Forever Mine

His lips inch closer and brush against the gloss I applied in the bathroom, and I wish I didn't have sticky lips right now.

He presses his mouth to mine and then licks his lips. “Cherry flavoured lipstick? I miss that about you. I miss kissing your lips. They always taste good.”

I smile and grab the napkin from my old position on the table. “Miss legs over there didn't have flavour?”

He chuckles. “You know I love jealous Steph, even if she annoys the hell out of me.” He kisses me again.

I’m not jealous, not really. Not when he has me like this, saying everything I need to hear.

“You’re the only person I know that has scented or tasty lipstick. Do you still buy that strawberry chapstick? That was always my favourite at uni.”

“I haven't had that in a while, but if you're going to be kissing me more often, I'll get some, just for you.”

His thumb strokes my cheek as he leans in for another kiss and our starters arrive, breaking his concentration. It’s probably the first time in my life I’ve been disappointed to receive food.

I place the napkin on my lap and cut the smoked salmon into bite-size pieces, like I’m cutting up a banana for Caleb, but I was lost in Cal, watching him lick the spoon after each mouthful of soup.

Cal wipes his mouth with his napkin. “I’m sorry about the other day.”

I swallow a piece of salmon. “You don’t have to be sorry.”

He clears his throat. “Yeah, I do. I lost control with you.”

“I like it when you lose control.”

He leans close to me, brushing the shell of my ear with his lips. “I’m gonna make love to you tonight. If you want me to.”

His breath tickles my neck and a shiver of excitement shoots down my spine.

“Are you going to last longer than a minute this time?”

He smiles, letting a puff of air out of his nostrils. “I can’t promise that. My dick has a mind of its own, but my tongue can go all night.”

My walls clench, like they can hear what he’s saying, and I squeeze my thighs together. “Cal.” I glance around to check no one heard him.

“Would you like that, Steph? My tongue on you all night?” He licks the spot below my ear that has me panting. I can’t speak and let out a hum. His fingers trickle up my inner thigh and the server approaches.

“Everything all right with the starters?” He says in a chirpy voice as he places Cal’s steak in front of him.

“Fine.” Cal loosens the top button of his shirt, and I feel excessively hot. I’m practically panting like a dog to cool myself down.

The server places my cheesy bake in front of me and, as much as I love cheese, I want to go back home and have Cal’s tongue between my thighs.

“I’m sorry it took me all this time to get my act together, Steph. I didn't think you would want me after how I treated you.” He wraps his lips around the prongs of the fork and pulls the steak from the metal.

“I didn't think you would want me again.”

He chews the steak and swallows. “I was just angry. Forgive me.”

“You had every right to be angry. I never meant to hurt you, though. I loved you.” My throat closes up, and I swallow the lump rising there. “I still love you,” I whisper.

He cups my cheeks with both hands and kisses my forehead. “I love you, baby. More than you’ll ever know. I’m gonna spend the rest of my life showing you.”

A watery film covers my eyes, making everything blurry except him. His face is etched on my mind. He always has been, no matter how hard I tried to erase him. “Hurry with your food,” I say before quenching my dry throat.

He grins, “Why, you desperate for my tongue? Or my dick?”

I almost choke on my fizzy water. “Both,” I say with a dry, scratchy throat.