He slides down my body, throwing my legs over his shoulders. I sob as he licks up the mess he made, snarling like a beast. By the time he's done, I'm no cleaner, but I have come again.
He crawls up my body again, falling beside me. "I love the way I taste on you," he murmurs, tugging me into his arms. "Maybe Ishouldn't, but I fucking love knowing that I'm the one who made the mess I get to clean up. It's proof that you're mine and I'm yours, and not a damn thing will ever change that."
I whimper, burying my face in his throat. "Feel free to do that anytime," I pant.
He chuckles, palming my ass. "Plan on it, butterfly."
We lay in silence, tangled together as we come down. Neither of us says anything for a long moment as his hands drift through my hair, untangling the strands.
"What happened with Tye?" I finally whisper into the silence.
He tips my head back, looking at me. "You worried about it?"
"A little bit," I admit.
"It's all good, butterfly," he says, his eyes locked with mine. "Just like I told you it would be."
"You two didn't fight again?"
"No, we didn't fight again," he promises. "We talked."
"Is he…mad at me?"
"Hell no," Sidney growls. "He's not even mad at me, butterfly. He wasn't thrilled about walking in on us, but he's mostly just worried." His hand runs down my side. "He knows how much you hate being the center of attention. He's afraid being with me will make you a target."
"I've always been a target," I mutter. "Whether I'm with you or not, that won't really change, not until people do. But you know what?"
"What's that?"
"I don't feel like a target with you," I whisper. "For the first time, I feel like I belong. Nothing anyone says matters. I don't care if they think I'm good enough for you or if they make fun of me. Ifeellike enough." My eyes sting as I stare up at him. "You make me feel that way, Cranky Bear. You and the way you look at me."
"Jesus," he rumbles, kissing me breathless again. "You aren't a target, butterfly. At least, you won't be. Not if I have anything to say about it."
"It might not be up to you," I remind him gently. "You're a public figure. You can't control what other people say or think or write."
"Watch me, Hattie baby," he growls.
I just smile at him, shaking my head. Maybe he can control what people do, I don't know. But it doesn't matter because they don't matter. The only one who matters is right here, right now, holding me like I'm his world.
Screw what anyone else has to say. For a lifetime of this, it'll be worth it. This is worth anything.
Chapter Thirteen
Sidney
"Are you nervous?" I ask, reaching for Hattie's hand when she flips open her mirror to look at her reflection for the fifth time in as many minutes.
"Who me? No," she lies.
"It's just my parents and Soph, butterfly," I remind her gently, "and they already love you."
"Says you." She eyes me suspiciously. "Are you sure they aren't mad about you punching Tye in the face?"
"Baby." I grin at her. "Sophie was literally just in the news for slapping her dance partner on stage. And then Austin was in the news for getting into a bar fight and getting engaged in the same twenty-four-hour span, not to mention the rest of his shit. Believe me, punching Tye in the face is theleastscandalous thing one of their kids has done this month."
"Well, when you put it that way…" she mutters.
I just chuckle, shaking my head. My parents are going to fucking love her. My mom hasn't stopped blowing up my phone since the photos of us getting tacos hit the news. She's probably already naming our kids by now.
