I kissed her again, those words coming from somewhere deep inside me. I was drunk on her.
“I’ll be right back,” I whispered against her lips before I withdrew from her.
Quickly, I went naked into the bathroom and cleaned myself. I dropped the filled condom into the trash and took a moment to stare at myself in the mirror.
I looked alive for the first time in years. I almost didn’t recognize myself. My blue eyes sparkled, and my hair was a mess from her fingers tugging at it. Her nail marks were bright red on my chest. I imagined my back looked even more marked. I really loved that.
Pushing away from the sink, I returned to the bedroom to find Rosalie wrapped in my sheet as she sat on the edge of my bed, crying softly.
My heart fell.
No. No, baby, no. Please don’t fucking regret me. Please.
I went and kneeled in front of her. I tilted her chin up gently so she was looking at me.
“What can I do?” I asked.
“Hold me?” She sniffled.
She didn’t need to ask me twice. I moved her over before getting into bed with her. I brought her into my arms and held her tightly. She rested her head on my chest and fit against me like a missing puzzle piece.
We stayed that way for a long time before she spoke.
“I-I don’t do this stuff. You’re my first outside the guys?—”
“I know,” I replied, tracing circles on her arm with my fingers.
“Do-Do you do this stuff often? With women?”
I did not want to lie.
“Sometimes. Not like this, though. Sex, yes. I do have sex. But this? This is different. You are different.”
She went up on her elbow and stared down at me, dried tears on her cheeks.
“How? I’m so broken?—”
I cradled her face. “You are not broken in the way you think. You are a work of art. A painting in progress. I cannot wait to see who you are once you’re complete. This is but one step in finding your way.”
“You won’t hate me in the morning?”
“No, I will never hate you.” I brought her in for a kiss. I could never hate her. She was what I thought of as perfect. “Never think that.” I kissed her softly, and she was quick to return my affections.
“Sleep. I will be gone when you wake, but I promise to return as soon as I can. Wait for me,” I murmured.
I had to work in the morning. It would be a long day, like it always was, but the prospect of her being here waiting for me made me eager to start the day so I could get back to her that much sooner.
“Here?”
“Yes. Right here.” I kissed her again. “In my bed. Beneath my sheets. Your clothes off. Waiting.”
She smiled against my lips
“Not on the couch?”
“Mm, right here, Rosalie.” One more kiss.
I broke it off when we were both breathless. She rested her head back against my chest as I held her tightly.
