Page 79 of Mitch

Withouthim.

As if he could read my mind, he tugged at my shirt, and I let him remove it.

We both sat there, on his couch, shirtless, visibly aroused, and exposed in a way that had nothing to do with skin.

Mitchell stood up, holding his handout to me.

I didn’t think twice about taking it.

He pulled me close, into an embrace that was as tender as it was strong, melting my heart. His lips moved slowly against mine as he breathed deep. His hand settled on the flesh of my hip, warm and solid.

“I love you,” he said. “I thought today, at the show, when you asked to talk, I thought...”

I searched his gaze, noting the glimmer of fear.

I knew it well, because up until recently, I’d also been afraid.

But as I stood there, shirtless, inmy boyfriend’sliving room, I knew there was finally nothing to be afraid of.

Not when we were together.

“I know,” I whispered, my heart in my throat. I leaned in, capturing his lips with mine once more. I settled one hand on his waistband, the other on his neck. His pulse thrummed beneath my palm, beating in time with my heart.

“I wanted to tell you I loved you, yesterday, but you ran off.”

Mitchell gently pulled away from me, walking toward the hall. He stopped, hisshoulders dropping as he breathed, “I ran off because I thought I’d scare you away.”

He turned to me, his dark gaze glistening with promise.

With a vulnerability that hadn’t existed yesterday.

I took slow steps toward him, my cock twitching with need. I didn’t feel embarrassed about grabbing myself, and I didn’t feel embarrassed about the way his gaze fell to my hand, or the way he looked at me.

Like I was trulyhis.

I stopped in front of him, reaching out to brace myself against the wall with one hand, picking up his hand with the other.

I let out a deep breath as I placed it over my heart. His palm was warm against my chest and I liked how it felt there.

Mitchell smirked as I said, “I’m not scared of what I feel when I’m with you.”

His gaze softened as I leaned in closer, bringing our bodies together. His fingers slid over my pec, taking my nipple in between his thumb and forefinger as he pinched and pulled,causing my cock to twitch, and me to stifle a moan.

“Not anymore,” I said, moving my hands to gingerly unbutton his jeans, unzip his zipper.

Mitchell shook his head as he let out a dark chuckle. “Is this what you want, Cream Puff?” he taunted, sliding his hand down over my stomach, to cup my cock through my jeans. “You want to be the prince charming?”

His thumb rubbed my cockhead through my jeans, and I pushed his pants down to the floor. I gazed at him up and down, taking in the sight of his nakedness in its entirety. Amidst the dark shadows and the amber light, he was by far the hottest thing I’d ever laid eyes on.

And he wasmine.

The truth coupled with my desire was a heady cocktail, and I thought about all the times he’d been patient with me and my insecurities.

A world of possibilities and unclaimed moments lay ahead of us, and I, for one, was more than excited to venture into the unknown with him.

I took a step back, watching as hestood there patiently waiting.

Waiting formeto call the shots, to tell him what to do, I realized.

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