Page 106 of Aftersome
I shoved the covers to the side and let her climb in beside me. Every movement seemed smooth and practiced as if we’d been doing this for years. Even when she found her place with her head on my chest and a leg sprawled over mine, I knew there was no turning back now.
Wrenley Baker belonged with me.
Maybe not before, maybe not even a few weeks ago, but right now, here, she felt like mine.
As I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her in close, I finally took this as my chance to respond back to what she said only minutes ago.
“I can remember wanting you when I was in the hospital. I can remember wanting you when I knew I shouldn’t have. And I can remember wanting you when I saw you in my Orchids jersey.” Her head had tilted so she could look at me and what I saw was awe. “It’s not a matter of confusion, or trying to desperately cling on to my past. This is me, a man who has tried his damned hardest to forget about you and fight off his feelings for so long that I think I’m officially a lost cause when it comes to emotions. When it comes to you.” I felt her fingers brush along my face, soft and tentative.
“I wished that what I felt for you was superficial. I wished it meant nothing, but I’d be lying to myself and you if I said that. So, no, Doe, I don’t only think I want you, I do fucking want you. Even if it’s wrong. Even if it hurts.” I paused. Then finding her hand that was stoking along the curve of my eyebrow, I grabbed her fingers and brought them down to my mouth.
Gently, I laid exactly three kisses down each finger before pulling her hand away and mumbling into the air, “At least I’ll have you.”
36
WREN
The kiss Mal and I shared replayed in my head all night as I tried to sleep. Different scenarios, different settings, but the kiss never changed once.
I couldn’t have imagined it better anyway.
For so long I had wondered what it would be like, what it would feel like to kiss Mal. I’d imagined something angry and desperate. Like a tactic to shut me up or assert dominance, but I never expected it to be like the way it was.
Tender.
Extremely heartwarming.
It was everything he tried so hard to hide.
And he poured every ounce of himself into that kiss. Every unsaid word, feeling, doubt, I felt it all and answered back.
Though it was a moment of pure selfishness, I knew I needed it. We both did and despite what may come of it, I would never end up regretting it.
At least, I hoped I wouldn’t.
So, when the early morning sun began to peek through the slits of his window curtains, I awoke feeling better and happierthan I had in years. My whole body felt refreshed and a sense of eagerness for the day flooded me head to toe.
I let out a yawn, stretching my arms out until I accidentally nudged Mal who was still sound asleep next to me. Luckily, my movements didn’t wake him, so I took the opportunity to turn onto my side and get a good look at him.
It was difficult to hold eye contact with Mal for an extended period of time without feeling flustered. With him being asleep, I could look as long as I wanted.
With my palm holding up my head, I took in the sleeping man beside me. He looked peaceful, almost serene in a way as he laid on his back with his good arm underneath his pillow and the other stretched out toward me.
The blanket was partially resting on his abdomen, leaving the rest of his chest and upper body exposed.
I’d never seen anything more perfect.
I was tempted to drag a finger down the dip in his chest, just to see what it felt like, but I decided it wasn’t a smart idea given the current status of our so-called relationship.
Even just thinking about what all this meant made my stomach churn violently.
So, instead of diving deeper into the murky topic of Mal and I, I dragged my stare up toward his sleeping face where flutters began to take over.
The man was a god.
In another life he could have been, with his carved stone features and a rare beauty that sunk deep into my bones. There was no denying that he was undoubtedly handsome, but it was more just the attractive things that made my heart bounce.
The scar along his right eyebrow. The small indent just beside his mouth, and a slightly crooked nose from endless years of fighting on the ice.
