Page 47 of Let Me Love You (Excess All Areas 5)

The girls laughed.

“What did you buy, Sunshine?” Jase studied Cerys. “Was it expensive? Is that why you look guilty?”

Cerys winced. “It was. But last night, you know we were all a bit drunk. And you guys were talking about the tour, and we were over by the pool table, and I got this message, and then we had this idea, and then, before I knew it, I’d done it.”

Jase stood. “What did you do?”

“Don’t be mad, but it’s not for you, okay?”

Chaya stepped between Willow and Iz. “Hey, Ben.”

He swallowed. Twice. Looked away and looked back again because… “Am I hallucinating?” he asked.

“I messaged Cerys and told her I couldn’t wait for you to get home, and the next thing I know, there’s a ticket with my name on it for today. And my department was great and made it work and…”

Alex shoved him. “So, go to her already.”

Unable to feel his feet, because the blood had rushed…shit, he didn’t know where the blood had rushed, he stood up and walked over to her, stopping before her. “You’re beautiful.”

She smiled, running her hand over the end of her ponytail. “I just got off a seven-hour flight with just enough time to dive under the shower and change my clothes. But I missed you. Really missed you. And I kinda owe Jase three grand because they bought me a really fancy seat.”

The girls had moved away from them, but he knew everyone was watching. “I’ll pay the three grand. I just need to know what you decided.”

Chaya stepped up into his space, the scent of her perfume a core memory. “You were right to suggest the month. Everything was so muddled in my head. But, I want us, Ben. I want you and me, and then, everything else we’ll patch in around us. In the mosaic of my life, I want you and me at the centre.”

He cupped her cheeks carefully. “You ready?” he asked, tilting her head towards his.

“For us? Yes. I feel like I waited a lifetime already.”

When his lips met hers, every other thing in the world was swept away by the softness and sweetness of her. Injuries, exhaustion, and the burning urge to get home all dissipated as she melted against him.

The world came into colour. The missing puzzle piece of his life slotted into place.

When her mouth opened, accepting his tongue, his heart raced as if it was going to bolt out of his chest. The kiss turned a little messy as Chaya smiled and he followed suit. He was kissing her, and she was kissing him, and finally, everything in the world was as it should be.

Ben let his hands trail down her back slowly, over the curve of her hips, back up her ribs where his thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts. Relearning the shape of her by acknowledging the parts of her he always tried to ignore or avoid.

He pulled his head back for a moment. “I want all that with you too, Chay.”

“You’re an even better kisser than I imagined,” she said, before biting down on her lower lip, and he couldn’t help but grin.

“I can’t even begin to tell you all the things I imagined. And I’m looking forward to showing you all the other things I can do pretty well too,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her neck as she threw her arms around him.

Spontaneous applause broke out all around them, and Chaya chuckled while he grinned.

Fuck ‘em all.

“As romantic as this all is,” Ed, their tour manager, shouted from the doorway, “you need to get to the side of the stage.”

“Spoilsport,” Jase yelled, breaking the mood.

Everyone slapped his back or hugged Chaya or said something funny or an innuendo as they walked by until it was just the two of them.

“You really pick us?” Ben asked.

“Always.”

And for the first time ever, he walked his girlfriend to the side of the stage.

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