“Before we talk, I need to tell you this.” She pauses for a moment, taking a breath. And then opening her mouth, she says the words I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear, without any hesitation and with such confidence, leaving me completely speechless in this moment.
“I love you, Landon, and I’m done trying to convince everyone, including myself, that I don’t.” And in the midst of one of the hardest nights of her life, a small smile appears on Poppy’s face. It’s the first sign of hope for us both, that we’ll get throughthis. All of it, every last piece of shit that is being thrown Poppy’s way, we can tackle.
Together.
Because she loves me.
Poppy. Fucking. Loves me.
“Say it again,” I reply, my words coming out in such a deep raspy growl. I need to make sure I heard her right. I didn’t think she was ready, and I’d imagined that when she finally was, we’d have this perfect moment of declarations to each other, not like this, in the middle of pure chaos. But I don’t give a shit how, when, or where, she said it, and I want to hear it again, over and over.
“I love you, Landon. But you already knew that, didn’t you. Otherwise, why would I be here in your bed, blubbering all over your chest while you calmly comfort me.”
“My Poppy.” I place one of my hands on her cheek, my thumb stroking her skin that’s covered with the salt from her tears. “I love you so much that it’s been hurting my heart to keep from saying it out loud to you for so long.” Lifting my head off the pillow, I pull her face toward me, my lips touching hers. Ever so softly, I don’t move them, just connecting through touch.
I know if I make the kiss more than this tender moment, bringing the heat that we both relish, then I won’t get out the rest of what I want to say.
“I’ve loved you since the first night we met. When I walked into my living room, tired, stressed, and saw you asleep on my couch, hearing your sweet little snore. I felt a sudden thud in my chest at the sight of your pure beauty. But the second you opened your stunning ocean-blue eyes, my world stopped, changed direction, and although I didn’t know it then, I was on a road to love and happiness. With you, sweetheart. It was never going to be anyone else but you.”
Poppy pulls out a sensitive side of me I didn’t know I had. It’s almost like that’s the kind of man she needs me to be for her. She hasn’t changed me, but helped me learn to be another version of myself that was waiting to be released.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up, but I’m here now. I knew before I got in the car to drive out of Boston after Christmas that I was in trouble with you. Both of us were denying that we felt it. That it wasn’t anything more than sex. Amazing, almost kill me with the intensity of the orgasm, type of sex.” Poppy can’t help but giggle a little as she says it.
“That it is,” I say, butting in, already thinking about more of the same.
“But I want you to understand that it hasn’t taken me this long to fall in love with you, Landon.” And for the first time, she reaches up with her hand to the back of my head, tilts my chin to my chest, and then kisses me tenderly on the forehead. It sends a shiver through my body for what it feels like to be deeply loved by her, beyond our physical attraction.
Pulling back from me, Poppy lets my head rest on the pillow as she continues. “My reluctance to tell you how I felt was about me. I saw that you were so emotionally lost when I met you. But then it was there, this small flicker of light that brought out a carefree side of you as I was walking away. I desperately wanted that happiness to continue for you. That’s why I never reached out to you after I left. I was leaving you so you could move on, like we talked about. I was trying to be strong, for you. But my heart wasn’t exactly on board with this plan, obviously. Because the moment my life fell apart, it called for you, literally.”
I can’t help but let out just a little chuckle at her story. “Exactly as it should’ve.”
“It was those tender moments at the hospital with you comforting me, making me feel safe when I had no idea what was happening, and your vigil at my hospital bed, that’s when Iknew. That all my hard work resisting you and the lonely nights thinking about you had been a waste of time.” Our eyes lock together like our souls are finally becoming one. “Because no matter what I did or where I was, I was never forgetting you, Landon. It just wasn’t possible.”
Her words hit me hard.
Poppy just described exactly how I felt when she walked away.
“As much as I tried, I knew very quickly, I was never forgetting you either, so I just stopped trying. I love you, Poppy, I truly love you, with everything I am.” I lay my heart on the line because I’m done waiting.
I pull her body so she’s completely on top of me. Feeling the weight of her reminds me that this is real and it’s not like one of the many dreams I’ve had, hearing her tell me that she loves me.
I slide my hand into her still-damp hair, directing her face in the perfect angle. Pulling her to me, our lips meet, and I kiss her with everything I feel. The softness of before is long gone, and we’re ravenous for each other. I want more, and the moment she opens her mouth, I take it. Exploring with my tongue, my other hand slides down her back onto her ass, pushing her body harder against mine. The moment her pussy is against my firm cock, she grinds down over the top of me.
Moaning into my mouth, she starts to rock on top of me. I grip her hair and pull her head back.
“I know this isn’t what you planned for tonight, but if you keep grinding on me like this, I’ll be coming in my boxers like a teenage boy,” I threaten in a joking way that brings a smile to her face as she slowly and firmly grinds down on me again. “Fuck, Poppy,” I grunt. “I want you so fucking much right now.”
“Make love to me, Landon. Share your light with me.” She looks lovingly into my eyes, and I can’t deny her anything, let alone this.
Poppy has stripped my soul bare tonight with her words, and I know I can’t be the dominant man she craved when we’ve had sex in the past. Instead, all I want to do is exactly as she asked. I want to worship every inch of her and completely adore the woman I love.
“We have to be quiet. Can you do that, beautiful?” I ask her. “Because as much as I want to tell the boys about us, I don’t want them finding out by hearing you screaming my name like you’re in pain, when really it’s from the ecstasy that I’m delivering.”
Poppy starts nodding as she continues to rub her clit against my cock that I can feel already leaking in my pants.
“Good girl. Now hold on tight,” I say as I roll us so she’s lying on her back. Pushing up onto my knees on either side of her body, I mentally take a picture of Poppy here in my bed, her blonde hair splayed out messily across my pillow. Misty-eyed, her gaze locked on me, showing me how raw she is, in all her vulnerability. But all of that falls aside, overshadowed by the twinkle of life I can see in her alluring blue eyes. Something that’s been missing and I was worried she was losing. I know it will be a while before this happiness is here permanently, but in the meantime, I’ll be here, making sure for every sad day, there’s a happy day to replace it.
“Arms up,” I whisper into the silent room. Slowly I lift the top of her pajamas off and proceed to strip her naked, lastly throwing my boxers to the floor too.
