet, and the hug calmed the storm within him. He wanted to stay like this forever.

He breathed deeply into her neck, tightening his hold. She was warm, soft, and sweet—exactly the comfort he had sought. After leaving the hospital, he had contemplated going back home, but the thought of loneliness drove him to Evie. She was right here, and that made all the difference.

Finally, Evie cleared her throat, prompting a slight loosening of his grip. Just slightly. He didn’t let go.

"Ezra," she called softly, her voice as sweet as he remembered. "What are you doing here?"

Looking for solace, Ezra thought but kept silent.

Evie pressed on. "Why did you come here?" She questioned, perplexed about why he was with her when he had Dawn and their child waiting at home.

She tried to forget the day she had seen him and Dawn together at the mall, where they appeared to be a picture-perfect family. It had stung, and she had quickly averted her gaze to avoid being caught. Now, he stood before her, holding her.

In that moment, she felt like a mistress, torn between them. What she didn’t know was that Ezra had not chosen to be with Dawn, it was a situation forced upon him, and he wanted no part of it anymore.

Ezra pulled back slightly, his gaze steady on her. "I told you to wait for me," he said, and Evie looked back at him, confused.

"Now I’m here," he added. He missed her, and it was painfully evident in his expression. He had longed for her presence, and while Dawn’s presence and actions in his life had caused him anger, they had also revealed how much he truly cared for Evie. And how much he missed her.

"You shouldn’t be here," Evie said firmly, but internally, she wrestled with her feelings.

Why was she holding back? He had come to her. "You have a child at home, and Dawn must be waiting for you."

"You want me to leave?" Ezra raised an eyebrow.

No, she thought. Her heart screamed for him to stay even as her mouth said rubbish.

Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for his next move. Ezra stepped closer, hands gently gripping her shoulders. "I can’t leave even if you ask me to."

"Why?" she pressed.

"Because I came here for you, Evie. I’m not going anywhere if you try to push me away."

She shook her head. "Don’t you understand, Ezra? You have a family."

"There is no family," he declared, his voice rising. There was never ’that’ family, he thought. "You need to understand that—it doesn’t exist anymore." His tone softened.

"Huh?" She looked at him, bewildered.

"I don’t want to talk about that right now. Evie... Let’s not get into it," Ezra said, wanting to set aside everything that had driven them apart. "All I know is that I came back because I missed you. I just want to be with you again."

Evie’s heart raced in her chest, a rush of warmth flooding her cheeks as Ezra admitted he missed her and had returned for her.

She took a steady breath. "All I want right now is you, Evie," he whispered. "Don’t take that away from me." He leaned in, his focus intense.

Evie stared at him, eyes widening. What was he doing?

But when he cupped her cheeks and shifted his gaze from her eyes to her lips, everything clicked into place.

Instead of pulling away, she stayed put, ready for his kiss. She had missed him too—more than she’d care to admit, stubborn as she was.

Then it happened. His lips brushed against hers, and her heart exploded.

She closed her eyes as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in closer, his fingers caressing her cheek as he parted his lips to run his tongue across her bottom lip.

He claimed her upper lip, kissing it tenderly while she instinctively clutched his arms, anchoring him to her.

Evie parted her lips, allowing his tongue to slide into her mouth and explore as they kissed deeply.

Her heart soared; she didn’t want this to end. This was the second sweetest kiss she’d ever shared with him.

They tilted their heads, lips brushing together again, and her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers tangling in his soft hair as he tightened his grip on her waist.

Ezra stepped forward as she moved backward, their kiss relentless until her back hit the wall. Neither of them broke the kiss; it just intensified.

He broke away momentarily, trailing kisses from her ear down her jawline, sending waves of desire coursing through her as he kissed along her neck and collarbone, his hands sending pleasure through her body.

Evie clutched him tighter, nails digging into his arms. Her body ignited with every touch and kiss, and she craved more.

