Love In Colour

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: WEDDING PLANNERS & A THOUSAND TINY PROMISES

GRAYSON POV:

This is just a perfect night. This woman, this absolutely breathtaking woman has worked her way into my skin. She's a part of me that I don't think that I can live without. I had a long day filled with work and a few meetings.

I thought that I would come home to Thandi and we'd order some dinner and relax in bed. She clearly had different plans and I'm not complaining.

I came home expecting the normal layout but I was pleasantly surprised by candles flickering like a thousand tiny promises. When my eyes landed on her, grinning because she know what she's done. The entire gesture has my heart swelling with so much love for her – caught between awe and the sudden, quiet weight of being cherished.

We're cuddled up on the blanket, staring up at the ceiling washed in candlelight. Her head rests on my chest, the weight on me feels grounding, like every beat of my heart is being heard. And right now it's screaming "I Love You!"

Soft, familiar songs play in the background,we laugh as we sing along – terribly out of tune.

The ringing of her cellphone puts a pause on our intimate moment,she picks up the call. "Biiiiiitch!" I hear Ben scream out.

She laughs, "Biiiiiitch!" she screams back.

I love her friendship with Ben and Rhys. They truly love her and care deeply for her.

I feel her pinch my thigh playfully when Ben shows off the ring on his finger, "I'm getting married!"

"Congratulations, my lovelies."

She tilts the screen so I can see Ben clearly. "Congrats, you guys." I'm so happy for them. They deserve to be happily married, especially since we live in a society that still treats the LGBTQ+ community like outcasts. Love is love,laws shouldn't dictate who we should love and marry.

Love is the purest thing that we have in this world.

I zone out for a moment, lost in admiring Thandi as she converses with Ben. This woman truly has no idea what she does to me. My dating history isn't long but with the few women that I've been with, I had never felt for them what I feel for Thandi. Every moment with her feels unrepeatable – out of the ordinary. We could be taking a walk at the park or be cuddled closely as we are now. Each of those moments hold a special feeling.

"We're definitely going to have a massive engagement party."

My girl laughs sweetly, "I can't wait, boo."

Their conversation wraps up and she returns her attention to me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asks.

"Like what?"

She leans in, her lips an inch away from mine, "Like you want to devour me."

"I do, I always do." that makes her laugh, "But, I'm just grateful. I'm happy."

"I'm happy too. You make me so happy."

I close the small space between us and place my lips against hers. The kiss is soft and slow, then it transforms into something more wild and passionate. My pulse is a war drum in my throat, and I kiss her like I'm starving, like she's the only thing that could ever feed me.

My grip tightens on her hips, dragging her closer even though we're already fused, chest to chest, breath to breath. The world doesn't just blur – it ceases. There's nothing but the relentlessness pull of her lips and the raw, consuming fire tearing through me.

She bites back, answers me with the same reckless hunger, and it's chaos – it's beautiful ruinous chaos.

"God, you drive me insane," I growl.

I grab her, fist tangled in her braids and crash my mouth against hers again. Heat floods me so fast it's dizzying. She gasps into the kiss, and pulls me closer, clawing at my tshirt, demanding more and I give it all, no control left to lose.

The kiss is raw and lip bruising. She kisses me like I'm the only man left in the world.

When we finally tear away, both of us gasping, foreheads pressed together, I can barely breathe. My voice is ragged, unrecognizable.

"Tell me you felt that," I whisper.

Her lips are swollen, her eyes molten, and the smallest, wickedest smile curves her mouth. "Like the earth just split open."

And then she drags me back under, and I'm gone again.