He moves forward once again, and I move back, but this time I’m met with a door at my back and nowhere else to go.
His arms come up to cage me in on either side of my head as he leans in so that we're at eye level.
“Come on, baby, you can tell me.” I feel his words roll off my skin as he leans in, lightly pressing his lips to my cheek in a teasing yet still intimate kiss.
Baby.
Jeez, these nicknames are going to do me in.
“I was worried because what if you hated it, and if we’re dating, then I probably should have asked you about it first, because now you’re stuck with me looking like this, and what if you hate purple? Oh God, you don’t hate purple, do you?”
Fuck me.
The smile that pulls at his lips is breathtaking, but it also makes me want to melt into the floor because with him still towering over me, I can’t go anywhere else.
“Hmm,ifwe’re dating, huh?” He leans in, dragging his nose up my jaw and making goosebumps erupt everywhere. “I must not have been clear enough if you’re worried aboutif.”
He pulls back but doesn’t go far, just enough so that I can look him in the eye.
“First, I love purple, and it looks amazing on you. I don’t think you could look bad if you tried, though, not even if you shaved your head.” I pull a face at the thought, and he chuckles but keeps going. “And there’s no if. So long as you’ll have me, I’m yours. If you want me to quit to prove it, just say the word, and I will.”
I’m shaking my head even before he’s finished because, as sweet as that might sound, I don’t want that for him, for us.
“I don’t need that. I’m sure you like your job, and I…” I purse my lips, fighting against the embarrassment at what I’m about to say. “I like having you here, being in your classes and our meetings.”
This time, the smile that pulls at his lips is full of pride as his eyes blaze, and when he leans in, it’s not just for a kiss like I thought, though he does kiss me. His arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me up into his arms without breaking our kiss, that is, until I laugh, and he pulls back with a smile of his own.
“Sorry, I just can’t seem to keep my hands to myself,” he says, though he doesn’t sound sorry at all. “Must be my smoking-hot girlfriend.”
Girlfriend.
I’ve never been someone’s girlfriend before. My breath catches at the thought: what if I’m terrible at it?
“Whoa, where’d you go?” I blink hard and find we're now on the couch, with me on his lap.
“Sorry.” I’d zoned out for a second there, but I need to get it together.
“Don’t apologize. I just hate seeing you like that.” He reaches up, cupping my cheek with his much larger hand, and gently strokes his thumb along my cheekbone. I can’t help but lean into him; the warmth of his skin on mine, the soothing pressure—it all feels so good.
“I know life’s been hard on you, but I have to ask you an important question, Wren, and you don’t have to, but I’d really appreciate it if you answered me honestly.”
I freeze as dread washes over me, and I fight the urge to flee. I’ve grown better at it out of sheer necessity over the years, but my first instinct has always been to run, even if Auntie did her best to beat that out of me.
Some things just don’t go away.
“When you get that look,” he nods at me, and I didn’t know I had a look, but I can guess what it has to do with now. “Does it have to do with your guardian? Your aunt?”
“What? No, of course not!” The words are out of my mouth before I can even think about what I’m saying—years of conditioning, years of fear.
I’m off his lap and halfway across the room the next second, nearly stumbling over my own feet.
“Hey, Wren, be careful.”
His hand closes around my wrist and holds me steady, his gaze holding mine, and even though he doesn’t say a word, I see the pleading look in his eyes.
“I just want to help you.” His voice is so quiet, as if he’s afraid to spook me, and I guess that makes sense after the way I just reacted.
I try, really I do, but when I open my mouth to tell him, nothing comes out.
