Page 129 of Aftersome
After giving her medicine and laying her up in my bed with a heating pad, I found her fast asleep within fifteen minutes of us watching some documentary she had picked out. Her body was curled into mine while my arm was wrapped tightly around her middle.
She looked so peaceful.
So achingly beautiful that I struggled to look away from her.
Her mouth was in a pout, forehead slightly crinkled, I couldn’t help but place a cluster of kisses along her face.
When had I ever wanted to kiss a woman like this? Cuddle her in my bed and never let go? Simple answer was never.
There wasn’t a single person, a single instance that ever came close to what I feel now. It was as if I’d been waiting my whole life for this moment.
For her.
A lifeline to pull me from the darkness.
Giving her one last kiss on the spot between her eyebrows, I gently removed myself from her body. Not wanting to disturb her, I left the bedroom and went in search of my phone.
Only dressed in a pair of sweatpants, I padded into the kitchen where it was charging. I immediately reached for it and pulled up James’s contact.
Me: You home?
I only wait a few minutes before I got a response.
James: Yeah. Why? What's up?
Me: I’m going to stop by to pick up Wren’s things and bring them over to my house.
Seconds later, he was calling.
On a sigh, I hit answer.
“He…” I went to say, but James quickly interrupted.
“What's going on? Is Wren okay? And what do you mean you want to come get her stuff?” His voice went from worried to upset, and for some irrational reason, a swarm of jealousy hit me.
“She’s fine,” I gritted. “She’s in my bed taking a nap right now.”
Silence greeted me.
Clearly he couldn’t be that shocked.
“Oh,” he responded. “Is she… Are you two?”
“She’s mine,” I answered simply as a rush of pride swelled within my chest. I could think of no other words that described what Wren was to me other than what I truly felt, and that was mine.
A rush of air filled our phone call.
“I should say that I’m shocked, but I’m not. I see the way you look at her, Mal. She’s been yours the second she showed up here.” Relief billowed throughout my gut. If he saw it, then maybe everyone else did too. “So, I’m assuming she doesn’t know that she’s moving in if you’re trying to get her stuff while she’s sleeping?”
Raking a hand through my overgrown hair, I leaned my back against the counter.
“We spoke last night about her moving in.”
More like I demanded that she moved in, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Told her that this is where she belongs.”
There was a pause.
