“Let’s just enjoy the day, sweetie. We can see how things pan out later on down the road.”
Levi’s eyes filled with worry, but it didn’t last too long as Austin reappeared at the door, clutching his new Niners jersey.
His expression was one of complete disbelief, but I knew he would do it… And I was pretty damn sure his mamma was looking down on this too, dancing once more in happiness. Smiling with pride at the man her son had become.
Rome stood and, clutching Molly to his side, said, “We going out to celebrate?”
Austin looked at me, and I knew he was checking I felt strong enough to go. I nodded my head and said, “I could manage a couple more hours.”
Austin’s responding smile nearly knocked me off my feet.
My broken boy from the trailer park was slowly fixing himself together again… taking my heart and soul along for the ride.
“You coping okay, Pix?” Austin said as we entered our hotel room later that night, reaching down and taking my hand in his.
Smiling, I nodded my head and swallowed back my apprehension. Austin and I had spent every single day together over the last couple of months, but we had yet to make love again. He came to every single appointment I’d had, stayed with me in the hospital, along with Levi, until I was released and sent back home to my parents, where he turned up every day and just stayed by my side, loving me.
Two weeks ago, I’d talked my parents into allowing me back to my sorority house, but this was the first time we’d truly been alone.
Pressing a kiss to the back of my hand, Austin let go and began walking to the bathroom, removing his jacket as he did.
He looked so beautiful dressed up, all fancy in his black suit, his dark hair and colorful tattoos looking sinful against the expensive cut of the material.
Austin glanced back, his stidda seeming less severe on his cheek, and he said, “I’m just grabbing a shower. I’ll be back soon.”
As soon as the door to the bathroom shut, I walked slowly to the mirror and, keeping my eyes downcast, counted to three.
One… two… three…
Snapping my eyes open, I stared at the girl before me and released a long, deep exhale. I took in her dark hair, slowly thickening up after the heavy loss her relapse caused. Her green eyes were rimmed with black and her lips were painted a dark, deep red.
You do not measure up, Lexington. You never will. We are never going to be good enough for him, never beautiful enough.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I let the voice say his piece. Then opening them again, I stared at the reflection and whispered, “Yes, you are. You are beautiful to him. He won’t reject you. You are beautiful, full stop.”
The voice faded into my subconscious, and I suddenly felt heat at my back and the smell of rainwater filled my nose. Looking in the reflection behind me, Austin was there, in only his boxers, looking beyond perfect and dark, only adoration in his eyes, and all my fears lifted.
Austin reached up and ran his finger down my cheek, nuzzling into the crook of my neck, and feathered kisses along my hot skin.
Closing my eyes, I reached around to the back of his thigh and pulled him closer, feeling his hardness press right against me.
“Austin…” I whispered and felt heat pool at my core.
“Pix…” he said, voice hoarse, and I turned in his arms. My palm flattened on his chest, and I lifted on my toes and softy kissed at the white dove tattoo on the underside of his throat.
Gripping the nape of my neck, Austin rolled his hips and groaned. “Fuck… Pix… I need you…”
Stepping back, I took Austin’s hand and led him to the huge king-sized bed. Austin was looking down at me in confusion, and I motioned for him to sit on the edge.
Doing as I asked, Austin sat on the side of the bed, and I ran my hand through his hair, his eyes rolling back at my touch. His reaction fuelled my courage.
When he reached out to hold my waist, I stepped back farther, and Austin tilted his head to the side. “Pix? What’s wrong?”
Unable to speak with the intensity of what I was about to do, I shook my head and reached for the back zipper of my dress. Austin’s eyes widened, and my gaze never left his.
Pulling the zipper down, I closed my eyes and, on a deep breath, let the loose, black material pool to the floor beneath me. I caught Austin sucking in a pained gasp, and as I opened my eyes again, he was gripping the sheets in his fists, staring at me in my bra and panties like he couldn’t resist, his hard length testing the material of his boxers.
Skirting my hands up to the front clasp of my bra, heart thundering in my chest, I slowly released my breasts and dropped my bra to the floor. Feeling small and weak, I almost faltered in my action, until a frustrated moan slipped from Austin’s lips as he roved his hungry gaze down my nearly bare body.
I inhaled a sharp breath.
I wasn’t disgusting him… I was turning him on…