Chapter 27

The three of us woke up decently early and, after getting some breakfast, headed to the store to pack a lunch for our hike. It was nice getting back into nature, having been stuck in the city for so much since I moved to D.C. Lark seemed to really enjoy the hike and picnic, making me wish we could do something like this more often. After our hike and we got back to the hotel, I asked Marco would be okay if I saw my family for a little bit. He said of course and paid for the Uber over to my mom's house.

I stood on the landing, waiting for someone to answer the door. It didn't take much longer for one of my siblings to open the door, looking at me in surprise.

"Sorry for dropping by unannounced." I smiled slightly. "Is mom here?"

"In the kitchen." They moved out of the way, letting me in, then closed the door behind us. I headed up the stairs and into the kitchen to where my mom was making lunch.

"Hey." I spoke up, causing my mom to look up at me. She first looked back at the food before doing a double take.

"Lilian." Her eyes widened. "When did you get back here?"

"Yesterday." I rubbed my arm. "I'm out here with my boss on a business trip."

"Come help me with making sandwiches." My mom moved over to give me space on the counter to help her build them. "How long are you staying for?"

"We're leaving in the morning."

"I…suppose I'm glad you came to visit." She spoke quietly.

I smiled slightly. "I've missed you, mom."

"I…missed you too, Lili." She looked over at me with a small smile. "What happened to your teacher? The one you were dating?"

"We broke up. Well, I broke up with him after he cheated on me." I sighed, placing the last top on the sandwich before starting to bag them.

"I told you he was a bad guy, Lili." She shook her head.

"I know, I know. I didn't come back to argue about him."

"You shouldn't have left." I glanced over at my mom, seeing her expression grow sad.

"I know you think that." I sighed. "But I have a good job now in D.C. You should be proud of me."

"I am. It's just hard to see you not coming back. I miss you. We all do."

I bit back some bitterness, wondering how much she missed me helping out compared to how much she actually missed me.

"That's a fancy bracelet," my mom pointed towards it, "must be a really nice job you have"

"My…boss gave it to me." I mustered up the courage to admit the truth.

My mom sighed deeply. "You've gotten involved with him too. Wasn't it enough getting involved with your teacher?"

"Yeah. It was. But this is different. He's different. He's really sweet, and I really see a future with him. Whereas Alder…I didn't."

She took another deep breath. "I'm…glad to hear that, then. Will you stay for dinner? I'd like to introduce you to my boyfriend."

"Yeah. I can stay for dinner." I nodded. "I wanna see everyone before I go too. Why don't we go to the park?"

"Sure. We can do that." My mom smiled slightly.

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I swiped my card before opening the hotel door and walking in. Marco looked up at me while Lark got off the floor to run over to me. "I told him he could stay up until you go back."

"We should get you to be then, mister." I picked Lark up, poking his chest gently, to which he giggled.

Lark was already prepared for bed, so all we had to do was get him tucked in and make she he fell asleep before leaving.

"Hey. Can we talk for a bit?"

"Sure, Lili." Marco smiled at me, closing the other bedroom door behind him. "Let's go talk out on the couch." I nodded, following him over to the couch. He turned the TV off and turned to face me, giving me his full attention. "Let me ask how it went first."

"It went fine. I saw my mom and most of my siblings again. I also met my mom's boyfriend. He seems nice enough."

"Only nice enough?"

"He's kinda crusty." I laughed, shaking my head.

Marco smiled at my comment.

"But, there was something I wanted to ask you." I became more serious.

"What is it?"

"I…would like for us to be more serious to actually put a name on this."

Marco smiled. "I'd like that. I'd like to call you my girlfriend."

"I'd like that too." I looked down with a smile.

"Lili. I don't feel like I've told you well enough, but you're a spectacular woman." He placed his hand on my cheek. "I love you, Lili."

"I--I love you too, Marco." I watched him in surprise. I had been feeling it for a while but hadn't had the courage to say it yet. I made me happy to have him say it. To know, I didn't have to hold it inside anymore.

"I would like to give you something more than your bracelet. I would like to pay for your trip out of the country for a month. I've already bought you the tickets but didn't plan anything besides that, so you can choose where you go."

"Holy fuck." The curse rolled off my lips without intention. "Marco, that's way too much."

"No. It's not. I have the money, you want to go, and I want you to be able to fulfill that dream."

"Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging onto him, before pulling back to kiss him. "Thank you, Marco."

"I'll find someone to fill in for you. And I promise not to fall in love with them too." He chuckled, stroking my cheek gently.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'd hope you don't fall in love with all your nannies." There was a moment of silence between us, before I stood up and took his hand. "Let me thank you properly for everything, Marco."

He smiled. "I think I'd like that."

We made our way into the separate bedroom and began stripping each other. Before too long, we were both naked. Marco guided me to the bed, his hands firmly on my hips. He began kissing me, his hand running down my stomach and to my crotch. They gently dipped inside, eliciting a moan from me. I grabbed his dick and stroked until he became hard. We then moved positions, where I was on my back, and he was standing over me. He leaned down to passionately kiss me before inserting himself into me, causing me to moan once more as he filled me up. Marco began thrusting, my ankles on his shoulders. His hand ran over my body, gently playing with my nipple before we shifted, and he leaned over me, cupping my face.

"You're so amazing, Marco." I leaned into his hand.

"You're so fuck hot." He muttered. "Come here." Marco picked me up by my hips and moved us around so I was now on top of him, riding him.

I began bouncing against him, the clapping of our skin filling the room. We sped up, fucking harder and faster. Before much longer, we both came, and I fell onto his chest, kissing him again.

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