Page 125 of Almost Always

Looking between the love of her life and the ring, she tried to piece together how this was happening and found him frowning. “Oh god,” she said on a laugh. “Yes! Yes, I will marry you.”

“You had me scared there for a moment, sweetheart.”

She laughed and shook her head, as he slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly and she wondered if his grandmother knew that as well.

“We’re getting married in two days. You know what my answer is already,” she teased.

“Like hearing confirmation from you every single time.”

The low timbre of his voice sent a shiver up her spine. He stood up and pulled her into his arms, their lips finding each other in a slow kiss. Sighing against his mouth, she swayed as he did. As she pulled away, she set her hand on his chest and stared at the ring.

“Do you want to tell me about the mirror?”

“No.”

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do instead.” With his hands on her hips, he turned her to face the mirror. She pinched her eyes shut and leaned back against him. His lips ghosted alongher shoulder and neck. “I’m going to tell you all my favorite things about your body, okay?”

It was obviouswhyshe’d covered the mirror, but the fact that he didn’t ask her to explain and understood made her tear up again.

“Raff…”

“Would that make you uncomfortable? I won’t do it.”

She hesitated, but knew that no matter what, he would make her feel like a queen.

“I don’t love myself today,” she said softly.

“I know, sweetheart. Can I love you for the both of us?” Nodding, she swallowed the sob lodged in her throat. “Keep your eyes on me.”

Blowing out a breath, she settled her gaze on the reflection of the man watching her. His golden eyes flared hot as he slowly undid the buckles of her overalls. The front flap fell forward and he undid the buttons at her hips as his mouth trailed hot kisses along her neck.

“Jesus,” he breathed against her throat as the light denim dropped, cool air brushing against her skin. “I can’t believe I get to be yours.”

His hands spread over her stomach and she inhaled sharply to offset the nerves coursing through her veins. One hand settled on her hip as the other traced along the waistband of her underwear and her hips jolted slightly.

“These hips and thighs? These fucking stretch marks? Proof of how much your body has grown and changed, proof of how strong you are.”

“I’m not strong.”

“Don’t say that about my wife, she’s the strongest fucking person on the planet.”

A sob burst from her lips and she squeezed her eyes shut.

“I know your mind has made you think this body isn’t good enough, isn’t worthy. But this body has been with you through the good and the bad. And it was there with you when we first fell in love.” He released her underwear and used both hands to grip her thighs. “I love every dip, curve, uneven area, every ingrown hair and silver line because each of them shows me the journey you’ve been on.”

She opened her eyes and met his in the mirror. At the gentle squeeze of her hips, she looked at herself. She could see all her flaws and blemishes, all the things she hated about her body like her wrinkly knees, the light bruises along her shins, her weird feet and awkward toes. His gaze was hot on her body as she stared at the cellulite on her thighs, the lines up the side of her hips that vanished into her underwear. There was also the soft pouch of her belly and the loose flesh under her arms.

“Tell me,” he urged her softly.

“I don’t see myself the way you do and sometimes that worries me.”

“Why?”

“What if the way I ha—dislikemy body becomes an issue?”

He sighed, breath brushing against her neck. “It’ll never be an issue. I know it’s hard for you to talk about it. It’s your body, Daisy. I know only some of what you’ve been through. All I can do is remind you that I love you and your body just the way she is.”

“My therapist told me that this is going to be a long journey.”

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