Finally, I took in a deep, shuddering breath before I moved off of him. I pulled his sweat-slick body against my own, and I kissed the crook of his neck. My lips came away with the taste of salt, but I didn’t mind. I might not have been the type to swallow, but this was an entirely different taste.
It was still completely, utterly him.
“You okay?” I asked after a moment, when my breathing had returned to normal and I felt like I could hold myself up again.
He nodded. “Uh-huh. Just trying to… figure out what I’m feeling.”
“Bad?” I asked, dreading the answer.
He shook his head. “No. Just different. I feel like a virgin all over again.”
“That’s because you were,” I pointed out a bit dryly.
“Were,” he said with a snort of laughter.
It was the first time I’d heard him laugh, and I’d cherish it each time he gifted me with it. I vowed to make him laugh more, to hear the sound become more and more genuine as he and I settled into something of a routine.
“Get some rest,” I told him. “I know I need a nap after that.”
He hummed in agreement and settled down, heated skin still pressed against my own.
I was gone in seconds, lost to dreams of him even as I held him in my arms. And I smiled for the first time since he’d left.
He was snoring softlywhen I woke, and I took the moment to simply revel in the feeling of him in my arms. I still couldn’t quite believe he’d returned.
I was still sure I’d broken him beyond repair, and part of me…
Part of me was relieved.
I was so, so tired of being alone.
This was what I’d wanted when I’d first taken him. I’d hoped for exactly this, and I hated that I was questioning it,that it was bothering me at all. Maybe in time it would be okay, but for the moment…
I couldn’t help but wonder how long this would last.
I took a deep breath. I had to believe it wasn’t temporary. He’d willingly left his family behind to be here, and that spoke volumes. He’d chosen me, just like I’d chosen him.
He stirred, blinking owlishly at me, and those lips curved into the most beautiful shy smile I’d ever seen in my life. “Hey,” he said, voice rough with sleep.
“Hey,” I told him, leaning in to kiss his brow. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
“Famished,” he confirmed. “My stomach’s threatening to eat my backbone.”
I chuckled. “Then we should probably fix that.” I didn’t have much in the house. I hadn’t been shopping since before I’d gotten sick, and I was down to the bare bones basics. We could make a meal of it, though. It wouldn’t matter what it was. “It won’t be anything special though.”
“That’s okay. I’d even eat tuna right now,” he said, deadpan.
I grinned at him. “You may end up eating just that,” I warned him. “I don’t have much right now.” I hesitated, then offered, “We could order in, if you want, maybe. Pizza or Chinese or something?”
I didn’t have to worry about him trying to flee, not anymore, and I could more than afford a few nights out. Claiming him had put a substantial dent in my savings, but now that he was back, I’d be working again before long…
Assuming I could bring myself to leave his side.
“C’mon,” I told him, releasing him reluctantly and sliding off the bed. I offered my hand to him and helped him down.
He covered his mouth when he yawned, stretching slowly and giving me a perfect view of his body. He didn’t reach for his clothes, and I didn’t reach for mine even though I was more than a little self-conscious about how I looked.
He didn’t seem to care about my scars though — not anymore, and maybe never. Maybe his cruel words had only been intended to hurt me, without any sort of truth behind them. I didn’t know, and I doubted I ever would. I sure as hell wasn’t going to punish myself by asking.
