Page 55 of Harmony

He fills my soul.

And I can’t help myself.

“I love you, Jesse.”

My words float in the enclosed space, and in my mind, I hear him return them.

I love you too, Brianna. I love you too.

But as my orgasm subsides, reality sinks in.

The words were from Jesse’s mouth, in Jesse’s voice…

But they were only in my mind.

I open my eyes, see my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are glassy, but I refuse to let the tears come. This is what I asked for. This is what I wanted, and I have no regrets.

He stays inside me for a few timeless moments, and when he pulls out, I hold back my whimper at the loss.

I turn around to face him, and he wipes me gently with a tissue. Then he pulls up his underwear and jeans, and I notice he’s wearing the belt buckle I gave him. I quickly fasten my jeans and then reach out and trace the engraved dragon with my finger.

“You like it?” I ask.

“I love it.”

A smile spreads across my face. “I’m glad. I knew it was yours the moment I saw it.”

“Brianna…”

I touch my fingers to his lips. “You don’t have to say anything. First of all, I didn’t intend to have my name on the engraving. The clerk made a mistake, and then he gift wrapped it in that gorgeous red dragon paper. I should have unwrapped it to make sure the engraving was right.”

“If you had, would you have still given it to me?”

His question is valid, and I have to think about it. Would I have?

“Probably not,” I tell him. “You weren’t supposed to know it was from me.”

“Bree…”

“Yeah?”

He draws in a breath, holding it for a few seconds. “How long have you…felt this way about me?”

My cheeks warm. Then they tingle, as if I can feel the blood rushing to them and making them pink. “Seems like forever.”

“You deserve someone who can love you back.”

“I know.”

“So…”

“You’re the one I want, Jesse. If I can’t have you long term, I’ll take what I can get.”

He shakes his head. “That’s crazy, Bree. I mean…I’m a man. I want you desperately, and I want to take you up on what you’re offering. But I’m not a user. I don’t use women, and I’m not about to start now.”

“You won’t be using me.”

“Please…”