Page 44 of Bliss: Part 1
He didn’t push. That was the thing about Dad. He never pushed when he knew I needed space. But I also knew he didn’t believe me. Not fully.
“You sure nothing’s going on?” Odin asked more gently than I expected.
I looked up at him with a tight smile, meeting his gaze. “I’m okay. I promise.”
A long pause followed, but then Dad nodded and sighed. “All right. Just…if you ever want to talk, you know where to find us.”
“I know.”
Uncle Odin gave a small nod, then reached out his hand to squeeze mine. “Go on. Get some sleep.”
“I think I’m going to hang out with Dash and Tripp for a while,” I said, not really sure why I even bothered mentioning it. It wasn’t like they cared. Still, something in me felt the need to explain myself lately. Maybe out of guilt, or maybe just caution. Ever since things had turned intimate between me and my brothers and cousins, I’d become hyper-aware of everything around me. The walls of this house felt thinner, the air heavier. Every look, every movement, every sound seemed charged.
The idea of sneaking around, of doing something so reckless while other people were nearby, still thrilled me. Just imagining it was enough to make my heart race. But I also knew better. Tempting as it was, I didn’t want to risk it.
I offered a quiet “Good night” and slipped out of the living room without waiting for a response.
Upstairs in my room I changed into my pajama shorts and an oversized T-shirt, pulling my hair up into a loose bun.
After quickly brushing my teeth and taking off my makeup, I padded down the stairs quietly and headed straight for the basement door. I hadn’t heard the others walk downstairs yet, but Dash was already sitting on one of the couches wearing only his shorts.
He smiled at me and casually draped one arm over the back of the couch, wordlessly inviting me to come closer. I took the hint and curled up beside him, tucking my legs underneath me as I turned slightly toward his body.
The moment I looked at him, I realized just how close we were. Our eyes met, holding for a beat too long, and then, without a word, he leaned in and kissed me. It was soft and quick, unexpected but I let him.
He didn’t need to ask. Still, the suddenness of it caught me off guard. When he pulled back, his eyes searched mine with a calm, almost tender curiosity.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, my heart beating just a little faster in my chest. “Yeah. You?”
“Yeah.” He gave a small nod. “What did they want to talk to you about?”
He was clearly curious, and even if he hadn’t been, I probably would’ve told him anyway.
“They just asked if something was going on. Said I’ve been quieter lately.”
Dash’s expression shifted slightly, his brows pulling together as he tried to work it out. Like he was wondering if he’d missed something or if our dads were just imagining things. “Have you?”
“Been quieter?” I asked.
He nodded.
I gave a small shrug. “I don’t think so. I mean…I feel different. But I didn’t tell them that. I just said I’ve been tired.”
He let out a quiet hum and studied me for a moment before lifting his hand and brushing his thumb gently along my cheek. “I don’t want you to worry,” he said softly. “And I don’t want you to ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable. If there’s anything bothering you, you tell me. You’re not in this alone.”
His words made my chest tighten. I pressed my lips together and gave him a small, strained smile, nodding slowly. “I know. Still…”
“I get it, Lissy.” His voice was warm and low, and he leaned in again, this time placing a kiss at the corner of my mouth. “But I don’t want you to be scared. We’ve got you.”
I closed my eyes and drew in a slow breath. When his lips found mine again, I didn’t hesitate. I leaned into him, letting the softness of the kiss ease me. Our mouths moved gently.
He didn’t seem the least bit nervous about the fact that Dad and Odin were upstairs. There were no footsteps creaking across the floor above us, and with that kind of silence, he didn’t feel the need to hold back.
His hand slid to the side of my neck, fingers brushing softly along my hairline before sinking into my hair. He was careful not to mess up the bun I had twisted up earlier. I tilted my head slightly, silently inviting him to deepen the kiss.
His tongue moved into my mouth at an achingly slow pace. So slow it made my entire body soften.
