Chapter 24
Twenty-four
Raf
Henry wiggles against me before scooting closer to the fire. I willingly follow, hooking an arm around his waist as I kiss his neck. He hums, pressing his ass to my groin, and I grind against him, rubbing his cock.
“Never did I think it was possible to come so much in one day before meeting you.”
“Oh, Honey, this is only the beginning. Just wait and you’ll soon realize how infinite that amount can be.”
“So, you’re saying when you kill me, I’ll die happy?”
I freeze behind him. He doesn’t know. He can’t know, but his words cut at my chest anyway. “I’ll let you rest before that happens. I’m not ready to go back to watching movies the regular way.”
He laughs. “Is that the only reason you want me to live?”
“That and because I haven’t put that cock cage on you yet.” I kiss his shoulder and a shudder comes over him.
“Is that all?” His voice rises.
“And I still haven’t seen you wear everything we’ve ordered together.”
“And?” He twists his body around.
“And I still have a string of lights I need to decorate you with before using them to tie you to the bed so I can play with you to test out how well that cage works. Do I need to keep adding reasons?” I lick between his parting lips.
“No, but I wouldn’t be opposed to hearing more.”
I lean closer to his ear, nipping at the bottom lobe. “And I still need to play in the snow with you and take you on more dates. I also need to wake up next to you more days, and I’m not done having you be the last one I see before closing my eyes at night.”
“Being snowed in together this weekend and half of next week oughta cover a great deal of that.”
“I’ll still want more.”
“You might be speaking too soon.”
“I doubt it. As of now I can’t get enough of you. I’m lying with you in my arms and need more of you. To be closer. To be practically under your damn skin.”
“Okay, Buffalo Bill.”
I laugh. “Should we add that to our movie-watching list?”
“I think we should save that one for Valentine’s Day,” he chirps and I smile.
“Planning more of our future, I see. Are you the one making me promises now?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me more, then.”
He toys with one of my nipples, tugging his bottom lip between his teeth. “I . . . you’ll come with me to some art shows, and maybe even mine.”
“Sounds fun. I’d love to see what you do.”
“I’m sure you have.” He looks down and then around the room. “Some of the pieces I’ve done are on the walls of this cabin. A statue by the door and . . . some vases. I had a lot of experimental phases before finding my true passion.”
“Can I guess which ones they are?”
“I don’t know . . . can you?” He smiles softly.
“Let’s see.” I tap my chin as my eyes scan the room.
They land on a shiny, large golden canvas above the mantle with blue and yellow ceramic flowers and I’m unable to look anywhere else, captivated by the beauty of it.
It’s his. It has to be. I see so much of him in it, getting this warm, comfort feeling deep down.
“Find something yet?” His lips purse and I nod, my gaze remaining on the piece as my lips tilt higher.
“The piece above the mantel.”
His face stills and then his lips break into a smile. “Lucky guess.”
“Nah. It’s got my Honey all over it.”
He chuckles. “What else?”
My gaze bounces around the room and I sit up, tilting my head as I study the large gold and white butterflies hung in a diagonal line next to the front door. “You love nature,” I say, looking down at him and pushing hair from his eyes.
“I do. Butterflies are my favorite. I like bees too, though.”
“Honey and bees do go well together,” I say with a smile and he laughs again. “Your work is beautiful. Just like you, mi dulce.”
His eyes blink. “What’s that?”
“Like sweetness. Same as calling you my sugar or—”
“Honey,” he says without another beat.
“Yeah. Exactly.” I lie back beside him, tucking my arm behind my head, and he rests his cheek against the center of my chest, fingers rubbing over my stomach.
“I have no idea why you call me that, but I know that I like it.”
“It’s because it’s the first thing that came to mind when your hair blew in the wind and I wanted to run my hands through it. It looked so soft and so did your matching golden eyes. I felt stuck. Like I couldn’t move. Trapped, in the best way.”
“I wish I could see you. I know the color of your eyes and hair but . . . I want to see you like you see me.”
“I wish you could too, but I promise you you’re not missing out on much.” My tone lightens and he snorts.
“I doubt that. My friend told me you’re gorgeous.”
“You believe her?”
“She’s never steered me wrong before.” He blows a soft breath against my skin.
“I’m alright I guess.”
He lifts his eyes to me and shakes his head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous and gorgeous?” I say in a humorous tone and he laughs harder.
