He continues, locking his eyes on mine. “Berry, there was nothing in what I said meant to flatter you. No, that’s me speaking my truth.”
He pushes back, holding his hand out to help me sit up. My mouth opens and closes, not a single word making it beyond a thought. I still don’t understand, but when I look into his eyes, I can see the anger simmering in their depths.
He isn’t mad at me, definitely not when he’s scooping me up into his arms, holding me tightly to his chest. Theres a tick in his sharp jaw that wasn’t there moments ago.
“Are you mad?” I ask timidly.
“Not at you,” he growls as he tilts his head towards me. “I’m mad at every single person who made you believe your worth was so little. That you could never be the prize to someone. To be someone’s everything.”
“I’m not anyone’s everything, Ryatt.” I duck down, trying to be smaller than I am.
He stops walking, right in the middle of my hallway. Not saying a word, he just stands there until I finally have the courage to look up at him.
His eyes sparkle as he says, “You are my everything.”
Even if I don’t fully believe it yet, when I look into his eyes, I can see his truth reflecting back at me. He believes it, and that will have to be enough for now.
He walks us into my bathroom before setting me down gently.
Honestly, I thought this bathroom was small before, but now with all 6’2” of muscular man in here, I feel as if I’m in the worlds smallest bathroom.
“Ryatt, what exactly are we doing?” I say as I look up at him. Even at my 5’8” I still have to crane my neck back to look up at him.
His eyes flick down to the remains of chocolate syrup spread across my breasts and smirks. “Well, I thought we could maybe wash off all the stickiness and work on your aftercare?”
My face crumbles. “Aftercare?”
“Yep. It’s where I make sure the comedown from all the high is safe, nurtured, and you feel complete when you are done.” He reaches behind my cheap floral shower curtain, turning on the hot water.
The room fills with steam as he turns back around, pulling me flush against his chest. The sticky remains of our activity cling to our skins as we come together. He tilts my head back as he pushes my long hair over my shoulder. He’s so incredibly tender in everything he does. Looking at him, I’d never have imagined he would be this gentle.
I would have expected more gruffness, possibly grunts and more caveman like behavior. A snort escapes me before I can stop it. I can feel my face flame as he quirks an eyebrow at me.
Shit. Don’t ask…please don’t ask.
“What’s so funny?”
Oh, fuck my life–of course he wants to know. My mind races for any possible explanation that doesn’t involve the imagery of him standing over me, batting his chest with his fists, proclaiming me as his female.
“Berry…” He says slowly as his tips my head back to look at him. His tone is givingI know you’re trying to come up with a story vibes.
“Yep,” I squeak, slamming my mouth shut to avoid another spill of laughter from coming out. The darker his face gets, the more the cave dweller grunting sounds in my mind.
I can’t help it, I burst out laughing.
Now he’s really looking at me completely baffled. I take a step back, bending over to clutch my knees as the wave of laughter pours out of me. Oh Goddess, he’s put his hands on his hips and now he’s staring down at me.
All I can hear is ME CLAIM WOMAN.
I’m dying as I fall to the floor clutching my side.
I shake my hands over my head. “Stop looking at me like that. I can’t…” I wheeze. “You’re making it worse.”
“Making what worse?”
The small bathroom is full of steam, my laughter, and one God of a man staring at me in confusion.
If he hits his chest, I’m losing it right here, deceased and never coming back.
