I ease back and cup her face. “It’s a gift I probably don’t deserve, but I won’t lie and say I’m not pleased when I am.”
She chews on the inside of her mouth, gulping and looking incredibly nervous, and I couldn’t love this girl any more if I tried. I wait her out, watching as thoughts churn in her mind. “What if you grow bored with me or I can’t please you?”
This girl. She slays me in all the bests ways. “Angel.” I softly caress her beautiful face. “You’re a blank canvas, my love. I will teach you what I like, and we’ll explore your desires together. You can show me what you like, and I will ensure you feel loved, cherished, desired, and wanted every second of every day for the rest of your life. But there is no rush. We will go at your pace, and I can wait until you’re ready.”
Tears glisten in her eyes as she stares at me in slight shock.
“You have enchanted me, Lili. I’m forever under your spell.” I press light kisses to her cheeks. “And you please me just by breathing, Lili. You could never disappoint me, and I will never grow tired of you.” Elisa is usually self-confident, and I cursemy stupidity at helping to plant these doubts in her head. My messing around with other women has hurt her and left her feeling inadequate, and it’s my job to show her that is furthest from the truth. “You’re my soul mate, Lili. You’re the woman I was always destined to be with. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it, but I’m all in now. I am yours, and only yours, forever.”
“Caleb,” she chokes out over a sob as silent tears stream down her face. “This feels like a dream, and I’m scared I’m going to wake up.”
I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight, breathing in her sweet scent and enjoying the feel of her soft curves against the hard planes of my body. “It’s not a dream. I’m real. We’re real, and I’m going nowhere.” I tip her face up so her eyes are locked on mine. “I meant it when I said I’d be patient. You don’t need to worry about anything. Let me carry the weight, and I will wait until you are ready. Just give me a shot, Lili. Give us a chance to see how incredible we can be.”
“Okay.” She’s smiling through her tears. “I have wanted this my entire life, and I’m done waiting.”
Thank fuck.
I hold her precious face in my hands, and my heart is bursting with joy. I peer deep into her gorgeous eyes, hoping she sees and feels the truth behind these words. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispers as a beatific smile graces her lips and her tears dry.
My eyes drift to her tempting mouth. “I really need to kiss you.”
Trusting eyes pin mine in place. “I really want you to kiss me.”
Without wasting another second, I lower my mouth and brush my lips against hers. Her hands grip my waist as she tilts her head and sweeps her mouth against mine. My hold on her face is tender as I slant my mouth more firmly against hers andkiss her deeply. Her body presses against mine as she meets me kiss for kiss, and I’m drowning in euphoria and the best fucking kiss of my life. My arms band around her body, trapping her against me as we pour years of pent-up longing into every glide of our mouths.
Her lips part eagerly, and my tongue slides into her mouth, tangling with hers in a sensual dance. Every nerve ending in my body is alive, and my cock is solid as a rock, pressing against her stomach in a way she can’t ignore. That thought has me pulling back to check she’s okay.
“Why’d you stop?” she pants.
“Just checking you’re okay?” My eyes scan her face for signs of discomfort, but I find none.
“I’m more than fine.” A flush crawls over her face, and I’m very partial to it. She grabs the front of my jacket and pulls my face down to hers. “Keep kissing me, Caleb. I don’t want you to stop.”
I don’t know how long we stay kissing because time seems to have lost all meaning, and we only break apart when Rosa and Aria show up with our moms.
“You were kissing Caleb,” Aria says, giggling.
“I was.” Lili snuggles into my side, and my arms automatically wrap around her.
“Are you going to marry Elisa?” my sister asks.
“Someday,” I reply, tweaking Lili’s nose when she stares at me in shock.
“Oh my god!” Mom squeals as if she’s five. “You could have a double wedding with Joshua and Gia!”
I narrow my eyes in suspicion. “Were you talking to Cristian?”
“What?” Her brow puckers. “No. Why?”
“Nothing,” I mumble, not wanting to admit our friends have placed bets on a double wedding by year-end.
Lili’s cheeks are flushed, and she hasn’t said anything. Interesting.
“You two look so good together,” Serena says, and her genuine joy is easy to see.
“Y’all need to calm down,” Elisa says, coming out of whatever place she went to in her head. “We have only just agreed to give things a go. Talk of a double wedding is very premature.”
