He grinned wickedly. “I can see that.” He walked over to the bed before settling in. “You wanna use the bathroom?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“You sure?”
I nodded. Yeah, I’d gone mute all of a sudden.
I could hear the smile in Gallan’s voice as he said, “Come here, then.” He then patted the spot next to him on the bed.
I cleared my throat silently and sat next to him. My hands itched to pull at the hoodie’s hem again, but I refrained myself.
When was the last time I’d felt like a potato on a roast – all hot and bothered and ready to burn out of my skin?
Yeah, that’s right.NEVER.
N-E-V-E-R.
Gallan chuckled. “Jesus. Are you nervous, Zaira?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. He looked highly amused seeing me so flustered. “Don’t be an asshole.”
“I’m not an asshole.”
“You’re being one right now.”
“Nope, not at all.”
When I didn’t answer, but just continued to stare at him, he lied down on the bed and pulled me with him. “You can hardly keep your eyes open. Let’s sleep,” he said.
I rose on my right elbow and looked down at him. “Oh, didn’t you know? It’s my sizzling-like-a-bacon-in-an-oily-pan desire towards you that’s making my eyes go all droopy and drunk-y.”
He laughed. “Drunk-y is not a word.”
“I know. I just made it up. I’m a novelist, which means I can do that.WheneverI want. It’s my birthright. It’s in my word-spouting, nerdy blood.”
He laughed harder. “Get here, you beautifully crazy woman.” He pulled me to him.
I chuckled and lied next to him, and then turned so that my back was to his front.
Gallan wrapped an arm around my waist and erased the last bit of space between us. “Ah, heaven.” He pressed sound kisses below my ear and pushed his nose against my hair, and our legs brushed when he shifted even closer to me. “Damn, you smell good.”
I placed my hands under my chin and closed my eyes. “You say that every time.”
“That’s because it’s true.”
I smiled, because I just couldn’t help it when it came to him. “Goodnight, you silly, silly baboon.”
His chest shook as he chuckled. “Goodnight, baby.”
And, as I lay there – wrapped in Gallan’s arms – I felt whole; I felt safe.
In his arms, I felt like I could have whatever I wanted. In his arms, I had zero fears or questions about my appearance; about the hesitations related to them.
With Gallan, I felt like I could conquer the world.
I felt appreciated.
I felt respected.
