Page 236 of Just for the Cameras
There’s no question about it.
She’s it.
She’s the one.
And I will do everything in my power to hang on to her because I will never forget watching her sit with my mom and treat her as an equal, as if nothing is wrong with her.
This is a core memory unfolding right in front of me, and because I don’t want to ever forget a moment of it, I take my phone out and take a picture of the two of them together, my mom holding her hand as they laugh together.
I stare down at the picture, my attention on Maple.
The love of my goddamn life…right there.
I had Maple pack a bag. Just in case things went south, that meant I could go back to my place with her and just sulk in my own space. The trip home has been silent.
But instead of sulking, I feel…full.
Emotionally and mentally full.
Like the clouds have parted and are being driven away by this sense of calm in my chest. And there’s only one person to thank for it.
I put the truck in park and grab her overnight bag, then go to her side of the truck and help her out. I take her hand and lead her into the apartment, where I set her bag down, shut the door, and turn toward her.
I scoop her up by the ass, and she wraps her legs around me, then her arms around my neck. I carry her up to my bedroom.
“Is everything okay?” she asks when I set her down on my bed. “You’ve been quiet, and I’m worried that maybe I did something wrong.”
I shake my head. “No, you did everything right.”
I kneel in front of her and take her hands in mine. Looking up at her, Ispeak from the deepest part of my once aching soul and say, “You have no idea the impact you’ve made on my life today, Maple.” I kiss her knuckles. “You had a choice today. You could have treated my mom like she was sick, or you could have been nervous, unsure of how to be around her, yet you weren’t. You treated her like your equal, like a long-lost friend. You made her smile, laugh, and you brought a light to her eyes that I haven’t seen in a while. I’m…I’m so grateful for you and don’t know how to express that, other than showing you just how grateful.”
I let go of her hands, then take the hem of her dress and push it up around her waist. Then I reach around her and undo the zipper before pulling her dress completely over her head.
She sits on my bed in a set of lavender lingerie. “You don’t need to show me anything, Graydon.” Her fingers drag across my scruff. “I know how you feel.”
“I don’t think you do,” I say as I stand and pull my shirt off, then push my pants and boxer briefs down while taking off my shoes and socks. Her eyes fall to my cock, already straining between my legs.
I tug on her hand and have her stand, then I undo the clasp of her bra and let it fall to the floor before kneeling again and dragging her underwear off her. When I move back up her body, I allow my mouth to trail across her skin, my hands skimming her flesh as I go until I reach her face. I cup her cheeks and bring my mouth to hers, where I torturously kiss her, moving slowly, showing this woman how much she means to me.
She gasps when our tongues collide, and I gently wrap my arms around her and lower her to the bed, pulling her up along the mattress and resting her head on the pillow. I pepper her jaw and neck with kisses, moving over her collarbone, to her chest, and right to her breasts, where I bring her hardened nipple into my mouth while I cup her other breast at the same time.
“God,” she whispers as her chest shifts beneath me.
Her legs spread, and my cock twitches from the movement, but this isn’t about me. This is about her.
I switch to her other breast, where I let my tongue swirl around the hardened nub before sucking it between my lips.
“Yes, Graydon.” Her hips lift off the bed and against me, looking for friction. And normally, I would torture her and not give her what she wants, but not today. I want my girl satisfied. I want her to know just how grateful I am for her in my life.
“You tell me what you want, beautiful. Anything, it’s yours.”
“You,” she says, her hand playing in my hair. “All I want is you.”
Same.
Forever, Maple.
I want you forever.
