“Gus, don’t you dare wake her up.” Emy, standing slightly out of frame, tugs on his hand.
The death glare fashioned on me softens as his eyes fall on Aulie for a second time. Unclenching his jaw, he asks, “How long has she been asleep?”
“Since around eleven,” I say, a grin curling my lips as I peek at her again. I hold her close, savoring the feel of her body against mine, and I stroke her arm in a slow, steady rhythm. “I don’t think she’s stirred since.”
“Do whatever you can to keep her sleeping. That’s all we care about, right, Gus?” Emy asks in a sharp tone.
“Right.” I hear my giant best friend exhale. “We’ll talk about this later,” he says in the doorframe before the light from the hallway dims and the door softly closes.
Aulie stirs at the sound, and I rub small circles into her back until her breathing settles into its heavy cadence again.
Once more, that content, happy feeling blooms in my chest. This whole thing should freak me out, but…it doesn’t.
Since yesterday morning, when I looked into Aulie’s eyes and saw everything I’ve felt for the past five years mirrored in them—the yearning, the want, the heavy weight of carrying around unrequited feelings—my mind has been clear and focused.
It was finally time to tell Aulie how I felt, but since words failed me the first time, I opted to show her. That’s why I bolted out of the house—the sound of her breath hitching as I neared, playing in a loop in my mind.
After that, I texted Emy and asked her to keep Aulie distracted for the day so that I could set up the backyard with the twinkling lights she’d mentioned and grabbed Lucy to help me with the porch. Luce mentioned an antique shop where Aulie sometimes takes her, and we picked out the table settings, then walked downtown, grabbing all her favorite foods.
With each passing moment, the weight on my chest increased in eager anticipation. The dynamic between Aulie and me was going to change tonight—although I suppose it had been changing for a while now and rather than getting my heart stomped on when I gave it to her, I was starting to believe it would be gently received.
I wasn’t wrong—last night, the few kisses we shared, our first without any pretenses—filled my hollow chest cavity. Instead of taking my heart, Aulie gave it back to me.
Here, her lips whispered against my mouth.I found this for you. I know you’ve been looking for it for a while now.
With every pass of her lips, she built me back up until I fell asleep beside her, satiated and whole for the first time in ten years.
My fingers stroke her back, and I smile at the serene look on her face.My little sorceress, do you know the magic you hold within you?
Sometime later, Aulie stirs, swiping at a lock of hair that’s fallen over her face in the past half hour or so. She peeks at me, still huddled against my chest, and flashes me a shy smile. “Morning.”
“Morning.”
“What time is it?” she asks, peeling away.
I grab my phone from the nightstand and clear off the daily countdown text from Grady. “Two.”
“In the afternoon?” Aulie sits up straight.
“Yeah, you were out,” I chuckle, tucking a fallen piece of her hair behind her ear. Pink dusts her cheeks following the swipe of my hand, and I relish the knowledge that I brought some color to her face. “But I’m glad. You needed it.”
“Oh my goodness. How could I have overslept like that? I was supposed to have breakfast with Gus this morning. He’s probably worried something happened.”
“He knows you were sleeping…on me.”
Aulie freezes. “He didn’t come in here, did he?”
“Sure did.” I grimace. “But I think he’s okay?”
“Well, that’s unlikely. He’s probably outside digging your grave now.”
I grab her hand, and press a kiss to the top. “You’re worth it.” My eyes flit to her lips, and she runs her teeth over them in response. “I like waking up to you, Dessy.”
“Mmm, I like waking up to you, too.” She drops her gaze to our hands, tracing the ink that swirls and spirals at the base of my wrist into a quote from Rousseau. “I just can’t believe I slept that long. You poor thing, you must be starving.”
“I am. Come here.” Cupping her cheek, I lean in and kiss her.
Her lips part and meet mine in a savory kiss.
