Chapter 26
Ari
After escaping the paparazzo at the mall and making it back to the hotel, we’ve barely crashed through the door to her room when I don’t think I can hold myself back anymore. We toss our bags down, and then she’s on me before I can make a move.
Her arms are wrapped around my neck, pulling me into her. Our mouths connect like a magnet, unwilling to part even for a moment as we fumble our way back toward her bed.
Even in the madness, I have enough of a mind to take her new sunglasses off and set them on her bedside table just before pulling her body to mine as I toss myself onto her bed, her body now securing me in place.
The feel of her on my body has me growling in appreciation.
She suddenly stills and tries to crawl off of me.
Carefully, I rise onto my elbows, watching her. Waiting for her to tell me what’s going on in her head. She’s clearly lost to her thoughts, pulling away.
I search her face for answers that I can’t decipher. “What is it, Erica?” I ask with calm patience.
With one arm stretched across her torso, rubbing up and down the length of the other arm, her eyes are downcast as she says, “I didn’t want to . . . ” She seems to struggle to find or say her next words and I brace for impact, having a feeling I know where she’s going with this. “Crush you.”
I find myself wishing I had a network of deplorable personalities at my disposal, if only to track down and destroy every man, and clothing company, that’s ever made her feel this way.
Softly offering her a hand while still perched on one elbow, I pull her to me when she accepts.
Instead of pushing the issue and pulling her back on top of me, I let her fall beside me, turning to face her.
We’re both laying on our sides, eyes connected when I vow, “I adore every fucking inch of you. Just the way you are.” I tuck a loose piece of her black hair behind her ear.
Taking a more playful tone I continue, “Plus, I can also dead lift, bench, and squat more than your weight.” I flex my muscles when she smiles a little, hoping for a giggle, but she’s still thinking too much.
“I’m sorry that you’ve been conditioned to feel this way, but I need you to know right now that there is nothing wrong with you.
Any man that couldn’t handle all of you didn’t deserve any of you. ”
Tears line her eyes as they warm, finally allowing the insecurities that freeze her to thaw. Her hand reaches up and gingerly runs along my jaw before securely holding the side of my face. “You’re awfully good with your words when you want to be, aren’t you, Mr. Rockstar?”
I don’t even get to respond because she’s brought our lips back together in a softer, but still claiming kiss. I’m completely lost to it when she stops and climbs from the bed. I don’t lash out with words or pull her back to me. I want to let her lead, learn what she needs.
There’s still heat burning in her eyes, making it increasingly difficult to keep my desire under control.
I don’t want her to see it and feel pressured.
I want everything between us to happen organically.
As if she can read my mind, she takes the hem of her oversized T-shirt in her hands and raises it up her body torturously slow, before pulling it over her head.
She immediately knows the effect she has on me. “You are a goddess.” I’m barely able to say through the gravel in my throat.
Her cheeks pink beautifully, and she lowers her chin before a hint of determination sets in her brow and she lifts her gaze back to mine.
To make a point of exactly how much I love the sight before me, I start at her toes and memorize every inch.
All the way up her legs to where the thick band of lace settles on her luscious thighs.
Further up to the matching black lace, boy short style panties that look like they’ve been painted on her porcelain skin.
Her lower stomach is decorated with small stretchmarks that make her look like little silver flames are licking at her skin.
I will be running my tongue along every single one of those.
Allowing my gaze to continue its tour of her perfect body, I reach her ample breasts pressing against her black lace bra, as if they wish to be released as much as I want them to be. Eyes traveling the strong column of her throat, past her locs and hair, and to her face.
I immediately see the uncertainty threatening to consume her once more, so I tell her what I had previously decided to wait on.
Sitting up on the end of the bed, I pull her to straddle me once more without making her feel uncomfortable by laying us down. Nuzzling into her neck, inhaling her coconut-lime scent, I ask, “Can you feel how much I need you?”
She whimpers, nods.
“Do you know why?”
She shakes her head against mine, making a small “uh-uh” sound.
Threading my hands through her hair, I pull her head back so I can see her as I tell her, “Because we were made for each other. There’s nothing about you that isn’t flawless to me.”
Her eyebrows and nose scrunch.
“I was waiting to tell you. Not because I didn’t want you in every fucking way. I wanted you to be comfortable and unpressured.”
Her sky-blue eyes narrow slightly.
“You—my little siren—are my mate. My soulmate. The other half of me.”
Jaw hanging open slightly and eyes widened, she gasps and braces her hands on my chest. “Why me?”
I don’t even need our bond to tell me she thinks she’s not enough for me. “There’s no questioning it. There isn’t a single thing about you that I don’t—” The realization hits me like a truck.
I love her.