Page 47 of Playing with My Heart

“Here’s to new friends,” Jasper raised his glass, his eyes meeting mine across the table.

“And to love that surprises us,” Akio added, resting his head on Morgan’s shoulder.

“May it always be as sweet as tonight,” Maks concluded, and the chorus of agreement filled the room with a warmth that settled deep in my bones.

I glanced at Travis, his laughter infectious, his gaze frequently seeking mine. In those moments, I saw not just the life he’d built with these incredible men but glimpses of a future where I fit seamlessly into the picture.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him later, as the evening wound down and conversations mellowed into comfortable silences.

“For what?” he asked, his brow furrowed slightly.

“For sharing all this with me. For making me feel like I belong,” I said, my voice low.

“Because you do, Parker. You belong with me, wherever I am.” His words were simple, yet they carried the weight of truth. And as I looked into his eyes, the last of my apprehension melted away, replaced by something far more potent and promising.

“Come on, let’s head home,” he suggested, standing up and offering me his hand.

“Home,” I echoed, liking the sound of that word on my lips. And it was true. Travis’s place already felt more like home to me than the apartment I’d shared with David ever had. Although, I’m sure that had a lot more to do with the people in them than the places themselves.

Hand in hand, we said goodnight to his friends, promising to see them all again very soon. As we stepped back into the elevator, I leaned into Travis, his presence a grounding force amidst the whirlwind of emotions. “Tonight was perfect,” I murmured as the doors closed, sealing us in our private cocoon.

“Only because you were there,” he replied, his voice soft but filled with an emotion that spoke volumes.

“Travis—”

“Shh. Let me get you home first,” he said, pressing a finger to my lips, his eyes glinting with promise.

The hum of the engine was a steady lullaby as Travis navigated through the streets, but my mind raced with thoughts, worries I’d tried to suppress but which kept rearing their ugly heads. When we arrived home, the familiarity of the condo wrapped around me like a warm embrace.

We moved in silence, kicking our shoes off by the door and hanging our jackets in the entryway closet. Travis tossed the keys on a small table then moved to the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Do you want one?”

“No, thanks,” I replied softly, suddenly finding it difficult to look him in the eyes. I knew I was probably being ridiculous, but a part of me couldn’t help but wonder?—

He set his drink aside and moved towards me, backing me up against the counter. His arms slid around my waist and his lipsbrushed against mine. “You’ve been quiet,” he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble. “What are you thinking?”

I hesitated, my mind grappling with fears and insecurities that his friends’ playful jabs had inadvertently stirred. “Your friends—they joked about all the broken hearts you’re leaving behind now you’re officially off the market.”

“Ah.” His chest vibrated with a soft chuckle, though his hold on me tightened just a fraction. “Is that what’s bothering you? Whether I’m sure I’m ready for a relationship?”

“Yeah,” I confessed, the word barely more than a whisper. What I didn’t say, what churned relentlessly in the pit of my stomach, was the question of whether I was enough. But when I looked up into his clear blue eyes, I saw understanding there, as if he had peered straight into the depths of my soul.

Travis brushed a stray lock of hair from my face, his touch gentle and deliberate. “Parker,” he said, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity that anchored me, “I meant it earlier when I said you were mine. But that also means I’m yours. You are everything I didn’t know was missing in my life.” His thumb traced the line of my jaw, sending warmth cascading through me. “I love you.”

His words washed over me, a tidal wave of emotion that rid me of any lingering doubts. My eyes welled with tears, overcome with love and affection for this incredible man who for some reason, chose me. “I love you too. I love you so damn much.” My voice was steady despite the storm of emotions whirling inside me. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to say, and with those words, something shifted between us, an invisible barrier dissolving to dust.

His lips curved into a soft smile. Slowly, he leaned in, capturing my mouth with his in a kiss that was tender yet insistent, a physical manifestation of the words we’d just exchanged. My hands found their way to his chest, feeling thesolid warmth of him beneath my fingertips, the steady thump of his heart syncing with mine.

Together, we moved to the bedroom where we took turns stripping each other down, kissing every inch of flesh as it was exposed. The world outside faded into oblivion, leaving only the sound of our joined breaths and the shared heat of our bodies.

“Show me how much you love me,” I whispered against his lips as he slid over me on the bed, my hands roaming the contours of his body. He responded by trailing kisses down my neck, each touch of his lips igniting sparks beneath my skin. His hands explored my body with reverence, as if committing every curve and plane to memory. I arched into his touch, craving more of him.

“God,” Travis said, his voice husky with desire. “You’re so beautiful.” His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I pulled him closer, desperate to feel every inch of him against me. I growled in frustration when he pulled back. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m not going anywhere,” he assured me, reaching for his nightstand drawer, coming back with a condom and a bottle of lube.

My heart raced as I watched him roll the condom on, his movements deliberate and tantalizing. He poured some lube onto his fingers, warming it between his hands before reaching down to prepare me. I gasped at the sensation, my body trembling with anticipation.

“You okay?” Travis asked, his voice soft and filled with concern.

I nodded, unable to form words as he worked me open with gentle, practiced motions. The tenderness in his touch was almost overwhelming. When he finally pushed inside me, we both let out a low moan. Travis paused, his forehead resting against mine as we savored the moment of connection. I wrapped my legs around his waist, urging him deeper.

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