“I saw you out there today,” I say as I graze my teeth over his neck. “Goddess, you make me so proud. I’m so lucky to call you mine.”
“I’m the lucky one,” he pants. “You have no idea what you’ve done for me.”
My arms wrap tighter around his body, and I hook my hand over the front of his shoulder. “Then we’re both lucky.”
Evan’s lips begin to tremble.
“Wanna do affirmations together?” I suggest.
“I-I don’t know what to say. Nathan told me to make them up, but I just sound stupid.”
“No such thing as stupid. Let’s start with…I am strong.”
Evan stares back at me with an unimpressed expression.
“Say it.”
“Caleb—”
“Your strong mind, your strong heart, your strong body. Say. It.”
He releases a deep huff. “I am strong.”
“Look at yourself,” I whisper. “Tell it to yourself.”
Evan’s head dips an inch with a sigh before he manages to look up and stare at himself in the reflection. “I am strong.”
“Yeah, you fucking are.” I grin. “I am brave.”
“I am…brave.”
I kiss his shoulder as I drop my arms that are around him, and lace our fingers together instead.
“I am worthy,” I say as I move my head next to his.
Evan’s chest rumbles as he looks at himself and takes a moment before saying, “I am worthy.”
I hum in satisfaction. “Say them all again.”
“I am strong,” he rasps. “I am brave. I am worthy.”
“Louder.”
“I am strong. I am brave. I am worthy.”
I lay our entwined hands over his heart and feel it thrash against my palm.
“Feel that?” I ask with determination. “Your heart is beating because you’re alive, exactly where you’re meant to be. You are so much more than you think you are, pups.Live. Don’t miss out on a single thing.”
Evan’s eyes glimmer. “Okay.”
After a few moments, he twists in my hold and leans up to wrap his arms around my neck before staring longingly into my eyes. Then his mouth meets mine, and I groan into the kiss.
“I want you to take me,” he murmurs against my lips.
When I pull back an inch, I stare down at him, unsure if I heard correctly. “What?”
“I want to feel you inside me,” he says. “Around me. In my head. Everywhere. I want to feel you close. Caleb, I need you.”
