Page 45 of When It Reins
But, in the corner of my mind, my intentions are clear, and I am ready to make what I’ve been daydreaming about for months happen.
So when the song ends and Felicity hugs me, asking for another round of applause for me, and I wave to the crowd one last time. I rush off the stage, hand my mic to one of the stagehands, and launch myself at Mitch.
He is ready for me, catching me under my legs as I wrap myself around him. I take his face in my hands and, finally, kiss the man who’s been my real-life knight in shining armor and only thought for two years.
His lips move against mine seamlessly, like he was waiting for me to make this move, to push us here. His mouth opens, and I happily oblige his unsaid request. The moment is perfect and sweet and sensual, and his hold on me is tight, like he’s terrified to let me go.
For several seconds or minutes, we stay like that until I pull away for a breath and wrap my arms more firmly around his shoulders, holding him tight.
His arms around my waist tighten, and he grips me like he’s afraid to let go.
I want to tell him he never has to.
20
mitch
The energybetween us was electric, and just the tiniest touch of her finger to my skin would set me on fire.
I was nearly ready to combust, anyway.
When I watched Juniper singing her heart out all night, I had felt that thing in my chest that always aches when I watch her grow and pulse with affection. So when she walked to me after her duet, when her eyes set on mine and locked in, I knew exactly what her intentions were going to be.
I was ready. Fuck. I’ve been ready, terrified, but hopeful. Hopeful that I could let go of that fear so that I could be selfish and finally have something that is all for me for once. To let myself fall for the woman who is now holding tightly to my own hand as we make our way back to our room.
The tension between the two of us pulls tight as we make our way down the carpeted hallway and to the door. I pull out my wallet, gripping the card in my hand, and pressing it against the door, hoping it will open seamlessly this time instead of the eighteen attempts I made this morning.
With mercy, the door clicks open, and I pull her in behind me, slamming the door and slipping the lock into place.
When I turn, she paces quickly in my direction, and I know without a doubt that we are finally both on the same page.
“Starling,” I breathe against her lips that are a breath away from mine, holding us in this suspension of air that held us back from devouring each other on sight. “I want to do this right.”
I feel more than see her lips curve up, our breaths rushing out as adrenaline courses through us both. We are still fully clothed, and even still I half expected the clothing to melt off of our bodies from the rising tension between us.
“I don’t think there’s a single thing you could do wrong.”
I know she is teasing me, making a sexual joke, but I truly feel like she means that when she’s talking about us. That she will accept me for who I am, no matter what.
Fuck. I was turning into a damn sap.
“You know what I mean, baby,” I say, my voice hoarse from the need that’s pulsing through my limbs.
Juniper pulls back and looks up at me, her expression growing tender as she stares at me. “I do. And everything is going to be perfect. I promise.”
She then takes my hand and pulls me further into the room, turning me until the back of my knees hit the bed, and I have to sit. Her eyes hold mine, and I’m pulled into the deep green color they are, with the gold flecks that make them sparkle. I was always struck by how different and gorgeous her eyes are. With all my senses firing, I am even more mesmerized by them.
Her fingers reach forward, unbuttoning each button on my shirt before sliding it off. I’m wearing a black undershirt, and she reaches down, unbuckling my belt, then the button and zipper on my jeans. Her hair cascades forward, enveloping me with her scent that should have worn off hours ago, but is somehow still lingering on her skin.
With my pants loose now, she pulls my shirt up over my head, and I’m left there half-naked, staring at the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.
One that was about to get better.
I stand, pulling her into me and leaning my face toward her until my lips crash into hers, tasting and savoring every moment of this first time together. A time I never let myself hope or wish for.
I reach behind her, pulling her hair to the side and finding the zipper that’s at the nape of her neck. I slide the zipper down, the sound amplified in the room between every heavy breath that escapes each of us.
My fingers tenderly slide over her shoulders, pushing the dress off of her, and letting it fall to the ground. When it’s down, I reach my arms around her body, lifting her nearly naked form against my own and turning.
