Page 101 of Magic or Madness

“I shouldn’t be so scared to talk about it, though. Shouldn’t I be able to move forward?” She swipes a tear from the corner of her eye, and I tilt her chin until her eyes meet mine.

“A very smart woman once told me that healing isn’t linear. We all move at our own pace, Fallon. Don’t compare yourself to everyone else, it’ll only weigh you down even more,” I say softly, watching as she nods at my words.

“You’re right, baby. You really listen to me, don’t you?” There’s a vulnerability in her voice that she only lets out around me, when we’re caught in moments like these.

“Always, Fallon. Every sentence, every word, every syllable. I could listen to you talk all day long, for the rest of our lives.” I smile, stroking her hair as we focus our attention back to the stars.

“Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure,” I tease, and she laughs, like she’s taken it as a challenge.

I wait as she gathers her thoughts, her gaze fixated on the sky, and I can tell she’s going to hit me with something poetic as fuck, knowing damn well that I’ll hang onto every word.

Finally, she sits up, taking my face in her hands, a sly smile spread across her lips.

“I was wrong earlier, I do have a fun fact for you. There are approximatelytwo hundred billion-trillionstars in the galaxy, and if you’re lucky enough, aboutsix thousandof those are visible on a clear night. My love for you transcends the amount of visible stars in the sky, stretching across the endless galaxies, and reaching the billions and trillions of undiscovered little specks of light. The way I love you, Ozzy, can be felt without being seen or heard, just knowing our connection is there, somewhere in this insane little galaxy we ended up in. I’d follow you anywhere, and find you in the places where the light hasn’t yet reached.” She pulls me in for a kiss, solidifying her words onmy lips, and I can feel her love in every tiny molecule held in her body.

“Fuck, Bambi. You always know how to shock me.” I break our lips apart, wiping a stray tear that escaped.

Her mind is a thing of beauty, and I’m left in awe of her whenever I’m lucky enough to be given a sneak peek of what goes on inside her head. With us, a simple I love you is never enough. We wind it into long speeches, presenting our feelings with grand declarations, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I try my best to keep you on your toes,” she laughs, resting her head on my shoulder and climbing into my lap.

“Have you decided what you want to do next week,birthday girl?” I change the subject, and her excitement can be felt instantly.

“Not yet, I don’t care, as long as I’m with you guys. We don’t have to make it a big deal,” she says, but I shake my head, knowing she’s full of it.

“You only turn twenty-one once, Bambi. We’re doing something big, whether you want to or not,” I tell her, and she smiles, those dimples holding me in a trance.

“Fine, Ozzy. Make it a big deal, but I’m not good at being the center of attention, fair warning.” She shivers beneath my jacket and I lift her off my lap, placing her feet back on solid ground.

“Come here, Bambi. Let’s get you back inside, it’s freezing out here.” I take her hand, leading her toward the door when she suddenly stops, jerking my arm backwards.

“Ozzy, wait.Kiss me.Under the light of thousands of stars, with the moon as our witness,” she breathes, and I never need an excuse to bring her close to me.

“Oh, Bambi. You don’t have to ask twice,” I whisper, placing my hands on her waist, and lifting her off the ground.

Gently, I place my lips on hers, and thelightning-in-a-bottlefeeling builds inside me again, just like our first night here. Ourtongues tangle together, and her soft moans are the only thing that can be heard, while her hands rake through my hair.

I break our kiss, trailing my breath down her jawline, reaching that delicate space of flesh on her neck that drives her wild.

She lets out a long breath, her body relaxing against mine as I hold her in the air.

“Take me to bed, baby,” she whispers, resting her head on my shoulder.

I carry us back inside, through the dealership, and back to our room. The photos littered on the walls keep growing, with Fallon adding a few from our Jacksonville trip to the existing collage.

It’s her way of creating a safe place for us, a space where we can celebrate our love, and tonight, under the gallery of our most special moments, I’ll do everything I can to worship her as I should.

Tomorrow, the next day, and every day until our last breaths, I will celebrate my undying love for Fallon.

My Bambi, my beautiful girl.

FALLON

My hands are pinnedto the headboard, and a satin ribbon is tied over my eyes, heightening the rest of my senses, but when I feel a slight tickle over my chest, it’s a sure signal that Ozzy is about to start teasing my nipples again.

My breath hitches when his tongue begins to swirl over the metal that has been pinching me with a twisted sense of pleasure for the last hour. I scream, loving the pain that comes when he lightly bites down, sending shots of electricity through me, and only strengthening my need for him.

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