When I hear her sniff, I lean up, worried I’ve hurt her. But she’s smiling at me as the tears roll back from her eyes and into her hair. I wipe them away and nod because I understand it. I can see everything I need to in her eyes, and it’s a direct line to my heart.
“Me too,” I say softly, because it’s all I can manage to get out. “Me too.”
She pulls me down, and I kiss her soft lips as I begin to move inside her once again.
This is the first time I’ve made love, and I plan on doing it to Shelly for the rest of my life.
Chapter Six
Chapter 6 Wess
When I woke up this morning it was with Shelly sprawled over my chest and my arms and legs wrapped tight around her. We slept like kudzu without an inch of space between us. It was the best morning I’ve ever had, and that’s not because it started out inside of her, but because when my eyes opened, she was still there, still real. Part of me wondered if I’d dreamed it all. Meeting my best friend for the first time, and then falling head over heels in love. Because that’s exactly how it happened, and that’s exactly how I feel. I’m completely and madly in love with Shelly O’Neal.
“All right, big guy. Hold still.” She turns on the tattoo needle, and I smile up at her.
“Do your worst.” The corner of her lip quirks up, and I laugh. “Wait, no, do your best.”
“Make up your mind,” she sighs, shaking her head.
I put my hand around the back of her neck and pull her down for a kiss. It’s meant to be quick, but all too soon, the spark between us lights into an inferno, and all I want to do is bend her over this bench and fuck her hard and rough.
“Are you sure we have to do this now?” she asks, reading my thoughts.
“If I take you back home, I’m not letting you out of bed again.”
“Would that be such a terrible thing?” She raises an eyebrow, and I kiss her again, this time quickly before I release her.
“I want your ink on me, and the sooner the better.”
Her cheeks flush, and she looks so sweet and innocent when she does it. I settle back onto the table, and she winks before she turns the gun on again and gets started.
She’s tattooing the bare space over my heart, which is a spot I’ve had reserved for the woman I’m going to marry. I haven’t told her that yet, but when I do, she’ll know that I knew she was the one right away. I didn’t tell her what I wanted, just that I wanted her to make her mark, so I’m excited to see what she comes up with.
As she tattoos me, I get to stare at her uninterrupted. Her hair is in a high ponytail, and she’s wearing dark red lipstick. The black around her eyes makes the hint of gold in them pop, and I’m mesmerized as she works. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts that she knotted up at her belly, and the same cut-off jeans shorts as yesterday. As I think about peeling them off of her again and eating that sweet little pussy, I hear her laugh.
“I think this might be the first time a guy has gotten an erection while getting tattooed.” She shakes her head and leans down to give me another quick kiss.
“I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”
“Save it for later.” She winks and goes back to the ink.
This morning we went next door and had breakfast with my grandmother. Ophelia and Shelly talked the whole time nonstop about flowers and cross stitching while I cooked. My chest swelled with pride at seeing them bond, and I guess I never realized how much I’d told my grandmother about Shelly until then. The way they talked you’d think they were the ones that were emailing for all those months, but in a way I’m glad. Shelly walked right into my life and fit like the missing piece we’ve all been waiting for.
“All right, stud, you’re done.” Her smile is wicked and a little teasing as she cleans me off and then removes her gloves.
Sitting up from the table, I walk over to the mirror I have on the studio wall to see what she’s created. When I see the image fully like this, I turn around and look at her with wide eyes.
“Do you hate it?” Her eyebrows are pulled together with worry, and I shake my head.
“I love you,” I say, because it’s the only thing that’s in my head right now. Her lips part a little, and I hear her quick inhale of breath as she brings her hands to her mouth. “I didn’t know it, but I was falling in love with you a year ago when we first started talking. You became my best friend, and the person I can’t live without. Then you showed up and it was like I’d been on pause and you hit play.” I hold out my hands. “I don’t know how else to explain it, but you’re my missing piece.” I point to my chest, and I see the tears in her eyes. “This is exactly what you are to me.”