“Yes. Ridiculous and gorgeous.”
“And you’re handsome, talented, and mine.”
He sucks in a breath. “I think I like being called the last thing the most.”
I press my nose into his hair, my hand skirting his arm. “Mine. Mine. Mine. Eres mío.”
“Yours.” He lifts his face to mine but our kiss is interrupted by his ringing phone. He brushes it off the first time and then sighs, sitting up when it goes off again.
“They must really need something if they are calling again.” He shuffles to where his phone is on one of the end tables, and when the name of the caller is read out loud, his nostrils flare. My skin is boiling right along with his as the voicemail his ex left him plays.
“Hey, babe. More packages came for you and I used the spare key in the plant on your porch to set them inside on the entry table. I got to looking at pictures of us while I was in there and was thinking we should meet up sometime to talk. Maybe when you’re back from the cabin?
Or I can even come by to bring you your mail. Call me back.”
Henry curses at his phone, tossing it on the couch, and then sits down next to it. “Meet up. Why would I wanna meet up with him?”
“Why is he still going into your house?” I say, tossing the blanket off me.
“I don’t know.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I guess he was trying to be nice and didn’t want anyone to steal my stuff.”
“Still. He doesn’t deserve access to you like that anymore.”
“I know . . . it’s . . . it’s just we were engaged and maybe . . .” His eyes water as they point down to his shaky hands. “I don’t know why I’m still trying to justify his actions.”
Sighing, I move his phone back to the table and perch myself on the edge of the couch next to him, my hand rubbing his shoulder.
A little tension leaves his body and he leans toward me.
Toward me and not his phone. He said he was mine and I really think he meant it.
I know I did. “He doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve any more of your time or energy. ”
“You’re right. I’m going to tell him I don’t need him to worry about me anymore and then block his number.”
“Do what you feel you need to do.”
“Right now, I don’t want to do anything but lie back in front of the fire with you.”
“Let’s do that, then.” I rub a finger against his cheek and he nudges against my hand like a needy cat while nodding.
I lead him back to the floor and curl around him. We lie wrapped in each other, occasionally sharing kisses until both of our stomachs are rumbling.
“Chili time?”
“Yeah, chili, and then maybe you can show me what those things we ordered together look like in person.”
“Yeah . . . yeah . . . we can do that. I uh . . . may have ordered some stuff alone after liking how some of it felt.”
“Yeah?” My cock perks up against his thigh and he rubs against it.
“Yeah. Turns out I really like lace and silk.”
“I’ll definitely have to see all that too.”
“Maybe you can even help me put some of it on.”
“Yes. I can help get it on before taking it off.”
***
After eating, we place brownies in the oven, and I follow him to the bedroom that I look forward to sleeping in with him later.
His phone rings again but we leave it in the living room, both ignoring it.
Henry hasn’t been ready to respond to his ex yet, and I haven’t been ready to share any minute of him with anyone else, especially that asshole.
Henry saunters over to a tall wooden dresser, completely naked and glowing in the dim room light.
Every curve and part of him is on full display. I could look at him forever. He’s a true work of art himself.
“I have no idea what I’m grabbing by the way. Didn’t think to label them beforehand.”
“Want my help?”
“Don’t want you to see it all until I have it on.”
“Maybe just show me a little of each thing. Enough to make sure the bottoms match the tops.”
“Okay. I can do that.” His shoulders relax and he bunches something teal in one hand and something pink in the other.”
“Okay, I know I said I’d never lie, but I kind of want to with this because I’m really starting to get used to you looking cute all mismatched and colorful.”
His cheeks tint. “I have plenty of time to do that later. I’d like to color coordinate at least the first time I put them on for you.”
I laugh. “Okay, fine. But only because I like how you said ‘the first time.’ That reminds me there’ll be a second and third.”
“And a fourth and fifth.” His voice grows raspy.
“A sixth and seventh too?”
His head falls back and he laughs before shaking it. “Yes, and a thousand and two thousand. Can you please stay on task here.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s do the teal in your right hand and put the pink thing back.”
Nodding, he tosses the pink and picks up another garment. It’s purple this time.
“You sure you need to match?”
He grunts, rolling his eyes, and then his lips tilt into a half smile. “I’m sure.”
“It’s purple.”
Sighing he drops the item and fishes out the right color this time.
“Ding ding, we have a winner.”
“For real?”
“Yup.” I’m tempted to move closer to get a better look.