Page 121 of Tears of Glass

“Perfect? We haven’t done anything.” I chuckle, and it rocks us closer, warmth spreads between us, every inch of our naked skin that touches is hot and buzzing.

“We’ve done a lot really.”

“We’ve had sex a lot.” Turning in his arms, I press us together, my lips brushing over his, my breasts pressed against his chest. My knee slips between his, pressing his thigh in between my legs. I want him again, already. It’s never going to end; this constant craving and desire is going to eat me alive.

“I’m sorry I didn’t buy you a proper present.” I kiss his mouth again, teasing my tongue along the edge of his lips.

He wanted my painting for his present. Insisted on it. This morning when we ventured into clothes, he took it from the studio and we went to Whitlocks where Damien framed it for him and then Eli nailed a hook into the wall above the fireplace in his Kensington house and hung it pride of place.

That’s it. All I’ve given him, the man who has given me everything, is some random splashes of gold and orange on a canvas.

I fail on every level of being a girlfriend.

“I could stay here forever.” I snuggle up closer and between my legs a warmth grows and tingles until I’m growing slick just from being so close to him.

“That’s the idea.” He murmurs, his fingers running up and down the sensitive skin of my back.

“Do you know what you do to me?” I lift my face and meet his gaze.

“What do you mean?” A dark eyebrow raises.

“You. I want you all the time, more than anything. Nothing else matters so long as we are like this together. I’ve never felt that before. Never felt safe with anyone.”

“Not even Dan? He’s the guy who always found you.” A small furrow buries between his eyebrows before he quickly smooths it away. I saw it though.

“Should I regret telling you that?”

“No.”

“You know when I first Googled you, I saw all these pictures of you at different society events, always a different blonde on your arm and I thought I had you pegged.”

“Ah, so you were stalking. And you were so appalled when I said I’d been looking you up on Facebook.”

“That, my love, is because you put far too much emphasis on social media statuses.”

“Sue me.” Taking me by surprise, he kisses me, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, stopping my conversation. “I like it when you call me your love.”

I chuckle and peck a kiss on his cheek. “Anyway, don’t try to change the subject. The women were beautiful, polished, and sophisticated. Can you imagine when you’re photographed with me? What will I make you look like? I’m a nightmare compared to all those beauties.”

He rolls me over, pressing me into the mattress. “I’ve imagined it. Dreamed about it since the moment we first met, and I acted like a total tool. I’ll be proud to have you on my arm, whether we are being photographed, or buying our fruit and veg at Tesco’s.”

“I can’t be like you. I can’t be two different people contained under the same surface.”

His lips seek out mine, hard and deep. I gasp and fight for breath as his tongue dances in my mouth fast and intense. When he pulls away, his gaze burns bright. “I never want you to be anything other than what you are. I want you, all of you, to be mine forever.”

On the tip of my tongue is one word. ‘Yes’. I want to say it. I want to dive into him and promise myself. I never want to face a life without him completing me with the grounded elements he’s brought along to my crazy.

I don’t say it. But I hold it inside, a deep secret I’ll keep for now

That’s it. I know what I will give him for his birthday. I’ll survive the dinner and then I will do the one thing I never expected, never even thought I’d even have to do. I’ll say yes.

“We’d better get ready,” I murmur against his mouth.

“Not yet.” His arousal pushes against my thigh. “We’ve got time.”

I chuckle and lift my neck to his lips. We’ve always got time to lose ourselves together.

The drive is tense and the closer we get to Bowsley, the tighter Eli becomes and the less of the man I live with and love remains with me in the car. As we turn in through the gates and start to head down the long driveway towards his palatial family home, I put my hand on his arm. “Stop the car.”