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I nip at his bottom lip, tugging gently. “You can have dessert anytime you want, darling.”
“But I can’t. You said we had to eat first.” He actually pouts, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Aww. My poor sweet man.” I gently squeeze his bicep. “You need to keep up your strength for after.”
His eyes darken and my pulse races. “Do I?” Skipping the utensils, he picks up a piece of souvlaki with his fingers and slowly pops it into his mouth, chewing, somehow managing to make it suggestive.
“You do.” I tangle our legs together under the table. “Now.” I spear a piece from his plate and wiggle it in front of him enticingly. “Eat.”
His grin is ridiculous, and I expect him to say something smart, but he surprises me by parting his lips and letting me feed him. It’s not until he closes his lips around the fork and I slide it from his mouth, that I realize I may have miscalculated. My tiny swim briefs might not have been the best idea. “You know, Freud would have a field day with this.”
He snorts. “You mean because you’re feeding me? Or because you’re younger than me and feeding me? Or sublimating by eating? Or—“
Laughing, I cut him off with a hand over his mouth. “You’re wound up today. What’s got into you?”
“I fired Gilbert Fox earlier. Well, technically, Hibernian Press withdrew from the negotiations, but I told him to hit the road. I’m feeling pretty good about it. Plus, it’s the middle of a weekday and I wanted to see you.” He gestures around the patio. “And here we are.”
I close my mouth, which had fallen open in shock. “I’m sorry, you did what? Blake!” I know he told Jocelin to tear up the contract, but I figured that was the heat of the moment. “He’s a big name author!”
“So big you’d never heard of him.” A fact which amuses Blake greatly.
I grip his arm. “Darling, tell me you were professional about it.”
His smile fades. “Of course I was. Mostly.”
“Blake.”
He takes my hand. “Sweetheart, the man is an asshat, and what he said is unforgivable. It was sleazy and bordering on blackmail, and it never should have gotten that far. If I’d been less focused on what signing him would accomplish and more on who he was as a person, none of it would have happened. He’d‘ve been gone a long time ago. To be frank, I’m ashamed of myself.”
“Well, I’m proud of you.”
His eyebrows raise. “For dumping him?”
“Nope.” I may be over the moon about that, but it’s secondary. “You did something emotionally and physically difficult this morning and recognized it took a toll on you. You gave yourself the space to recover from it by taking the rest of the day off.” I grab his forearm and give a light squeeze. “Blake, that’s huge. And I see it, darling.”
“Thank you.” He takes another bite of food, and I turn to mine, eating in peaceful silence for a few minutes before Blake takes my hand and kisses my palm. “At the risk of upsetting the calm, I want to stress that what Gilbert said to you is all bullshit. I love you for exactly who you are, and I will never be ashamed to be with you under any circumstances. I never want you to dim your inner light for anyone, Stef, including me. Okay?”
My chest is tight with emotion, and I squeeze Blake’s hand as I fight back tears. “Alright.”
“I’m serious, Stef. If you feel you can’t be your true self when you’re with me, we’re never going to make it.” He tugs on my hand, and I give in, letting him pull me into his lap. I laugh, only a little choked up, and settle against him. “Sweetheart, listen to me, and really hear what I’m saying.” He looks into my eyes, and I nod, keeping my focus on him. “I fell in love with you because you’re you. You’re effervescent, enthusiastic, and incredibly positive. You’re uniquely you, and I adore that. I’m boring enough for both of us.” I’m about to argue that he’s far from boring, but he presses a finger to my lips. “You keep being you, and I’ll keep loving you for it.”
I blink, trying to stave off full-blown tears.
He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose, and I melt. This man is too wonderful for words. “Stef, you are fearless. I know it’s not always easy, but you don’t let it stop you. So please, don’t start now because you think you’re protecting or helping me. Wear what makes you happy no matter where we’re going or what we’re doing.” He caresses my face and kisses me softly. “I loveyou, Stef. Exactly as you are.”
And that’s when the tears overflow. “I loveyoutoo.“ I press damp kisses all over his face and squeeze him as tightly as I can. “We may have met under interesting circumstances.” I rest my forehead against his. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Blake tilts his head up and kisses me softly. “Damn. Does that mean we have Gilbert to thank for our meeting?”
“Absolutely not!” I sniff and raise my eyebrows imperiously. “You were at the club. I was at the club. Our meeting was fate.”
He kisses me soundly. “I just want you to be happy, sweetheart.”
I smirk at him. “That’s all you want?”
“Okay, that and you naked.” His hands drift from my hips over my thighs, teasing at the edge of my swim briefs.
I grin and wipe my cheeks. “Why, Blake, do you have something in mind?”
