Christian (The Mitchell/Healy Family #3)(57)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Feeling disgusted, I smacked him on the arm. “You’re sick.”

He swatted me away. “I was only sayin’ you were doable. Calm down. You know it ain’t like that. All jokes aside, you’re smokin’ hot. Our friends have been givin’ us shit about hookin’ them up for years.”

I could feel the burning developing in my eyes. This wasn’t just some kind of confirmation for me. This was life changing. My whole life I’d felt out of place. It was as if I couldn’t let myself see what apparently everyone else did. This wasn’t like hearing my boyfriend, or even my parents telling me I was pretty. It was like asking the most critical skeptics. Not that I’d ever base my life on anything they said, the twin’s honest response had left me speechless. I was literally stunned that this was taking place.

When I saw Reese moving toward us I decided to accept their compliments before I could feel embarrassed. “Thanks guys.”

Jax quickly reached over and started messing up my hair. “No problem, nerd.”

Jake laughed. “Yeah, don’t go tellin’ anyone we said you were pretty. We wouldn’t want the family thinkin’ we went soft.”

I rolled my eyes, but nodded anyway. I didn’t care if I was the only person who ever knew what they’d said to me. It was unforgettable.

I watched them gather the rest of their belongings and walk inside of my parent’s house. At that same time Ethan’s vehicle pulled down the lane. In that moment I felt more beautiful than I could ever remember feeling. It was then that I knew I’d be able to give myself to my boyfriend, both inside and out I knew I wasn’t a waste of space.

Chapter 36

Ethan

Something was different about her. Even though I couldn’t put my finger on it, I knew it had something to do with her cousins. She’d always been sort of uncomfortable when they came around. Now, all of a sudden, she was full of smiles as they walked away.

After obtaining the bouquet of fall colored flowers I’d picked up on the way, I climbed out of the car to greet my lady. I still couldn’t get over how nice it felt to address her as mine. Her gaze filled me with warmth, as if to remind me that we were both finally where we knew we needed to be.

I wrapped my arms around her, and although it was nothing new, everything felt changed; so surreal. “I missed you,” she said as she whispered against my face.

“Me too. How was your appointment?” I asked as I separated us enough to look into those green eyes.

“It was good.”

I paid close attention to her cousins disappearing into the house. “How about them? Did they give you any shit?” I’d been around the family enough to know how things went. Her cousins were bullies at times. They didn’t mean any harm, but she always took it so personal. Had I been in her shoes I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to understand her methods of reasoning.

“Actually,” she looked down at the ground and I watched her face turn to a shy grimace. “They said I’m beautiful.”

I could tell she was touched by their term of endearment. My hand lifted and coursed over her cheek. “You are.”

Chris shrugged and looked away, as if she couldn’t handle the compliment. “It’s hard to believe sometimes. I’ve never looked in the mirror and saw myself that way. It’s intense.”

“I’ve always seen the beauty, both inside and out. Don’t you understand that? You’re the most beautiful, true, innocent, lovin’, honest person I know. Darlin’, you’re nothin’ but a treasure.”

She began to giggle and shove me away. “Stop it. That’s just weird comin’ from you.”

I tossed up my hands. “What? It’s the truth.”

“You’re just tryin’ to get in my pants.” I watched as she continued shaking her head at my comment.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not goin’ to lie. It wouldn’t kill me to make love to you over and over until to the sun came up over the horizon, but that ain’t why I said it. I feel all of those things for you; I see them when I look at you.”

She stopped moving and just stared at me. It was impossible to stand so close and not reach out to touch her. Our hands laced together and with little effort I pulled her close to me. Her warm breath let me know she was near enough to kiss. I didn’t dawdle when it came to something so necessary. In that moment it was just us.

Our embrace was short-lived when we heard whistling, knowing it was coming from either of her cousins. She squeezed both of my hands as she spoke. “I want you to make love to me tonight, Ethan.”

“You know we can’t,” I replied quickly. “You’re not ready.”

“I am. The doctor says I’ll know it and I do.”

I refused to believe that she was. “I don’t expect anything.”

She pulled me closer so anyone lurking wouldn’t be able to hear. “You were my first for everything that matters. You showed me what it was like to feel completely loved when we are together. You’re my safe place, Ethan. Bein’ with you doesn’t make me feel nervous. It makes me feel alive again.”

I reached forward and kissed the top of her head, holding my lips there for a long amount of time. “I will never hurt you.”

“I know,” she whispered. Then, as if she wasn’t taking no for an answer, she continued. “Tonight. We’re goin’ to make love until the sun meets with the horizon. We’ll take our time, and when it’s all over I’ll have that last piece of myself back. I don’t just want this, Ethan. I need it. I need you. I need you to love me more than you ever have before. I need you to remind me that our love is stronger than anything that comes in our way.” All of a sudden I felt her trembling and noticed she was crying. It wasn’t a cry like she was in pain. It was more along the lines of being so determined that emotions were pouring out of her. I stroked her face and wiped away the residue.

“Okay, babe. You don’t have to beg. I’ll make love to you. I’ll give you my all with little effort, because lovin’ you is easy, it’s natural. My only concern will be you, and if you tell me to stop I -.”

“I won’t.” Chris shook her head. “I might need to pause, but I won’t ask you to stop. Every inch of my body wants to be with you again. I know I won’t want you to stop.”

“But if you do…I will. I’ll wait as long as it takes. Since I’m keepin’ you around forever, there’s no rush.”