“I thought I’d started to get past it,” she says, her voice small. “But then something reminds me of what happened, and it’s like the band-aid gets ripped off and it’s all fresh again.”
“I know what you mean,” I rasp, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. “And I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” she whispers back.
Her fingers twist with mine, holding on tight like she’s trying to anchor herself, and that trusting grip says more than words ever could. She accepts my past. She understands.
I hold on just as tight to convey the same, and in the silence that settles, I swear I feel something shift between us, finally bridging that last bit of distance. She lays her head on my shoulder, leaning in and letting me wrap an arm around her. Warmth blooms in my chest as she curls up against me, the lines of our bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces.
“So, what now?” she asks, voice muffled against my shirt.
“What do you mean?”
Blair lifts her chin, gazing up at me. “Where do we go from here?”
I reach down to tuck a wild strand of hair behind her ear. “I want to be with you, Blair,” I murmur, pulse picking up speed. “Do you want to be with me?”
Her lashes flutter as she blinks, chewing on the inside of her cheek.
I hold my breath, but she doesn’t answer me with words. She sits up, grabs my face, and seals her lips against mine, the passion behind her kiss telling me everything I need to know.
***
I’m the first to wake, a thin ray of sun creeping in through the blinds and stretching across the bed to warm our tangled bodies.Blair’s dark hair is splashed against my pillow, her naked skin practically glowing in the soft morning light. Her chest rises and falls with her steady breathing as she sleeps contentedly beside me, and I just watch her for a moment, taking in how peaceful she is in rest.
Her lashes flutter against her cheeks as she stirs, and I’m completely captivated by her every move like she’s some rare, delicate thing. She blinks once, twice, then her eyes open, sleepy and unfocused, her body curling toward mine before she even knows I’m awake.
As she slowly comes into herself, she finally notices me watching her. The moment our gazes collide, I brace for her to pull back; for her walls to slam back up and this new softness to disappear.
She doesn’t.
She stays right where she is, a slow smile spreading across her face. It punches the air from my lungs and sends my heart racing. I shift, leaning in to kiss her, wanting to hang onto this unexpected closeness between us.
Blair presses a hand over her mouth, blocking me. “Morning breath,” she groans from behind her palm, her voice rough with sleep and sarcasm.
I flop back against the pillows, a low chuckle rumbling in my chest. “When are you gonna learn that there’s literally nothing about you that could turn me off?”
She sits up, clutching the sheet to her chest and cocking a brow. “Who said I was talking aboutme?”
I bark a laugh, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her down onto my chest, capturing her lips. She giggles against them as I steal a kiss, holding her tight for a few seconds before allowing her to wriggle away.
I’ll let her win this round. I’m already winning more than I expected to.
She bats me away and sits up, stretching her arms over her head in a display that’s clearly meant to torture me. My breath stalls as I take in the lines of her naked body, her nipples hardening in the cool air and stomach muscles flexing with her movements.
“I’d better get going,” she sighs, tossing her legs over the edge of the bed and easing to her feet. She starts hunting for her clothes, glancing over at me as she gathers them up. “See you at work?”
“Yeah,” I breathe, climbing out of bed and tugging on a pair of shorts. As much as I’m trying to embrace shifter culture, I’m not used to walking around naked yet.
Blair pulls on her own clothes, hesitating for a moment before pivoting toward the door. I don’t even let her make it a step before I’m grabbing for her hand and reeling her back in, smacking a kiss against her lips.
“Seriously?” she chuckles as she pulls back, shaking her head. She’s trying to sound annoyed, but the warmth in her eyes gives her away.
“Couldn’t resist,” I say, winking.
She smiles back at me as she slips out of my arms, heading for the door before I have another chance to pull her back in. “See you soon,” she calls, tossing me a devilish smirk over her shoulder as she leaves.
I can’t wipe the grin off my face as I go through the motions of getting ready for the day, replaying last night in my mind the whole time. My head is all echoes of our voices, flashes of her eyes, warmth of her hand in mine.
