Page 93 of Bartholomew
“Hush, love. You’ll see.” At the foot of our bed sat a long chaise lounge. I had thought it looked a bit odd when Levi had first suggested I purchase it, but I had to admit that over the last year I had grown quite fond of it. It was a simple beige color with tufted fabric over it. It had become the place I took my clothes off at night, prior to Delilah being here. Lately, I had switched to shucking off my clothes on the way to the bedroom, scattering them down the hall as I made my way. Really, I was just trying to get naked that much faster. Tonight was not a night for speed in such a way.
I pulled the chaise out, situating it in front of the mirror, about four feet away from it for now.
“Come here, love.” I held my hand out to her, pulling her towards me to stand in front of the mirror. “Tonight, I want to focus solely on you.”
I stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin against her shoulder.
“Look at you, Delilah.” She rolled her eyes, looking anywhere but at the full-length mirror before us. “No, I’m serious. Look into the mirror.”
Her eyes met mine in the mirror. It was obvious she was focusing on my reflection and not on her own.
“I want to take some time right now to focus on you. On your body and your beauty, but also on the incredible human you are.” I let every ounce of sincerity suffuse into each word I spoke.
“That sounds like a quick conversation,” she bit off sarcastically.
“No,” I stated firmly. “Tonight, although I am just Ollie, I need to put one rule into place. Just one simple rule. Think you can handle that?”
“No orgasms without permission?” she asked hopefully.
“No, that’s not it. Orgasm as many times as you please, love,” I chuckled, pressing a kiss to the bare top of her shoulder. “The one and only rule this evening is that there will be no self-deprecating talk. No negativity. None. Not a word. Do you understand? Do you agree?”
With a great sigh, she agreed. “Yes, I understand and agree.”
“Good. Now, focus on the center of the mirror. Do you see your face?” I began.
“Do I see my face? Yes, I see my face, Ollie.” I ignored her snark and sass. It was a defense mechanism; a valid one after the events of this evening.
“Can you tell me three things you love about yourself physically? All from the shoulders up.” I watched her ponder my question, her lower lip tucked firmly between her teeth, worrying that plump flesh. As she thought about her answers, I peppered soft kisses along the tops of her shoulders, dotting the spots I had found there. She had a light dusting of freckles, so light and pale you wouldn’t know they were even there unless you had spent ample time up close and personal with her naked form. I loved these freckles. They flowed over her shoulders and down her arms, down her chest to the tops of her breasts and then disappeared into creamy peach skin.
“We’ve done this before,” she sighed.
“Good, then you know a few things already,” I teased. My hands moved over her arms, lightly brushing up and down until goosebumps appeared in the wake of my fingers.
“My eyes are a beautiful blue color,” she answered after another moment.
“That they are. They remind me of the ocean. Not that I’ve seen the ocean, but I’ve seen pictures.”
“I haven’t seen the ocean either,” she answered, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips. I kissed my way up the back of her neck slowly.
“Then let’s add it to our list of things to do together someday.” My words turned that soft smile into a full-blown grin. Yes, that’s what I wanted. I wanted her happiness back.
“My hair has really nice natural waves to it. My sisters were always jealous as their hair is all ramrod straight,” she chuckled.
“I love these luscious locks,” I agreed heartily, wrapping my hand in the long tendrils and tugging softly at it. “Such a nice, firm grip when I want to fill my fist with your soft tresses.”
“God, I love when you do that,” she groaned, her eyes fluttering closed as my fist tightened that much more.
“Eyes back on the mirror, love,” I chastised lovingly.
“This may sound weird, but I like my teeth.” She giggled at her own words and the sound ricocheted through my body, sending waves of joy through me. “I have naturally straight teeth, another fact my sisters hate. I’m beginning to think my personal strengths physically rely solely around my sisters’ utter disapproval and jealousy.”
There was that giggle again. Her smile lit up her face, if only for a moment.
“Those are wonderful things, love. I want to tell you a few of my own now. I love the way the sunlight highlights the little freckles across the bridge of your nose.” I pressed my finger against the tip of her nose, making her scrunch her face up adorably.
“I love when you scrunch your face up just like that, so adorably. It makes me want to boop your nose and kiss your forehead.” I chuckled at the look she threw me through the reflection in the mirror.
“You’re ridiculous,” she scoffed, yet that smile stayed put. Perfect.
