Page 102 of Ink & Ambition

He smiles widely. “There’s my girl.”

Of course I brought my laptop on our getaway. They can pry that thing from my cold, dead hands at my funeral. Even though we skipped out on most of our dinner, Alex convinced the waiter to let us cork the bottle of wine and take it with us.

“Small towns, huh,” he winked as we walked out the door with it.

Once we got back to the hotel, Alex poured us each another glass and I pulled out my computer.

“I’ve only just glanced at the comments on last week’s post so this is going to be a doozy.”

“I’m ready, sunshine.” And he was. When I looked over at Alex, he was sitting cross legged across from me on the bed, a look of determination on his face. He wasn’t even upset that I had ended our fancy dinner early to go and do work. In fact, it was his idea to leave right then and there. He held my hand the entire time we walked back to the inn. He kissed my cheek when I walked past him holding the door open. He wants to help me succeed.

“I love you.”

I smack my hand across my mouth so fast, as if the force could shift the words back into my mouth.He didn’t hear that. He didn’t hear that. He didn’t hear that.

Alex’s features morph into shock for the briefest of moments and then he smiles like he just won the most coveted prize in the entire world. “What was that, sunshine? Speak up.” Alex pulls my hand from my face and the grin covering his own gives me the confidence to repeat myself.

“I love you.”

“Finally, I’m not the only one.” Alex launches across the bed, cutting me off completely. His lips find mine in a kiss that rivals Romeo and Juliet, before the dying part. He cups my cheeks in his palms, cradling my face like it’s the most precious thing in the world. He’s kissing me and I lose track of time. He’s kissing me and he steals my breath away. He’s kissing me and I realize…he didn’t say it back.

“I love you too, sunshine. Been loving you for a while now, if I’m honest.” Alex breaks the kiss long enough to say the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard and then he leans in again and I’m lost to his emotion matching mine.

He loves me.

This beautiful, confident, sweet man loves me.

I could leave this Earth happy knowing I’ve been loved by the man who brought me out of my shell and won’t let me back inagain. Alex makes me a better person and I can only hope that I do the same for him.

Our kisses turn more fervent as Alex moves his body on top of mine.

The podcast can wait.

Pulling his shirt over his head, Alex breaks our kiss long enough for the fabric to pass over his face and then he’s back on me again, his plump lips stealing my breath away. Moving down toward his belt, I slide the leather through the loops, opening the clasp and pushing his jeans down as best I can from my laying position.

“My girl is a fiend,” Alex smiles against my lips. Before I knew him, I might’ve withdrawn from a comment like that, drew back against the hidden shadows of the wall. But Alex has taught me to be bold and brave, just like him.

“Only for you.” I run my fingernails down his back. “Well, for now. I mean, I don’t even know what it’s like to be with anyone else so–”

With a growl, Alex pulls my neck up to push our lips tighter. His punishing lips draw my breath and I grin at my victory. “And you’ll never know. You’re mine forever.”

“Forever, huh?”

Alex kisses me again, softly, lovingly. “Forever.”

He pulls up my dress, revealing the lack of underwear I have on underneath and I silently applaud myself when his breath catches. Sheathing himself with the condom from his pocket, Alex sinks into me slowly, as if I’m breakable.

Intent to show him that I’m not, I hoist myself up, pushing him into me completely. Alex hisses through his teeth but allows me to take control. I move my hips up and down, up and down. Alex lays paralyzed above me, his lips on my neck, my shoulders. His arms are barely holding him up above me.

“Baby, you keep doing that, I’m not going to last very much longer.”

With a devilish grin, I move my hips faster, finding that the motion is causing sensation to build up in me as well. With a few more powerful thrusts, Alex and I both explode, my eyes pinch shut as Alex collapses on top of me, making sure to not hit me with his full weight, even in the throws of ecstasy. Alex rolls off of me, pulling his arm underneath my neck to cradle my head.

“Can you say that thing again?”

“What thing?” I ask.

“The thing you said before I rocked your world.”

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