Page 78 of Mr. Brightside

Arousal surges through me.

“Scoot up on the mattress and lie down. Let me see you.”

He juts his chin, and I position myself like he wants. He’s still half-clothed, whereas I’m completely naked before him. He gives me a long, thorough perusal, slowly assessing every mound of muscle and inch of flesh. Heat creeps up my neck as he continues his unhurried, tantric appraisal.

When his eyes return to mine, he bites down on his bottom lip. “You’re perfect,” he praises. “You’re so fucking perfect, Jake.”

The way he says my name has my heart catching in my throat.

He’s on me a moment later.

His weight crushes me into the mattress as our mouths collide in a greedy, sloppy kiss. He climbs up the bed and straddles me, pinning me down as he puts all his weight on my abs. I relish the solidness of his body holding me down.

He sucks on my bottom lip, then thrusts his tongue into my mouth in hard, hurried strokes. I moan when he rolls his hips and matches the rhythm of our kiss.

He breaks away to scrape his teeth along my jaw, then he grabs my hair and pulls my head to the side. Once he’s got me where he wants me, he bites and sucks on my neck, eventually working his way down my chest.

“You taste so good, baby,” he croons. “You feel so right under my tongue. You’re so fucking perfect for me, Jake.”

Emotion overwhelms me as another pool of arousal gathers in my core. I realize I haven’t uttered a word in response to anything he’s said. I can’t think of a single thing to say.

All I can do is feel.

He peppers kisses down my chest, lavishing each nipple and moaning against my skin like I’m his favorite dessert.

When he reaches my abs, he rises to his knees, then shifts back to climb off the bed and hover over me again. He waits for me to make eye contact before he slowly lowers his lips to my stomach: his moves are deliberate, his breath hot on my skin.

We’re staring into each other’s souls as he kisses the top of my abs.

“You are important.”

I watch as he shifts lower, offering another kiss and more words.

“You are admirable.”

I’m holding my breath now, trying to hold back my reaction.

“You are strong.”

I realize what he’s doing. My chest starts to ache with the pain of a broken rib. I track his movements and shudder. Three down. Three fucking more to go.

“You matter.”

When he kisses the next segment of my abdominals, I turn my head to the side, desperate for this to be over.

“You are adored.”

He pauses. We both know I’m on the brink of breaking down.

I can’t swallow.

I can barely breathe.

I screw my eyes closed and try to keep still as my body trembles in rebellion.

“You are worthy.”

He lets that kiss linger. His lips brush back and forth against my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. It’s not until I feel him rest against my midsection that I exhale and open my eyes.