I know my mouth is slightly parted, because in the next second his tongue invites itself inside, and I grip his hair between my fingers. After a few movements, his body tenses and a sound gets stuck in his throat.
"I love you," he tells me almost breathlessly, and it's my turn to tense.
For a few moments I just look at him, waiting to see his cheeks flush. For reason to tell him he said something stupid in the heat of the moment. For him to make a joke. But that moment doesn't come.
His eyes are warm, far too warm for me, so I lower my gaze.
I feel his lips on my cheek and his arms wrapping around me.
"I don't know how to let you," I tell him softly.
"Let me what, baby?" he asks while one of his hands strokes my hair.
I don't miss that we're still connected. Normally I'd already be in the bathroom, trying to make myself look more presentable, but the instinct that usually puts me in motion seems to be passed out somewhere, probably from all the fucking endorphins running through my body right now.
"Love me. I don't know how to let someone do that."
"You don't have to let me do that, Roxanne. That’s like teaching me to breathe or showing my heart how to pump blood through my veins. It's natural. It's something my entire being knows how to do, something my whole soul yearns to do."
I don't know how to answer to that, so I kiss his cheek, and he doesn't let me go. In fact, he holds me more tightly as if he wants me to melt into him. Into his love.
I feel a crack in my chest, but this time it's not a piece breaking off from me, but one being put back in place. Without saying it out loud, I promise him I'll try to love myself more. So I can love him the way he deserves.
Because if anyone deserves all my love, it's him.
Chapter 39
Roxy
His scent hits me first. Musk, amber, and leather, a combination that has me pressing my lips against his skin before I'm fully awake. Then comes the sound he makes, something between a rumble and a growl, as his hand tightens around my waist and drags me closer.
"You're suffocating me," I mumble, my voice still thick with sleep.
"Good." His words come out rough, scratchy. "At least now you know what every day feels like for me."
I can't stop the smile that spreads against his throat.
A buzz cuts through the quiet, and I jolt upright, scanning the room for my phone. Last night after we cleaned up, we ate dinner and crashed. My phone has to be here somewhere.
When I finally spot Aria's name lighting up the screen, I wish I'd left it on silent.
I drag in a breath and accept the call.
"Yes, Aria."
"Dad wanted me to confirm you're still coming in two days."
The disappointment settles heavy in my chest, knowing he couldn't be bothered to call or text me himself and instead sent Aria to do his chores.
"I'll be there," I say, turning toward the man watching me with sharp attention. "Actually, I'll be bringing my husband."
Would it make me terrible if I admitted I wanted to be there right now, standing next to her, watching her face crumble? Probably not.
"Your husband?" The shock rings clear through the phone.
Damien moves behind me, his chest against my back.
"I love hearing those words from your lips,slonko."
