She relaxed against me as I rubbed slow circles on her back, grounding her, grounding myself. After a moment, she spoke again.
“Mekhi?” Her voice was small. “Can I ask something?”
“Anything.”
“Can you touch me? Not like… I just need to feel you.” She expelled a shy breath.
“Come here,” I whispered.
She moved over me without hesitation, settling with her knees on either side of my thighs, straddling me, her forehead resting against mine. Her breath mingled with mine, warm and sweet.
I brought one hand to her waist, the other to the back of her neck, slow and deliberate, not wanting to scare her. Her breath hitched, but she nodded, eyes half closed.
“Tell me if you want me to stop,” I murmured.
“I will.”
“Tell me if something don’t feel right.”
“I will.”
“Tell me if you need a break.”
She touched my face with both palms. “Mekhi, I’m okay. I promise.”
I believed her. So, I kissed her, soft. Slow enough that she could pull back any time. She didn’t. She kissed me back like she needed it. Her fingers slid into my hair, holding me there.
“You’re here,” she whispered, almost to herself. “You’re really here.”
“Always,” I whispered back.
Her hands went to my shoulders, tracing the muscles there, then down my arms like she was making sure I was real. I let her explore at her own pace, no expectations.
I pressed a kiss to her temple, right where the bruise was. “Does that hurt?”
“No.” A tiny pause. “That helps.” Another pause. “I want more eventually. But right now, I just want you to hold me.”
So, I did. I laid us both back on the pillows, her body curled along mine, her cheek against my heartbeat. I knew she liked that. I slid a blanket over us and wrapped her up, slow and protective—one arm under her shoulders, the other draped over her waist.
Her hand found my chest and stayed there. “Mekhi?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I’m not letting you go.”
“You couldn’t even if you tried.”
“I love you.”
I swallowed. “I love you, too, Little Thug.”
Her breathing evened out and she fell asleep again tucked against me.
I stayed up, watching over her.
(One week later)
They cameto my house together.
