Chapter 38 #2
“Fuck, baby. If you keep doing this, we’re not gonna eat actual food all night because we’ll be too busy sampling each other instead.
” His mouth found mine, and he kissed me like there was no tomorrow.
When he released me, I pretended to pout.
“That would be perfect for our Naked Tuesday Night. Do you think we could keep this up every week for the rest of time? Do you think it would work? I’d kiss you until neither of us could take it anymore and make you come over and over again until I couldn’t get another orgasm out of you. What do you say?”
I wound my legs around his hips and tugged him closer.
“Let me think.” I drew shapes over his naked torso with my fingernails, and Mason grew hard in his gray sweatpants.
Goose bumps spread all over his bare chest, and he sucked in a breath, trying to keep his cool, though everything he wanted to do to me was laid bare in his blue irises.
“Shepard, if you don’t decide soon, I’ll toss you over my shoulder, haul you to my bedroom, and eat you up till you agree. I know some tricks you can’t resist.”
I grinned. “Okay, caveman. I like the idea.”
Sexual tension coiled around us, making us its prisoners.
Not detaching my eyes from his, I chewed on my bottom lip in the way I knew he couldn’t resist, hooking my thumbs into the waistband of his pants and boxer briefs.
I pushed them further down his legs with my feet, then locked my legs back around his waist, tugging him forward.
His erection pressed against my inner thigh, and there was no doubt he could feel the wetness pooling there through the one layer of cotton remaining between us.
Mason rolled his hips forward, unable to stay still, and desire built in my core.
A soft whimper parted my lips, and my head jerked back as moans tumbled out when he sucked on the sensitive flesh of my neck.
Before things escalated and we ended up making out in the kitchen, I spun on the counter, jumped down, and raced up the stairs to his bedroom. I heard him stumble, followed by a low curse. His boxer briefs were probably still around his ankles, slowing him down as he chased after me.
When we finally reached his room, I was waiting for him, my panties at my feet, only his jersey hiding the creamy expanse of my skin, the one he was clearly hungry to devour with his eyes and explore with his mouth, judging by the way his tongue swept across his lips.
“I love you,” he said. “With everything that I am.”
“Is that so?”
“Like crazy.”
“Cool because I love you like crazy too, Mason Pierce. More than you’ll ever know. And I will always love you.”
“Good, because I’ll never let you out of here.
I’ll be your first and your last—and everyone in between.
This thing we share, it’s real. More real than anything else in my life.
I’ll make you the happiest girl in the world.
Just wait and see.” He took one predatory step toward me, the air thick with tension.
“I promise to cherish your body every day of my existence.” One more step.
My heart thundered inside my chest at the look of determination flashing in his eyes.
“In case it wasn’t a given before, let me tell you this.
From now on, my heart is forever yours and so is my bedroom.
You don’t ever have to move out if you don’t want to.
Everything I am is yours.” He closed in on me, leaving no gap between our bodies.
“You and I, we’re real. Never again will I live a life you’re not part of. ”
Tears prickled my eyes, and I blinked, trying to keep them at bay.
“Hey, why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?”
“No. The opposite. Every word sounded right. For a long time, I thought being together meant I would relapse and feel bad about myself, but I gotta be honest. When we’re together, you make me feel beautiful and powerful, Mase.
I’m not ashamed of who I am or how I look.
Sure, some days, I wish my hips were narrower and my waist slimmer, but overall, it’s not a thought that haunts me or consumes me.
I can’t recall the last time I saw calories flashing in my mind while I ate or when I was tempted to weigh myself or check the circumference of my arms. I love you for making me feel safe and not treating me like I’m broken—or have been broken in the past. I like being your equal, your best friend, and your lover.
I just wanted to put it out there so you’d know I appreciate everything you are and everything you do. ”
“It’s all I’ve ever wished for you, love. For you to see how much you mean to me and how beautiful you are in my eyes.”
“Mission accomplished. Think we can make it work through the ups and downs life throws at us?”
“Yes. As long as we’re together, nothing is out of reach.
I’m so glad you’re not struggling anymore.
I know some days will be harder than others, and things won’t always be easy, but just know I’m here, ready to hold your hand and help you through every challenge.
You have a bad day, you tell me. You don’t feel pretty for whatever reason, you tell me.
You want to count calories or skip a meal because you feel like it’s the right thing to do, you tell me.
Don’t suffer in silence ever again. We all have our good and bad days.
Promise me you’ll always come to me before doing something that could jeopardize your health or send you down the rabbit hole again, okay?
I’m right by your side. I strongly believe that together we can overcome much bigger obstacles because we’re twice as strong. ”
“Does that count for you too? Will you come to me if you’re in pain or if you start doubting yourself again or think about self-medicating?”
“I’ll try my best not to make any stupid decisions again—at least not without talking to you first. I value your honesty and your opinion. Never believe the opposite, even when I’m angry and say otherwise.”
“I love you, Mason Pierce.”
“I love you more, Melinda Shepard.”
I jumped into his arms, my legs tightening around him, and once again, I lost myself in the love enveloping us.
“Mel, you are my first love, my home, my everything. Now and forever. Let me prove it to you.”