Page 121 of Barron's Second Chance
With a clenched jaw, Barron took a step forward to grasp her by her shoulders. "Baby, I like to think I'm a smart man, but I'm gonna need you to spell it out for me."
Eden swallowed thickly as she took in the yearning expression of hope on his face.
"I love you, Barron. And I'm sor -"
Before she could finish her sentence, Barron hauled her up, framed her face in his large hands, and covered her mouth with his own.
At first, startled by his sudden action, Eden gave a strangled squeak. It wasn't until she felt the gentle stroke of his tongue licking at the seam of her lips that her brain caught up to what was happening, and she eagerly returned his kiss.
His mouth left hers to rain loving pecks down the side of her face. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
"No, I'm sorry," Eden breathed as she bathed in his caress.
"No." Barron pulled back and brushed the hair out of her eyes. He moved back, pulling her inside and closing his front door before circling her waist with his arms.
"No, baby, I'm sorry. I was actually just about to come back over," he told her. It was then Eden noticed his damp hair, clean-shaven jaw, and a subtle scent of woodsy aftershave.
"I'm sorry for storming out like that. I should've stayed and tried to talk it out. I promised you I would be patient, and I was kicking myself, thinking I messed up my chance."
Eden stroked his chest as she shook her head in disagreement. "No, you had every right to be upset. I should never have let you leave. I did try and call you to come back, but your phone was off."
Barron groaned. "My mom was trying to call me. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so I powered off my phone and went straight to the gym."
He gave her a remorseful look. "I just needed to work off the energy. By the time I took out my...emotions...I realized what an idiot I was being. I had no idea I was working out for that long, so I came home to shower quickly. I was always going to come back to you."
"Can we sit?" Eden clasped his hand in hers before guiding him to his couch. She turned to him in earnest, her hand still firmly wrapped in his. "You were right that I was avoiding the subject of our relationship. The truth is, everything between us was perfect. Almost too perfect."
Barron nodded, understanding. "You were waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Kinda. Our friends were getting along, we reconnected with both sets of parents, our sex life was amazing, and we talked every night...I've never felt closer to you. Even when we were kids."
Barron squeezed her hand in his. "Baby, I feel the same way."
"So, I was scared that if we took that final step, if I verbalized to you that, yes, I wanted us to become a couple...it would somehow change our dynamics. That our picture-perfect arrangement will fall apart."
"Eden, baby, I would never let that happen."
"But that's the thing, Barron," she shook her head. "Relationships aren't perfect. They have their ups and downs. We're gonna argue. I'm gonna get on your nerves sometimes and vice versa. Our parents are gonna drive us crazy; the long-distance might start grating on us. But you know what? That's okay. Because I have faith in us. But more importantly, I have faith in you."
Barron closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the importance behind her words penetrated. When he opened them, she almost melted at the look of relief and love shimmering through.
"Baby...you have no idea..." he brought his head forward to rest his forehead against hers. "Thank you," he simply said. "I promise I will take real good care of your heart this time. You'll never have to worry or doubt my love and devotion to you. I'm your man, only yours."
He leaned back and fixed her with a determined stare. "And you're my woman. Say the words, baby. I need to hear you say you're mine."
Eden smiled as she ran a finger down the side of his face. "I'm yours."
He leaned down and kissed her hard before cupping her face in his hands. "You think all these months apart was an extra effort to be with you? Baby, I did all those things because I wanted to. Talking to you, reaching out to you throughout the day, coming to New York...all of that comes naturally to me. Yes, I want you to trust me again and believe in us again. But I also did it because I can't stand to be away from you. I need to talk to you, need to love on you." He brushed her lips gently with his. "We're gonna make it, baby. As long as we're honest with each other, fully transparent."
She brushed her nose against his. Her pussy clenched with need as it always did whenever they started getting affectionate. "I'm sorry for what you overheard. I called my dad back before I came over here and told him about us."
The light in Barron's eyes flickered with joy before he groaned and fell back against the couch. "On a scale of one to ten, how much does your dad still hate me?"
Eden pursed her lips to keep a smile at bay. "If I told him we were dating sooner, he would've started to like you by now."
Barron sent her a droll look as if to say he didn't believe that for a second.
Eden winced. "Tolerate you, then?"
