Get Off on the Pain(73)

I feel like an idiot, but I can’t help it as a tear slowly trickles down my face, landing on his thumb as he reaches out to wipe it away. For someone that doesn’t cry, I sure am crying a lot in the last half hour.

“God, you’re so beautiful to me,” I whisper. “Everything about you steals my breath away.”

His eyes meet mine and capture them as he pulls me even closer, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip. “I love you, Lyric.” My hearts stops from his words and I almost think that I’m hearing him wrong, until he speaks again. “I fucking love you and I’m an idiot for not realizing it sooner. I’m. Not. Going. Anywhere.”

“Memphis.” My eyes search his, never wanting this moment to end. I love this man and I have for longer than I was willing to admit. “I love you too,” I whisper. “I love you so damn much that it hurts to think of losing you. I don’t want to lose you, Memphis.”

He shakes his head. “I know that I may not be perfect. I’m far from it and I may not even be worthy of your love.” His eyes meet mine as his lips gently brush mine. “Touching you silences the demons more than the blow of my fists ever could. You are the peace that is going to save me; the one thing that keeps me breathing.” He pulls my chin up and looks me in the eyes. “I’m willing to fight for you . . . are you willing to fight for me?”

I nod my head, more tears streaming down my face. “Yes. Always,” I whisper.

He smiles against my lips before kissing me and placing the key to the art studio in my hand. “Give me time to set this place up for you,” he whispers. “Okay?”

I nod my head and close my hand around the key. Looking at this building and knowing the meaning behind it, makes me want nothing more than to set up some shoots and get to work. I just hope Memphis knows that my first shoot will be of him. I want to photograph him with his guitar. I want us to be a part of each other’s passions.

“Okay.” I smile and kiss him one more time before he hops out of the truck and walks around to help me out.

He looks at me, studying me in a way I’ve never seen him do before. “You’re a lot like her, you know.”

My eyes widen and my heart starts to race as he stands in front of me, his eyes locked with mine. “How so?”

“You’re strong, loving, and you never give up on people that you know need it the most. You’re an artist. She would have loved you, Lyric.”

My heart melts.

“Now come inside for a minute. I want to show you something before I get you back to work.” He pats his pocket and raises an eyebrow. “I have a feeling that it’s Alex that has been blowing my shit up. I’m going to have to rough his ass up a bit later.”

Throwing me over his shoulder causes me to yelp as he slaps my ass, grabbing the key out of my hand to unlock the door. All I see is darkness until Memphis flips on the light and slowly brings me down his front, kissing me along the way until he has me back on my feet.

He grips my face with both hands and presses his lips to mine, slowly tasting me, before pulling away and biting his bottom lip. “Fuck me, I missed that taste.”

I can’t help but smile as he places his hand over my eyes and leads me in the direction that he wants me. “Memphis!” I laugh as he bites my neck and runs the tip of his tongue up my neck, stopping at my ear.

“I saw this and knew that you had to have it.” He takes his hand away from my eyes, slowly trailing it down the front of my body, before wrapping his arm around my waist. “Open your eyes.”

Smiling uncontrollably, I open my eyes and slap his arm when I set my sights on the very expensive Canon sitting on the table. “Holy shit, Memphis! No!” I cover my mouth as I stare at the new camera. “You did not buy this for me. This is too much. This had to have cost at least five grand.”

“Nah . . . it was a little more.” He laughs as I slap him again. “It’s cool. It came with all this crap, so it’s fine. I know it’s in good hands.”

I look around at the various accessories. There’s a camera bag, a tripod, a chest mount harness and a bunch of different lenses, along with other random things. “It did NOT come with all this, Memphis. You bought it all separately. I can’t take this.”

Turning me around, he pins me against the table and bites onto my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth before releasing it. “You can . . . and you will. It’s all yours.” He kisses me again. “And so am I.”

My heart melts from those words alone. That’s all I needed to hear. That does me in, helping me feel complete. Looks like things really are perfect now. I have Bailey, Alex, and Memphis.