Shadows and Stars: The Light of You

Chapter Twenty Three

GRAYSON

I follow Mia into my apartment, my eyes watching her lips bend upward as she takes in the familiar surroundings of a place she once loved. It suddenly occurs to me that she hasn't set foot in here since last time—the time we called it quits on our relationship. The thought of that alone makes my stomach twist, but a part of me is also happy.

Because Mia looks happy, which is such a vast contrast to how she looked when she left this place last.

But I'm still kind of mad. I have to accept that Mia will meet people—that she will make friends amongst males and females because that's what Mia is like as a person; wonderful. But equally, I don't like the thought of some random guy pursuing her as and when he feels like it. Something about it all seems off.

"I've missed this place," Mia says as she gently places her palms against the window. "I've missed this view and well...I've missed...you."

My heart swells inside of me. Sometimes, I don't think there's enough words in this world for me to truly express how much I love and care for this girl—especially after everything we've been through together.

     "I've missed you too," I say after a beat. "I really have." I move closer to Mia, encasing my arms around her petite body. "You've no idea how pointless this view is without you here admiring it with me."

I earn myself a laugh from Mia, and the sound alone fills me with a rich, warm energy. She gently, ever so subtly, leans her head against my chest and sighs—no doubt sharing my thoughts in how much has happened for us to be back in this place."

     "Is it all gone now?" She asks quietly, hesitantly. "Are they all gone?"

She doesn't need to tell me twice as to what and who she's referring so when she says those words.

I drag a sigh. "I don't know. I honestly don't know." Though it's true—as much as I've shut out that part of my life for what I hope is for good, there's no telling if my past darkness is going to come and find me again, hunting me out like a lion stalking its prey in the wild. "But rest assured I have no interest in it anymore. That part of my life is—as far as I'm concerned—a distant memory."

At my words Mia looks downward, contemplative. My hands clasps harder around her chest and I feel all too well how powerfully her heart is beating. "I never wanted that kind of life for you Grayson," she tells me. "There was always something niggling in my mind that it was....it wasn't right. You don't fit that life." At this, she turns to me. "You're a good guy, Grayson. I know you are. I've seen it."

I try to muster up some words, but a heaviness of guilt and shame pools in my stomach. My mind. I should never have subjected Mia to any of this—never made her have to feel like that was what she had to deal with in order to be with me. It isn't fair. Wasn't fair. I need to do so much better for this girl. Wordlessly, I place my arms atop Mia's shoulders and pull her closer to me, tenderly, delicately placing my lips to her forehead. I use the silence—the time we now have—to truly take her in—appreciate the beauty and pureness of her with everything I can. Then, I bring my lips down to hers, cocking her head upward as I place my finger under her chin.

"I love you. You know that?" I say once our soft kiss breaks.

Mia merely nods, her plump lips finding mine again, silently claiming what's hers. With a smooth motion, I guide her towards the bed, still kissing her as I bring her down onto the soft duvet, my large body covering her small one. Right then, an intense wave of contentment floats through my veins, rendering me speechless as I contemplate just how lucky I am to be in this position again. With her.

Eager and flustered, Mia pulls on my shirt, exposing my chest as I allow her to undress me. Happily I do the same—I rip her T-shirt and bra from her and unbutton her jeans, sliding them down her warm legs as her chest rises and falls with anticipation.

      "Just beautiful," I purr, sucking at the skin below her ear. I sit up, removing her panties and my own jeans and boxers, returning when we're nothing but two naked bodies merging with one another.

Mia's eyes burn into mine. Silky, lovestruck eyes that I've missed so much. My large hands move down to her thighs, gently spreading her legs apart and feeling the wetness there; feeling how much she wants me again. My body lilts with the sheer power that Mia emits into my cells. My veins. My heart. And I push my fingers in and out of her as her body bucks under mine. I love feeling her—I love knowing that I'm the one that's making her feel this way. Gasps fly from her mouth and I press mine to hers in order to catch them. Swallow them whole. She moans fiercely, crying my name for more.

So I give her more. I hoist her legs up around my waist and enter her, hissing at how good it feels to belong to my girl again. Back in our hometown.

     "I love you," I groan as I pump in and out of Mia, revelling at how her eyes close with pleasure with each thrust. "Really fucking love you."

Mia's hands find my back, her nails digging into my skin. The pain only morphs into pleasure. "I love you too Grayson," she whispers in between her moaning. "Like, really fucking love you."

I can all but smile, growling as I release into her, her body jolting and shuddering under me as she comes for me too. It's euphoric. We lay still after the high, but our breathing races as if in competition. Slowly, I roll onto the bed, my arm bringing Mia with it so that her head lies onto my chest. Delicately, my finger traces circles against her shoulder, and I kiss the side of her forehead before we fall into a peaceful, contented sleep.