Page 229 of Just for the Cameras
“Look at me and say it.”
His eyes meet mine, and softly, he says, “I promise.”
“Thank you.”
He leans down, his body draping over me like a blanket as his forearms fall on either side of my head. “When did you start caring about me so much?”
I softly smile. “I think I started caring about you the moment you insulted my flamingos.”
He shakes his head. “No way you started caring then.”
“I did. I cared enough to get you to realize the error of your ways.” I lightly press a kiss to his lips.
“And you did it by making me clean dishes.”
“It was your penance.”
“I would prefer another punishment.”
“Yeah, well, at the time, we were not in a position where I could dole out that kind of punishment.”
He chuckles, his hand dragging up my side. “Trust me, if you did, I would have accepted it.”
“You’re such a liar. You could barely stand to be around me when we first met.”
“I didn’t want to be around the zoo. You, on the other hand, that’s a different story.”
I shake my head. “Uh-huh, and why were you such an ass then?”
“Because I might have wanted to be around you, but I wasn’t ready to admit how I was feeling.”
“So you were acting like an elementary school kid.”
“Exactly.” He chuckles, the lightness in his expression finally appearing again.
“That’s not very grown-up of you, Graydon.”
“Never claimed to be mature.” His thumb strokes my cheek before he sighs again. “You’re so goddamn beautiful, Maple.”
My cheeks heat from the compliment.
“That’s what caught my eye first, your gorgeous face.”
“And I thought it was my ass.”
He laughs. “That was what got me to start sending thirst traps. Because if you could walk around with an ass like that, then I was at least going to show you what I had to offer.”
“I didn’t need a thirst trap to notice,” I say, surprising him, which is so cute.
“Tell me more.”
“How about I show you?” I ask, pushing at his chest so he lies flat on his back. I straddle his lap and then pull my sundress up and over my head, revealing my strapless bra and red lace underwear.
I reach behind me and undo my bra, his eyes going dark as they hungrily roam over my chest.
One of his hands cups my breast as his thumb caresses my nipple. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this…deserve you, but I’m going to continue to be a selfish motherfucker and hold you as long as you will let me.”
“It’s not selfish when I want the same thing,” I answer as my hands go to his jeans, and I start undoing them.
