His hair stands up, kind of coming to a point in the middle. As I stare at him, one of his hands goes through his hair, and I see why it stands on it. It’s the way he runs his hands through it. Is it intentional? Happenstance?
He has a full beard and mustache that vary in length. He keeps it neatly trimmed. His body is kind of elegant, shape-wise. He has some muscle here and there, but there’s also a lack of definition in other places.
And he’s hairy. Because his body hair is dark, it really stands out.
“You don’t look at another person like that, dirty child!”
I swallow. Perhaps it’s loud because Gracen turns his head to look at me. He smiles, and something happens in my chest. Does my heart skip? Is that what just happened?
“Hey,” he says, setting his foot flat on the floor with his other.
“Hi,” I answer and take a step forward. “Are you busy?”
“Eh. Come in if you’d like.”
I cross the room to stand beside him. I’m close. Too close to be appropriate, but Gracen wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into his side. I rest my face on his shoulder, and Ryan’s voice vanishes.
“You bring me peace,” I repeat. If I haven’t said it before, I’ve said it now. If Jessica asks me again if I’ve told him how I feel, I can answer that I have with confidence.
“I enjoy being the person who brings you peace, Malin.”
“I like your company,” I add.
“I like yours,” he counters.
I pick my head up to look at him. His fingers trace along my jaw until he’s barely holding my chin. “Malin.”
“Mm?”
“Will you let me kiss you?”
Ryan’s anger is loud enough that I hear it over the barrier that being close to Gracen provides. However, it soon fades when my heart picks that moment to start pounding scarily fast.
“Yes?”
He chuckles lowly. “I’d prefer if you’re sure of your answer.”
“Oh. Uh. Yes. With a period. Not a question mark.”
His laughter is louder this time, but before I can determine if that clarifies my answer, his lips touch mine, and my breath is sucked from my lungs like a vacuum. I haven’t been kissed in a long time. Not since…
Gracen’s mouth moves gently against mine. His touch on my chin leaves, though his fingers move back along my jaw until they can tangle in my hair as he cups the back of my head. His tongue touches my lips, and for a moment, I’m taken back many years ago.
Histongue in my mouth was always gross. I’m prepared to hate this. I’m about to second-guess this.
But the way Gracen kisses me is different. There’s nothing even remotely the same about it.Ifeel different. I wrap my arms around Gracen’s neck and get lost in his kiss.
10
GRACEN
There’s beenan abrupt shift in our relationship since the day we kissed. I can feel it as if the Earth is no longer steady beneath me.
There hasn’t been any kind of straightforward conversation to speak of. I can’t even say Malin smiles at me in a specific way. He doesn’t smile. Not any more than usual, which is rarely. Idocatch little hints of smiles.
One day, I hope to make him smile, but for right now, I’ll take these moments of peace that I can offer him. I’m not sure what they mean. It often feels like Malin talks in riddles. As if I’m not privy to the entire conversation in his head, though he doesn’t realize that.
He spends the night most nights. Unlike the time he showed up at midnight, he’s here before bed now. It’s intentional.
