Chapter 22
Tristan
My hands are shaking so hard as I light the candle that it takes me a full ten seconds before the flame forms. My heart is pounding in my chest. I glance around my room, and an almost hysterical laugh is pulled from my chest.
It looks and feels like a fucking porno with the dim lighting and mood music playing from a cheesy Spotify playlist. She’s going to think I’m a sap, and I don’t even care.
She’s mine now. If she hasn’t said yes to my proposition yet, she will after tonight. I’ll make sure of it. She’ll want more than just “something.”
She’ll be my goddamn girlfriend.
The thought of it doesn’t terrify me as much as it used to. A six-year obsession is going to end with the thing I really wanted from the beginning. My fifteen-year-old self would be losing his mind if he could see me now, lighting candles and waiting for Amy to come to me.
After the end of her friendship with Harper, Amy wouldn’t even look at me when I tried to talk to her, and it used to kill me.
Back then, if I’d seen a fraction of the warmth and tenderness that was shining from her eyes last night, I’d probably have fallen to my knees and begged her to become my girlfriend.
I won’t have to beg. When we’re lying in each other’s arms tonight, she’ll give herself to me freely.
She cares for me too. I know she does.
I take a deep breath to calm my racing thoughts. I can hardly believe this is finally happening.
I’ve waited six fucking years.
A soft knock resounds in the room, and my stomach flips over. “Come in!”
The door slowly opens, and Amy steps into my room. I rush over to her and lift her up into my arms. Just as I lean in to kiss her, I hesitate. Her usually bright eyes are dull. Is that stubborn chin of hers quivering?
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask.
She gives me a small smile and nods. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I exhale, and an almost unbearable tenderness squeezes my chest.
She’s anxious.
“I’m a little nervous,” I say, hoping it will put her at ease. “I’ve been waiting fucking years for this.”
Her eyes grow wide, and I clear my throat as I set her down. Fuck, I really am nervous. This woman makes me crazy.
“So I bought all five seasons of Poldark for us,” I say, gesturing at my TV. “This better be good, Amelia. This is a lot of TV I’m committing to watch.”
Amy smirks and sets her hands on my shoulders. “That might have been a waste of money. I don’t think we’ll be doing much watching TV tonight.”
I shiver, and my hands find their way to her waist. She lifts onto her tiptoes and presses her mouth against mine. My body catches fire.
I’m fucking her tonight. How is this happening?
She deepens the kiss, massaging my tongue with hers and grinding her hips against mine. This is too fast. If I’m finally fucking Amelia Harrington, I’m going to draw this out as long as I can.
I gently push her back, and she sucks on my lip, making a popping sound when we break contact. “Amy, I want to take this slow with you.”
Her eyes search mine. She looks like she’s skeptical.
Fuck, not this. Not tonight. I need to make her trust me.
“Why?” she asks, her voice breathless.
I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. “Because I’ve been waiting years for this moment, and I don’t want to explode the second I’m inside you.”
She frowns. “How could you have been waiting years for this when you’ve been with Harper?”
I let out a long sigh. It’s a fair question, and I won’t hide from it. Not if we’re going to start something after this is over. As much as I care about Harper, I’ve used her. I’ve used her because I was lonely and pining for someone else.
“I haven’t…” I shut my eyes and take a deep breath.
“I shouldn’t have been with Harper. I really did care about her at one time, but…
I realized I was only going back to her because it was easy, and that wasn’t fair to her.
But I promise you that the last time we broke up—which was months ago—it was for good.
I told her we’ll never get back together again.
Never sleep together again just because one of us is bored. And I meant it.”
She lifts her chin. “Then why were you trying to make her jealous?”
I flinch. Fuck, I almost forgot about that. I was an idiot for making that shit up. But there’s no hiding from it now. She needs to know the truth.
I grab her by the chin. “I made that up to get close to you. It was a dirty move, but I was desperate. Can you forgive me?”
“Yes, Tristan.” She smiles brightly, and something about her flashing eyes makes the back of my neck prickle.
She doesn’t believe me, let alone forgive me, and I can’t blame her.
I cup her face and lean down to press my forehead against hers. “Just give me a chance, little one. Let me prove to you that I won’t ever lie to you again.”
She answers me with a kiss. It’s not exactly the reassurance I crave, but I’ll take it. Our lips move together with renewed urgency. This time, though, she lets me move slowly and savor her mouth like dessert.
We have all night.
