And the worst part is I feel everything with him and he's too scared to feel everything with me.
"They can heal, Oak. You just have to be brave enough to take the first step." My voice is soft, too soft to where it comes out as barely a whisper. He hears me though. He hears me because he notices everything about me. His eyes always follow me wherever I go. If I smile it looks like he's taking a mental image. If I frown he tries to figure out why. When I talk he always listens with an attentive ear. And whenever I truly need him he's always there.
His thumb swipes along my jawline. The sweet touch sending goosebumps across my skin. When his thumb grazes my bottom lip I release a shaky breath. A shiver runs down my spine and my eyes widen.
"What is the first step?" He asks roughly. His thumb grazes my lip again. My heart beats like a hammer. Then his thumb presses lightly on the middle of my bottom lip.
I wait for him to remove it before I answer him but as another moment passes between us I see that he has no inclination of removing it.
Collecting myself the best that I can I finally answer him. "You let someone in."
"Who do I let in?"
This time I swallow. I want to scream at him from the top of my lungs me.
I want you to let me in!
I want you to choose me!
"Anyone you want."
He breathes and it feels as if he is breathing me in.
Icy blue eyes begin to melt. The walls around his heart knocking down. The last of his armor falling to pieces on the ground. "Even you?"
Hope blossoms within me. "Even me."
His eyes flick down to my lips and then meet mine once again. There's a fire burning there, taking place of the glaciers.
He pulls me closer to him with a firm hand on my hip. His touch igniting more sparks.
I'm flush against him. Not a slither of space between us yet somehow I want to find a way to be closer.
"Then I guess I'm ready to take that first step."
"You guess?" I need to know if he is feeling this the same way that I am. He needs to be sure because lord knows I'm already head sinking underwater.
His hand moves from my hip to the small of my back. The tips of his fingers brushing the top of my jean clad ass. "I'm ready on one condition."
I smile. If he only knew that I would give him anything if he just asked. "I'm all ears."
"You have to be my person."
"Your person," I tease with my eyebrow raised.
A smile adorns his face. My god, what a beautiful sight. It should be a crime for this man not to smile. It's absolutely breathtaking.
"Yes. My person. Because if I let you in, Gracie Mae," he pauses trying to find the right words, "If I let you in then I won't let you out."
"Then, Ethan," I begin, using his real name to show just what this means. That the walls around his heart must come down. Otherwise I won't survive him. "I'm your person."
Bending at the knee he picks me up with one strong arm and my legs wrap around his hips. My arms loop around his neck bringing him closer to me.
He brings his forehead down to rest on mine. His breath, mint mixed with hints of liquor fans my face. His eyes are focused on my lips and I'm dying for him to take a taste.
I lick my bottom lip and his eyes follow the motion hungrily.
God, that alone is making my blood run hot.
