Draping my arm around her, I press a soft kiss to her hair. “Are you comfortable?”
“For the first time in a long time, I am totallycomfortable.” She looks up at me, the flames from the stove flickering in her eyes as she searches my face. “Are you?”
“Absolutely.” My fingers glide along her neck, her skin so smooth and soft beneath my calloused hands.
The seconds stretch out, our gazes holding, our breath catching.
I could kiss her. She’s right there.
Maybe she’s waiting. Maybe I am. Maybe neither of us knowswhatthe hell we’re waiting for.
The opening credits roll, as the studio music breaks through the silence and pulls our attention toward the screen.
Another moment we let pass, and maybe it’s for the best. At least for now.
Like I said, I think she’s feeling something, too, but thatsomethingmight be called loneliness.
As for me? I’m not sure what I’m feeling where Kiki is concerned.
I lean forward and grab my beer, taking a swallow before sinking back into the couch.
Without a word, she snuggles close, her head resting on my chest. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Me too, beautiful. Me too.
About halfway through the movie, I realize Kiki’s asleep.
Soft breaths move in and out of her, and all signs of worry and doubt are gone from her face.
Guess I make her feel safe, which proves I’m doing something right.
She murmurs under her breath, but the words are garbled and I don’t pay it any mind. Just random dream talk.
Until a low moan escapes her lips, but it isn’t the kind you make when you’re in pain. No, this is something else. Somethingfarmore interesting.
Another moan follows, softer this time, with a breathy sigh at the end.
Is she messing with me? But when I glance down at her face in the low light, she’s out. Completely out.
When a satisfied purr slips past her lips, I realize I’m on the precipice of making a decision that will irrevocably change the course of our friendship.
Because fuck it, I want to wake her up and kiss her. See if she’s making those moans while dreaming about me. See if I can draw out more sounds when she’s awake.
Right before I jump off that cliff, her eyes blink open. “Oh, did I fall asleep?”
“You did.”
She purses her lips, as if still clinging to the last fragments of her dream. “Did I… um… say anything?”
Now, I could let it slide. Pretend I didn’t hear a damn thing. Be a gentleman. Keep this easy for her.
That is absolutely an option for me.
Do I take said option? No, I do not.
I shrug, turning my face to the screen. “Nothing I could make out.”
She leans her head back and blows out a relieved breath. “Thank God. Sometimes I have vivid dreams and I… talk.”