With her eyes closed, savoring the sensations, she let her hands fumble with his shirt, starting to unbutton it. Just as he leaned in to kiss her again, their lips met once more.

Lost in their embrace, the moment was suddenly interrupted by a ringing phone.

They pulled apart, eyes locking, but Evie’s gaze narrowed as she realized it was her phone.

"Sorry, I need to get that," she said, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement.

Ezra nodded, and as she walked away, her legs felt weak from the intensity of their moment.

She made her way to her room, finding her phone on the bed.

It was Ruby calling. ’Oh Ruby, if this isn’t important...’ she thought, ready to unleash her frustration.

Evie answered the call, and Ruby’s voice burst through. "Where have you been all day?" she huffed.

"Why haven’t you been online? The internet’s a mess right now, you need to check it out."

Evie closed her eyes. Was this what was so urgent?

"Look, Ruby, I’m about to sleep. I’ll check it tomorrow, okay? Goodnight."

"Evie, wait—" But Ruby’s desperate plea was cut off as the call disconnected.

"Seriously?" Ruby thought, frustration simmering. She had anticipated sharing urgent news with Evie, so that they could gossip about it and now she was left alone without anyone to confide in.

Meanwhile, Evie bit her lip, heart still racing.

Nothing mattered more than the fact that Ezra was in her house, that they’d kissed and touched, and that the connection still thrummed between them.

Her cheeks flushed at the memory of his tongue swirling in her mouth. It had been an unforgettable kiss.

Evie took a deep breath, steeling herself for the return to the parlor to see Ezra.

Her legs felt unsteady, but she pushed onward to the door of her room, her heart pounding in her chest. She could do this. Why was she hesitating?

There was excitement in the possibility of picking up where they left off. She didn’t want their moment to end. Evie firmly decided to head back to the sitting room. When she arrived, she was taken aback to find Ezra on the couch, sleeping soundly.

Her lips parted in surprise as she approached him. He truly looked peaceful, save for the occasional twitch of his eyebrows.

Evie bit her lip, her lips curling in amusement. She placed her hands on her hips as she watched him. He was clearly exhausted. She had envisioned returning to continue kissing him, yet here he was, dozing off on her couch.

He slept off too soon.

Reluctant to leave his side, she thought about retreating to her room, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that if she did, she might not see him again. So she would wait here.

Her heart swelled just at the sight of him, her lips still tingling from their earlier kiss.

Without thinking twice, she leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his forehead before pulling back. There was no denying it; she liked this man, and he was the first to ever kiss her.

***Important Notice***

Hi guys.

I know most have been waiting for this moment...*cough cough* Thank you for your patience.

We’ve reached the exciting part of this journey, and I assure you, there will be plenty of steamy moments ahead, so get ready! *Wink*

However, I’ve noticed a decline in the views and engagement with this book lately. Power stones are not being sent, and comments have significantly dropped. This is disheartening, as I value your feedback and enjoy responding to your thoughts.

I appreciate all the support you’ve given this book so far, but communication is crucial. If something isn’t working for you, I expect to hear about it rather than being met with silence.

Because your input helps me make necessary adjustments and improve the story.

If you’re enjoying this book, please show your support by sending power stones and leaving reviews. Every interaction matters in boosting this book’s visibility. And your comments are equally as important, I’m human and will make mistakes, but I welcome your critiques to help me improve.

I’m close to stepping back from updates due to this lack of engagement. However, my desire for a breakthrough keeps me motivated to continue. I understand there will be ups and downs, but it’s disappointing nonetheless, and I am holding onto the hope that we can turn this around together.

I will continue writing and ensure this book is completed to your satisfaction because I want you to feel you’re getting your money’s worth. *Smile*

To everyone who has contributed, whether by reading, commenting, or even keeping this book in your library, thank you. Your support does not go unnoticed. But I urge you—let’s engage more actively. Thank you.