Just the sight of my mate devouring me with his eyes made me forget all my worries tonight.
There was nothing special about the way I looked. I just had a simple white spaghetti strap jumpsuit with my black hair slightly curled at the bottom, but he was staring at me like I had something extravagant.
My hands flew to his chest as soon as he stopped in front of me. I unbuttoned the top one, revealing his upper chest before straightening the creases in his shirt.
“Are you okay?” I asked without looking into his eyes.
“I spoke with Zahra.”
My head tilted up and I met his eyes, and despite the redness in them, positive emotions were flitting. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn’t know what to say, so I closed it again.
“It doesn’t matter who’s to blame; I just felt I had to let her know what hell I’d been through because of her absence. And I felt like a heavy burden was lifted off my chest after that. I’m still hurting, butit’s not as much as before. It felt good to finally tell her everything I felt inside.”
I bit my lower lip and nodded my head, fighting my tears from falling. “One day at a time, baby. Healing takes time. But you’re doing great. And thank you for sharing with me what you feel right now.”
“I promised you I wouldn’t hide anything from you anymore.” His knuckles were brushing against my cheek. “Will it be okay if I ask them to stay overnight so we can spend more time with them, even just for breakfast tomorrow?”
A big grin spread on my face as I hugged his broad body. “I would love that! Oh, Riley! You don’t know how happy you’re making me feel.”
“Happier than when I’m inside you?” He laughed, and I let go of him as I placed my hands on my hips.
Riley was getting good at teasing me sexually. It used to be just me doing all the teasing.
“Well, we shouldn’t be comparing our sexual adventures with anything outside of it, because, honestly, nothing can compare to the feeling when you’re inside me.”
A low growl reverberated through his chest before his arm snaked around my hips as he pulled me closer. “Stop teasing me or we will end up having an appetizer here.”
I hooked my arms around his neck as I gazed up at him, meeting his piercing blue eyes. “I want to eat an appetizer at the dining table, but... I can have a dessert later, in bed, served by my mate.” I told him in a low voice before I ran my tongue against my lips.
Riley leaned closer, brushing his lips against mine but not fully kissing me. “Happy birthday, my love. You’re the best thing that happened to me. You and our pup. And I promise you that I will keep loving you and serving you until my last breath.”
I closed my eyes as his forehead rested on mine, his minty breath fanning over my face as sparks danced around us while I kept my tears at bay. “Don’t make me cry, baby. You’ll ruin my makeup.”
“Hmm…” He started humming as he held me closer as we began swaying our bodies in a slow rhythm.
“??You’re my world...
The shelter from the rain...
You’re the pills...
That takes away my pain...
You’re the light...
That helps me find my way...
You’re the words...
When I have nothing to say…??”
I sniffled as my tears fell despite my closed eyes, my body swaying with him as I took in the song he was singing to me.
“I love you, Nadia. You will never feel alone again as long as I’m here.”
I nodded my head as I opened my eyes, cupping his jaws as I captured his gaze. “That’s my vow to you as well, Riley. As long as I’m here, you will never feel that no one loves you or cares for you. Because I do, and I always will.”
Chapter 84
