That’s everything.
Because Eryx has seen every part of me—the dark places I’ll go, the light inside me, and he’s chosen those parts, not laughed at them or discarded them, but held them to his chest and called them beautiful.
He kisses me and when we part, he presses his forehead against mine and I say, “I love you back.”
I hear the smile in his voice when he replies, “Are you just saying that because I said it?”
“Yes.”
He laughs and kisses me again, and I say, my teeth scraping against his, “No. I love you, too.”
We kiss and this time there’s something more feverish to it. His tongue slides into my mouth, and I give it right back.
Between kisses I murmur, “You’re not allowed to push me away.”
“Done.”
I straddle his crotch and feel his erection pressing into me. My kisses become more frantic. “And I can eat as many nightmares as I want.”
“Only if I’m around.”
His hands slide up my shirt and tug down my bra. “Always if you’re around.”
I hiss as he rolls his thumbs over my nipples. “And we’ll figure out how to use our magic together.”
“Anything you want.” He pulls my shirt over my head, tossing it aside.
Hunger fills his eyes as he takes me in. Then his mouth drops to my nipple and he sucks on it, hard. A yelp slips from my mouth and he pauses.
“Too hard?”
“Not hard enough.”
He chuckles. “My beautiful fucking monster.”
“I want you.” My hands fumble with his belt. “Now.”
He helps me, fingers working faster than mine, desperate. Belt buckle hits the floor. Zipper down.
I open his slacks and pull out his cock. He’s hard, so hard. I’m hungry for him.
“Chelsea—” His voice is strained. “I need you.”
“I need you more.”
He slips his fingers up my skirt and under my panties. His fingers find me wet, ready. “God, you’re so soaked for me.”
“For you. Always for you.”
He strokes me once, twice. I’m already trembling.
We stare at each other for a moment; then he pulls my panties aside. Our eyes lock.
“I love you,” he says.
“I love you back.”
And then I slowly sink onto him and suck in a breath as he fills me up.
