Page 22 of Devastation
My hand snakes out to grip her chin, and I wait to speak until she's looking me in the eyes. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about. You are absolutely beautiful. Do you understand me?" A more commanding tone is infused into my question than I normally use, but I take this topic very seriously.
When I say she’s beautiful, I don’t just mean her body. I mean her mind and her soul. Because she never wants to let anyone witness her darkest moments, it’s abundantly clear to me just how much she’s silently endured and conquered in the darkness.
She’s won battles that she didn’t even know she was in. But I see it, and damn it all to Hell if I let her go another day without beginning to see it herself.
She nods as her eyes cast downwards and I tip her head up to get her attention again. "No. I want to hear you say it. Tell me you're beautiful."
"I...uhh...that feels so egotistical to say," she stammers out while her eyelids flutter, looking everywhere but into my eyes.
"It is called self love, Lana, and I will continue to work on this with you. We all love the hell out of you, babe, but we want you to love yourself too." Kissing her forehead, I give her a moment before attempting again.
"Tell me."
Her chest rises with a deep intake of breath, which she quickly releases through pursed lips. Her eyes finally lock back onto mine. "I am beautiful."
There's still a bit of hesitancy in her statement, but I won't push her for it. I will help her realize how true that statement is, until she finds a way to fall in love with herself.
Leaning down, I brush my lips against hers lightly. "Yes, you are." I rest my forehead against hers for a few moments, wanting her to truly soak this in.
Rolling onto the space next to her, I reach out for a cookie and bring it to her lips. "For you, my beautiful mate."
The serious mood is gone as soon as her eyes widen as big as saucers and she snaps her teeth together like a piranha. Lunging for the cookie, she widens her mouth and chomps off half of it in one fell swoop.
She groans in delight as her eyes roll back slightly, arching her back.
The movement seems oddly like what she did when she had her orgasm, and I can't help but wonder which experience brought her more pleasure. This woman seriously loves her food.
Her hand comes up to grab the remainder of the cookie from me, and she begins doing a little happy dance while still lying on the bed. Her hips shake to her own beat and her head bobs around while polishing off the cookie.
Laughing at her antics, I roll over and place the plate onto the bedside table. Tossing the ridiculous amount of decorative pillows onto the floor, I pull the comforter back and settle in beneath it as she moves to do the same.
I'll get up to shower in a bit, but for now I just want to hold my mate in my arms in this rare moment of alone time. I'm sure the others will be in soon, wanting to make up for the lost time with her. I'm thankful they graciously allowed me to have this time with her without an ounce of complaint.
We all missed her fiercely, so their understanding of what she needs that only I can provide right now does not go unnoticed by me. We're finding our groove and functioning as a family, each member acknowledging what is needed by the others and when.
I'm so proud of us.
Lana snuggles into my chest, and her hair gets in my mouth, making me stick my tongue out and remove it with the arm that isn't trapped underneath her. Tucking the top of her hair under my chin firmly, I shut my eyes and enjoy the warmth of her next to me.
This has to be what heaven feels like.
Chapter Nine
Ash
I'd thought that once I got back to my family, I would never be able to bear being separated from them again. But here I am, running away to find a moment alone to just breathe and work through this anxiety seeping through me.
Truly alone.
The last time I can remember being alone, was when Beth was still alive and before we found out about our powers. Ever since then, I've either been with my family or trapped in my mind with Anshar. Hell, I don't even consider being in the underworld "alone time", since I was surrounded by hundreds of souls.
Cracking the front door open, I take a moment to gaze around in awe of this land that Gaia left behind for Lana. For her daughter. That fact is something I'm still trying to wrap my mind around.
Not long ago, we were just normal college kids struggling to figure out what we wanted to do with the rest of our lives, and learning to navigate a relationship with the girl we all loved. Now, we're some supernatural species with powers and multiple realms hanging in the balance.
This life is anything but boring, that's for sure.
I'm drawn toward the forest to my left, so I head that way, my long strides eating up the short distance to the tree line quickly.