Our tongues dance as we explore one another’s mouths. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, and she gasps and moans and presses her body into mine.
Fuck, I knew she’d be like this. I knew all her intensity would be heaven once I finally taste her.
“God, Amy,” I whisper into her ear between kisses, “I’ve wanted you for so long. You’re perfect.”
“Of course I am,” she says, and I smile.
“Tristan,” she whispers, her fingers gripping my hair. “Take me to bed.”
As if my body has a will of its own, I lift her into my arms and cradle her against my chest. Our lips meet as I make my way to the bed.
Every touch, every gasp, every sweet little moan is like a secret that I’ve craved to uncover since the moment I laid eyes on her.
I knew she’d be passionate, but I never knew she’d be my sustenance when I finally got my hands on her. Wanting her left me ravenous for years.
“Years, Amy,” I murmur in her ear as I lay her down on the bed. “Years of watching you, craving you.”
Her eyes shimmer with something unspoken, and she pulls me in for another searing kiss. She traces her fingertips along my jawline, making my skin tingle.
“Tristan,” she says, her voice trembling, “make love to me.”
My heart grows full and heavy. Fuck, this is a big deal. I can’t let my hunger for her make me careless and greedy. I grab her chin and look into her eyes. “I will, Amy. I promise.”
And I mean it, because goddamn it, this feels just like love.
I can’t worry what it will mean for my future. Tonight, I’m going to let myself feel. I’ll worship her with my body like I’ve always wanted to.
I take my time undressing her, savoring every inch of her as I gently remove each piece of clothing. Her skin is soft and warm under my fingertips, and I can’t help but trace patterns on her exposed skin.
“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
Her cheeks grow pink, and she turns her head away. “You don’t mean that.”
I rub my hand on her belly, so deliciously round and soft under my palm. “I do. You look like you were made just for me.”
Her swallow is audible. “That’s nice.”
My throat grows tight. Fuck, she’s sweet.
“I want to feel every part of you,” I say as I take off my shirt. When I pull off my pants and underwear, my rock-hard cock bounces around. “But we have to go extremely slow.” I laugh as I stand up to grab a condom from my desk drawer. “Just take one look at my dick, and you’ll know why.”
When she looks up at me, her eyes grow huge. My chest grows heavy. “Amy…are you a virgin? You don’t have to be… You can tell me.”
She shakes her head.
My skin grows hot, and my jaw clenches. Who got to fuck shy little Amy before me? If she tells me it was that dirtbag Cody Morris, I might have to warn him not to get too cozy with her anymore, that after tonight, she belongs to…
Jesus Christ.
She has me thinking like a lunatic.
This is a good thing. If she’s not a virgin, we both can enjoy tonight to the fullest.
“Alright, well, that’ll make it easier.” I tear open the wrapper and roll the condom over my dick. “But I don’t want to know who you had sex with before me, okay? Don’t ever say his name.”
“You mean I shouldn’t call out his name tonight ?”
When my head jerks in her direction, she’s smiling mischievously.
I smirk as I walk back over to the bed. “Do you want to get punished, little Amy?”
“Little Amy,” she scoffs. “Why do you always call me little? I’m obviously not skinny.”
I scoot onto the bed and wrap my arms around her. “You’re little compared to me. And I don’t like skinny. You’re nice and soft.” I nuzzle my nose against her neck. “Years, Amy,” I repeat. “And it was worth the wait.”
When I pull away, she’s giving me a strange look. “Can you please stop saying that?”
I frown. “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “I’d just rather you not tell me over and over again how long you’ve wanted me. Given our history, it’s confusing.”
Ah, she doesn’t trust me fully yet. Why should she? I just told her five minutes ago that I lied to her. It’s okay. I’ll show her with my body just how much I want her. Over the next few months, I’ll shower her with so much adoration that she won’t be left with a single doubt.
Will I be able to let her go? Somehow, it doesn’t feel like it, but I can’t think about that now. Not when I’m about to fulfill my deepest, most agonizing need.
I press my lips against hers as I crawl on top of her, relishing the warmth and softness of her skin. When I lower myself against her, I let out a groan.
“You feel so good underneath me,” I say, “I could come right now.”
She hums as I settle my hips against her. I’m inches away from her pussy, and I have to try as hard as I can not to think about it.
I’m taking this slowly.
I bring my hand to her cheek and stroke the hair from her face. After pressing a soft kiss against her nose, I move to her cheek, her jaw, her forehead.
“You’re really romantic,” Amy says.