She cheers and starts it, and I melt into the couch, melt into Molly, propping my feet on the coffee table.
"You know," she says quietly, her head still on my shoulder, "you've coached me through all this stuff. What else are you gonna teach me?"
Oh shit.
My voice is rough, low, not hesitating when I ask, "What do you want to learn?"
No. Why. Why did you say it?
"Well," she's timid again, shy. "You know, there's one thing I've been thinking about for a while now."
"And what's that?" The words are too soft. My breath is shallow and tingling, anticipating what she's going to say. Wondering if she's going to say what I think she's going to say.
"Well, you know I've never been kissed, right?"
Oh god."Right."
"I wondered if maybe you could teach me that too?"
Oh my fucking god.I am as still as stone, my lungs frozen. Not in indecision. But because if I don't restrain myself, I will kiss her. I will kiss her into next fucking century.
When I don't answer, she adds, "I wouldn't be mad about learning the other stuff too."
I swallow a groan, my heart jackhammering so fucking hard, I think I'm about to have a heart attack.
"Molly--"
"I know it's crazy to ask," she rambles like she's afraid of what I'll say, and the thought of saying no and making her feel rejected twists the knife in my gut. "But I like you, Grey. And I trust you, and…I just…I don't think other guys would make me feel so good, so safe. I don't think they'd treat me like you would."
I know for a fact they won't. I can't breathe.
"I know you won't hurt me."
I know for a fact I will.
"I trust you," she says again. "And I'm tired of not knowing. So will you--"
"Ask me again when we're sober."
Molly's head pops off my shoulder, and she looks at me with those big velvety eyes. "Really?"
"Ask me again. Sober."
I watch the hope rise in her. She bites her bottom lip and nods, nestling back into my side.
And I pray to god that she forgets. That she comes to her senses when she's sober and changes her mind.
Because I don't know if I can tell her no.
CHAPTER 16
THAT MAKES TWO OF US
MOLLY
In my dream, I'm wrapped up like a burrito. It's warm here. Dark. Safe. I have to leave soon but I don't want to. I just want to stay here until…well, forever would be nice. Every time it breathes, I get squeezed in a full body hug. Who would ever want to leave? No, thank you.
I wake slowly with my hands resting on Grey’s chest, his heartbeat steady against my palms, which are curled up between us. Tucked under his chin like this, I can't escape the crisp scent of my soap mingling with whatever pheromones he's pumping out, and I draw a breath that's half sigh, smiling happily. Even if his arms weren't wound around me, I'd be crushed against him--my couch is not big enough for the two of us. The back cushions are gone, and I'm smushed between the wall of the couch and Grey. Our legs are all tangled up too.
