Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
There were tears slowly making their way down his flushed cheeks. They were beautiful, even if I wanted to get rid of them. I wasn’t sure if they were sad tears or tears that came from the intensity of what we’d just done—all I knew was that I never wanted to see Moon cry again.
They just kept flowing, though. I lifted my hand, interrupting the constant drip with my thumb, swiping it across his rosy cheek as I whispered to him. “My good boy. My very, very good boy. Why are you crying, hm?”
I watched his chest rise as he inhaled, his lips parting on words that never came. He shook his head and placed a hand over his chest, right where his heart was. His fingers curled as he gripped, the skin there turning white.
I wanted to understand. To know what was going through his mind. The silence was jarring after the room had been filled with nothing but the sound of his pleasure and mine coming together. At least, as silent as silent could get for me, seeing as the ringing in my ears still refused to end.
Despite my curiosity, I patted the spot beside me. “Come down here. I need to hold you.”
Moon wiped his eyes, which didn’t do much, seeing as more tears replaced the last ones. He moved off my lap and onto his side right by me, facing me. I shimmied down, lying flat with him, staring into those captivating brown eyes of his.
Something about his gaze had changed, though I couldn’t totally put my finger on what it was. They seemed brighter and lighter. Like a weight had been taken from him, and he wasn’t crumbling under as much pressure.
I wrapped my arms around him, leading his head to lie on my chest. I pet along the back of his head, smiling a little when he tangled his legs with mine.
“It’s okay. You did such a good job. So good for me.
” I leaned down to kiss the top of his head, hoping my words helped a little, even if they weren’t enough.
Having him here, knowing he wasn’t going anywhere, knowing he’d let me see such an intimate part of him, felt right.
It was confirmation that I wasn’t losing it, because it felt like I’d been missing Moon Miller my entire life.
He was the final piece—the final person—I’d ever need to finally feel complete.
I wasn’t lost anymore, because Moon had found me. And if that wasn’t fucking beautiful, I didn’t know what was.
Pressing my lips against the top of his head, I closed my eyes and whispered.
“Thank you for letting me be your Daddy. Thank you for letting me be your boyfriend. Being a part of your life like this, being able to see these parts of you, is something I’ll be grateful for every day you continue to let me.
I don’t take this lightly. I just need you to know that.
” He still didn’t say anything, but I hadn’t expected him to.
“Will you be okay if I go get a washcloth to clean us up with? I’ll bring some pajamas, too.
” There were a few outfits of his in my dresser, along with some of his shower products and a toothbrush just for him in my bathroom. I liked having his stuff here.
I waited until he nodded to slowly untangle our bodies from each other, rolling out of the bed and walking to the bathroom. I cleaned myself up first, wiping away Moon’s dried cum. We could both do with a shower, but I had a feeling he needed time to recharge before we did any of that.
Instead of going straight to the bedroom, I rushed to the kitchen for a glass of water and found Moon in the same position as I had left him. His eyes were still open, but there were no more tears falling. He was staring at my spot, barely blinking, with a blank look on his face.
Sitting right by him, I set the glass on the nightstand and held up the damp washcloth. “Mind if I clean you up a little?”
“Sure.” His voice sounded rough, probably spent after being so good and vocal for me earlier.
Not wanting to disturb him too much, I wiped with the curve of his body how he was lying. Gently, I grabbed his leg, bending his knee enough that I could clean away the cum between his ass cheeks. I glanced up, noticing that Moon was watching me, his eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”
Clearing his throat, he shook his head. “Nothing. Just didn’t expect you to do that, is all.”
“Why wouldn’t I? I made the mess. I’ll clean it up.”
“Yeah, but that was like a glorified ass wiping. You just wiped my ass.”
I moved his leg back into place. “I can’t see the problem here. You’re mine, and I’ll take care of you however I need or want to.” I threw the washcloth across the room into the dirty clothes hamper by the wall. “Speaking of, sit up for me and drink some of this water.”
He was slow and careful, only sitting up enough to take the glass from me and drink a few sips before handing it back. “Thanks.”
After rearranging the blankets and turning the light off, I covered Moon up and slid beneath them with him, lying on my back. It was late, and we hadn’t had a chance to make dinner, but I didn’t think either of us wanted to eat at the moment.
Moon cuddled up to me, putting his head back on my chest and letting me wrap my arm around him. I wondered if he could hear my heart and how it beat for him.
I held him close, stroking the back of his head as we lay in silence, soaking in each other’s body heat, simply existing. In the dark, it was easier to face the truths of the world around us. We didn’t have to put on a brave face against embarrassment or shame.
Moon slid one of his hands up from my stomach, landing square over my heart. “Emerson?”
“Yeah, baby?” I whispered back.
It took him a second to say anything, one of his fingertips drawing shapes into my skin. I waited, barely breathing, as he gathered himself. “I’m ready to share my heart with you.”
I paused, letting what he was saying actually process in my mind. His finger stopped drawing shapes on my chest just as I stopped petting the back of his head. I felt his muscles stiffen, as if he was about to run, just as I finally let myself smile. “And how do you mean that, exactly?”
He turned his head further into my chest. “I mean that I love you. I’m in love with you. I’m ready to share my stupid heart with you, but if you don’t feel the same, then—”
“Finally.” I cut him off.
“What?”
I laughed, just a short, brief exhale of a laugh, and wrapped my arm tighter around him. “You’d be an idiot to think I didn’t love you. I’ve been waiting for you, Moon. I’ve been waiting this entire time.”
“Wait, hold on.” He struggled for a second, lifting himself on his elbow to hover his face over mine, peering down at me. “You’ve been waiting?”
“Moon, baby.” I reached up, holding his face in my hands. “My heart has been yours since before I ever asked you to be my boyfriend. I have been in love with you for a long time. I’ve just been waiting for you, and I would’ve kept waiting for as long as it took.”
There was just enough moonlight peeking through the window that I could see the barest hint of a smile on his face. “You love me?”
I pulled his face close to mine, touching our noses together. “I am so incredibly in love with you. I swear my heart has grown just to accommodate how much I love you.”
“Fuck, Em.” He sniffled. “Don’t you dare make me cry again. I’m so sick of crying. But I’m so fucking happy.”
These tears, I found myself not wanting to wipe away.
If they were evidence to how he felt about me, I wanted them to stain the skin on his cheeks forever.
“All I ever want is for you to be happy, Moon. That’s all I’ll ever need.
And I swear, with every square inch of my heart, that I will do anything possible to make that happen. Just love me, and I’ll love you back.”
“Promise?”
I pressed my lips against his, tasting the tears that’d fallen onto them. When I broke away, I gave him everything I had. Everything he could possibly need or want. I gave him my soul. The missing piece of the puzzle we called life. “I promise.”