Page 113 of Merry Fake Bride

His brow twitches up. “Why on earth would this scare me away?”

“You’re kidding, right? Take away the dress and the shapewear and the fancy glitter and everything and I’m like some badly-rolled fat dough that’s about to drip off the counter. And you? You’re this…”

The elegant cake from all those weeks ago pops back into my thoughts and I wince. “You’re gorgeous.”

Kairo’s head tilts to the side.

“We view each other very differently, Devon. When I look in the mirror, I see wrinkles I can’t escape. I see papery skin that no skincare can save, muscles that aren’t defined, a doughy waist that I hate. And when I look at you?”

His hand moves from under my chin to caress my cheek. “Can I be honest?”

Given that I’ve just bared my soul to him, I nod.

“I see the brightest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. It makes my heart jump every time I see it. I see thick, plump thighs that I want to bury myself between and bite until you’re a quivering, soaked mess from my attention. I see a thick, large ass that I want to grab with all my strength to feel every tremble and twitch from you. I see a soft stomach I want to lay my head on, large tits that I want to taste and bury myself between, and a mouth that I want screaming my name because every single detail about you, even the parts you hate, is drawing me in. Willingly. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you, because I have spent the past month hoping that one day, I’ll get just a taste of you.”

My face is onfire.

Never has someone spoken about me in such a way, and the rush of emotion in my chest is almost overwhelming.

My skin is hot, prickling with fear that everything he says comes from a place of humor or mocking.

But he’s honest. It’s written all over his face and in the gentle warmth of his words.

“Scars don’t change that,” he continues. “What you look like changes every day. The same goes for me. Tomorrow, it could be me in front of that car.”

Mirth enters his eyes and he smiles. “My point is that everything about you draws me to you, Devon.You. Every detail of you that makes up the woman standing before me.”

“You’re not making fun of me?”

The words tremble out of me while I balance on a knife’s edge, waiting to see if this is just some cruel joke.

My defenses are down.

I have nothing left to hide.

I have nothing more to offer.

I am just… me.

“No, I’m not making fun of you, Devon. I wouldn’t do that and if I were a weaker man, maybe I’d be offended by the insinuation that I would hurt you that way, but I understand where it stems from.”

His thumb skims over my cheek while he gazes down at me. “If you don’t believe me, let me show you.”

“Show me?”

Suddenly, Kairo’s mouth covers mine with equal parts desire and hesitation.

He’s clearly holding himself back, but the kiss is enough to unlock something inside me.

It’s like the simple touch has given me permission and both my hands dart up to clutch at either side of his half-open shirt.

His other hand rises and he cradles my face, drawing me upward just enough that I have to step into his space to maintain my balance.

My thumbs brush against the burning hot skin of his bare chest and my heart thunders in my ears while Kairo’s tongue very slowly teases at the seam of my lips.

Something hungry and dormant curls around inside my gut and before I’ve even processed what I’m doing, my lips part and I invite him in.

He slides one hand into my hair and cradles the back of my head while deepening the kiss by sliding his tongue into my mouth.