Page 25 of Tempting the Tender Guy: Imperfect Heroes

His denial is so vehement that I believe him.

That still doesn’t explain what’s going on with him.

“Then what is it?” I ask, clinging to his hands. “Why are you so distance at times? Mack, you’re my boyfriend and my friend. I want you to feel comfortable and able to talk about anything with me.” I give a weak smile. “You know I do.”

Closing his eyes, Mack’s broad shoulders sag and once more I’m gripped with fear.

“I’m losing my hearing,” he whispers.

“What?”

Opening his eyes, his lips quirk up in a sad half-grin. “That’s my line.”

I understand using jokes for levity. I’m guilty of doing it myself. Now is not the time, though.

His words don’t make any sense. “You’re talking with me right now.”

Mack nods. “It’s because it’s just you and me with no background noise and I’ve gotten quite good at reading lips. I never realized I was doing it until when I couldn’t see people’s mouths it hit me how much I relied on it to be able to follow a conversation.”

“What can you do? Have you seen a doctor?”

Another sigh eases from him. “Yes. Two weeks ago.”

“And? What did they say?” Anxiousness makes my voice sharp. I work to calm down and keep my tone level. “Is there anything you can do to fix this?”

Shrugging, he looks down at our joined hands. “Hearing aids, possibly surgery at some point. All to help. There is no cure and it might progress.”

I wrench my hands from his and then throw them around him in a tight bear hug. I squeeze for all I’m worth. My heart hurts so badly for Mack. How he’s been holding this in for two weeks and not saying a word, what a strain on him that must have been.

“I’m sorry,” I say close to his ear so he can hopefully hear me.

Mack’s arms wrap around me just as tightly as I’m holding onto him.

“I’ll understand if you don’t want to continue dating me,” he chokes out in a low, husky whisper.

Hurt, I pull back and struggle in his hold until he releases me. I want him to be able to see my face and clearly read my lips. “How could you think that? Do you think I’m that shallow?”

Mack’s eyes bore into me. “This isn’t what you signed up for.”

Some of my hurt lessens. This isn’t about me; this is about him. I need to remember that.

Inwardly, I cringe. I’ve been selfish in the past. There’s no denying that. Things always revolve around my wants and needs. When Mack said he wanted to take care of me I was all for that. I never told him that I would care for him as well. That’s what a relationship is about, give and take, not one person doing all the giving and the other all the taking.

I wanted the matchmakers to find my perfect guy. Not a perfect man, but one who was perfect for me. And they did. So, even though Mack says I didn’t sign up for this, I did. And I’m not going to let this destroy what we have.

“Mack, I like you. I like us together. Whatever you’re facing I want to be there to help you.”

“Sadie.” His voice breaks on my name and his palms cup my cheeks as he gazes at me with emotion turning his eyes soft. “Thank you.”

His lips crash into mine moving hungerly and with desperation. I meet him kiss for kiss, willing the depths of my feelings into my kisses. This man amazes me more and more.

Loping his arm around my back, he lowers me to the couch, his lips moving over my face and kissing his way down. I help him peel up my shirt and Mack wastes no time shoving my bra up and latching onto my nipple.

At the warm suction of his mouth, I moan and arch up, my legs shifting desperately. Skillful fingers work their way under the waistband of my yoga pants and palm my mound. Gasping, I roll my eyes upwards as he parts my inner lips and teases my clit before easing a finger into my pussy.

Mack goes back and forth between my nipples, licking and sucking and driving me insane with want. One finger in my pussy becomes two and then a third joins them. I cling to him, whimpering as desperate need urges my hips to thrust wildly with each pump of his fingers inside of me.

Leaving my breasts, Mack kisses his way down and tugs my pants lower. His mouth goes between my spread thighs, his tongue lapping at my clit before he sucks the small nub into his mouth.

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