Maybe I can have this, just for a night. I can throw away my insecurities, forget the ache in my chest, and enjoy one night with the alien I could see myself falling for. Then in the morning, I’ll go back to being the grumpy asshole everyone expects me to be.
Just for one night, I can be the guy who takes a chance. I can be the guy that finally lets his walls come down and allow someone in.
It’s just one night, what’s the worst that could happen?
The sun has set by the time I find myself at Ghenie’s door. I stare at it for a long moment, wondering if I’m actually doing this. Am I actually going to put myself out there? Am I really going to throw myself at the alien I can’t stop antagonizing, hoping he’ll look past that just for tonight?
Fuck it. I’m doing this.
I knock on Ghenie’s door. My heart leaps into my throat and nerves threaten to get the better of me. I only have to wait amoment before the door is opening and I get to see Ghenie in all his splendor.
“Oh,” Ghenie breathes out, his eyes widening before going soft. “Christian? Is everything alright?”
His voice washes over me. Now that I’ve opened myself up, it feels like I’m seeing him for the first time. He’s beautiful in every way. My chest aches with how much I wish things were different, wishing thatIwas a different man, one who could love fully instead of always keeping that part of myself locked away.
“I’m okay,” I say, my eyes running over him. My eyes meet his and I’m praying they don’t reflect the desperation I’m feeling inside. The way his face morphs tells me that’s exactly what he’s seeing. Fuck.
“Christian,” Ghenie says slowly, his hand gripping the door frame. “Why are you here?”
I lick my lips and swallow around the lump in my throat. My heart is racking the inside of my ribs. I don’t know what to say so I stick with the truth. “You. I’m here for you.”
Ghenie freezes and I wait, holding my breath. He puts a hand on his temple and closes his eyes. It looks like he’s debating with himself. Or maybe he’s debating with the voices inside his head.
“Maybe this was a mistake,” I say softly when Ghenie doesn’t respond. I turn to leave only to freeze as a hand reaches out and grips my wrist. I turn back slowly.
“It was not a mistake,” Ghenie says. He doesn’t let go of my wrist, instead, his thumb rubs over my pulse point. “You are leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes,” I breathe out, just barely above a whisper.
“Then tonight is all we have.”
“Yes,” I say again.
My stomach swoops at the look Ghenie gives me. His pale eyes look me over before he’s taking a step back, opening the door forme fully. He closes the door behind me and the click of the door shutting sends a shiver down my spine.
I don’t even have time to turn towards Ghenie before he’s shoving me back against the door, crowding against me.
“I am terrified that this is a mistake,” he says, his voice going deeper, huskier than I’ve ever heard before. “But I also do not care. If tonight is all you will give me, then that is what I will have. For tonight, I am yours.”
I close my eyes as Ghenie ducks down, placing his lips against my own. My arms go around him, holding him like the lifeline he is. One kiss and I am swept away. One kiss and my life is changed forever.
Chapter Three
Ghenie
My heart hammers against my chest as I weave through the crowd. I don’t know where I’m going, only that I need to be anywhere but here.
The voices in my head are a cacophony of emotions which feed into my own. We’re a soundboard back and forth, feeding each other despite the fact that I need silence. I need time to process everything. I need solitude.
I go to the only place I can think to go; the place I’ve been staying in since Christian left. I hold Maribel against my chest and run, hoping that no one is watching. My people don’t need to see me like this, frazzled and upset over someone. I need to be in control. I need to be above this.
Yet the ache in my chest is unavoidable. It throbs, like an open wound. I can barely pull in a full breath.
“Oh, Maribel,” I whisper into my daughter's hair. “What am I going to do?”
I pull her away from my chest in order to look into her face. She gives me a giant grin. Apparently my run back home was entertaining for her. Some of that ache fades as I look into her face. She has his eyes.
I pull a blanket from the couch, stretching it across the floor before setting Maribel down on it. I set her on her stomach, letting her try to roll over. Then I sit on the floor with her, my back against the couch.
