Page 88 of Payne's Envy

“You’re shaking, Payne.” Joy laid her hand on my chest and gasped. “Your heart’s hammering.”

I heard hers beating faster.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment.” Beautiful, enchanting blue orbs stared up at me as I spoke. “I’m trying to find the means to savor it. I feel as though I’m drowning, suffocating on all these words and feelings I’ve kept sealed away with a lock and key.”

Joy’s chest rose and fell heavily as she sucked in air like she was drowning, too. Dying from us. Dying because that wasn’t enough. It had been too little for so long.

I looked ahead and saw the green and yellow glow of the fireflies. Those glowing insects were bigger than those in the human world by a few inches. They hummed and could enchant, but they never chirped on a full stomach. I fed them before I brought her to avoid our getting high off their noise.

“We’re here.”

Joy gave me the most dazzling smile. “I always thought their colors were so romantic, especially with the glow of these woods.” Her eyes widened. “Did you feed them?”

I laughed. “I fed them.”

She wobbled on her heels when I put her down. She glanced around and froze when she spotted the blanket I laid out. There was a basket of snacks and drinks, too. She breathed heavily and her breasts threatened to spill out of the tight dress every time she did. The blush on her cheeks, the happiness on her curved lips, only held me spellbound. I felt my skin heating.

I had years of planning. When it came to intimacy, I hadn’t wanted to rush our relationship. I wanted to savor all the small things before we got to the big ones, but the change in me blinded me to her scent. She was killing me slowly, and it drove me out of my mind. All I could think about was claiming her, devouring her pussy where the smell came from, and making her mine.

Joy kept blinking, running her palms down her dress as she stared at the blanket. The control within me crumbled as I grabbed her wrist and turned her slowly.

“Do you know why I brought you here?” When she rubbed her lips together, avoiding my gaze, I whispered, “Joy.”

The aroma lingering on her skin and between her thighs told me everything she didn’t say. Her heat beckoned me. The nervous way she swallowed pulled at my heartstrings. Her desire and eagerness rolled into me like a hurricane smacking against the shore. “Focus, my girl. Do you know why I agreed to go to this dance with you?”

Her eyes softened as she tilted her head. “Because I begged you?”

“Because I love you.”

The hammering of her heart and her breathing were loud in my ear. “You love me like my brothers love me?”

“Joy.” I cupped her jaw and lifted her chin.

“You love me because I’m Grim’s annoying daughter who follows you around?”

“I never loved you like that.” I scowled.

Tears formed in her eyes. “Explain to me then. Sometimes, I think we might feel the same, but you’re always keeping your distance. You keep me at arm’s length, close enough that it hurts, and it feels like rejection.”

“I’ve loved you my entire life. That love has grown and changed as I have. I was careful with you because I’m five years older than you, Joy. When you started growing up, it got weird.” I got weird, was what I didn’t say. “I love you so much. Fuck, you have no idea how much.” I leaned down and placed my forehead against hers.

“But I do know,” she whispered.

The heat of her breath was like electricity against my skin. Everything inside me began to boil over. My flesh was oversensitive. I wanted her so much. I’d waited so long my body literally ached all over. The desire was like a noose around my neck, suffocating me. I could finally end it. I had her.

Time to make her mine.

“I always wanted to see how much I’ve matured. I needed you to see me as more than Grim’s annoying little daughter.”

“You were never annoying to me,” I swore. “I’ve known you were my future since I was a child. I just needed us to grow up.”

“Payne,” she whispered as she clung to me. “Is this real?”

“Yes.”

“You’re burning up.”

“Because you’re making meburn.” The sound that tore from my lips was part groan, part whine.

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