Page 86 of Broken Empire

Stringlights are strung up on the walls and there are balloons and flower petals everywhere, along with a sign that readsHappyBirthday.Ilook up to seeMasonalready looking at me, asItake it all in.

“Wow, this is all really nice,”Itell him.

“Let’sgo over to the daybed.We’regoing to spend the rest of the day together watching movies and hanging out, until the guys are ready to come up because there will be one last thing later,” he says as he pulls me along with him.

I’mnot going to lie; this is all kind of overwhelming.Don’tget me wrong it’s really sweet because of all the attention to detail he’s put in.There’sa table with light snacks and candy next to the daybed, even some popcorn.

Weboth get on and then he sets us so that both our backs are against the pillows butI’munder his arms.Heputs on my favorite movie and cuddles with me the entire time.Ofcourse, when it gets to the saddest part of the movie, whereRosehas to let go ofJackand he sinks to the bottom of the ocean so that she can swim to the guy with the whistle,Istart to sob.Thatpart really gets me every time.

“Don’tcry, baby,”Masonsays as he kisses my head.

“I’msorry,”Imumble.

WhenIcontinue to cry, he pulls me up and turns my body a little so thatI’mstraddling his hips and then he pulls my head down to rest on his chest.Herubs my back soothingly untilIstop sniffling.

“Youhave nothing to be sorry about, baby.Ilove all your little quirks but most of allIlove you, so much.Areyou having a good birthday so far?”

Ithink about it for a moment and yes,Iam.Imean who wouldn’t be if someone went to all that trouble to make it memorable.Andhonestly,Ican’t remember the last timeIhad such a good birthday.Thelast two were pretty shitty with everythingIhad going on.

“Yes, it’s the best one in two years.”Isigh.

“I’mso sorry, baby.I’mso sorry for everythingIput you through.IknowIkeep apologizing andIknow it’s never going to be enough… butIjust wish you knew how sorry, truly sorry and regretfulIreally am.IpromiseI’lldo my best to make the rest of your birthdays more beautiful than the last,” he tells me.Whilemy head is still on his chest,Ifeel the vibrations of him shaking, as he holds me tighter.

Ilift my head up and look at him to see that tears are running down his face.Myheart hurts at seeing him like this and it makes me want to cry along with him.

Iput an arm around his shoulders since one is still in the sling and just hug him.Hisbody starts to shake harder, as he sobs against me.

“Youhave no idea how muchIwishIcould go back in time and change the wayIdid things.IwishInever hurt you.WishIdidn’t hurt you so bad that you tried to kill yourself on more than one occasion,” he pulls back a little and looks at me, placing both his hands on my face. “Youare so perfect, and so good.Youdeserve nothing but the world and happiness from here on out.AndI’mbegging you to please let me be the one to give it to you.”

Hekisses me andIcan taste the saltiness of his tears.Ilet out a sigh into his mouth and continue the kiss with him.It’ssoft and tender and there’re so many unspoken words between us that we just choose to ignore it for the moment.

“I—”

“Shhh.Don’tsay anything, baby.Youdon’t have to say anything.You’renot at fault for any of this.Ijust wanted to tell you, again, how sorryIam.Iknow you’re still on the fence and you still hate me, but you can never hate me as much asIhate myself every day.I’msuch a fucking disappointment.Ifanyone should be dead right now, it should be me.Alwaysme and never you,” he says, shuddering as more sobs fill him.

Ihug him tighter to me but don’t say anything.Idon’t even know what to say.Imean yes,Istill have some hate for him, but deep downIknow it’s not all hate.There’sa part of me that still loves him so very much and it hurts to see him like this.IthoughtI’denjoy seeing him in pain.Butimagining it and seeing it are two very different things.

“I-I…Idon’t want you to die either,”Iwhisper into his neck and he holds me a little tighter.

“Ifeel likeI’vebeen doing everything wrong.Allthe time.I’mtrying so hard and it doesn’t feel like enough.I’mdrowning andIdon’t know what to do.Ineed you right now baby please.Pleasedon’t turn me away,” he chokes out andIshake my head.

Ilift my head up to look at him and his eyes are filled with turmoil. “Yes.”

Assoon as the word is out of my mouth, he kisses me.It’sanother soft kiss but as the seconds go by, it increases in intensity.Hescoots backward and then lays down with me on top of him, our lips never separating.

Hethen turns us gently untilI’mon my back and he’s hovering over me.Myhand is on the back of his head, holding him to me, as his kisses get harder and deeper.Hetraces a finger from my neck all the way down to my stomach and then his hand slips under my shirt.

Hemakes his way up to my breast and then he cups the left one before squeezing it, causing a moan to escape from me.Hepulls away and looks down at me intently.Hiseyes are wild with desire now and we’re both breathing heavily.

“Sobeautiful,” he whispers and then lifts my shirt up until my breasts are on display.

“Whatif someone comes up here?”Igasp out just as his mouth covers one of my nipples.Hesucks hard and pulls before letting it pop out of his mouth, causing a whimper to leave me.

“Theywon’t untilItext them,” he says before moving onto the other breast.

Whenhe’s done sucking on that one, he kisses and nips his way down my belly.Hismouth feels so good, causing the muscles in my stomach to clench as he licks me.Mybody twitches at the sensations his touch and kisses are making me feel.

Ican’t deny that it feels so good to be worshipped this much.Hiswant and desperation for me is very much turning me on right now.