Page 101 of Aftersome
Fuck.
My cock stood at full attention now as I took her in with eyes that were no longer exhausted. If anything, they felt more alive.
An oversized gray Colombia shirt and long baggy sweats that covered her toes never looked so damn sexy until now. Especially knowing they were mine.
Soft pink hair was hanging over one shoulder, while a tentative smile lifted across her face. I couldn’t find the words for how beautiful she looked.
How likemineshe looked.
If I could imagine a life with Doe, this was how I would want it. Her wearing nothing but my clothes at night or nothing at all. A bare face so I could remind her every second of every day how beautiful she is.
It made my chest cramp from how badly I wanted it.
“Thanks again.” She peered down at my clothes that were layered over her body. “I look kind of ridiculous, but I’m way more comfier than I would have been if I slept in my clothes.”
Something a lot like gratification struck me to my core.
“You’re welcome.” I dipped my head down and almost cursed myself for looking away from her. I knew if I looked again, I’d experience the same intense feelings all over again. If not worse this time.
“So, if you don’t need anything, I guess…” she began to say, but I already knew what she was trying to do, and I didn’t want her to go to bed just yet. I had a spare bedroom that she didn’t know about yet, but I had no intentions of telling her about it.
The Mal who was far too gone to decipher right between wrong wanted Doe in his bed.
Fuck the consequences.
“Watch a movie with me.”
I felt vulnerable asking, afraid she might tell me no. I sounded desperate in my attempt to keep her awake, and of course she must have noticed because the expression on her face softened.
“Right now? Are you sure you’re not tired?”
Not anymore.
“I’m sure, Doe. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched a movie,” I admitted.
She began to close the distance between us.
“I’m beginning to realize that it’s been a long time since you’ve done a lot of things.”
Taking the spot next to me, I felt a cracking in my heart. Not because of what she said, but because she was right.
I lost Hayes, but I lost a part of myself too. A part that determined it wasn’t fair that I was here and he wasn’t.
“Well, me too,” Wren announced, causing me to shift my full attention over to her. “It still feels… wrong to enjoy things, youknow?” She lifted her legs onto the couch until they were folded under her butt. “I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but I can’t help it sometimes.”
It was like I was looking into a mirror. She felt how I felt. Had the same painful thoughts. It was like I finally had someone who understood me.
Understood the depth of grief.
My throat had clogged with emotion. It felt too good to be true to have her here. After all this time, she had come back, even if it wasn’t for me.
“I know, and one day, hopefully it won’t feel so wrong.” I noticed her hand next to mine and slowly shifted mine closer to hers.
“I hope you’re right.” She smiled sadly and moved her hand to reach for the blanket that was hanging on the couch.
My heart dropped, but I couldn’t let it get to me.
“So, what movie do you want to watch? I’ll let you pick.” I reached for the remote and handed it to her.
