Page 95 of Fall Apart

She steps toward me, wrapping me tightly in a hug. “Shut up, Clay.”

I’ve only been away from her for one night, but I already missed her touch and her presence so much. I pull her tighter into my chest, feeling her head against my pounding heart. I can finally settle down now that she’s in my arms.

This is where she belongs.

My eyes look up to meet Kayleigh’s, who’s smiling back at me. She steps over to Grace, sipping her champagne.

“Why don’t we give them a minute?” she says to Grace, ordering her own glass.

Grace laughs. “It was just getting good though. Princess? Come on, let me have this.”

Kayleigh gets Grace to begrudgingly turn away towards the bar and I feel Lizzy mumble into my chest. “Ok, you can let go of me now.”

“Never in a million years,” I rasp against her hair, breathing in the scent I craved when I woke up alone this morning.

“Seriously, I don’t want to ruin my make up.”

A low laugh rumbles from my chest and I let go. This time, her eyes rake over me and the tip of her tongue darts over her lips. Her eyes work their way up and snag on my neck and a smile takes over her face. An infectious one that cuts right through me.

“I thought you said this was ablack tieevent?” She reaches up, straightening my pink bowtie. Her finger tips graze my neck and her nails scrape over the tattoo she always traces, sending another jolt of electricity through my tense body.

“I figured I would try to match you.”

“Did you figure that or did Grace?”

I huff another low laugh. “Mostly her.” I rest my hands on her hips, looking into her deep blue eyes that are sparkling back up at me. “But I see that you went black and red instead.”

She crooks a finger at me to bring my ear to her lips. Even with her heels, I still have to bend down for her to whisper into my ear.

“I still wore pink, you just can't see it.”

With that image in my head, it’s a helpless struggle to ignore my cock twitching in my tight dress pants. “I hope I see it later, but can the heels stay on?”

She laughs before she pulls away. I look back into her eyes, remembering the feeling of watching a tear stream down her cheek when she left last night.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you. I-”

She shakes her head at me, a serious look in her eyes. “No, don’t apologize. I’m glad you didn’t. The fact that you didn’t tell me, that you protected someone you love even when it was making you fall apart, is exactly why I’m so fucking in love with you.”

Those words. I know she said them last night, but hearing them now, again, lights a raging fire deep inside me. That someone like her, this fiery, vibrant, determined woman would lovemeis more than I could ever ask for.

“I love you too.” I run my hands up her back, my fingertips settling on the bare skin just below the nape of her neck. Her lashes flutter and her lips part at the sudden, skin to skin contact. I crane my neck, bringing my mouth to her soft, waiting lips. That sweet taste, the feeling of her tongue grazing mine, her breathy, adorable little whimpers - all of it is perfection.

She is perfection.

I pull away, feeling her teeth tug at my bottom lip and her warm breath on my chin when I press my forehead to hers. “Are we good?”

She lets out a soft hum of approval. “Yes, more than good.”

I trace my finger over her bare neck and she leans into my touch. “That’s good, because Grace is about to move in and take over your room if you don’t come back.”

“When I come back, I’m moving into your room.” She looks up at me and I see a nervous, excited glint in her sparkling eyes. “Also there’s something I want to tell you. Something I wanted to say last night.”

I soften my gaze, asking her to continue. She starts to talk when the bartender clears his throat. “Here are your doubles.”

In unison, we both glare at him as we reach to grab our drinks. He snorts a knowing laugh before leaving to help another guest.

I take a sip of my whiskey, watching Lizzy’s pouty red lips part, drinking the amber liquid, wondering what I ever did to deserve her.

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