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He blinks those showstopping eyes at me as he thinks. Part of me is amused. The other part is aching at how hard this is for him. And that part is the reason we’re playing this “game.” I’m not above using sex to force him to acknowledge how amazing he is.
“I guess?”
“Not good enough.” I cross my arms, waiting.
“Fine. Yes. I have nice eyes.”
“Better.” I pull off another sock.
“Socks? Really?”
“As I explained, you need to earn it. Little confessions get little rewards. Big confessions get big rewards. So far you’re fishing in the sock pool, my friend.”
His lips tip up in the slightest smile, even as his fist clenches at his side. He hates this, but he loves me and has no idea what to do with that dilemma. Good. That’s why we’re here to bridge the gap.
“Next,” I say.
“I’m… um… patient.”
His gaze drops to his hand as he picks at invisible lint on his jeans, and my heart stirs in my chest.
“You are,” I say softly.
He looks up again as I tug off my oversized tee. I warm beneath his admiring scan that drifts over my bare chest before lifting to my eyes. I know it’s breaking the rules, but I can’t stop myself from leaning forward and brushing a gentle kiss on his lips.
“Keep going,” I whisper.
His Adam’s apple moves as he swallows and averts his gaze again. A shadow passes over his face. Something heavy is clearly making its way through his brain.
Please, baby. Please see what I do.
“I’m… uh…” He studies the hem of his shirt. “Resilient.”
Tears prick my eyes when he blinks back the pain behind that confession.
I pull off my sleep shorts.
“Keep going.”
He shakes his head.
“Val. Keep. Going.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
His tortured gaze flickers back to me.
“I’m… not a failure like everyone thinks.”
I choke back emotion as I pull him against me and bury my face in his neck. “Not even close, baby. Gosh, not even close.”
He wraps his arms around me, clinging hard.
“I belong here.”
Unable to speak, I just nod, hoping he can absorb every affirming cell of my agreement. He’s so incredibly special. Nothing seems as important as making him believe that in this moment.
