Page 28 of Hold Your Breath

Micah sits beside Zac and pulls him intohis arms. “Get up,” Micah demands after a while. He knows what his man needs, and I decide to give them some privacy.

I have a woman to comfort. Should I give her space? Yes, but that’s not who I am. I will always be in my people’s space, touching and praising them. I honestly think I require it more than the guys do. They simply let me do what I need. Loving on people is my love language.

After quickly swinging by Micah’s room to throw on clothes, I reach her door; I give it a little tap and twist the handle, not giving her a chance to tell me to fuck off. Though if she really doesn’t want me here, I will leave—I’m not an asshole who can’t respect boundaries when they are given.

Willow is curled in a ball with the comforter wrapped tightly around her body, eyes red from crying.

“Can I come in?” I ask, and she nods. Closing the door, I move across the room and slide into the bed beside her, lying so we are face to face. “Are you okay?” She sniffles and gives me a small nod. “Please talk to me.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m just having a hard time believing you all want to date me. And I hate feeling like this. What went so wrong in my life that I think so little of myself?”

Reaching over, I move her bangs from her face. “Baby, I wish you could see yourself how I do. You know what? Maybe you need to take a leap of faith and let us build you up. And I have no problems bearing that burden—actually, I have an idea.”

I roll off the bed and leap to my feet, running out of the room. I probably should have told her my plan before bolting, but too late now. Instead, I hurry to the kitchen and open the drawer, grab what I’m looking for, then race all the way back up to her room, slamming the door behind me. Willow furrows her brows at me when I hold up a permanent marker.

“Blanket off,” I say, and she looks at me as if I have lost my mind—and maybe I have.

She flips the blanket off, and she is wearing too many clothes.

“I realize you haven’t known me long enough to trust me, but I’m really hoping you’ll take a chance on me and do exactly that.”

She bites her bottom lip, nodding hesitantly. “My best friend always tells me I’m too trusting.”

“I can’t wait to meet him, but ignore his opinion for the moment. Now, can you please strip down to your underwear?”

Her eyes widen. “But you will see everything. My cellulite and stretch marks. What if you see medifferently?”

“Baby, you could grow a second head and be covered in body hair, and even then, I don’t think I would see you differently.”

She snorts and shimmies out of her shorts. I wait as she slowly takes off her oversized shirt and I’m pleasantly surprised to see she has no bra on.

“Now that is a sight which is going straight to my spank bank.”

I move closer until I’m sitting beside her, then take the cap off the permanent marker.

“You won’t write mean things, will you?” she rushes out.

“Fuck no, just wait and see.”

I start with her stomach and write:

My body is unique and beautiful.

Then move to her chest.

I am worthy.

Continuing, I write on every free space I find.

I am loveable.

I am brave.

I accept myself for who Iam.

Next, I addJaceand an arrow to her pussy because, well, I hope it makes her laugh.

Then I writesexyandhota few times over her ass and tits. I don’t stop until her entire body is covered, and as I am finishing, there is a knock at the door. Micah and Zac walk in to find Willow lying on her stomach and me straddling her waist. Both stop and raise a brow, making me laugh, and Willow joins in.

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